Three of Walkers’ growing legal team in Jersey have been named as “Leading Individuals” in the Legal 500 directory.

The directory has named partners Nigel Weston, Nigel Sanders and Jonathan Heaney as Leading Individuals – meaning that the firm has lawyers in the very top tier across Banking & Finance, Insolvency & Dispute Resolution, and Investment Funds practice groups.

The latest edition of the directory also includes praise for Private Capital & Trusts partner Robert Dobbyn as “the cleverest trust lawyer in the Channel Islands”.

Walkers has increased the number of lawyers in its Jersey office by 50% over the last year, including the arrivals of partners Fraser Hern, Nigel Sanders and Leanne Wallser. The recruitment is part of a growth strategy across the Channel Islands which has also seen several arrivals in the Guernsey office as the firm – which already has the largest number of lawyers of any offshore firm globally – builds out its Jersey and Guernsey law capability.

Fraser Hern, a Group Partner and Head of Walkers in the Channel Islands, said: “Our recruitment and growth in the Channel Islands is motivated by our confidence in the quality of our team here and our confidence in the jurisdiction itself.

“This recognition for some of our key leaders reflects their ability and experience – and it also reflects the skill and hard work of the teams that they lead.”

In all, 14 of the Walkers’ Jersey team are recognised in the directory – six of them for the first time.

Partners Marc Seddon and Robert Dobbyn and senior counsel Daniel Read and Sevyn Kalsi are named as “Next Generation Partner” and senior counsel Christophe Kalinauckas and Guy Morris, along with senior associate James Turnbull, are listed as “Rising Star”.

Jonathan Heaney, the managing partner of the Jersey office, said: “Our bench of senior counsel and associates is incredibly strong, and that is reflected by the recognition by Legal 500. Having worked with some of these lawyers as they have progressed through the firm, I’m delighted by this element of the Legal 500’s research and findings, and I congratulate the team on their achievement.”