Sam trained and qualified in New Zealand where he specialised in bank financing and capital markets work.  In 2004 he moved to Guernsey, initially working with another major Guernsey law firm before helping to establish the corporate and investment funds practice of the predecessor firm to Walkers (Guernsey) LLP.

Admitted In:
Guernsey
England and Wales (not practising)
New Zealand (not practising)

Qualifications:
LLB (Hons)
Bachelor of Commerce and Administration, Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand
LLM, University of Cambridge, UK

2020 Legal 500 - (Banking and Finance) – Leading Individual - Guernsey

2020 Legal 500 - (Corporate and M&A) – Leading Individual - Guernsey

2020 Chambers Global Guide - (Corporate & Finance including Investment Funds) - "He understands the brief, gets to the point of the issues, knows we're trying to get to a conclusion and is very good at getting it."

2020 Chambers and Partners UK Guide - Notable Practitioner

2020 IFLR 1000 - Highly Regarded

2019 Chambers Global Guide - Notable Practitioner (Corporate & Finance) - "He is an excellent listener with a quietly authoritative style."

2019 IFLR 1000 - Highly Regarded

2018 Legal 500 - (Banking and Finance) – Recommended Lawyer - Guernsey

2018 Legal 500 - (Corporate and M&A) – Recommended Lawyer - Guernsey

2018 Legal 500 - (Investment Funds) Recommended Lawyer - Guernsey

2018 Who's Who Legal - Private Funds (Recommended Lawyer)

2018 IFLR 1000 - Highly Regarded

2018 Chambers UK Guide - (Corporate & Finance) A Notable Practitioner:

"Sources say: 'Sam is a very good listener and has a deep understanding of the law'."

2017 Legal 500 - (Banking and Finance) – Recommended Lawyer - Guernsey

2017 Legal 500 - (Investment Funds) – Recommended Lawyer - Guernsey

2017 Chambers Global Guide - (Corporate & Finance A Notable Practitioner. "Sam Shires is praised for his 'level-headed and commercial' approach to corporate work."

2017 International Who's Who of Private Funds Formation Lawyers

2016 Legal 500 - (Banking and Finance) – Recommended Lawyer - Guernsey

2016 Legal 500 - (Corporate and M&A) – Recommended Lawyer - Guernsey

2016 Chambers Global – Sam Shires draws praise for his ‘deep knowledge of Guernsey law’ as well as his ‘knowledge of the Guernsey funds industry’

2016 Legal 500 – Team Leader Sam Shires is a ‘strong individual’

2015 Chambers Global - 'His particular strength is that he is a great listener, unusually so for a lawyer. I think he is creative and precise in the solutions he provides. He goes beyond the call of duty, he suggests further contacts for us. I also think he is a very good and accurate lawyer.'

2015 Legal 500 - Sam Shires is 'a very competent and experienced lawyer.'

ARTICLES

• Enforcement of Share Security in Jersey and Guernsey – Five Key Considerations - Enforcement of security in Jersey and Guernsey remains relatively rare, and cases before the Islands...
  
• Walkers contributes six chapters to Chambers FinTech Practice Guide 2021 - Walkers has provided six chapters to Chambers and Partners FinTech Practice Guide 2021.The guides pr...
  
• Chambers Global Practice Guide 2021: Fintech – Guernsey: Law and Practice - Of Counsel Sam Shires, senior associate Adam Pickering and associate Chris Knowles have authored the...
  
• New Credit and Finance Legislation to Cover Banks and Non-Bank Lenders in Guernsey - Guernsey’s most recent States of Deliberation meeting has approved a detailed policy letter settin...
  
• LIBOR Transition: What is the impact on existing Guernsey and Jersey security? - 2021 sees the phasing out of the long established London inter-bank offer rate (LIBOR), with global ...
  
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ADVISORY

• Update: Guernsey Corporate Law Changes May 2021 - Guernsey has updated the Companies (Guernsey) Law, 2008 (the “Companies Law”) with effect from 1...
  
• Practical Issues Arising for Financiers and Borrowers in Acquisition Finance Transactions - Our Banking & Finance teams have put together a practical list of issues to consider for lenders and...
  
• Legal Guide to Taking Security in Guernsey - One of the most common parts of our jobs as offshore law Banking & Finance legal specialists is advi...
  
• Legal Guide to Pre-Enforcement Steps Under Jersey and Guernsey Law - The temporary Covid-19 protections offered by the UK government to businesses to prevent them from b...
  
• Perfect Landing - The Benefits of the Guernsey Aircraft Register as a Temporary Register - The Guernsey Aircraft Registry was established in 2013 with the coming into effect of the Aviation R...
  
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MATTERS

• Walkers' Guernsey team advises Platinum Compliance on sale to Ocorian - Walkers has advised on the acquisition of Platinum Compliance – a leading Guernsey-based complianc...
  
• Walkers Advises Apex Group on Major Acquisitions - International law firm Walkers is pleased to have advised leading fund services provider Apex Group ...
  
• Walkers (Guernsey) has Acted for ARC Group on its Recent Restructuring and Management Buy-Out - Walkers (Guernsey) has acted for ARC Group on its recent restructuring and management buy-out. ARC G...
  
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EVENTS

• Walkers Virtual Fundamentals Seminar - Please join us for pre-event networking, followed by a live broadcast of Walkers Fundamentals a...
  
• Walkers Hosts St James Seminar Series 2019 - Walkers is delighted to announce that from the 4 June, we will be hosting our annual series of month...
  
• The Walkers 7th Biennial Fraud & Financial Crime Conference - Walkers will hold its 7th Biennial Fraud & Financial Crime Conference on Friday 9 November 2018...
  
• Walkers to Sponsor Guernsey Funds Forum 2018 - Walkers is to sponsor the Guernsey Funds Forum 2018 taking place at Etc.Venues, London on 17 May 201...
  
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NEWS

• Top Tier Rankings for Walkers Teams in Latest Directory Results - Walkers' Guernsey practice continues to go from strength to strength, as evidenced by the Tier 1 sta...
  
• Walkers' Global Asset Finance Practice Shines on World Stage in 2020 - Walkers is pleased to announce that its global asset finance practice has been recognised for its ro...
  
• Walkers Supporting Junior Triathletes in Guernsey - Walkers' Guernsey is supporting the next generation of Guernsey triathletes with new kit for the 40 ...
  
• Guernsey Practices Leap Up the Rankings in Legal 500 UK - Four of Walkers' legal teams in Guernsey have been promoted up the ranks by the latest edition of th...
  
• Walkers ranked top tier by Legal 500 - London, Jersey & Guernsey - Walkers' London office continues to enjoy its standing as the pre-eminent offshore law firm based in...
  
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MEMO

• (Global) Comparison of Companies - Cayman Islands, British Virgin Islands, Bermuda, Jersey, Guernsey and Ireland - The decision as to where to incorporate an offshore company can only be made based on the specific f...
  
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