Walkers announces new Managing Partner

Monday 26 October 2020

Walkers is expanding its office in Guernsey with the appointment of a new Managing Partner.

Matt Sanders has practised in Guernsey for more than 13 years and takes over the role from Partner, Louise Hall who is retiring from the firm at the end of the year.

Mr Sanders joined Walkers' predecessor firm, AO Hall, as a corporate and funds lawyer in 2009 and was made Group Partner in 2011, prior to AO Hall's merger with Walkers in 2016.  

He will continue to jointly lead the Guernsey Investment Funds & Corporate team with Partner, Kate Storey, where he focuses on Guernsey private fund structures, and M&A deals involving regulated corporate service providers and trust companies.

"This is a really exciting time for our Guernsey office," said Mr Sanders. "In the past two years in particular we have seen significant growth not just in the number of partners and staff headcount in the Guernsey office, but also in our reach and reputation in the local and international market as a leading Guernsey law firm.

"A huge amount of credit and recognition must go to Louise for the exceptional work that she has done in building this practice over the last 15 years, having founded AO Hall with Alison Ozanne.

"I've worked closely with Louise since she hired me more than a decade ago and she will be a very tough act to follow."

Walkers' head of the Channel Islands, Fraser Hern, added: "We're very pleased to have Matt take over this leadership role in our Guernsey office, which is rapidly outgrowing its current premises.

"He is a very well-respected lawyer who has been consistently recognised by Chambers and Partners, Legal 500 and IFLR, and is a very popular figure in our Guernsey team.

"I would also like to pay tribute to Louise, who I am pleased to say will be with us until the end of the year, for the way that she has led the team in Guernsey.

"The co-operative and collaborative culture that made AO Hall such an obvious and natural fit for a merger for Walkers is in large part down to her leadership and the direction that she set for the firm. She will be missed when she leaves us, but I am sure she will remain closely connected with the firm."

Walkers' headcount in Guernsey has grown by more than 75% in the last two years.

The island is one of Walkers' ten offices across Europe, Asia and the Caribbean.

More announcements on recruitment in the Guernsey team are set to be made next month.

Pictured top: Matt Sanders.