Dickinson Cruickshank duo desert to establish offshore boutique business

ISLE OF MAN firm Dickinson Cruickshank has lost two partners who have defected to launch their own boutique on the offshore jurisdiction.

Insolvency partner Rob Long and commercial property partner Mark Humphrey have formed two-partner firm Long & Humphrey. Until January Humphrey headed Dickinson Cruickshank’s property practice on the Isle of Man.

“It was a case of if we don’t do it now when will we ever?” Long told The Lawyer. “We both wanted to get back to being able to deliver a tailored service to our clients.”

Long & Humphrey took a number of instructions from Dickinson Cruickshank, including one from Kaupthing Singer & Friedlander Isle of Man, the local branch of the Icelandic bank that went into administration last year.

According to Long, while businesses in the jurisdiction have been impacted by the recession, many private individuals on the island have been far less exposed, meaning that Humphrey still has a number of property instructions.

“There are many smaller companies that are winding up and that’s keeping Mark busy,” said Long. “But we need to add to the two partners because there are only so many things that we can do. We’re getting the firm off the ground first but then will be making some strategic hires.”