Walkers Sees Increased Demand for Insolvency and Recovery Services in Asia, Corporate and Finance Group Expands in Jersey

GEORGE TOWN, Grand Cayman, May 6 /PRNewswire/ -- Global offshore law firm Walkers is pleased to announce a number of developments in its Hong Kong and Jersey offices that will add significant value to its clients worldwide. The firm has seen burgeoning growth in its insolvency and corporate recovery practice, especially in Asia. To provide more resources to Asian-based clients, Walkers has appointed Global Head of Walkers' Insolvency and Corporate Recovery Group, Guy Locke, as Head of Asia. Walkers has also strengthened its Corporate and Finance presence in Jersey in a further response to the needs of its clients there.

"Asia is an important market for Walkers' Corporate and Financial Restructuring Group and we have recently expanded our capabilities in this field to maintain the high level of responsiveness and client service on which we have built our reputation," Mr. Locke commented. "This coordination between Asia based practitioners and ourselves is crucial to insolvency related remedies.  I am looking forward to assisting our Asia based team in taking our industry leading practice to even greater heights."

Mr. Locke specialises in corporate restructuring and contentious insolvency, as well as matters arising out of distressed investment vehicles. He is consistently recognised as one of the Top 25 Insolvency and Restructuring experts in the world. In addition, Mr. Locke has been honoured in The Lawyer's 'Hot 100 lawyers', 'Global Counsel 3000' and the 'International Who's Who of Insolvency and Restructuring Lawyers'.

Alongside Mr. Locke's appointment, Carol Hall, the head of Walkers' Investment Funds Group in Hong Kong, has been named Managing Partner of the firm's Hong Kong office. A specialist in hedge funds and private equity funds, Ms. Hall has been based in Hong Kong since 1999.  Ms. Hall will assume the role of Managing Partner from Hugh O'Loughlin, who will head up Walkers' Jersey office in the summer as the firm continues to expand its Finance and Corporate Group in Europe.

As Managing Partner for Jersey, Mr. O'Loughlin will leverage his experience in asset finance, capital markets, structured finance and private equity matters to meet the increasing requests from Walkers' clients for expertise in these areas.

Further strengthening Walkers' Finance and Corporate practice in Jersey is the lateral appointment of partner Nigel Weston, who joins from Mourant du Feu & Jeune. Mr. Weston, who is admitted in Jersey and the Cayman Islands will co-head Walkers' Finance and Corporate Group in Jersey alongside partner Alexandra Corner, who is based in both Jersey and London. He brings to Walkers 18 years of post qualification experience and specialises in investment funds, corporate, banking and finance work.

Providing additional capacity will be Neil McDonald who will join Walkers' Jersey office as an associate in the Finance and Corporate Group. Mr. McDonald joins from Slaughter and May in London and specialises in corporate and merger & acquisition work, equity capital markets, asset management, and private equity.

"Our expansion in Jersey allows us to provide greater support to our clients throughout Europe and around the world who are involved in complex cross-border transactions that require Jersey, Cayman Islands or BVI law," said Mr. O'Loughlin. "Working hand-in-hand with the other offices of the Walkers Group, the expanded team in Jersey brings significant additional expertise at a time when many organisations and institutions are looking for new options in financing and asset management."

Walkers' Finance and Corporate Group advises on the laws of Jersey, the Cayman Islands, and the British Virgin Islands, from seven offices around the world. The firm's team of responsive and dedicated attorneys are drawn from top international law firms and from the Bar of England and Wales. The group's expertise covers the full range of practice areas, including banking, projects, acquisition finance and regulatory work, as well as asset finance, structured finance and capital markets, insurance-linked securities, and corporate and financial restructuring.

About The Walkers Group

From offices in the British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Delaware, Dubai, Hong Kong, Jersey, London Singapore and Delaware, the Walkers group provides legal and management services to leading FORTUNE 100 and FTSE 100 global corporations and financial institutions, capital markets participants, investment fund managers, and growth-and middle-market companies. The Walkers group is comprised of leading offshore law firm, Walkers; fund services provider, Walkers Fund Services Limited; and SPV and corporate services providers, Walkers SPV Limited, Walkers Corporate Services Limited and Walkers Corporate Services (BVI) Limited.

Walkers' expertise has been validated by numerous awards including "Offshore Law Firm of the Year" by Alpha Magazine, The Lawyer, PLC Which Lawyer? and Asian Legal Business. Walkers has also been honoured as the PLC Which Lawyer? Yearbook Leading Cayman Islands Law Firm, Who's Who Legal Law Firm of the Year: Cayman Islands and has shared honours for "Offshore Legal Team of the Year" by the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP). Many of Walkers' attorneys have also been recognised by the industry and their peers.

For more information on the Walkers group, visit us on the web at www.walkersglobal.com or contact us by e-mail at [email protected]. To contact Walkers by phone, call our Cayman Islands office at +345-949-0100.

SOURCE The Walkers Group