Edmondson will join Mourant Ozannes as a consultant in London on 1 May. He will take over as head of the trusts and private client team on 1 September when incumbent Douglas Close steps down after three years in the post.

Edmondson spent two years as joint senior partner for Farrers (3 May 2011) and also headed the firm’s private client team until he stepped down last May to become a consultant. He joined the firm in 2001 from Nabarro (25 June 2001).

Mourant Ozannes managing partner Jonathan Rigby said the private client team had exceeded its growth targets under Close’s leadership. “It’s testament to that success that we have been able to recruit someone of such international standing as Jim Edmondson,” he added.

Edmondson said in a statement that he was sorry to leave Farrers, but was looking forward to working with another firm which was not in competition with his former practice.

“I’m particularly grateful for the support and cooperation of my colleagues at Farrers in enabling me to take on this exciting new challenge,” he said.

Mourant Ozannes, formed through the 2010 merger between Jersey firm Mourant du Feu & Jeune and Guernsey’s Ozannes (3 February 2010) has a team of private client lawyers advising on British Virgin Island, Cayman, Guernsey and Jersey law.