Ogier
Working closely with the firm’s corporate, funds and private client teams, Ogier‘s dispute resolution department represents clients in trusts and insolvency cases, with further expertise in regulatory and proceeds of crime work. Leading the team are Mathew Newman and Simon Davies, who focus on contentious restructuring and insolvency, and trusts and commercial disputes, respectively. Newman also heads up the firm’s global restructuring and insolvency practice. Bryan De Verneuil-Smith has a broad practice, handling trust and fund disputes in addition to commercial and shareholder disputes. Sandie Lyne handles both contentious trust and restructuring and insolvency matters, while Alex Horsbrugh-Porter works on insolvency proceedings and shareholder applications.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
'Bryan De Verneuil-Smith: exceptionally easy to work with, receptive to all the issues, concerns, and client demands, in addition to an in-depth understanding of the law and sound judgment as to the arguments that could be made and how to present them.'
'Ogier has one of the largest litigation teams in Guernsey and across the Channel Islands. This allows it to take on larger, cross-border litigation projects and ensure that client deliverables are met.'
'Mathew Newman is a very well respected and seasoned advocate who leads the Guernsey team. He has an excellent record in the Guernsey courts and has a stellar knowledge of the law.'
'Mathew Newman - excellent leader of the team, very commercially astute and guides clients through the various stages of litigation in a reassuring and calm manner. Sandie Lyne - very strong practitioner in the team, technically very knowledgeable and a confident presence when dealing with stressful matters.'
'The Ogier dispute resolution team is a real class act - always on the ball, handling difficult technical legal questions and commercial issues with the same ease. An excellent team to have on your side when you need first-rate advice.'
'Sandie Lyne is excellent. She has all the usual qualities that make a lawyer first-rate: legal ability, commercial awareness and a great client manner. What makes her different from her competitors is her ability to work out the best way to win a case and persuade a court - even in difficult circumstances - to grant the remedy sought.'
'Ogier's Guernsey dispute resolution team is a market leader in quality and commerciality of advice, with very reasonable charge-out rates by contrast to competitors.'
'Bryan De Verneuil-Smith is a delight to work with. Hardworking, thoughtful, with attention to detail and a strong awareness of the arguments which are likely to find favour with a judge. Mathew Newman is a savvy commercial litigator with good strategic awareness.'
Key clients
- BDO LLP
- Nina Naustdal
- Begbies Traynor
- Capman Funds
- Krys Global
- EEA Life Settlements PCC Limited
- The Public Trustee of Guernsey
- Suntera Private Wealth
- Alvarez & Marsal
- HSBC Bank (CI and UK)
- Praxis
- Teneo Restructuring
- Leonard Curtis
- RG Growth
- Barratt Hodgson
Work highlights
- Acted for Teneo, the joint administration manager of Providence Investment Funds and Providence Management International, two vehicles used as part of a large Ponzi scheme.
- Acted for fashion designer Nina Naustdal, who brought claims against the former trustee of a trust which owns her London property for breach of trust, dishonest assistance and knowing receipt, and conspiracy.
- Acting for the settlor of a New Zealand law trust in a case where the Guernsey-based trustee has made a suspicious activity report to the Guernsey authorities.