Ogier has been recognised for the third time in a year for its employment law services in the Channel Islands.  The latest accolade comes from Deal Makers Global Awards 2011 who name Ogier as ”Employment and Labour Law Firm of the Year - Channel Islands.”

This follows on from Corporate International Magazines 2010 Legal Awards where Ogier was identified as the “Employment/Labour Law Firm of the Year in the Channel Islands” and at the Magazine’s Global Awards which also chose Ogier as the 'Domestic Employment Law Firm of the Year in the Channel Islands' last year.

Ogier’s Employment Team advises on all aspects of employment law in both Guernsey and Jersey and the team includes United Kingdom employment law specialists as well as locally qualified experts. 

Michael Little Heads up the Ogier CI Employment team and is a specialist employment practitioner.  Having previously held the post of HR, Training and Development Director for the Ogier Group for five years, (and holding an MSc in HRM) he offers a very unique skill set of lawyer and HR professional with vast experience of both islands employment law matters.

He commented “I am very pleased to see our employment practice making such a positive impact in both islands with this series of endorsements.  We have had a dedicated pan-island employment team in place for a number of years now which I believe is key.  More and more of our clients have a presence in both Jersey and Guernsey and really appreciate the seamless pan-island service we can provide.”

In 2010, Ogier’s employment  team dealt with a number of contentious and non-contentious employment issues across different industry sectors, in particular, finance and retail, and advised on employment related disputes of all kinds, including mediations, Royal Court and Tribunal proceedings. The team also advices regularly on regulation of undertakings, right to work and immigration issues.

Ogier also advised on what is arguably the most significant employment instruction seen in both Jersey and Guernsey in 2010 when Waitrose appointed Ogier as legal adviser in respect of their purchase of five substantial retail outlets.  Their entry into the Channel Islands required substantial employment law advice such as advising on the issue of new contracts of employment for over 480 existing employees, the hire of an extra 200 new recruits as well as advising on new staff handbooks and the establishment of many new processes.  Ogier’s Employee Benefits team has also advised Waitrose extensively in respect of their employee incentive scheme arrangements.

Matthew Thompson, Ogier’s Global Head of Litigation, said “Our employment practice has gone from strength to strength under the leadership of Michael Little. Congratulations are due to him and the teams in both islands for the recognition they are earning for our employment services.”

Corporate Internationals took many weeks to assess the nominees and to finalise a shortlist for this award which included five other law firms.  A panel of expert judges scrutinised the information on each firm and used their own knowledge of the area of the law in selected regions to determine Ogier as the winner.  The DealMakers Global Awards 2011 recognise a select number of leading professional firms, across the globe, for their individual areas of specialisation, within their geographical location.