Welcome to the Finance Sector Development Unit

The Commerce and Employment Department has a wide mandate designed to develop and support a diversified economy.  As part of that role the Department is responsible for developing and promoting financial services business in Guernsey.  The Finance Sector Development Team is primarily responsible for preparing policy and legislation relating to financial services specifically and commerce generally.

The work of the team covers many aspects relating to finance business and is detailed in the Commerce and Employment Department’s business plan

The Staff

Jarrod Cowley-Grimmond
Director – Finance Sector Development
Commercial Lawyer

Tom Carpenter

Commercial Lawyer

Mat Desforges

Consultant

Jarrod Cowley-Grimmond

Jarrod, joined the Commerce and Employment Department in July 2008.  He previously practised as a Barrister-at-Law in Queensland, Australia, where he predominantly appeared before the Supreme Court and the Federal Court of Australia in commercial matters.

Before being called to the Bar he had previously been a Senior Lawyer in Crown Law, the Queensland Government’s legal advisers. His duties included providing legal advice for the Crown Solicitor, the Solicitor-General, and the Attorney-General on matters involving constitutional law, administrative law, intellectual property and information technology law, corporate governance and general commercial law.

He was educated at the University of Queensland, obtaining a Bachelor of Arts majoring in Economics, and the Queensland University of Technology from where he obtained a Bachelor of Laws (with Honours) and Master of Laws.

Jarrod oversees the preparation of commercial legislation and particularly in relation to issues regarding the development of the finance industry. He works with the Law Officers of the Crown at St James’ Chambers but is seconded to the Commerce and Employment Finance Sector Development team.

Tom Carpenter

Tom Carpenter joined the Commerce and Employment Department in August 2009.  He is qualified as a barrister-at-law at the Bar of England and Wales, and has practised in Cardiff and London.

Immediately prior to joining the Commerce and Employment Department, Tom practised as an employed barrister at the Treasury Solicitor’s Department in London where he advised UK Government ministers, departments and public bodies; and conducted litigation at first instance and in the appellate courts in matters involving civil, constitutional and administrative law.

He was educated at the Universities of Cardiff and Toulouse 1 Sciences Sociales, graduating with a Bachelor of Laws degree (with Honours) in Law and French.  He was awarded a Harmsworth Scholarship and the JJ Powell Prize by the Middle Temple, London, for his Bar vocational studies.

As a Commercial Lawyer for the Commerce and Employment Department, Tom assists in the preparation of commercial legislation, particularly in relation to issues regarding the development of the finance industry. He works with the Law Officers of the Crown at St James’ Chambers but forms part of the Commerce and Employment Finance Sector Development team.

Mat Desforges

Mat Desforges has significant experience in the finance and commercial industries in Guernsey and overseas. Mat has worked in a variety of roles in London, Sydney and Auckland as well as over 10 years in Guernsey. Mat qualified as a Chartered Accountant with PricewaterhouseCoopers and was the Finance and Operations Director for one of the Channel Islands leading law firms for 6 years before working as a consultant. Recent projects, in addition to his work with the Finance Sector Development Unit , include being engaged with a leading local financial institution working on both strategic and operational projects.

Mat has responsibilities for the non-legal aspects of the work of the FSDU and has been involved in Lord Hunt’s 2009 Strategic Banking Review ensuring it runs as efficiently as possible and assisting  Lord Hunt and his team from the start of the review to the delivery of the final reports. 

Other current work which Mat is involved in include, analysis, advice and development of the following:

• Foot Review
• Aircraft Registry
• EU Audit Directive
• EU Alternative Investment Fund Managers Directive
• Company law review
• Limited Partnership review and consultation
• Various International work

Mat was educated at the University of Exeter where he was awarded a Bachelor of Arts with Honours, he has also studied at the University of Bordeaux.  Mat has completed the Institute of Director’s Diploma in Corporate Direction.

Education: ACA
BA (Hons) – Geography (with European Studies) - University of Exeter
Other Universities – University of Bordeaux
IOD Diploma in Corporate Direction

Age: 37