When contemplating that first leap into the offshore legal market, many lawyers worry about the impact on their future career prospects. It is our job as your recruitment consultants to answer the many questions that discussions around an international move will evoke. Some of the most commonly asked relate to the longevity of an offshore move and your future career prospects if you do eventually need to return home.

Historically, it has been the view of some on the more traditional route to partnership, that a period of your career spent in the offshore sector will not count or may even limit your prospects if/when you choose to return to an onshore firm. Not only is this view outdated, but the opposite has also proven to be the case.

The majority of the lawyers that we have assisted in moves to firms in the Channel Islands end up staying long term and progressing within their firm – either remaining in the Channel Islands or moving to another of their firm’s network of offices in the Caribbean, Bermuda or Asia.

“Time spent in the Channel Islands can in fact be a career springboard”

Some also remain offshore but move in-house, most commonly into the financial services industry. We speak to numerous offshore lawyers who set down roots and remain in the Channel Islands a lot longer than they had ever anticipated when accepting their first job offer. However, as with any move, it won’t be forever for everyone and some lawyers will want or need to return home for a variety of personal or professional reasons. Family considerations, desire for a more familiar cultural environment, or a wish to be closer to loved ones may mean that the time will come when a move home becomes inevitable.

If you do decide to return home, offshore experience gained with the major offshore law firms in the Channel Islands – Ogier, Carey Olsen, Mourant, Appleby, Bedell Cristin, Maples, Walkers, to name a few, is highly respected by top tier onshore law firms.

Examples of firms that lawyers have joined in London after gaining offshore experience in the Channel Islands include:

• Addleshaw Goddard
• Baker McKenzie
• Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner
• Charles Russell Speechlys
• Clifford Chance
• CMS
• DLA Piper
• Greenberg Traurig
• Kirkland & Ellis
• Latham & Watkins
• Linklaters
• Mayer Brown
• Paul Hastings
• Pinsent Masons
• Taylor Wessing
• Travers Smith

This is due to the fact that offshore firms deal with complex international transactions, financial structures, or commercial disputes that require a high level of expertise and specialised knowledge. This experience can translate well when transitioning to an onshore law firm for several reasons:

• Specialised Expertise: Offshore work often involves areas of law such as international tax planning, cross-border transactions, funds, offshore trusts, and complex corporate structures. These are areas that may not be as commonly encountered in onshore practice. Lawyers with offshore experience can bring unique expertise that can be valuable to onshore law firms dealing with international clients and transactions.
• Cross-Border Experience: Offshore lawyers frequently work with clients, counterparties, and legal systems from different jurisdictions. This experience can enhance a lawyer’s ability to navigate complex cross-border matters, which are becoming increasingly important in today’s global legal landscape.
• Complex Problem-Solving: Offshore work involves finding creative solutions within intricate legal frameworks. This skill of identifying innovative solutions can be advantageous when dealing with challenging legal issues in onshore jurisdictions.
• Client Relationships: Offshore lawyers work with high-net-worth individuals, multinational corporations, and financial institutions. Building and maintaining relationships with such clients can be transferable to onshore firms that serve similar clientele.
• Onshore Contacts: It’s commonplace for offshore instructions to come via onshore law firms. As an offshore lawyer at an elite firm, you will routinely work in close collaboration with senior lawyers across the top tier of the onshore legal sector. Building quite the network.
• Due Diligence and Compliance: Offshore work requires a keen understanding of regulatory and compliance issues, as well as thorough due diligence. This expertise can be relevant when working with onshore clients who have international interests or need assistance with compliance matters.
• Attention to Detail: Offshore work demands a high level of attention to detail due to the complexity of legal structures and financial arrangements. This skill is valued in all legal settings and can contribute to a lawyer’s success in onshore firms.

Views have changed dramatically in recent years. Far from an offshore move limiting your options if you do decide to return home, time spent in the Channel Islands can in fact be a career springboard, particularly for regional lawyers looking to move into the City market. Of course, you might just decide that with great work, low tax and the laid back island lifestyle, on balance, London life really isn’t all it’s cracked up to be.

At Origin Legal, we’ve been guiding lawyers through these moves for almost 25 years. If you’d like an honest, informal conversation about whether it’s right for you, we’d be delighted to help.