Offshore legal, fiduciary and administration service provider Appleby has merged with Dickinson Cruickshank, the largest law firm in the Isle of Man.

Offshore legal, fiduciary and administration service provider Appleby has merged with Dickinson Cruickshank, the largest law firm in the Isle of Man.

The firm will continue to be known as Appleby and the merger is to be effective, once all conditions are met, on 1 October 2009.

Appleby is the first global offshore law firm on the island and the move will see Appleby emerge as the offshore law firm with the widest jurisdictional reach, and become the largest offshore law firm by number of partners.

The firm will now have 73 partners and 200 lawyers, and a total of over 800 staff in nine offices worldwide, including Bermuda, the British Virgin Islands, the Cayman Islands, Jersey, Mauritius, Hong Kong, London, Zurich and the Isle of Man.
 
Dickinson Cruickshank is the largest and one of the longest established firms of advocates on the Isle of Man. Founded in 1899, it is now one of the two dominant law firms on the island with 11 partners, 27 other lawyers, 17 fiduciary service providers and a total staff of 119.

Paul Morris (pictured), Dickinson Cruickshank's senior partner, says: 'We believe that the merger with Appleby, as a global offshore services provider, is not only a first on the island and an invaluable resource for our clients, but it will also provide a huge boost to the Isle of Man's capabilities, status and reputation in the international offshore sector. Appleby's global reach in the key offshore jurisdictions, its recent expansion through Mauritius into the emerging markets in India, Africa and Asia, and its market leading position in international financial centres, will have a significant impact on the breadth, range and choice of services we are able to offer to our Isle of Man and international clients.'

Peter Bubenzer, Appleby's global group managing partner, adds: 'The opportunity to merge with a firm of the size and quality of Dickinson Cruickshank was compelling for us. The firm's focus on their clients' needs and, as the offshore sector evolves, their recognition of the value to clients of truly global resources, as well as a choice of jurisdictions and structures, mirrors our own strategic thinking. The merger will position us as the leading provider of legal, fiduciary and administration services across the offshore world. Our entry into the Manx market further builds our strength and depth across multiple jurisdictions - providing greater resources and greater choice to our clients.'
 
The merger follows the firm's successful opening in Mauritius in 2008, providing clients with greater access to the Middle East, Asian, Indian and African markets, and in Zurich in 2009, offering access to the range of offshore centres to private bank and institutional clients in Switzerland.