Sinels

There are 3 major points of distinction between Sinels and Channel Islands' and other offshore law firms: Sinels is a specialist commercial litigation firm focusing in particular on the areas of trust, finance and fraud; Sinels has a balanced client base with a substantial number of private clients. The fact the firm does not act solely or primarily on behalf of institutions including banks means, that it has a more forthright and effective approach to litigation and it is not permanently bedeviled with conflicts of interest and duty. Sinels sets the standard in Jersey for an innovative and direct approach to litigation identifying our clients' commercial objectives at the outset and then effecting a strategic plan for accomplishing those objectives thus avoiding a piecemeal and unfocused approach to clients' needs.

The firm

Founded in 1987 Sinels established its reputation by winning landmark commercial litigation cases such as West v. Lazards and Mayo and Others v. Cantrade Private Bank (Switzerland) C.I. Limited and Others.

In 2006 Christopher Lakeman joined the firm from the C.I. group Carey Olsen. A former senior member of the island's government, Christopher has wide experience of multi jurisdictional disputes. He has acted in hostile trust litigation in Jersey as well as applications for directions as to the administration of Jersey law trusts. Like Philip, he specialises in fraud and asset tracing. Mainly for plaintiffs.

The firm acts for a broad base of clients on and outside the Island with particular emphasis on acting for professional trustees, beneficiaries of international trusts and London and on-shore law firms.

Sinels acts for City and West End law firms, professional trustees (based in Jersey and elsewhere) and settlors and beneficiaries of substantial trusts in Europe, USA and the Middle East. The firm has also represented clients in multi- and cross- jurisdictional contract disputes and advises overseas corporate clients with direct and indirect interests in companies incorporated on the Island.

Types of work undertaken:

Multi jurisdictional trust litigation: Sinels is particularly noted in the area of international and offshore trust litigation and has used its experience in this area to set up its trustee advisory practice division, offering advice and providing opinions on non-contentious aspects of offshore trusts. Recent work includes the provision of specialist advice to beneficiaries where trust assets have been frozen, whether informally following a POCL report or formally following action by the Attorney General.

Trustee advisory practice division: Sinels provides services to professional trustees on and off the Island in the form of risk management reviews, review and audit of structures and identification of problems, advice on non-contentious actions, advice on contentious matters and conflict management, seminars, training and current awareness.

Sinels regularly provides seminars to professional audiences in London and Jersey on current or contentious aspects of offshore trusts.

Banking and financial services litigation: Advice is provided as to the taking on of security, financial assistance and relevant insolvency and taxation issues, as well as on injunctions, guarantee advice, loan facilities, mortgages, security and document preparation. Sinels is presently acting for a number of private clients pursuing claims for negligent management of their investment portfolios against banks acting as both trustee and investment manager for investments.

In recent years Sinels participated in a global asset tracing and freezing operation in which more than C$135m was located and frozen as well as the satellite litigation resulting from the BCCI and Grupo Torras cases. Sinels is experienced in obtaining freezing orders and search and seizure orders.

Corporate fraud investigation and asset tracing and recovery: Sinels provides advice on all aspects of international and domestic fraud acting for both high net worth individuals and financial institutions in the identification and recovery of misappropriated or misdirected funds.

General commercial litigation: Sinels has particular experience in minority shareholder oppression actions and problems of corporate governance. We have also acted successfully for international clients involved in international contractual claims litigated in Jersey.

Principal : Philip Sinel

Partners: 2

Fee Earners: 8

Firm Size: 18

The firm is affiliated with: ICC Fraudnet; Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners and Association of Contentious Trust and Probate Specialists.