WARD YATES - Key Persons
Elena has over 15 years' experience advising on Jersey law and appears regularly in the Royal Court and the Court of Appeal. Elena joined Ward Yates as a partner in October 2018 to head the firm's dispute resolution practice.
Elena has a PhD in law from University College London. She qualified as an English barrister in 1992 having undertaken pupillages at 2 Crown Office Row and Erskine Chambers. After working as an in-house lawyer for the BBC she moved to Jersey in 2002 and was sworn in as an advocate of the Royal Court of Jersey in 2012 and prior to joining Ward Yates was a partner of Collas Crill.
Elena is recommended by Legal 500 for her "ability to present complex legal arguments in a succinct and efficient manner" and was most recently described by Legal 500 2020 as "formidable", "exceptionally clever" and "a tenacious advocate" who "shows great commitment to her clients" and who "gets to grip with complex disputes rapidly".
Laura joined Ward Yates in August 2018 as a Senior Associate. She qualified as an English Solicitor with Nigel Harris & Partners in 2009 and has over ten years experience working for a major offshore corporate and trust provider, latterly as an Associate Director in the Private Client Team.
In addition to her legal expertise, both in private practice and in-house, Laura has broad practical experience in the establishment and administration of corporate and trust structures. She was recognised by eprivateclient in 2016 as one of the Top 35 Under 35, and is an Associate of the Chartered Institute of Management. Laura studied history at Durham before completing the Graduate Diploma in Law at Exeter University.
Nick has over 20 years' legal experience, including over 15 years offshore. He has significant expertise advising on the full range of legal, commercial and regulatory issues relevant to the establishment, operation and financing of Jersey vehicles ranging from companies and partnerships through to trusts and foundations. He brings not only his legal expertise but also a practical viewpoint having also acted as a director of several asset holding and financing vehicles.
Nick was named as a leading individual by Legal 500 2020 for banking and finance and has been recommended in the categories of corporate and commercial and private client, trusts and tax. He has been consistently ranked by Legal 500 for a number of years being described as "proactive and to the point"; praised for his ability to "cut through the issues"; a "well-respected" adviser; "first rate" and "an erudite individual with a pragmatic approach"; having "second-to-none technical knowledge". Most recently Legal 500 2020 described him as a "high performing individual" who is responsive and always owns his part of the transaction.
Nick graduated from Durham University in 1991 with a first class degree in Russian, Italian and Philosophy. He qualified as an English solicitor in 1996. He was sworn in as an advocate of the Royal Court of Jersey in 2006 and became a solicitor of the Eastern Caribbean Court (British Virgin Islands) in 2008.
Job Titles:
- Partner
- Member of the Jersey Association of Trust Companies
Victoria is a Committee member of the Jersey Association of Trust Companies and a full member of STEP. She regularly speaks at conferences and provides training to trust companies on a broad range of corporate and trust topics. She is also a member of the Trust Law working group.
Victoria graduated from Exeter University in 1998 with a first class degree in Law. She qualified as a Jersey solicitor in 2001 and was sworn in as an advocate of the Royal Court of Jersey in 2005.