Ogier promotes three partners in the Channel Islands

Tuesday 07 April 2015

Ogier has appointed three new partners to its team in Jersey and Guernsey.

The firm has promoted Sara Johns and Jamie Bore in Jersey and Christopher Jones in Guernsey, effective from 1 April, bringing Ogier’s total number of partners to 49.

In Jersey Sara Johns, who has more than 20 years’ experience in London and Jersey, has been promoted to partner. Sara is a Jersey Advocate specialising in mergers and acquisitions, corporate restructurings, joint ventures and capital markets transactions involving offshore vehicles. She also leads Ogier’s competition law practice in Jersey.

Most recently Sara, who joined Ogier in 2003, advised AbbVie on its £32 billion recommended takeover offer for Shire, Kentz Corporation on its £1.2 billion acquisition by SNC-Lavalin Group Inc., and Energy Investments Global Ltd (a wholly-owned subsidiary of Al Mirqab Capital SPC) on its £924 million acquisition of Heritage Oil plc. She also advised Boohoo and MySale on their 2014 listings on the AIM market of the London Stock Exchange.

Ogier’s head of corporate and commercial services Simon Dinning said: “We are delighted to recognise Sara’s hard work, commitment and corporate expertise in promoting her to partner. Sara’s move further strengthens our excellent corporate team in Jersey and will be positively received in the local and international markets where she is held in very high regard.”

Christopher Jones, an advocate of the Royal Court of Guernsey, advises financial institutions, investment funds and corporate clients on a broad range of multi-jurisdictional transactions. He has extensive experience in respect of banking and finance, derivatives, restructuring, corporate and commercial matters, mergers and acquisitions, private equity and listings.

Christopher recently advised Wells Fargo Bank International in respect of the amendment to a €215 million term facility made available to the Shurgard Self Storage Group. Christopher also regularly advises global investment banks in respect of industry standard documentation produced by the International Swaps and Derivatives Association, the International Capital Market Association and the International Securities Lending Association. He joined Ogier in 2010 from international law firms Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton and Slaughter and May.

Ogier’s practice partner in Guernsey, Marcus Leese, said: “We are exceptionally pleased that Christopher Jones is joining the Ogier partnership in Guernsey. Since joining us five years ago Christopher has continually demonstrated his technical knowledge, commercial awareness and practical and pragmatic problem-solving skills for the benefit of Ogier clients old and new. His previous years of international experience have also proved hugely valuable. We have no doubt that Christopher will make a huge contribution to the continued growth and development of Ogier in Guernsey”.

Ogier’s Chief Operating Officer Jamie Bore, who is based in Jersey, becomes the firm’s first partner within its Business Services team. Also the firm’s Chief Financial Officer, Jamie has been with the firm since 2009, is a member of Ogier’s Executive Board and was a key member of the deal team who successfully delivered the MBO of Fiduciary division to Electra Partners in 2014.

Ogier’s global managing partner Nick Kershaw said: “Jamie’s contribution to our business, particularly through the MBO and the transition of Ogier Legal and Ogier Fiduciary into two separate businesses, has been fantastic. He has built an impressive Business Services team to deliver Ogier’s ambitious strategic objectives and his achievements have been recognised in his appointment to Ogier’s partnership. Jamie’s appointment also marks the firm’s first partner within its Business Services team and is recognition that Business Services at Ogier is an absolutely integral part of our ability to deliver outstanding client service.”