Appleby is set to launch in Guernsey with the hire of four lawyers from rival offshore law firm Ozannes and the relocation of a London partner.

City banking and asset finance team leader David Clark is set to move to Guernsey to head up the new office. He will work alongside new corporate partners Barney Lee and Helen Crossley and litigation and insolvency and private client and trust partners Jeremy Le Tissier and Gavin Ferguson. All four were previously associates with Ozannes.

Appleby said the launch will go live during the spring, with the office to focus on corporate, commercial, private client, litigation, insolvency and restructuring and, following regulatory approval, also fiduciary services.

Chris Ward, the former managing director of the Rothschild Trust in Guernsey, will lead the fiduciary and administration services business.

Appleby's global managing partner Peter Bubenzer commented: "We are very excited about this development. Our entry into the Guernsey market further builds our strength and depth across multiple jurisdictions – providing greater resources and a wider choice to our clients."

"The Guernsey office will offer our corporate, institutional and private clients with greater resources and a broader range of structures and jurisdictions, unmatched by any other offshore law firm."

The launch – which comes after the firm opened offices in the Isle of Man, Seychelles, Bahrain and Zurich during 2009 – will bring the total number of offices to 12. The firm has a total of 800 staff, including 210 lawyers and 79 partners.