Thursday, July 07, 2011Ogier Expands to Shanghai

OgierOgier Expands Global Network With Office In Shanghai

Ogier, one of the leading providers of offshore legal and fiduciary services has opened an office in Shanghai as it further expands its worldwide network. The move is at the heart of Ogier’s strategy to provide the most innovative and comprehensive multi-jurisdictional services, through a significant presence in each of the world’s key financial centres and across all time zones.

Commenting on the announcement, Group Chief Executive Officer Nick Kershaw said “in pursuit of our strategy we felt it critically important to establish a strong presence in mainland China so that we can provide the full range of Ogier’s services to our clients in a manner which is responsive to local conditions and practices. We are the first offshore firm to have an office in mainland China and are the only offshore law firm in Asia with lawyers qualified to offer advice on the key jurisdictions of BVI, Cayman, Guernsey and Jersey. As a result our business in Asia is well established and has been extremely successful.”

Ogier Shanghai will be headed up by Kristy Calvert who is a native Mandarin and Shanghainese speaker and has extensive corporate and commercial law experience in the Asia Pacific and in particular China where she was previously Legal Director for Rio Tinto China / Asia.

Ogier’s Shanghai office will provide mainland Chinese clients with direct access to Ogier’s global network of offices and professional services. Chinese clients will particularly benefit from Ogier’s Hong Kong office. This 40 person team will provide advice in an effective and timely manner from its close proximity. Ogier Hong Kong is the fastest growing office in the group and the headcount is forecast to double over the next three years.

Michael Fay, Managing Partner Ogier BVI said “Our new Shanghai office will enable us to provide even better service to our clients in China and offers great development potential. We are well placed to continue to support our Chinese clients with our international BVI experience and now with enhanced local expertise.”

Ogier continues to receive a substantial industry and client recognition for providing outstanding client service including winning ten industry awards already this year.

A History of Firsts

The “firsts” began in 1998 when Ogier were the first Jersey firm to open an office in Guernsey and become a Channel Island business. 2003 saw the opening of the London office, another first for a Channel Island firm and in 2004 Ogier merged with Boxalls in Cayman to create an offshore giant and the first transatlantic firm. The “firsts” continued as Ogier were also the first to merge with a BVI firm when in 2007 the merger with WSmith extended the firm’s global reach not only to BVI but also to Hong Kong.

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