Carey Olsen

History and Founding

Carey Olsen traces its roots to 1898, when it was founded in Guernsey, Channel Islands, as the original firm Carey. Over more than a century, through mergers and organic growth, it expanded to become a dominant player in offshore legal services. Today, the firm operates from Guernsey, Jersey, Bermuda, the Cayman Islands, the British Virgin Islands, London, Hong Kong, Singapore, and Cape Town.

Business Model and Practice Areas

The firm is structured as a partnership and generates revenue by providing legal advice to corporate and individual clients across multiple offshore jurisdictions. Its core practice areas include Banking & Finance, Corporate & M&A, Investment Funds & Private Equity, Trusts & Private Wealth, Dispute Resolution & Litigation, Insolvency & Restructuring, Property, and Fintech & Digital Assets. The fintech practice is a branded specialty, ranked by Chambers and Partners across multiple jurisdictions, and has been involved in landmark transactions such as the first Ethereum-denominated fund and decentralized autonomous organizations (DAOs).

Market Position and Clients

Carey Olsen works closely with all major onshore law firms and accountancy practices, often acting as offshore counsel on complex cross-border transactions. Its client roster spans global financial institutions, sovereign wealth funds, ultra-high-net-worth individuals, and family offices. The firm consistently receives top-tier rankings in leading legal directories and is recognized as one of the largest offshore law firms worldwide.

Leadership and Recent Changes

In July 2024, Carey Olsen appointed a new executive leadership team. Alex Ohlsson transitioned from group managing partner to group chairman, succeeding John Kelleher (who remains a partner). Michael Hanson (Bermuda-based) and Simon Marks (Jersey-based) were appointed as group managing partners, sharing leadership. Other key leaders include Gavin Woods as Deputy Managing Partner (Bermuda), Sam Dawson as Managing Partner (Cayman Islands), and Bernadette Carey as Deputy Managing Partner (Cayman Islands). The firm does not use traditional C-suite titles; the group managing partners function as the equivalent of a CEO office.

Fintech and Digital Assets Leadership

Carey Olsen has one of the few dedicated fintech and digital asset departments ranked by Chambers and Partners. It advised on the world’s first Bitcoin investment fund and the first digital asset exchange-traded fund. The firm's expertise covers licensing, fund formation, and regulatory advice for cryptocurrency, blockchain, and decentralized finance businesses.