Leading international law firm Walkers has announced its expansion into Guernsey through a merger with AO Hall, a Guernsey-based provider of legal services.
AO Hall, which will change its name to Walkers (Guernsey), will provide specialist Guernsey law legal services in Guernsey and jurisdictions around the world under the Walkers brand. In Guernsey, Walkers will provide an integrated range of services to clients, covering the key practice areas of finance, corporate and investment funds, dispute resolution, insolvency and restructuring, employment, pensions, trusts and fiduciary.
Walkers Global Managing Partner Ingrid Pierce said: "The decision to expand our reach into Guernsey was driven in the same way all of our international opening decisions are made, based on the needs of our clients. We have for some time had clients, particularly in Europe, asking us for Guernsey legal services and the opportunities presented in Guernsey make it the logical next step to providing seamless offshore legal services to clients across this region."
Walkers' Guernsey office will continue to be managed by Louise Hall, Managing Partner at AO Hall and the entire AO Hall team will remain in place, providing existing clients with a seamless transition.
Advocate Hall said: "Becoming part of Walkers offers us and our clients the opportunity to reach a global market and we are delighted that a firm of the calibre and international reputation that Walkers enjoys has chosen Guernsey for its continued global growth. This clearly demonstrates Walkers' confidence in Guernsey as an important offshore business centre."
Founded in 2005 with a team of just five, AO Hall has grown to more than 25 staff with 11 of the firm's 14 lawyers being ranked by leading legal directories.
For more information about Guernsey's finance industry please visit www.guernseyfinance.com.
The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your specific circumstances.
