International offshore law firm Conyers Dill & Pearman has added the provision of Mauritius legal advice and the incorporation of Mauritius global business companies to its list of jurisdictions.

The Mauritius practice will comprise a globally integrated team spanning the firm’s Asian and Middle Eastern offices as well as Mauritius itself. The firm has retained Nicolas Richard and Sameer Tegally, who will be based in Ebene, Mauritius. They will be complemented by lawyers dedicated to practising Mauritius law in the firm’s Dubai and Singapore offices.

Sonia Xavier will provide Mauritius advice out of the firm’s Dubai office and Luchmyparsad Aujayeb (Raaj) will be based in Singapore. Mauritius focused lawyers are set to join the Hong Kong office and, in due course, London.

Chairman John Collis said: “ Mauritius companies are the primary choice for foreign direct investment into India and Indonesia and their popularity is growing elsewhere. Our Dubai office in particular has seen a growing number of gulf firms investing in India, an example of which is the recent announcement by Dubai International Capital that they will be making major investments in India.”

As well as providing legal advice on Mauritius, the firm’s Mauritius office will allow clients access to the key global jurisdictions of Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands and Anguilla, increasing the stable of jurisdictions upon which Conyers Dill & Pearman advises to five.

At the same time, Christopher Johnson-Gilbert has been appointed managing partner at the firm’s London office. Before joining in 2002, he was a partner in Linklaters, based primarily in London, with three years in Hong Kong. He replaces Martin Lane as head of that office, having opened it in April 1998 and having held the reins ever since.

Mr Johnson-Gilbert said: “Martin is one of the firm’s most respected and experienced fee earners and this shift of emphasis will allow him to focus on his client relationships, and in particular to take advantage of  opportunities arising from our expanding network of offices and  recent decision to start a Mauritius law practice.”