Independent recognition reinforces Opera's specialist strategy

Three Opera portfolio businesses have achieved Chambers Band 1 recognition across four leading international trust jurisdictions, reinforcing the group's strategy of bringing together recognised specialists across private wealth, private capital and institutional services.

The latest rankings include:

• Accuro: Trust Companies, Jersey, Band 1

• Accuro: Trust Companies, Switzerland, Band 1

• Meritus: Trust Companies, Bermuda, Band 1

• Oak: Trust Companies, Guernsey, Jersey, Isle of Man and The Bahamas, Band 1

Alongside company recognition, we are delighted to announce Stuart Dowding, Katie Booth, Michelle Wolfe and Barbara Patterson all received Band 1 individual ranking.

These independent recognitions reflect the exceptional client service, technical expertise and professional reputation that each business has built over many years.

Independent recognition that matters

Within the legal, fiduciary and professional services sectors, Chambers is widely regarded as one of the industry’s most respected independent benchmarks.

Its rankings are based on extensive global research, including confidential client interviews, peer feedback and independent market analysis. Firms are assessed across criteria including technical ability, client service, commercial awareness and market reputation.

Achieving a Band 1 ranking is the highest accolade Chambers awards and reflects sustained excellence across each of these areas.

Kim Sgarlata, Group Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director of Opera, said:

"Independent recognition like this reinforces what we have believed from the beginning. Long-term success is built through exceptional people, specialist expertise and trusted client relationships.

These businesses have earned their reputations over many years by consistently delivering the highest standards of service. We are proud to see that recognised independently.

Our ambition at Opera has never been to become a volume operator or all things to all people. We are building a specialist business by design, bringing together businesses with shared values and deep expertise in the areas where we believe clients increasingly need specialist, thoughtful and long-term advice.

Congratulations to everyone across Accuro, Meritus and Oak Bahamas whose professionalism and commitment have contributed to this achievement."

Building depth, not breadth

While each ranking belongs to the individual businesses that earned it, together they reinforce Opera's long-term strategy.

Rather than building a broad generalist financial services group, Opera is deliberately bringing together well-known specialists in areas where it believes it can build meaningful long-term differentiation.

That strategy is centered on three specialist areas:

• Sophisticated international families, entrepreneurs and family offices

• Private capital and the innovation economy

• The increasingly important intersection between private wealth and private capital

As private wealth and private capital continue to converge, clients increasingly require advisers who understand the full picture around them. Opera is investing in specialist expertise that combines institutional-quality capability with relationship-led service, helping clients navigate increasingly interconnected wealth, ownership and investment structures.

As Project Overture continues, Opera will keep investing in exceptional people, operational excellence and technology while encouraging greater collaboration across its portfolio businesses.

Independent recognition from Chambers highlights the strength of Opera’s long-term strategy to unite established industry leaders, creating a specialist financial services group built on expertise, trusted relationships and long-term value.