“The firm as a whole is structured “ to provide different bridges across the world for investors".

LEADERS LEAGUE. How would you describe Ogier’s Luxembourg offering?

Daniel Richards. Since our launch we have delivered outstanding, compound, year-onyear growth, significantly outstripping organic growth rates. We have within our Luxembourg team many dual-qualified lawyers who bring a wealth of international experience in their individual disciplines, delivering excellent client service at the levels required by international, institutional clients. We act for market-leading and upper-mid-market asset managers based in the US, Asia and Europe; we also act in conjunction with, and as trusted Luxembourg partner to, leading global law firms, particularly firms headquartered in North America. Since the opening of our Luxembourg office in 2012 we have grown from two partners to eight and, importantly, we have been able to promote half of those from within, demonstrating the strength in depth of our position in the Luxembourg market.

How has the Ogier team been impacted by the pandemic?

Our investment in people and technology gave the platform the ability to deliver continuous client service. Long before the pandemic hit, we were providing flexible working arrangements for our people and making sure we had the technology and culture to make them happen, so in that sense the important elements were already in place. In the absence of technological and cultural obstacles to remote working, people’s wellbeing can take its rightful place, front and center. We witnessed regular check-ins, not just from managers but other team members in a concerted effort to make sure people stayed connected across the firm. This included regular internal communications designed to provide reassurance and keep everyone informed.

How does Luxembourg fit into the wider Ogier offering?

In the same way that Luxembourg fits into the broader picture where international capital flows – that could be Asian investors looking at UK real estate assets and using Luxembourg as a bridge between Asia and London, or using the Cayman Islands and Luxembourg as a bridge from the US – the firm as a whole is structured to provide different bridges across the world for investors. Internally, we take a service-line approach, coordinating our efforts across different offices, so that we are fully aligned in terms of our documents, our work and our approach across the jurisdictions in which we operate. In this way, clients can feel confident that they will receive the same high quality of service wherever they and their interests are located. In terms of how we work, François Pfister as our Luxembourg senior partner continues to play a key role with us not just in client relationships, but also in developing and mentoring new colleagues and partners as our team continues to grow rapidly.

“We have pushed forwards globally and locally with root-and-branch D&I and ESG initiatives”.

What does the future hold for the team?

Our aim is to continue our strong growth as a positive contributor to the Luxembourg place financière. Our move here in 2012 was bold and innovative, and one of the particularly pleasing aspects of our growth has been the continuing sense of freshness and dynamism which characterised our start-up phase, continuing now into the mature business characterised by the established critical mass of our team and market position. The firm has made a strong commitment to being a progressive, responsible member of the global community. We have pushed forwards globally and locally with a root and branch Diversity and Inclusion initiative, and with our focus on environmental social and governance (ESG), both as an offering externally for clients and as a focus internally for the firm. Our goal is to be the firm of the future, a place where people can build meaningful, interesting careers and their progression and well-being are valued, and where, collectively, we can make a positive contribution in our local and global communities.