Four promoted to Walkers partnership

Walkers has promoted four to partnership in its Jersey office in response to the relaxation of rules governing funds on the island.

The move comes as merger talks between Walkers and Jersey-headquartered Mourant Du Feu & Jeune and Walkers have collapsed, as revealed in The Lawyer (11 February).

Among the promotions are Jersey advocate James Gaudin and Michael Johns, who jointly head Walkers' capital markets, structured finance, banking and asset finance practice areas in Jersey.

Jonathan Heaney, who joined the Jersey team via Walkers' London office, has also been promoted and leads the investment funds practice.

Paul Nicholls has been made a partner in the Jersey litigation team.

Walkers said the anticipated launch of "unregulated" fund regulations in Jersey this month would boost interest in Jersey as a jurisdiction for European managers for various investment funds.

The firm has been building its Jersey presence since it merged with Crills Advocates in July 2006. This was followed in April 2007 with the appointment of Johns and Gaudin, formerly Mourant associates, to the asset finance practice.