Alana Gillies Ridout, partner at law firm-led professional services business Mourant, has been admitted as an advocate by the Royal Court.
Alana, who was already a qualified solicitor in Scotland, completed the Guernsey Bar exams in May and achieved the Certificat d’Etudes Juridiques Francaises et Normandes in October. Those studying the academic qualification in French and Norman law would usually travel to the University of Caen for a six-week placement but due to the pandemic the placement was delivered via video conference.
“I’ve lived and worked in Guernsey for over seven years but admission to the Guernsey Bar and becoming a fully qualified Guernsey advocate makes me feel like I have truly arrived,” said Alana.
“Mourant was very supportive of my studies and my now fellow advocates were incredibly encouraging throughout the process. Studying during a pandemic wasn’t easy but from a professional and personal perspective being admitted to the Guernsey Bar was important and I was able to achieve my goal thanks to the support from my colleagues, friends, and family. I’m excited to be part of the highly regarded and respected local legal community and to be able to offer service to the Guernsey community in general.”
Alana joined Mourant in 2014 and specialises in Private M&A, banking, finance and commercial contracts. She acts for a diverse client base including private limited companies, funds, institutional lenders, and individuals.
John Lewis, Managing Partner at Mourant in Guernsey, said: “Qualifying as an advocate and joining the Guernsey Bar is a huge achievement which requires a great amount of dedication. Alana should be proud of her accomplishment and we’re very pleased to have her talent and experience in Mourant’s partnership.”
