Advocates Cains have been short-listed in the 'offshore firm of the year' category by the judges of Legal Week’s 2007 British Legal Awards, due to be presented on November 28 at Old Billingsgate Market, London.

The awards, re-launched this year to replace the Legal Week Awards, serve to highlight the legal profession’s achievements to the broader business community. This year, for the first time, they will be judged by a panel composed of senior figures and commentators from outside the legal profession, including investment bankers and private sector board-level decision makers.

According to Legal Week, the 'offshore firm of the year' award will be presented to a firm that demonstrates attributes including leadership within its target markets and significant progress in achieving its stated strategic goals during 2007.

Managing Director of Cains Andrew Corlett says the firm is delighted to be short-listed in the intensely competitive and prestigious award category by the organisers of the British Legal Awards. He says: 'This year has seen a number of significant achievements for Cains and we are pleased to have our successes recognised by such a highly regarded organisation.'

A statement continues: 'Throughout 2006 and 2007 we have concentrated on forging closer links with the City of London and other major financial centres. We have actively promoted our services and secured key clients from emerging global economies such as India, Russia and China. Our listings work has enabled the Isle of Man to become the leading offshore domicile of choice for AIM 100 companies and in order to better serve our Asian based clients we have committed to opening an office in Asia by mid-2008.

'The Isle of Man Treasury has provided commercial law firms with a first class competitive platform to engage the major financial centres. Cains, along with I am sure, our colleagues in other Isle of Man law firms, will continue to use this platform to develop and deepen the Isle of Man’s contacts with the global financial community. The inclusion of Cains in the short-list is an excellent endorsement of the Isle of Man’s success in this area.'