Joel Hernandez

Overview

I’m a Partner of Mourant LP and Practice Leader of our Funds team in our Jersey office. I'm also the Vice-Chair of the Jersey Funds Association (JFA) which is the industry association that represents Jersey's funds industry. I also Chair the JFA's Legal & Technical Sub-Committee.

I’ve worked in the funds and trust industry since 1997. Prior to joining Mourant Ozannes, I was a senior lawyer at Australia's largest investment fund manager, advising on areas of trust law, superannuation and managed investments for some of Australia's leading investment funds. I also have four years of commercial funds administration experience.

My practice focuses on real estate, private equity and venture capital funds, as well as private joint venture arrangements.

I regularly advise global fund promoters, joint ventures and international service providers across a variety of asset classes with a particular focus on overseas pension and sovereign fund investors investing into Europe.

Professional qualifications

• Undergraduate law qualification, 2000
• Post graduate diploma in legal practice, 2001
• Solicitor of the Supreme Court of New South Wales, 2001 (currently non-practising), not admitted in Jersey
• Masters degree in Commercial Law, 2003

Work Highlights

• Providing Jersey advice to a South-East Asian based pension on the acquisition of the London based headquarters for two global investment banks valued at over £2.6bn
• Providing Jersey advice to Henderson Global Investors (now TH Real Estate) in connection with its $22.6bn joint venture with North American financial services provider, TIAA-CREF
• Acting as primary Jersey legal adviser to a number of sovereign funds and pension funds located in South East Asia in connection with their investment in commercial property in the UK valued at over £4bn
• Advising on the successful fund extensions for TH Real Estate's Central London Office Fund as well as Standard Life's Retail Parks and Shopping Centre Unit Trusts (collectively over £2.5bn in asset value)
• Providing Jersey advice to a Malaysian property consortium, comprising property group SP Setia, Sime Darby and Employees Provident Fund, on the joint venture and financing aspects of the consortium's acquisition of landmark Battersea Power Station. The proposed development will be a 15-year project valued at up to £8bn
• Providing Jersey advice to a consortium of investors on the establishment of Links Healthcare REIT Limited, a £700 million closed-ended collective investment fund that indirectly acquired a property portfolio of 12 private hospitals located throughout the UK. The fund was authorised as a Jersey Expert Fund and listed on the Channel Islands Stock Exchange

What the directories say

In Chambers and Partners UK 2024, Joel is ranked Band 1 in Offshore: Investment Funds. A source comments: "Joel's knowledge is exceptional. He's an absolute standout in the market." Another adds: "There are lawyers that go above and beyond for clients, and then there is Joel above that. He has an enormous value-add practice. I can't see why you would go to anyone else."

In Legal 500 UK 2024, Joel is a Recommended Lawyer in Investment Funds. 

Joel is Highly Regarded in Investment Funds in IFLR1000 2023.

In Legal 500 UK 2023, Joel is a Recommended Lawyer in Investment Funds.

In Chambers and Partners UK 2023, Joel is ranked Band 1 in Investment Funds and described as having a "strong knowledge and is a good operator."

Joel is Highly Regarded by IFLR1000 2022.

"He is extremely responsive, collegiate and has a deep understanding of client needs." Chambers and Partners UK 2021.

"Joel is a standout - his advice is technically sound and commercially oriented" and "will not stop until the client has achieved exactly what they want and need." Chambers and Partners 2020.

IFLR1000 2020 state: "Joel is practical, responsive and always helpful" and "builds an excellent rapport with his clients... underpinned by good commercial legal advice, strong project management skills and the ability to call upon a strong team."

'Clients praise Joel Hernandez for his strong technical understanding.' Chambers Global 2019. 

Joel Hernandez offers "a good blend of technical strength, commercial pragmatism and clear communication." Chambers Global 2019.

Chambers Global 2018 state: "Clients praise Joel Hernandez for his strong technical understanding."

A Ranked Lawyer in Chambers Global 2018.

Ranked as a Leading Lawyer in IFLR1000 2018. 

Who's Who Legal lists Joel as a recommended expert in their 2018 Private Funds Directory.