Appleby: Offshore Law Firm of the Year
Appleby, the world’s largest provider of offshore legal, fiduciary and administration services, was named “Offshore Law Firm of the Year” at the Legal Week British Legal Awards held in London last Thursday [Dec. 2]. Carlos de Serpa Pimentel, Appleby partner and Cayman Practice Group Head of Private Client and Trusts, collected the award. The glittering awards ceremony, held at Old Billingsgate Market, was attended by more than a thousand leading international lawyers.
This win confirms Appleby’s position at the top of the so-called “Offshore Magic Circle” of international law firms. It also represents a double first for the firm who also won The Lawyer’s “Offshore Law Firm of the Year” Award in June 2010.
“The Legal Week Award is presented to the firm which has demonstrated not only that they are leaders in the offshore market, but also that they have made significant progress over the past 12-18 months,” said Appleby Group managing partner Peter Bubenzer, a Bermudian who works out of the firm’s Victoria Street headquarters. “Appleby were able to demonstrate legal expertise, innovation, strong strategic vision, and high levels of client care and employee development. Appleby is also committed to corporate social responsibility projects across the jurisdictions in which they are based.”
In 2009 Appleby opened offices in the Seychelles and Bahrain and leading Isle of Man law firm Dickinson Cruickshank joined the Appleby Group. In March this year Appleby opened its Guernsey office, making Appleby the only provider of offshore legal services with a presence in each of the three British Crown Dependencies of Jersey, Isle of Man and Guernsey.
In 2009/10 the firm has added five lateral partners, six partner promotions and 11 promotions to Counsel to support growth across the Appleby Group. Most recently, the Group appointed Mike Ellis to the newly created role of General Counsel to consolidate the strategic growth of the firm worldwide.
Commenting on the award last night Michael O’Connell, Managing Partner of Appleby in Jersey said: “We are really delighted to have won this prestigious international Award from Legal Week, particularly following on from winning Offshore Law Firm of the Year at The Lawyer Awards in June. On behalf of the Appleby Group, I would like to extend my thanks to all our clients for their support. I would also like to thank our staff for their ongoing commitment, hard work and dedication. It has been our strategic goal to become the world’s leading provider of offshore legal and fiduciary services and we are pleased that our efforts have been recognised by our peers. The Awards underscore our market leading position and the breadth and depth of experience and expertise we offer clients, combined with an unrivalled choice across the world’s major offshore financial centres.”
Appleby now has 12 offices worldwide in the key offshore centres of Bermuda, the British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Isle of Man, Jersey, Mauritius, Seychelles and Guernsey, as well as the leading financial centres of London, Hong Kong, Zurich and Bahrain.
