Advocates Cains have taken the 'offshore firm of the year' award in Legal Week’s 2007 British Legal Awards.

The ceremony, staged at Old Billingsgate Market in London, was attended by senior business figures, and commentators from the legal profession and wider business community.

Criteria cited by the judging panel as crucial in Cain's success included the company's successful strategic expansion into new markets and the high quality of its client work. Also referred to was the firm's nurture and retention of talent, evident strong leadership and fostering of a cohesive culture. Cains successfully fought off competition from Appleby, Carey Olsen, Mourant and Ogier to secure the title.

Managing Director of Cains, Andrew Corlett said: 'This has been a year of enormous achievement for Cains and the winning of this prestigious award bears testimony to the dedication and excellence of all our employees.'

He continued: 'We have successfully cemented relationships with the City of London and Singapore as a foundation for winning listings work from clients in emerging global economies in India, Russia and China. This strategic focus has seen us play a major role in reinforcing the Isle of Man's position as a key gateway to the world’s Capital Markets.'

Cains' international success was also highlighted in the October 2007 Hemscott Advisers Rankings Guide. This revealed the firm advises eight of the top 100 companies currently listed on London's Alternative Investment Market (AIM), which is more than any other law firm. Those eight clients have a combined market value of ?3,825 million.