Finance Monthly Global Awards 2016 Edition

58 www.finance-monthly.com Finance Monthly Global Awards 2016 UNITED KINGDOM Contact Details Robert Harman, Cornwall & Harman Floor One, Liberation Station, Esplanade, St. Helier, Jersey JE2 3AS British Channel Islands. Tel: ++44 (1534) 766077 Email: robert.harman@notary.je Web: www.notary.je NOTARIAL SERVICES LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR Personal Bio Born in Bath, England I was educated there briefly and then in nearby Bradford-on-Avon. After completion of my A-levels I moved to London. During this time, I was seconded on various courses but took a shine to those with a legal element. For this reason, I decided to study Law so embarked upon a degree at the University of Hull. Just before university began, I spent three months working on a kibbutz in Israel. During the summer holiday of my second year at university, I spent some time in Texas, working in a department store as well as in an ice-cream parlour! After university I went to the College of Law, Chester prior to moving to Southampton to complete my qualification as a solicitor. In Southampton I met my wife Jacqui, a Health Visitor and in 1986 we moved to her childhood home of the Island of Jersey and soon after had three children. In Jersey I worked for an English law firm Jaques & Lewis, later becoming a partner in the firm, which merged with Eversheds. In 1997 I left the partnership to join with a small trust company of which the Notary Geoffrey Cornwall was a director as I had the wish to diversify and combine both trust and notary work. In 1999 I took the first Notaries’ examination ever to take place in Jersey and in 2000 I was admitted as a Notary Public. Since 2006 I have worked solely as a Notary Public. Outside of the office I like to travel, to read, care for pets and to attend football matches. Winner Profile As Principal of the Island of Jersey notarial firm Cornwall & Harman I am delighted that my firm is the Finance Monthly Global Awards 2016 winner in the category “Notarial Services Law Firm of the Year, United Kingdom” and am most grateful to all those who voted. We have the benefit of a wonderful Reception team who have played their part in the winning of this award. The firm was established in 2000 following my qualification as a Notary Public. At that time I joined Geoffrey Cornwall, who had qualified as a Notary Public in 1974 and who was very well established within the Island. Geoffrey retired from the partnership in 2010 and as a Consultant in 2015. I was most fortunate to have had the benefit of Geoffrey’s huge experience and wisdom. The firm has acted for numerous companies for many years and I would like to think that relationships based upon mutual trust have been fostered. Trust is something that grows with time, however it can be quickly destroyed so it is pleasing that the firm enjoys so many long-term relationships. Prior to working full-time as a Notary Public I spent twenty years working within the finance sector so I am well acquainted with the pressures exacted by clients, which in turn leads me to have a clear understanding of clients’ requirements. Whilst I do try to accommodate clients’ requests I aspire to high ethical standards. We have just moved into new premises in the Esplanade, St. Helier, being at the heart of the financial district in Jersey, which places us in closer proximity to the majority of our clients. The move coincides with investment in new technology with a view to providing an enhanced service. Change of location presents an opportunity to review working practices with an eye to subtle improvements. This year has seen the introduction of a website which includes an online booking facility and this has proved very popular with clients. I am lucky indeed to have been able to call on the services of an external website developer who took great care in creating the website. Aside from acting for many business institutions within the Island we are often instructed by members of the public to deal with personal matters such as assisting with international adoption applications, change of personal name and documentation to be notarised in connection with personal financial matters. The role of the modern Notary Public is extremely varied. It is an interesting occupation in that the Notary Public deals with a very local client base as well as with a very international clientele. Much of my work is concerned with the notarising of “Know your client” documents, notarising documents, in particular Powers of Attorney, for companies and the arranging of legalisation in Jersey and in London, where required, in respect of countries not a party to the relevant Hague convention of 1961. Where this further legalisation is required in London I can arrange using the services of Ross Consular Services Limited. It is important that documents are presented in an appropriate way, it often being the case that different embassies have different requirements. Winner: