Offshore law firms Ogier and WSmiths (formerly Walker Smiths) have agreed to merge their businesses to create a new organisation with offices in nine financial centres around the world and a staff of over 600. The merger will be effective from 1 February 2007. Both firms are already working to integrate their services and operations.
As a result of the merger, the firm, which will be branded Ogier, will have a presence in the British Virgin Islands, the Cayman Islands, Guernsey, Hong Kong, Ireland, Jersey, London, Montevideo and New Zealand.
One of the aims of the merger is to create a group capable of offering clients advice on all aspects of BVI, Cayman Islands and Channel Islands law, including in the rapidly growing Asian and Chinese markets.
Ogier pioneered offshore multi-jurisdictional growth when it combined with Boxalls in 2003, to produce the first transatlantic merger of offshore firms.
“We are delighted to have reached agreement with WSmiths, a highly respected firm that is a very good fit with Ogier,” says Ogier chairman Jonathan White. “The merger will allow us to provide a comprehensive range of offshore legal and fiduciary services to our clients. Today it is increasingly important to be able to provide services from all key offshore jurisdictions and this merger enables us to do just that and gets us very close to achieving our ultimate goal of being the undisputed market leader.”
Duncan Smith, managing partner of WSmiths, says the merger with Ogier will work well. “We share many of the same values and a very compatible client list,” he says.
WSmiths was formed five years ago in the BVI. In 2006 it opened offices in Montevideo and Hong Kong.