Johnson-Gilbert has been a corporate partner since 1986 and recently advised companies in Bermuda, the Cayman Islands and the British Virgin Islands (BVI) on investment funds. He was a partner in Linklaters‘ Hong Kong office from 1988-1991.
His main reason for moving is to have more spare time. Conyers is offering him a flexible working arrangement, so he will be working three to four days a week, enabling him to undertake a wine course next year. Johnson-Gilbert was unable to take part in Linklaters’ flexible working scheme, which it has used for some five years, as another partner in his department was already enrolled.
Conyers fits well with his corporate and investment practice and he has referred work to the firm for some 20 years, particularly offshore law aspects of international deals.
Conyers, which has offices in Bermuda, Anguilla, BVI, the Caymans, Guernsey, Hong Kong and Singapore, is keen to develop London. Kieran Loughran, who has worked at Norton Rose and Ashurst Morris Crisp, joins the London office from Caymans firm Quin & Hampson, where he specialised in mutual funds. Roger Burgess will move from Conyers’ Bermuda office to London in January. Martin Lane, who has been assisted for several years by David Stockman, remains the only partner in London.
Lane said the hirings are the result of an increase in funds business, which represents 30 per cent of the London office’s work. Its clients are predominantly Europeans looking to set up investment vehicles offshore.
Clifford Chance lawyer Piers Alexander also joins Conyers’ Hong Kong office, which practises offshore rather than local law.
