STEPHEN WILLIAM SAVAGE

Stephen is a qualified Manx advocate. He first qualified as a solicitor in Scotland (1994) before being admitted as a solicitor in England/Wales and then as an advocate in the Isle of Man. Stephen specialises in business law.

During his career, Stephen has worked in many jurisdictions (Scotland, England, Japan, Turks and Caicos Islands) and has held roles both in private practice and as in-house counsel.

This experience allows Stephen to bring a unique perspective to bear when advising clients in the Isle of Man.

Stephen advises the full range of business clients, large and small, including local businesses, multinationals, individual business persons and HNWIs in all areas: business sales/purchases (assets/shares); shareholder rights and arrangements; commercial contracts including franchise and service contracts; director duties; regulatory advice; corporate governance advice; corporate restructuring and reorganisation; trust administration, trustee duties and beneficiaries rights; charity and non-profit organisation law; finance and lending arrangements; AIM listings; funds; insolvency; e-commerce, crypto and technology law; employment law; GDPR/data protection law; and wills/probate.

Stephen is a Commissioner of Oaths and a Notary Public and offers Notarial Services to clients.

He has also contributed to a number of publications on subjects such as telecommunications, depositor protection regimes and tax information exchange agreements.

Stephen has undergraduate degrees in Science and in Law, as well as a post-graduate Diploma in Legal Practice and a Diploma in Company Direction from the Institute of Directors.

Stephen plays an active role on the Isle of Man IoD Committee and also on the Financial and Professional Services Committee of the Isle of Man Chamber of Commerce.

EUNICE VAN ZYL

Eunice joined SW Legal as a consultant in September 2023.

She graduated from the University of Johannesburg in 2000 and is a qualified attorney in South Africa. Eunice has worked for two highly respected South African law firms and has practical experience in the areas of Dispute Resolution, Financial Services and Compliance, Credit, Banking and Consumer Protection law. She has advised numerous international banks, the JSE Limited, the South African Independent Regulatory Board of Auditors and has also developed training material for the online platform ‘Compliance Online’.

Eunice moved to the Isle of Man in December 2021 with her husband and 3 children. She now joins SW Legal with a wealth of legal experience and aims to use her knowledge of the law to provide consumer-centric useable and meaningful legal solutions to clients.

ANDREW BAKER

Andrew joins SW Legal as a consultant, bringing specialist expertise in financial services regulation, regulatory defence, and financial crime. His dual perspective — as both a former senior regulator and a practising advocate — makes him a distinctive resource for businesses navigating the increasingly complex regulatory environment of the Isle of Man and beyond.

Andrew spent a number of years as a senior enforcement officer at the Isle of Man Financial Services Authority, where he acted as the Authority’s primary representative on insolvency matters and led public interest winding-up cases. During that time he oversaw a comprehensive reform of the Enforcement division’s policies, procedures, and decision-making frameworks, including a full redesign of the director disqualification regime.

His caseload spanned the full breadth of regulatory enforcement: contraventions of the AML Code and Regulatory Rulebook, breaches of the Financial Services Act, Insurance Act, Retirement Benefits Schemes Act, and Collective Investment Schemes legislation, as well as CODA proceedings. He worked closely with the economic crime unit, PIMLIT, the Financial Intelligence Unit, and the Gambling Supervision Commission, and engaged regularly with international counterparts including the FCA, the Jersey Financial Services Commission, and the Serious Fraud Office. Andrew also developed and delivered training to FSA staff on statutory powers and their application in inspections and enforcement actions, contributed to the Isle of Man’s National Risk Assessment and MoneyVal preparation, and co-led the AI Centre of Excellence — a cross-divisional workgroup examining the impact of artificial intelligence on financial services and regulation.

Before joining the FSA, Andrew practised as an advocate on the Isle of Man, building a strong litigation background across the courts, initially in criminal defence before moving into commercial litigation. He returns to private practice and consultancy with that litigation foundation reinforced by his regulatory experience, and now advises businesses, directors, and regulated entities on regulatory risk, compliance matters, enforcement response, and related disputes.

Andrew has gained an array of relevant qualifications including as a Trust and Estate Practitioner, a Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialist, and a Certified GDPR Practitioner. He holds further qualifications in Investment Compliance, International Regulation, and Financial Investigations.

JULIA CRELLIN

Julia joined SW Legal in 2026 where she joined the team as a Consultant Advocate specialising in Private Client matters.

Julia qualified as an Advocate in 2025 and brings a wealth of experience in private client work, trust and company administration, having previously worked in the fiduciary services sector before qualifying as a lawyer. Her appointment further strengthens SW Legal’s Private Client offering, enhancing the breadth of expertise they are able to provide to individuals and across a wide range of matters.

 

Julia’s legal journey is a testament to her dedication and determination. She completed her law degree remotely while balancing full-time work and family commitments, before continuing her studies with the University of Law, where she achieved a Master of Laws (LLM) in Professional Legal Practice following completion of the Legal Practice Course. She went on to successfully complete the Manx Bar examinations as part of the 2023–2024 cohort.

In her role, Julia will focus on advising clients in relation to Wills, Probate, Estate Administration and Trusts. She also brings valuable experience from her time supporting litigation teams on contractual disputes and complex employment matters, providing her with a well-rounded perspective when advising clients.

Beyond her legal practice, Julia is the Education Secretary for the Isle of Man Junior Lawyers Association, where she plays an active role in supporting the professional development of junior members of the profession. She is also a volunteer with Housing Matters, an Isle of Man charity that supports people experiencing homelessness or housing insecurity, reflecting her commitment to giving back to the local community.

Julia’s appointment reflects the firms continued investment in strengthening their legal services and enhancing the support they provide to clients across a broad range of personal and private client matters.

ADAM CLAYTON

Adam joined SW Legal as a consultant in May 2023. He is an Associate of both the Chartered Governance Institute (CGI) and the Chartered Institute of Personnel & Development (CIPD), and brings over 30 years’ experience across a wide range of industries, including finance, legal services, mental health, and business support.

Educated on the Isle of Man, Adam moved to the UK to complete a degree in Accounting and Finance. He has since held several senior leadership roles with Isle of Man–based organisations, including Chief Operating Officer at a law firm and Managing Director of an independent finance company specialising in fiduciary services and asset management. Alongside his consultancy work, Adam currently serves as Head of Finance and Administration at Isle Listen.

Adam’s expertise spans human resources, accounting and finance, tax and legal matters, company secretarial services, insurance, and Isle of Man–regulated business. He brings this breadth of experience to SW Legal, where he supports legal advisers primarily on HR, employment, charity, and recruitment-related matters.

VICKY CRELLIN

Vicky Crellin was appointed Practice Manager in April 2022 less than a year after the firm was established. Vicky has brought with her many years of experience in marketing, communications, PR and administration.

Educated on the Isle of Man, Vicky moved to London for university, she remained in London for the following 20 years where she worked for a number of large firms including the investment banks Credit Lyonnais and UBS Warburg along with investigations and risk mitigation firm Kroll where she was Assistant Director for Europe, Middle East and Africa.

Since moving back to the Island in 2010 Vicky has worked at Milntown as the Events Co-ordinator and was involved in the launch of the Centre for WW1 Internment at Knockaloe, more recently she has worked for another Island based law firm.

Vicky has a degree in Sociology from Goldsmith’s College, University of London and an extensive knowledge of office operating protocols.

If you would like to know more, have a specific enquiry or would like to get in touch for any other reason please contact us.