Published by: Appleby
Merger creates first global firm on Isle of Man and world’s largest offshore law firm.
Leading global offshore legal, fiduciary and administration service provider Appleby, has today announced a dramatic expansion of its international reach, merging with Dickinson Cruickshank, the largest law firm in the Isle of Man. The firm will continue to be known as Appleby and the merger is to be effective, once all conditions are met, on 1st October, 2009. Appleby is the first global offshore law firm on the island and the move will see Appleby emerge as the offshore law firm with the widest jurisdictional reach, and become the largest offshore law firm by number of partners. The firm will now have 73 partners and 200 lawyers, with a total of over 800 staff in 9 offices worldwide, including Bermuda, the British Virgin Islands, the Cayman Islands, Jersey, Mauritius, Hong Kong, London, Zurich and the Isle of Man.
Dickinson Cruickshank is the largest and one of the longest established firms of advocates on the Isle of Man. Founded in 1899, it is now one of the two dominant law firms on the island with 11 partners, 27 other lawyers, 17 fiduciary service providers and a total staff of 119. It is a full service firm practicing Isle of Man law with a specific focus on corporate and commercial, private client, dispute resolution, property and fiduciary services. The firm is consistently in the top ranking in the major international legal directories and has twice been nominated as “Offshore law firm of the Year”.
Commenting on the merger, Paul Morris, Dickinson Cruickshank’s Senior Partner said: “We believe that the merger with Appleby, as a global offshore services provider, is not only a first on the island and an invaluable resource for our clients, but it will also provide a huge boost to the Isle of Man’s capabilities, status and reputation in the international offshore sector. Appleby’s global reach in the key offshore jurisdictions, its recent expansion through Mauritius into the emerging markets in India, Africa and Asia, and its market leading position in international financial centres, will have a significant impact on the breadth, range and choice of services we are able to offer to our Isle of Man and international clients.”
Huw St. J. Moses, OBE, Managing Partner of the Cayman Islands office added: “Our driving strategy has been to be the leading provider of the legal, fiduciary and administration services in the offshore world. We see the merger with a firm of the size and quality of Dickinson Cruickshank as a significant step in achieving this objective. The merger further builds our strength and depth across multiple jurisdictions—providing greater resources and greater choice to our clients. In addition, we believe that the move will reinforce Appleby’s position as the first choice for clients in the offshore sector.”
The merger will enable Appleby to further extend the services it offers to global clients seeking high quality, sophisticated financial centres through which to invest. It follows the firm’s successful opening in Mauritius in 2008, providing clients with greater access to the high growth Middle East, Asian, Indian and African markets, and in Zurich in 2009, offering access to the range of offshore centres to private bank and institutional clients in Switzerland.
Appleby has expanded rapidly in the last five years and now has a legal and professional staff of approximately 800. It is the only offshore legal, fiduciary and administration service provider with a major foothold in six of the world’s leading offshore business centres in Bermuda, the British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Jersey, Mauritius and now Isle of Man, as well as offices in London, Hong Kong and Switzerland.