Advising on the first commercial deployment of blockchain technology in the administration of investment funds helped Carey Olsen in being named Offshore Law Firm of the Year at the 2017 Lawyer Awards.

This advancement and others, such as advising on the establishment of the world's largest-ever technology investment fund, meant Carey Olsen outshone competition from seven other law firms to win the prestigious award, which was announced on Tuesday at a ceremony at the Grosvenor House Hotel, London.

The firm also helped develop the Private Investment Fund and advised on the first three launched in Guernsey. It has helped establish nine funds in the island since the beginning of 2016.

Managing Partner Alex Ohlsson said it was an honour for the firm to be recognised.

"This award recognises our legal excellence, depth and breadth of expertise, commercial strength, market share, innovation and market-leading strategy," he said. "I would like to take this opportunity to thank our clients and intermediaries for their support along with everyone who works at Carey Olsen for their hard work and commitment."

The award follows another very strong year for Carey Olsen, with the opening of its Hong Kong office in November 2016, less than a year after launching its Singapore office.

It has experienced significant growth and received a number of high-value and ground-breaking instructions, including:

  • advising SoftBank Group Corporation on the establishment of the world's largest-ever technology investment fund (the US$100 billion SoftBank Vision Fund LP);
  • advising Liberty Media on its US$8 billion acquisition of Formula One Group from CVC Capital partners;
  • advising Northern Trust on the launch of its blockchain financial product in Guernsey, which has been described as a 'world first';
  • acting for Bank of America, alongside two other creditors, in seeking the liquidation of companies forming a key part of China Fishery Group – one of the world's largest fishery businesses;
  • acting for Hugh Dickson and Paul McCann of Grant Thornton in their capacity as Joint Official Liquidators of Weavering Macro Fixed Income Fund Limited in proceedings in the Grand Court of the Cayman Islands against the Fund's former auditors, Ernst & Young (Cayman and Ireland). The proceedings commenced in 2012 and settled in late 2016.

For more information about Guernsey's finance industry please visit www.guernseyfinance.com.

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