The Hatstone Group and the Folio Group are merging, subject to regulatory consent.
The merger will create a new group, which will retain the Hatstone name and will operate from offices in the British Virgin Islands, Jersey, London, Malta, Panama and South Africa.
Boutique law firm Hatstone started business in Jersey in 2011 and has also operated from offices in London, Panama and South Africa.
Folio was founded in 2001 in the BVI to provide fund administration services, but has since opened offices in Malta and Panama. It specialises in establishing and administering funds, trusts and business companies and providing fiduciary services.
Hatstone Group Partner Carl O’Shea (pictured) commented: “Before merging, Hatstone did not have an office in the BVI or Malta. Likewise, Folio did not have a Jersey or South Africa office. It therefore seems like a good fit for both businesses.
"The fund, corporate and private client world has changed dramatically in the past few years. More and more of our clients and contacts tend to be multi-jurisdictional, so we need to be too.”
He told BL there would be no job losses as a result of the merger, and that the Panama office of each firm were set to be combined in March.
Daniel Cann, who joined Folio in 2003 as a Director and became its owner the following year, leads the investment funds side of the business and will be looking to expand the new group’s fund offering.
Calum McKenzie, Managing Director of Folio Corporate Services, will head up the group's BVI office.