Mourant and Ozannes to merge

(CNS): Mourant du Feu & Jeune and Ozannes, two of the leading offshore law firms, have announced their intention to merge. The merged firm, to be known as Mourant Ozannes, will be one of the world’s largest offshore law firms with more than 200 fee-earners and 50 partners practising from offices in the Cayman Islands, Guernsey, Jersey and London. Neal Lomax (left), who currently heads Mourant’s Cayman office, will be the merged firm’s managing partner in Cayman. A spokesperson for Mourant said there is a total of 35 staff in the Cayman office, including 5 partners and 14 fee earners, and the number of staff in Cayman will not be affected by this merger.

The merger will create a firm with “unrivalled strength-in-depth and industry knowledge”, according to a release from Mourant, and includes Mourant du Feu & Jeune’s Cayman Islands practice, which was recently ranked the number one law firm in the Cayman Islands for hedge fund legal services in a survey of onshore lawyers by HFM Week, a leading industry journal.

The deal, which is subject to regulatory approval, will be structured as a full economic merger of the existing businesses, effective 1 May 2010.

The new partnership will be run by a management committee comprising representatives of both firms. Jonathan Rigby of Mourant du Feu & Jeune will be appointed as group managing partner. Peter Ferbrache of Ozannes will become senior partner and Ian James of Mourant will become chairman. Jonathan Rigby, managing partner of Mourant du Feu & Jeune, said, "We have always had enormous respect for Ozannes and we regard them as the leading law firm in Guernsey. The opportunity to combine premier practices in Cayman, Guernsey and Jersey was too good to miss. We are very excited by this development and are looking forward to working together on our shared vision, to be consistently recognised as the leading law firm offshore."

Robert Shepherd, managing partner of Ozannes, who will become managing partner of Mourant Ozannes’ Guernsey office, said:

"This is an exciting development for both firms, which will enable us to build on the heritage of two very successful offshore law firms. There are many synergies between the firms in terms of focus, structure, culture and talented people, and by combining our market leading offering we endeavour to become the most sought after offshore law firm for clients and staff."