Walkers’ Jersey office has added three lawyers across its banking, disputes and investment funds/corporate teams during the lockdown period as growth continues.

The new lawyers – Julia Keppe (senior counsel, Banking & Finance), Tom Fothergill (senior associate, Investment Funds and Corporate) and Charlotte Matthews (associate, Insolvency and Dispute Resolution) – join the firm from another offshore firm, an in-house government position and a City law firm respectively.

Walkers’ Jersey managing partner Jonathan Heaney said: “Continuing to recruit and build our practices is the best possible demonstration of our confidence here in Jersey, and it is particularly pleasing to see growth across all legal disciplines.

“We’re now at the point at which our legal headcount is more than 70% higher than it was just two years ago, and we have more recruitment announcements planned for the coming weeks and months.

“We are also very pleased to welcome senior counsel Guy Morris back to the office after a sabbatical, adding further strength to our Investment Funds and Corporate team.”

Of the newcomers:

·         Julia Keppe is a Banking & Finance specialist who spent over ten years with Debevoise & Plimpton LLP in London and New York before moving offshore in 2018. She advises on fund financings, real estate financings, restructurings and complex leveraged financings.

·         Tom Fothergill is a senior associate in the Investment Funds & Corporate team, and also advises on regulatory matters having been a senior financial services policy adviser in the Government of Jersey on policy and law drafting in relation to AML/CFT, beneficial ownership and economic substance.

·         Charlotte Matthews is an associate in the Insolvency and Dispute Resolution team, who joins the firm from the London office of Stephenson Harwood, where she worked in the marine and international trade disputes team.

Fraser Hern, the head of Walkers in the Channel Islands, said: “This growth in our Jersey team, as well as recent hires in our Guernsey office, reflect our confidence and optimism about the islands.

“I am very pleased to welcome Julia, Tom and Charlotte to the team, and to welcome Guy back to us, and we look forward to making more announcements soon.”