Mourant grows its London “offshore shop”

01.02.2007 - Mourant du Feu & Jeune, the award-winning offshore law firm, has boosted the size of its London office team which offers multi-jurisdictional offshore services to the financial markets.

Partner Brian Scholfield has been appointed as the new head of the office, supported by a second partner, Gareth Rigby. Both are transferring from Mourant’s Jersey base. Mourant now has four partners supervising the work of the London office, with an additional nine lawyers and plans to recruit more at middle and senior level.

Brian Scholfield qualified as a barrister and solicitor in Canada in 1986. He was made a partner of leading Canadian business law firm Goodmans in 1993 and in 1995 he relocated to manage their Hong Kong office. He qualified as a Hong Kong solicitor in 1997 and as an English solicitor in 1999. He joined Mourant du Feu & Jeune in 1999. He specialises in capital markets, structured finance and funds.

Gareth Rigby began his career in banking, before studying law and being called to the English Bar in 1998. He was sworn in as a Jersey advocate in July 2001 and became a partner of Mourant du Feu & Jeune in 2006. He specialises in funds, corporate and banking law.

Mourant’s focus on the structured finance, banking and funds markets mean that London’s emerging role as the leading global financial centre plays a vital part is Mourant’s strategy. The company is working towards the goal of offering offshore legal and administration services in all of the leading financial centres, onshore and offshore. In London, Mourant du Feu & Jeune shares office space with Mourant’s corporate and fund administration division to provide a seamless service to clients.

Brian Scholfield, the new head of Mourant du Feu & Jeune’s London office, said:

’Having a substantial physical presence in the heart of the City is now a vital part of our business. It allows us to offer clients the choice of having their requirements serviced on the doorstep when required, it provides us with greater flexibility for recruiting the best lawyers, and our proximity to clients and their advisers makes it easier for us to continue to develop new business.’

Stephen Ball, Chief Executive Officer of Mourant du Feu & Jeune, added:

’Our London office is the largest of its type amongst any of the Channel Islands-based law firms, reflecting our deep commitment to providing the best possible service to our clients and contacts in the City. These changes further underline that commitment, and we’re looking forward to recruiting more lawyers this year.’