Mourant Ozannes responds to growth in Asia and Caribbean business with further investment

Monday 08 June 2015

Mourant Ozannes has announced that Eleanor Morgan and Nicholas Fox are set to become partners in its BVI office, while partner Shaun Folpp will head to the firm's Hong Kong office to establish a BVI and Cayman litigation offering to Asia based clients.

The firms says the moves are in response to the huge success of both the BVI and Hong Kong offices, which opened in 2012. The offices are exceeding their financial targets and headcount has risen to 15 based in the BVI and 18 in Hong Kong.

Jeremy Wessels, partner and International practice group head of litigation, said: "I'm delighted that Eleanor and Nicholas have joined the partnership, and that Shaun will spearhead our practice in Asia. I look forward to working with them to develop our top-tier global practice. Our 20 partner strong litigation practice is the largest of any offshore firm and works on the most complex and high profile cases. Just in the past two years, we have advised on the liquidations of the Kingate Funds, Weavering Macro Fixed Income Fund, Victory Life & Pension Assurance Company, Primeo Fund, the claim against Maan Al Sanea and Saad Companies, the restructuring of Arcapita Investment Holdings Limited and ongoing litigation in respect of Carlyle Capital Corporation Limited, R2R Funds and YT Charitable Foundation (International) Limited."

Global managing partner, Jonathan Rigby added: "Our strategy for growth is one based on quality and excellence - for our jurisdictions, our clients and our people. I'm delighted that these talented lawyers have been promoted to the partnership. The promotions and Shaun's move further demonstrate our continued commitment to our investments in the BVI and Hong Kong."

Eleanor Morgan joined the firm in 2013 and has broad-based experience of commercial and trust litigation and contentious insolvency. Eleanor acts on a wide range of international litigation, contentious trust and insolvency matters, with a particular emphasis on distressed funds work. She trained and qualified with Macfarlanes LLP in London. Eleanor has practised in the British Virgin Islands since 2011, where she has advised on a number of high profile cases, including complex multi-jurisdictional shareholder disputes and large insolvencies, such as advising the liquidators of a major Madoff-feeder fund.

Nicholas Fox has been with the firm since 2010, before which he practised at the English Bar, and then another large Offshore law firm. He holds an MA in Law from Oxford University and is an INSOL Fellow. He has extensive experience in the fields of insolvency and financial services litigation, including acting for the liquidators of a Madoff-affected investment fund (Primeo Fund), and on the claim brought by Ahmad Hamad Algosaibi and Brothers Company against Maan Al Sanea and the Saad Companies. Since moving offshore in 2008, Nicholas has worked in the BVI, Cayman Islands and Hong Kong.

Eleanor commented: "I look forward to continuing to build on the success of the BVI office and of Mourant Ozannes' leading litigation practice more broadly in my new role. It's a great privilege to be part of such a dynamic team."

Nicholas added: "I'm excited to be returning to the BVI and developing the litigation practice further."