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

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 Watson 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 has been 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.