Frances Watson
Partner
"Technically capable and a pleasure to deal with"
Overview
Overview
I’m a Partner and Guernsey Advocate in the Corporate team.
With over 20 years’ experience, my practice covers a wide variety of corporate and commercial matters, finance, investment funds, insurance, listings, regulatory advice and restructurings.
Prior to moving to Guernsey in 2005, I spent seven years working with Allen & Overy, advising on a wide variety of corporate and corporate finance matters. I joined Mourant in early 2017.
Work Highlights
Advised a company on all Guernsey legal matters relating to its merger with another entity, a multi-jurisdictional transaction which created one of the largest investment managers focusing on specialist lending assets.
Establishment of a new registered closed-ended fund listed on the Bermuda stock exchange, using Guernsey structures to facilitate investment for private wealth investors (principally based in South Africa) into the US multi-family property sector.
Advised Sequoia Economic Infrastructure Income Fund Limited on all Guernsey legal aspects of its £160 million open offer, placing and offer for subscription of new shares being admitted to trading on the LSE, and its £100 million multi-currency facility.
Advised on Guernsey legal matters relating to the establishment of a family office-backed investment vehicle investing into strategic real estate, venture capital and private equity opportunities.
Guernsey counsel to a private investment fund focussing on private equity opportunities in Australia and New Zealand.
Professional qualifications
2007
1999
1993
1995
Memberships
Former Chair of the Commercial Bar Association in Guernsey
Industry recognition
Chambers and Partners UK 2027
Ranked Band 1 in Offshore: Corporate and Finance including Investment Funds.
Legal 500 UK 2027
Ranked as a Leading Partner in Investment Funds, Banking and Finance, and Corporate and M&A, and named as a Recommended Lawyer in Capital Markets.
IFLR1000 2026/2027
Listed as a Market Leader and Woman Leader in the 2026/2027 edition.
Chambers and Partners UK 2026
Ranked Band 1 in Offshore: Corporate and Finance including Investment Funds.
Legal 500 UK 2026
Ranked as a Leading Partner in Investment Funds, Banking and Finance, and Corporate and M&A, and named as a Recommended Lawyer in Capital Markets.
IFLR1000 2025
Listed as a Market Leader and Woman Leader in the 2025 edition.
Chambers and Partners UK 2025
Ranked Band 1 in Offshore: Corporate and Finance including Investment Funds.
Legal 500 UK 2024
Ranked as a Leading Partner in Investment Funds, Banking and Finance, and Corporate and M&A, and named as a Recommended Lawyer in Capital Markets.
Chambers and Partners UK 2024
Ranked Band 1 in Offshore: Corporate and Finance including Investment Funds.
IFLR1000 2024
Listed as a Market Leader and Woman Leader in the 2024 edition.
Legal 500 UK 2024
Ranked as a Leading Individual in Investment Funds, Banking and Finance and Corporate and M&A, and named as a Recommended Lawyer in Capital Markets.
IFLR1000 2023
Listed as a Woman Leader and Market Leader in the 2023 edition.
Legal 500 UK 2023
Ranked as a Next Generation Partner in Banking and Finance and named as a Recommended Lawyer in Capital Markets, Corporate and M&A, and Investment Funds.
Chambers and Partners UK 2023
Ranked in Offshore: Corporate and Finance including Investment Funds.
IFLR1000 2022
Listed as a Market Leader in the 2022 edition.
Legal 500 2022
Ranked as a Leading Individual.
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