Principal
In 2006, after 25 years in practice, Andrew Rogerson founded the Rogerson Law Group. Since then, the firm has flourished and now has ten lawyers.

Andrew and the firm have won many awards over the years as leaders in the field of asset protection. Andrew was recently honored by being ranked in Chambers High Net Worth Directory and adjudged one of the Best 500 Lawyers in the World by InterContinental Finance & Law Magazine. Andrew’s growing practice focuses on Litigation and Asset Protection, using offshore tax havens, and the Law of Tax Residency. An experienced cross-border advocate, he is a leading authority in Canada on asset protection structures and litigating trust issues – with 11 years’ experience practicing in offshore tax havens.

Andrew’s advocacy work is now largely focused on:

• Trust and estate litigation
• Bankruptcy and family property

His work also encompasses Business migration to Canada. Andrew represents clients as far afield as Dubai and London, where he visits regularly. Andrew’s early practice in insolvency and bankruptcy litigation grew to encompass asset protection with an international focus. He has earned a formidable reputation as a successful litigator, having conducted hundreds of trials, applications and appeals both in Canada and overseas. He also undertakes several pro bono criminal trials each year.

Called to the Bar

Andrew was called to the Bar of England and Wales in 1981 by Middle Temple and served his pupillage in the Insolvency Chambers of Michael Crystal QC, at 3-4 South Square, Gray’s Inn. Since then, his extensive international legal experience includes practicing in South Africa, Australia, the Turks and Caicos Islands, Jersey (Channel Islands), Ontario, Alberta, and as a barrister in London. He is also a Full Member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP).

Representative Work

• Freezing Orders: In a ground breaking development in Cayman Islands law, Andrew and his team successfully applied for a ‘free-standing’ Mareva injunction in Gillies-Smith v Smith (Cause #0173/2011), having previously obtained a Mareva Injunction in Ontario. The freezing order was granted by the Cayman Island Grand Court, following arguments fashioned on basic principles set out by Lord Denning in the very first Mareva injunction – even though there were no substantive proceedings in the jurisdiction. Critically, the judge refused to follow an earlier authority of the court. As a result of the ruling, the free-standing Mareva enables assets located in Cayman to be frozen, in aid of overseas proceedings – even though there is no separate cause of action in Cayman. Andrew’s analysis of the case and its implications is published by STEP Cayman joins the club
• Cross-border Family Litigation: Andrew successfully represented the wife in the case of Wang (Hong Wang (aka Jennifer Wang) and Wei Lin FS-12-377 681) an acrimonious family dispute in the Canadian courts which involved very wealthy spouses who immigrated to Canada from China. The judge had to consider critical issues about the authority of the Canadian court to rule in matters involving highly mobile and wealthy immigrants. The case involved millions of dollars held in overseas tax havens, significant bank accounts, expensive properties in both countries, as well as the couple’s children. Andrew and his team obtained a freezing order on behalf of the wife to prevent her husband moving any assets beyond her reach in a future divorce settlement. This was followed by a similar order in the British Virgin Islands. Child custody issues also arose and Andrew successfully represented his client in resisting claims that she had removed her children from China.
• Asset Protection and Bankruptcy: Andrew acted in another landmark ruling in which the Ontario Superior Court rejected the ‘Collateral Attack’ defence often used in Fraudulent Conveyance litigation. The judgment in the case of Peake v Dashney has wide implications for practitioners engaged in asset protection, trustees in bankruptcy and counsel engaged in attacking or defending dispositions involving Orders made in Family Court property settlements. Andrew’s analysis of the case is published by the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners A New Judicial Trend?

Media & Publications

Andrew writes widely on issues including offshore trust and tax issues, domestic bankruptcy and asset protection. His published articles include:

• Mareva Mechanics: a guide to obtaining cross border freezing orders
• Involuntary Support: comment on a case involving a deceased who gave financial help before his death, to an ex-spouse with whom he had no contact for several decades and no legal obligation to support.

Media

Andrew comments regularly on legal developments for the legal media and gives lectures and presentations such as the following:

• Read Mr. Rogerson’s recent interview with National Post on Panama Paper Leaks
• Andrew Rogerson spoke at a conference on Cross-Border Litigation Strategies– delivered in Toronto on February 19th, 2015
• Interview with the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP)
• Asset Protection Using Offshore Entities – delivered in Toronto on February 27th, 2014
• Pitfalls for Practitioners with Fraudulent Conveyances – delivered in Ottawa on December 5th, 2013
• Bankruptcy and Insolvency Law, An Examination of Recent Jurisprudence: delivered in Toronto on March 2nd, 2012
• A Tax Holiday in Canada? STEP Journal – April 2008

Testimonials

What sets Andrew Rogerson apart from any other lawyer is the peace of mind he delivers when handling any of your legal matters. The worry of any legal matter can be overwhelming, however through his professionalism and developed talent, Andrew eliminates this.

Andrew brings a lot of international knowledge and experience to the table.

… a competent and outstanding lawyer… an excellent litigator who is persistent in his approach and unflinching when confronted with vigorous opposition.

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