Will is an expert in cross-border mergers and acquisitions of regulated entities and is experienced in advising both vendors and purchasers. He also advises on a range of real estate and asset finance matters, acting for lenders and borrowers in respect of the financing of Isle of Man entities, in particular companies, partnerships and trusts, both in terms of investment and development financing.
Will has significant experience in-house, having worked as in-house legal counsel and managing director at a number of corporate and trust service providers in the Isle of Man. He regularly advises regulated service providers, financial institutions, high-net-worth individuals and SPVs on a full range of corporate, regulatory and trust issues. In addition, Will advises on the creation and operation of trusts and foundations as ‘orphan’ structures for debt restructuring and as the ultimate holding vehicle for PTCs.
Will is qualified both as a Solicitor in England and Wales and as a Manx Advocate.
Expertise
- Financial services regulatory matters
- Mergers and acquisitions
- Real estate and asset finance
- Corporate law
- Restructuring of real-estate holding companies
- Foundations and trusts
- Due diligence
- Corporate governance
Experience
Corporate finance
- Headed a cross-practice team acting as Isle of Man counsel to the incumbent management team of Boston Limited (a class 4 and 5 licence holder regulated by the Isle of Man Financial Services Authority) with the support of Rockpool Investments LLP, a UK mid-market private equity house in connection with a management buyout of the entire issued share capital of Boston Limited.
- Headed a cross-practice as lead counsel to a global service provider in connection with its purchase of the entire issued share capital of an Isle of Man regulated business holding a class 4 and 5 licence.
- Advised the purchaser in relation to the IOM aspects of its purchase of Isle of Man licensed merchant services business from its listed parent. Subsequently advised the licensed entity on: the redrafting of its Money Transmission Services Agreement; the redrafting of its internal services agreements with its subsidiaries in multiple jurisdictions; regulatory advice on its class 8 licence requirements; its Software Maintenance Agreement and its Sub-licence Agreements; and the restructuring of its parent holding structure including the redomiciling of multiple companies into the Isle of Man.
- Advised Asia-based business persons on the preparation of a source of wealth statements to satisfy the requirements of the UK/Isle of Man banking systems.
Mergers, acquisitions and sales
- Headed a team from Keystone’s Corporate and Commercial department acting as lead Isle of Man counsel on Ocorian’s acquisition of Estera.
- Acted as lead legal advisor to a client on the sale of her 45% minority interest in the Class 4 and 5 licence holder regulated by the Isle of Man Financial Services Authority to one of the other minority shareholders.
- Advised an international trust and corporate service provider on the sale of trading subsidiaries in the UK, Luxembourg and Switzerland.
- Headed a cross-practice team acting as Isle of Man counsel to the incumbent management team of Boston Limited (a class 4 and 5 licence holder regulated by the Isle of Man Financial Services Authority) with the support of Rockpool Investments LLP, a UK mid-market private equity house in connection with a management buyout of the entire issued share capital of Boston Limited.
- Headed a cross-practice as lead counsel to a global service provider in connection with its purchase of the entire issued share capital of an Isle of Man-regulated business holding a class 4 and 5 licence.
- Advised the purchaser in relation to the IOM aspects of its purchase of Isle of Man licensed merchant services business from its listed parent. Subsequently advised the licensed entity on: the redrafting of its Money Transmission Services Agreement; the redrafting of its internal services agreements with its subsidiaries in multiple jurisdictions; regulatory advice on its class 8 licence requirements; its software maintenance agreement and its sub-licence agreements; and the restructuring of its parent holding structure including the redomiciling of multiple companies into the Isle of Man.
- Lead legal advisor to the shareholders on the sale of their 100% interest in their Isle of Man-based accountancy practice to another accountancy practice based on the Island.
- Acted as lead advisor to the incumbent management team in connection with a management buyout of the entire issued share capital of Moore Stephens Retirement Solutions Limited (a licensed pension provider regulated by the Isle of Man Financial Services Authority).
- Isle of Man legal advisor to Panoro Energy ASA on the purchase of an Isle of Man company from Tullow Oil PLC.
- Assisted with the sale of a corporate and trust service provider group with trading businesses in the Indian Ocean, Arab Emirates and the Asia.
- Lead legal advisor to an Isle of Man-regulated business on the sale of their book of business to another trust and corporate service providers based on the Island.
- Led a cross-practice team as Isle of Man counsel to the shareholders of Boston Limited (a class 4 and 5 licence holder regulated by the Isle of Man Financial Services Authority) in relation to the sale of the Boston Group to Horizon Capital.
- Led a cross-practice team as Isle of Man counsel to the shareholders of the Jacksons Car Dealership (one of the largest car dealership in UK with sites in the Isle of Man, Isle of Wight, Jersey and Guernsey with over 500 employees) in relation to the sale of the car dealership to Van Mossel, a Dutch automotive group.
- Advised on the proposed sale of shares in Everton Football Club to a subsidiary of 777 Partners Inc.
Corporate insolvency
- Isle of Man restructuring, insolvency and regulatory advice and assistance provided to a Cayman fund, the majority investor in and lead lender to an Isle of Man incorporated and regulated specialist collective investment scheme and a US-based independent investment manager dedicated to providing capital solutions across special situation opportunities in relation to its role as adviser.
- Remedied a distressed CSP’s book of business, working with the regulator and shareholder to find a mutually beneficial outcome. Developed and implemented an extensive corporate governance framework and was instrumental in developing a governance-focused culture within the business. Ran the bidding and due diligence process which resulted in the sale of two books of business to two separate global corporate service providers.
Real estate and asset finance
- Lead legal advisor in relation to the restructure of GBP664,000,000 of loans prior to the further funding of the structure by a joint investor.
- Provision of Isle of Man corporate and finance advice and assistance to an Isle of Man SPV (which owns a yacht) in respect of a €250,000,000 refinancing of a loan with Credit Suisse.
- Lead legal advisor to a UK-based lender on a GBP10,000,000 loan to an Isle of Man licence holder for the purchase of the Isle of Man regulated entity together with an Irish pensions provider.
- Provided Isle of Man advice in connection with the amendment and restatement of a £16 million loan made available to two Isle of Man companies.
- Led an Isle of Man team providing Isle of Man corporate, finance and property advice and assistance in respect of a refinancing of a £15,000,000 loan to an Isle of Man SPV holding Isle of Man situs commercial real estate.
- Provided Isle of Man banking and finance advice in connection with the amendment and restatement of a USD105,262,500 loan made available to an Isle of Man company on four separate occasions in 2023 and 2024.
Financial services regulatory matters
- Advised a client in relation to significant regulatory action against it by the Isle of Man Financial Services Authority (Section 14 Directions and the Section 23 Appointment of Grant Thornton’s UK Fraud Investigation Team) lasting 9 months and covering over 3 million documents. The onsite engagement included advising the client on all aspects of its AML/CFT and regulatory compliance, review of client files and transactions, complete overhaul of the clients regulatory, corporate governance and AML/CFT and risk framework.
- Advising an Isle of Man-regulated business on a number of regulatory issues relating to the fitness and properness of staff members. Advice and assistance with the subsequent regulatory investigation and interviews. Advice in relation to the business’ policies and procedures.
Other
- Advised an online reseller of travel arrangements and holidays on: development agreements for the company’s own reselling website and app; agreements with various large insurers sourcing holidays to be resold; agreements with large multinational online reselling websites; and shareholder agreements and other corporate structuring matters.
- Advised an Isle of Man-based international business and its shareholders in relation to potential unfair prejudice and employment matters arising in relation to settling with a departing shareholder founder and employee.
- Advised an international trading group in relation to the establishment of an Isle of Man Foundation and the structuring of a group holding company to own and oversee its international business activities.
- Advised international business persons on the formation of an Isle of Man trusts to hold their business and personal assets.
- Advised an e-gaming business and its owners on a successful application for an Isle of Man e-gaming licence and structuring the underlying holding and operating companies.
Please note: The experience list above may include examples of work completed prior to joining Keystone Law.
Recognition
Recognised as a Next Generation Partner by The Legal 500 2025 for Isle of Man: Corporate and Commercial
Recognised as a Next Generation Partner by The Legal 500 for Isle of Man: Banking, Finance and Capital Markets (2021-2025)
Recognised by The Legal 500 2024 for Isle of Man: Corporate and Commercial
Recognised as a Next Generation Partner by The Legal 500 for Isle of Man: Corporate and Commercial (2020-2023)
Recognised by The Legal 500 2023 and 2024 for Isle of Man: Insurance and Pensions
Recognised by The Legal 500 2024 for Isle of Man: Venture Capital
“William Margot was excellent in the transaction I worked with him on. He was responsive and dealt with complex issues quickly and efficiently. He dealt with the complex migration of a company and explained things clearly.” The Legal 500 2023
“Will Margot is great! Very knowledgeable and always available.” The Legal 500 2022
Recognised as a Next Generation Partner by The Legal 500 2021 for Isle of Man: Corporate and Commercial
“Will Margot is very responsive, he seems to pick up emails no matter what time of day. He is practical and pragmatic.” The Legal 500 2021
“William Margot has been very helpful, understands local company laws and very helpful with related issues.” The Legal 500 2021
Recognised as a Next Generation Partner by The Legal 500 2020 for Isle of Man: Banking and Finance
Recognised by The Legal 500 2019 for Isle of Man: Banking & Finance and Isle of Man: Corporate and Commercial
Recognised by The Legal 500 2018 for Isle of Man: Banking & Finance
Career
William qualified as a solicitor in 2008. Prior to joining Keystone Law in 2016, he worked at the following firms:
- Maitland
- Close Private Bank
- Cains