Leman Solicitors has completed a merger with international law firm Ogier.

Ogier advises many of the world's leading corporations and financial institutions across key financial centres in Europe, Asia and the Americas.

Through the merger, Ogier Leman plans to scale up its domestic practice – including dispute resolution, corporate, real estate and employment, as well as bringing in innovative services in ESG.

The transaction closed on 22 March, and the merger has been announced to employees in both firms. In Ireland, the firm will go to market as Ogier Leman LLP from June 2022 

52-strong team

Ogier Leman's 52-strong team, led by eight partners, will continue to develop its offering in Ireland with a growth plan, and all posts at the firm will be retained.

Leman was established in 2007 by partners John Hogan and Larry Fenelon (small picture). Leman has particular strengths in corporate, real estate, employment, financial services, dispute resolution, and restructuring for Ireland-based clients.

For the fifth year running, the firm was recently named as a Great Place to Work Ireland in the Best Small Workplace category.

Ogier is a full-service firm with particular expertise in legal services to the corporate and financial sectors. It practises in the jurisdictions of the British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Guernsey, Jersey, and Luxembourg, with Ireland now added as a result of the merger.

The combined group has 12 offices through Europe, the Caribbean and Asia, with approximately 900 employees and 100 partners worldwide.

Opportunities

John Hogan, founder and managing partner of Leman Solicitors, said: “The opportunities that this merger with Ogier provides starts an exciting new chapter in Leman's growth and development. 

"Leman has a strong, progressive culture, particularly in technology. We set ambitious standards for ourselves, and our focus on excellence is our cornerstone. We are a people-led firm – this is a relationships business and we are so pleased to have found a partner like Ogier, which is also a firm that puts people first and looks to innovation for solutions.

"The merger starts a new phase of investment and growth which will create new opportunities for our people to develop and thrive with the business.

"We are looking to strengthen each of our existing teams to compete in the new legal environment, and to look towards the new markets that Ogier specialises in across the world's international finance centres."

Ambition 

"Our ambition now is to keep investing in our practices and our people, and to grow the business to anticipate client demand as it evolves both in Ireland and internationally."

Ogier's global managing partner Edward Mackereth (pictured) said: "There's an obvious strategic and cultural fit between the two firms – Ogier and Leman consistently put their people first, both firms have an amazing level of talent and development potential, tied with ambitious plans and the mindset to make this both successful and fun along the way.

"We'll build on the best of our respective firms' approaches," he added.