New global head of Ogier Banking and Finance practice cites fund finance growth

The new Global Head of Ogier's Banking and Finance practice has cited growth in its global fund finance business, as the law firm announces a number of senior team changes following recent partner appointments.

Cayman Islands-based Angus Davison takes over the global role, whilst partner Katrina Edge has taken on responsibility for the European region, covering Guernsey, Jersey and Luxembourg.

With a particular focus on providing regulatory and other advice to international banks and other financial institutions with Cayman Islands branches or subsidiaries, Angus also advising clients on debt issues, facility arrangements and Islamic Finance structures.

Meanwhile, Katrina advises clients on a wide range of financing and corporate transactions with a particular focus on secured lending, fund financing, property financing and restructuring transactions as well as advising clients in connection with the establishment, acquisition and disposal or real estate holding structures. 

Also as part of the changes, partner Dan Richards has returned to Jersey after a successful four years establishing Ogier's Luxembourg practice, joining the firm's experienced finance team in Jersey to take forward its European finance practice from the jurisdiction.

Recently the firm has acted for borrowers and lenders on a number of major cross-border financing transactions, including for a multinational investment bank and financial services company in the £500m financing of a UK real estate portfolio, and advising numerous banks as lenders in relation to senior facilities provided to NetInvest to refinance existing indebtedness and finance the €1.1bn acquisition of Skrill Group.

The moves coincide with the publication last month of the latest Legal 500 UK 2016 guide, in which the firm’s Banking and Finance practice received another top tier ranking and was described as ‘truly excellent’. In the guide, Katrina was named as a leading individual and praised as ‘knowledgeable, pragmatic and commercial’.

Commenting on future growth prospects, Angus said: "Being endorsed as a 'truly excellent' global banking and finance practice is testament to the hard work and dedication of the team right across our jurisdictions spanning Asia, the Caribbean and Europe. These latest team changes, together with having been able to add considerable strength to the team in recent months with partner appointments in Guernsey and Cayman, means we are in a very strong position.

“We have really galvanised our expertise in fund finance and, as the demand increases for cross-border financing touching North America, Europe and Asia, this is an area where we see strong potential for growth. We are unique in combining a balanced practice where we act for the lender on approximately 60% of our fund finance instructions, with significant volume, having advised on over 100 transactions totalling in excess of US$8bn in the last two years.”