Finance Sector Development Team
As part of the Commerce & Employment mandate, the Department is responsible for developing and promoting the financial services businesses in Guernsey. The Finance Sector Development Team is primarily responsible for preparing policy and legislation relating to financial services specifically and commerce generally.
Finance Sector Development Team
The work of the team covers many aspects relating to finance businesses and is detailed in the Commerce & Employment Department's business plan.
The Staff
Jarrod Cowley-Grimmond
Director - Finance Sector Development
Commercial Lawyer
Tom Carpenter
Commercial Lawyer
Mat Desforges
Policy Adviser
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.
Mat has responsibilities for the non-legal aspects of the work of the FSDU and has been involved in Strategic Reviews.
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 as well as being an Associate of the ICAEW.