Mourant Ozannes partner, Michael Williams, who has extensive corporate and banking experience and is a BVI qualified solicitor, is relocating to the BVI from the Channel Islands and is joined in the BVI by two new Mourant Ozannes' partners, Rachael McDonald and Shaun Folpp. The firm has also launched a BVI litigation and insolvency practice.

McDonald joins Mourant Ozannes from rival Ogier in the BVI. She has worked previously for Clifford Chance in London and Chapman Tripp in New Zealand. McDonald leads the global BVI corporate and banking and finance teams.

Folpp also joins from Ogier, in the Cayman Islands. He worked previously as the head of commercial and chancery appeals at the Court of Appeal in London. Folpp leads Mourant Ozannes' BVI litigation and insolvency practice.

Simon Lawrenson, head of Mourant Ozannes' BVI practice in Asia, said: "We are seeing strong demand for our BVI legal services, particularly from our clients in Asia. Mike, Rachael and Shaun bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to the BVI team and together we look forward to providing the exceptional client service Mourant Ozannes is known for."

The move comes as the latest growth following the opening of a Hong Kong office in January this year.

Mourant Ozannes advises on the laws of important offshore financial centres including the BVI, the Cayman Islands, Guernsey and Jersey, from these locations and from offices in both Hong Kong and London.

The firm's BVI office focuses on corporate, international finance, investment funds, investment business regulation and insolvency and litigation services.