Ogier And WSmiths Announce Merger

by Amanda Banks, for LawAndTax-News.com, London

10 October 2006

Provider of offshore legal and fiduciary services, Ogier, and WSmiths (formerly Walker Smiths), a niche provider of BVI legal and fiduciary services have agreed to merge their businesses to create a new global organisation, with offices in nine financial centres around the world and a staff complement of over 600.

The merger will be effective from 1st February 2007 and both firms are already working hard to integrate their services and operations.

As a result of the merger, the firm, which will be branded Ogier, will have a presence in the British Virgin Islands, the Cayman Islands, Guernsey, Hong Kong, Ireland, Jersey, London, Montevideo and New Zealand.

Ogier Chairman Jonathan White announced that:

“We are delighted to have reached agreement with WSmiths, a highly respected firm that is a very good fit with Ogier. The merger will allow us to provide a comprehensive range of offshore legal and fiduciary services to our clients. Today it is increasingly important to be able to provide services from all key offshore jurisdictions and this merger enables us to do just that and gets us very close to achieving our ultimate goal of being the undisputed market leader”

Duncan Smith, managing partner of WSmiths, added:

“The merger with Ogier, with whom we share many of the same values and a very compatible client list, is an exciting opportunity to move forward with an enhanced multi-jurisdictional capability.”

Recommended