Frances Watson

Overview

I’m a Partner and Guernsey Advocate in the Corporate team at Mourant Ozannes (Guernsey) LLP.

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 Ozannes in early 2017.

Professional qualifications

• Advocate, Guernsey, 2007
• Solicitor, England, 1999
• First-class honours degree from Oxford University
• M.Phil. from Oxford University

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.

Memberships

• Former Chair of the Commercial Bar Association in Guernsey

What the directories say

In Chambers and Partners UK 2024, Frances is ranked Band 1 in Offshore: Corporate and Finance including Investment Funds. A source says: "She's a first-class technical lawyer and a pleasure to deal with."

In Legal 500 UK 2024, Frances is ranked as a Leading Individual in Investment Funds, Banking and Finance and Corporate and M&A, and a Recommended Lawyer in Capital Markets. 

Frances is recognised as a Women Leader and Market Leader in IFLR1000 2023.

In Legal 500 UK 2023, Frances is a Recommended Lawyer in the areas of Capital Markets, Corporate and M&A, and Investment Funds. She is also named a Next Generation Partner in the area of Banking and Finance. Frances is described as 'technically capable and a pleasure to deal with.'

Frances is individually ranked in the Chambers and Partners UK 2023 directory in Offshore: Corporate and Finance including Investment Funds. A source quoted in the guide says that Frances is 'a joy to work with.'

Frances Watson is listed as 'Market Leader' in IFLR1000 in 2022.  

Frances is listed in Legal 500, 2022 as a 'Next Generation Partner', 'Key Lawyer' and Leading Individual.

In Legal 500 2021, Frances is described as 'knowledgable.'

'Frances Watson is responsive and detailed', Legal 500, 2021

Chambers UK 2021 states 'she is very strong technically.'

Frances is praised in Legal 500 2020: ‘Frances Watson is very calm but clearly on top of all the issues, without over-complicating the points.’ 

Frances was awarded the 'Individual – Offshore' award at the IFLR Europe Women in Business Law Awards 2019.

Frances is highly regarded by her clients, who report that she has been 'very impressive, very commercial and pragmatic,' adding: 'She is very knowledgeable, responsive and willing to go the extra mile to meet our deadlines.' Chambers UK, 2019.

Frances is 'widely regarded as one of the best technical lawyers in the corporate space in Guernsey', Chambers Global, 2018.

'Very knowledgeable and responsive,' Legal 500, 2018.

'Sources say Frances Watson is a 'very good lawyer who works extremely hard' and 'really does a high-quality job very efficiently',' Chambers & Partners Global, 2017.

Ranked as a Leading Lawyer in IFLR1000, 2017.

Investment Funds highlights for the ‘excellent’ Frances Watson included assisting Sequoia Economic Infrastructure Income Fund on its IPO. Legal 500, 2016.

'The ‘responsive, commercial and practical’ Frances Watson is Recommended' in Corporate and M&A, Legal 500, 2016.