Lexstone Lawyers

Lexstone Lawyers is a dynamic young firm providing a pure legal offering in Jersey, where the team has extensive experience in the legal industry, supported by consultants with almost 30 years’ experience.

The firm: Marcus Stone and Lucy Egerton-Vernon established Lexstone Lawyers in 2015, taking with them one senior associate and three consultants from a previous law firm, and have since grown the team to 18 and moved to larger premises.

The firm has lawyers qualified in Jersey, England and Wales, Guernsey, Scotland, Panama and Poland. It strives to provide a high-quality personal service to long-standing clients and new relationships equally. Low cost is not a priority. However, its business model allows the firm to charge clients extremely reasonable fees.

It is the first law firm in Jersey to offer environmental law advice and the firm sees this as an area of growth in Jersey.

Types of work undertaken
Private wealth: the firm advises wealthy families, family offices, proprietor-managed businesses and trust companies in Jersey. Its services include foundation documentation, trust instruments and ancillary documentation (including charitable and non-charitable purpose trusts).

Corporate and commercial: Lexstone Lawyers provides a full range of corporate and commercial services, from small- to large-scale transactions. Specialisms include the establishment and maintenance of corporate vehicles, investment trusts, foundations and partnerships; private placements and initial and other public offerings; redomiciliations; M&A, reorganisations and disposals; company reinstatements; joint ventures; the establishment and maintenance of new businesses, Jersey offices and branches of other businesses in Jersey and legal opinions.

Banking: services in this area of practice include advising borrowers and lenders in respect of all types of finance and security documentation; drafting and reviewing facility agreements, debentures, legal charges, subordination agreements, guarantees and security interest agreements; drafting and reviewing ancillary corporate documents such as board minutes, member resolutions and supporting certificates; advising upon enforcement and restructuring and advising banks on establishment, authorisation and cessation of banking operations in Jersey.

Financial services: Lexstone Lawyers advises clients on the application process, establishment and maintenance of financial services businesses in Jersey (trust company, investment, fund services, deposit taking (banking), money service and insurance business) and compliance with the relevant regulatory codes and guidance notes. The firm’s roles can include drafting and reviewing AML policies and procedures, advising on aspects of competition law, conduct and data protection.

Jersey real estate: the real estate team provides legal advice and support to clients ranging from private clients, corporate clients and commercial lenders. The team’s experience encompasses all legal aspects of real estate transactions including financing, commercial leases, real estate property developments, real estate contracts (architects and builders) and relocating to Jersey.

Investment funds: the firm advises a range of investment managers and leading promoters, including large institutions, start-up projects and niche investors. It can assist with the establishment, structuring, regulation and maintenance of all types of investment funds in Jersey.

Employment: the firm advises on all non-contentious matters of employment law. Its services include drafting employment contracts, compromise agreements, staff handbooks, confidentiality agreements, employee benefit schemes and share option schemes. In addition, it advises on data protection, business licences, visas and work permits, applications for licensed positions, regulatory issues and employment issues coming out of corporate transactions, appointment of directors and consultants and duties of employers, employees and directors.

Intellectual property: areas of specialism include filing trade mark applications, including initial trade mark searches and registrability checks; representing clients in trade mark opposition, cancellation and removal proceedings; advising on trade mark and copyright infringement; drafting, reviewing and negotiating commercial agreements including assignments and licences; internet and domain issues; due diligence and audits and unfair competition issues.

Environment: Lexstone Lawyers advises companies, governmental bodies and non-governmental organisations internationally and in Jersey. It advises clients on sustainable development and authorisation requirements for projects; environmental legal compliance audits; health and safety legal compliance audits; environmental legal risk and liability reviews; green funds; drafting environmental legislation and legal opinions on energy law, planning law, climate change, noise, air pollution, water, land, waste and biodiversity.