Five promoted across Ogier's teams in Guernsey

Ogier has confirmed the promotion of five senior professionals across its legal and business services teams in Guernsey.

Sophie Denman, part of Ogier's Guernsey Private Wealth team, Michael Rogers of the Dispute Resolution team and Matthew Macfarlane of the Banking and Finance team have all been promoted to managing associate.

Sophie is a specialist in Guernsey trusts law, with extensive technical experience in advising trustees, settlors, beneficiaries and fiduciary service providers in respect of complex and high-value wealth structures. She has been listed as a Rising Leader in both the 2022 and 2023 editions of the Private Client Global Elite Directory, and earned four STEP excellence awards in 2019 having completed the STEP Diploma in International Trust Management with Distinction and the highest mark globally. "I am excited to continue my career progression with Ogier after a fantastic first year with the firm," she said.

Michael is an Advocate in Ogier's Dispute Resolution team. His practice has a particular focus on corporate insolvency and restructuring, trusts disputes, fraud and asset tracing claims and regulatory investigations. He has practised in Guernsey for over a decade and in that time he has advised fund managers, trustees , leading financial institutions and insolvency practitioners on a range of complex and high value cases. In 2019 he obtained the STEP Advanced Certificate in Trust Disputes with distinction.

"Since joining Ogier six years ago, I have received unwavering support and mentoring in my development and am excited to take this next step," he said.

Matthew, who has also been with Ogier for six years, advises a variety of financial institutions and companies on a wide range of banking, derivatives, corporate, finance and restructuring transactions. He said: "Ogier provides the platform to learn and progress and I am delighted to be part of this team and take the next step of my career here."

Jonathan Branch, who specialises in banking and corporate finance and advises a wide range of financial institutions, alternative lenders and corporates on banking, derivatives, corporate, and finance transactions, has been promoted to senior associate. Since joining Ogier in 2016, Jonathan has also regularly advised in respect of listings on The International Stock Exchange, as well as refinancing, restructuring and reorganisation strategies, together with security enhancement, enforcement of security and insolvency procedures.

"I'm grateful for all the support and guidance which I've been so fortunate to receive throughout my career at Ogier, having progressed from paralegal to senior associate.  I very much look forward to the opportunities and challenges of this new role."

From business services in Guernsey, Holly Gwyn-Griffiths has progressed to assistant business development manager.

"I look forward to the next stage of my career and the opportunities it offers," she said. "Thank you to Ogier for continuing to support me and giving me the platform to progress."

Practice partner Christopher Jones said: "Promoting from within and seeing the progression of valuable members of our team is extremely fulfilling. Staff know that they will get the support to grow in their role and take the next step. Congratulations to these four individuals for their deserved promotions and we look forward to their continued contributions in strengthening our client offering in Guernsey."

Ogier in Guernsey achieved top tier rankings across five of its core services in the Legal 500 UK 2023 guide, including Banking and Finance, Commercial Property, Private Client, Trusts and Tax, Corporate and M&A, and Dispute Resolution.