Significant growth and development has led to a move to larger premises for Guernsey commercial law firm Ogier.

The firm will be relocating in June to the prestigious offices at Redwood House, the former home of the Bank of Bermuda, on St Julian’s Avenue, which it is renaming “Ogier House”.

Established in the island in 1998 with one partner and one member of staff, Ogier has grown both in terms of size and the range of services it now offers.

Its existing offices at Coutts House, Le Truchot, are no longer large enough to accommodate the growing number of staff which currently stands at 50, headed up by four partners.

Founding partner Advocate Roger Le Tissier said that the move to larger premises reflected how Ogier had developed over the last eight years.

‘When the Guernsey office was first established there was only me and my personal assistant, Caroline Raines. (Now administration manager for the Guernsey office).A lot has happened since 1998 and this significant move is an indication of just how far we have come as a firm,’ said Advocate Le Tissier.

The 17,000 sq ft of office accommodation on four floors at Redwood House will allow Ogier to fulfil plans for yet further expansion.

The firm’s initial focus was on corporate, commercial and investment fund work. Ogier has now broadened its scope to include litigation, securitisation and trust services and already has a strong reputation for its fund work.

One area where future growth is anticipated is within the firm’s fiduciary services department.

Partner and head of the Guernsey Ogier office Advocate William Simpson sees the move to larger premises as the beginning of a new chapter for Ogier.

 ‘Our move to Redwood House underscores Ogier’s arrival as a premier league Guernsey law firm and fiduciary services group,’ he said.

‘The additional space will be a huge advantage to both our clients and staff. It also has the benefit of being centrally located, with client parking as an extra bonus.’

Martel Maides acted in the sale of the property to its present owner, oversaw the refurbishment project and negotiated the lease to Ogier.

Director of Martel Maides, Nick Renny, said: ‘Redwood House has undergone a major refurbishment costing almost £1 million, with the work carried out by local contractors JW Rihoy and Amalgamated Facilities Management.  We were delighted with the quality of the work, which helped attract such a prestigious tenant as Ogier.’