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Voisin Law partners Chris Le Quesne and Frances Littler tell Emily Moore how one of the Island’s oldest law firms focuses on client service and its team’s career development
WHETHER you are buying a house, negotiating a corporate merger or acquisition, or you find yourself involved in a dispute, you will almost certainly need to enlist the services of a lawyer to help see you through the process.
The irony, as Voisin Law partner and Advocate Chris Le Quesne acknowledges, is that: “No one really wants to instruct lawyers; it is something you do because you have to.”
While recognising this, the commercial and corporate lawyer is in no doubt that engaging the right lawyer can make all the difference to a client’s experience, and that is a view shared by all the partners and team members at Voisin Law.
“Our focus is on really understanding what our clients need and giving them clear lines of communication, so that each case can be managed as efficiently as possible,” he explained. “With an emphasis on relationships and communications, clients have direct access to the firm’s partners and, if the partner isn’t available for some reason, the team will have been briefed and will be able to respond to queries.”
Indeed, it is that “open-door policy” which Chris and fellow partner Advocate Frances Littler say is one of the most important elements of the firm’s culture.
“We have a very collaborative environment,” the pair agree. “From the most senior partner to the most junior trainee, everyone can speak to one another and ask questions, something which is essential for the team’s learning and development.”
And that approach to learning and mentoring is one which is particularly important to Chris and Frances, both of whom have first-hand experience of working their way through the firm’s ranks.
The firm supported them both to complete their English law training contract and to qualify as advocates, with their journey to partner demonstrating the firm’s commitment to the “progression of its team”.
As a partner in the firm’s dispute resolution team, Frances relishes the “theatre of court” and the “rewarding nature of being able to put clients’ cases forward”, with her work covering everything from trust, estate and contractual disputes to personal injury and clinical negligence claims, as well as criminal defence work.
In contrast, Chris works on the non-contentious side of the law, saying: “It all goes back to collaboration. I enjoy getting deals done, solving problems and negotiating with colleagues at other firms to complete the deal as quickly and easily as possible for clients.
“While mergers and acquisitions form a large part of the practice, my work also covers banking and finance, fiduciary (corporate and trust), regulatory and transactional advice.”
With much of his team’s work involving offshore entities or onshore assets held in offshore structures, Chris emphasises the “sophistication” of the Island’s legal profession and its role in contributing to Jersey’s status as an international finance centre.
“In such a competitive environment, Voisin Law needs to preserve its niche, which is why we focus so heavily both on building relationships with our clients and delivering that high-quality service. It is important that younger generations want to enter the legal profession to maintain that contribution both to the finance industry and the wider Island.”
While very much focused on that future view, Chris and Frances also take tremendous pride in the firm’s history.
“Voisin Law is one of the oldest, if not the oldest, law firms in the Island,” said Chris. “While we can trace our roots back to 1869, the firm in its present incarnation is more associated with Michael Voisin who, for many years, ran the business under the banner of Michael Voisin & Co.
“Michael retired many years ago, but a number of his colleagues remain with the firm, as partners, consultants or fee earners. With such a rich history, you cannot help feeling a sense of the firm’s legacy when you work here, and that is something we are proud to continue across our corporate/commercial, dispute resolution, property and probate and estate planning departments.”
Supporting the firm’s ambitions of respecting its history while carving out a niche in the modern marketplace, Chris and Frances describe 2025 as a “milestone year” for the business.
“We have recently moved to our new offices in La Motte Street, chosen because of their open-plan nature, which supports our culture of collaborative working,” said Frances.
And showing that they are not afraid to take on a challenge, they launched a new practice management system just two weeks after moving into their new building.
“Taking on the two projects more or less simultaneously was challenging, but the new system will enable our team to become more efficient, which will, in turn, enhance the service we provide to our clients,” said Chris.
As an example of this, Frances highlighted the AI capabilities built into the software, which are already bringing efficiencies to how files are administered.
“Critically, we only use AI to search within our own system, as we are very aware of the pitfalls – as well as the advantages – that come with this technology,” she said.
“We are also very aware that technology will only get you so far,” added Chris. “While it can play a key part in driving a business forward, ultimately it is the team and the relationship you have with your clients that will make the difference.
“And that is where our focus will remain. Having undertaken some significant capital projects this year, we are now in a better position than ever to engage with the marketplace and show our capabilities, and the key message is that although we have best-in-class technology to support our work, the values that have seen this firm prosper over the past 150 years remain at the heart of Voisin Law, and we are now harnessing them to ensure that we continue to thrive in the modern environment.”
