Carey Olsen has maintained its position in the latest edition of the Chambers and Partners High Net Worth (HNW) guide.
The firm continues to be ranked in more jurisdictions than any other offshore legal provider and is now ranked in Band 1 for its trusts and private wealth practices in both Guernsey and Jersey.
Carey Olsen also has 13 lawyers individually recognised, which is more than any other offshore competitor. Among those individually recognised, there are four each from Guernsey and Jersey, including Russell Clark, managing partner and head of the trusts and private wealth group in Guernsey, who has maintained his Band 1 ranking.
Carey Olsen’s Guernsey office, which has also retained its top tier position, is described by industry commentators as ‘exceptional’ and a ‘fantastic team’, while another highlights how ‘you do not need to cherry-pick certain lawyers. Anybody you get there is very good’.
The Jersey office, which has moved up to Band 1, is praised for its ‘great strength in depth’ and partners who ‘have a wealth of experience and are very commercially orientated’.
From an individual perspective, Russell Clark is acknowledged as ‘an absolute star, both in terms of his technical ability and client-handling skills’, while other industry sources describe him as ‘a leading light in Guernsey’ and ‘extremely clever and analytical’.
Guernsey partner Konrad Friedlaender (Band 2) is a ‘pleasure to work with’ and a provider of ‘Rolls-Royce advice’, while fellow Guernsey partner Natasha Kapp who is also now ranked in Band 2 is considered to be ‘at the top of her game, both on the contentious and non-contentious side’. Interviewees describe counsel Patricia Montgomery (Band 3) as a ‘fantastic pair of hands and really easy to work with’ and a ‘hugely likeable individual’.
Jersey’s head of the trust and private wealth practice, Siobhan Riley (pictured), is ranked in Band 2 and praised for being ‘excellent at solving complex issues’ and being able to ‘deal with your headstrong, entrepreneurial clients’. Fellow partner Alexa Saunders (Band 2) has improved her ranking and is noted for ‘getting to the crux of an issue and picking up the details very quickly’ as well as her ‘well-considered, straightforward and commercial advice’.
Partners Keith Dixon and Andreas Kistler (both Band 3) have entered the HNW rankings for the first time. Keith is considered a ‘real trusts brain’ as well as ‘technically brilliant but really down to earth’, while Andreas, who is already ranked in Band 2 by Chambers for dispute resolution, is described by market commentators as a ‘stellar name on the contentious side’ and ‘a highly competent and effective court advocate’.
Commenting on the firm’s rankings, Siobhan said: “Chambers and Partners is a highly regarded publication and its recognition of the quality and depth of our Jersey and Guernsey trusts and private wealth teams in this excellent set of rankings is greatly appreciated.
“When combined with our rankings in Bermuda, the British Virgin Islands and the Cayman Islands, we have solidified our position as the leading trusts and private wealth group in the offshore legal sector. As always, recognition like this is only possible thanks to the hard work and commitment of our various teams and the continuing quality of instructions from our clients.”
Chambers and Partners is one of the world’s leading reference and ranking bodies for the legal sector, delivering in-depth independent research to identify and rank the most outstanding firms and practitioners.
