British Virgin Islands > Leading commercial firms
Leading commercial firms
Harney Westwood & Riegels remains the most acclaimed law firm in the BVI. The firm has seen an impressive growth in the past months, despite the global financial crisis. Six new partners were added in 2008 and a further eight new partners in January 2009. Peter Tarn, 'a phenomenal finance lawyer', the 'extremely dedicated' Leonard Birmingham and the 'outstanding' Ross Munro, collect the most praise from clients. Notable highlights include advising on a US$48m Islamic finance deal for the acquisition of a floating production storage and off-loading vessel, the Armada Perkasa, and to finance the upgrading and refurbishment of the vessel. The matter was spearheaded by Tanya Cassie. On the contentious side, the team led by the 'highly knowledgeable' Philip Kite, was involved on the largest ever judgment award in the BVI, having successfully reversed the summary judgment and dismissal of Sibir's $2.2bn claim against a number of parties, including Sibneft, one of Russia's largest oil companies. The firm suffered a significant loss, however, following the departure of Ray Wearmouth, who joined rival firm Ogier.
Conyers Dill & Pearman has had an extremely busy past months, with several international clients seeking the firm's 'outstanding expertise, especially in restructuring and contentious matters'. Fairfields Sentry's board of directors instructed the firm in connection with the restructuring of the fund, led by the 'hugely experienced' Robert Briant. Other highlights include advising Xtrata on its $2bn acquisition of five companies, based in BVI and Bermuda, from GlenCore. Fielding three partners and 10 lawyers in the BVI, Guy Aldridge and Mark Forte are also highly recommended.
Maples and Calder is well-known for fielding a 'senior team with depth in experience'. The firm has seen a significant increase in restructuring work, with a large number of its clients being New York fund managers. The firm notably advised one of the largest global banking institutions in connection with the Madoff collapse. Other growth areas include asset finance, aircraft finance and shipping finance, with a number of clients seeking tax and regulatory advice. Cukurova, one of Turkey's largest mobile phone companies, instructed the team in connection with a shareholders dispute. The firm is also a favourite with a number of Russian clients for setting up BVI corporate structures. The firm's most prominent experts include Rob McIntyre and Clinton Hempel. Arabella di Lorio spearheads the firm's contentious team.
Ogier has recently scored a major coup, with the arrival of corporate and finance expert partner Ray Wearmouth from Harney Westwood & Riegels, where he had been a partner in the corporate and commercial team. Wearmouth specialises in all corporate and commercial disciplines, banking, capital markets and structured finance matters. Other leading individuals include the 'very good, commercial, very responsive' M&A, corporate finance and investment funds specialist Simon Schilder. Recent highlights include the restructuring of the Etalon Group, the largest construction development company in North West Russia, as well as a shareholder dispute in connection with an oil project joint venture in Kazakhistan, where the firm acted for the successful party to preserve its $60m investment and board representation. Michael Fay, the firm's BVI managing partner and head of dispute resolution, led the matter. 'He is simply outstanding' one client commented of Fay. Key clients include law firms, banks and fiduciary service providers throughout the world with respect to large multi-jurisdictional transactions and disputes.
Walkers' highly regarded BVI team includes Jack Boldarin, head of finance and corporate, Chris McKenzie in commercial trusts and Richard May, head of private equity and hedge funds. 'The firm is particularly impressive as a whole in the BVI. They clearly field a strong team of lawyers'. Catherine Ross, a hedge funds specialist partner, and formerly at the firm's London office, has also recently joined the BVI team. Recent highlights include acting in connection with the acquisition of WGH Holding by Hamlet Holding II, including in respect of approximately €280m in acquisition facilities from HSH Nordbank. S.A.C. Private Capital, a majority shareholder in CBaySystems, also instructed the firm in connection with CBay's $285m acquisition of% of the outstanding common stock of MedQuist. The loss of former BVI managing partner and highly regarded expert Heidi De Vries, who returned to Walkers' Cayman office to strengthen its BVI law capacity, has been noted as a significant loss.
Michael Burns is Appleby's new managing partner and local group head of the corporate and commercial practice group in the BVI, having recently relocated from Bermuda. Fielding fee-earners (including four partners), the firm's most praised experts include Sally Cox, head of banking and asset finance and Valerie Georges-Thomas, who focuses mainly on funds and investment services, banking and asset finance, property finance and corporate and commercial law. HSBC's New York office recently instructed the firm in connection with a $1bn financing, through its branch in Panama, for the expansion of a large US retailer into Latin America, via the use of deposit and forward sale arrangements which utilised two BVI companies in the structure.
Farara Kerins - Barristers & Solicitors stands out as 'one of the most prestigious local firms in the BVI'. While the 'well-respected litigator' Gerard Farara QC offers experienced advice in corporate and commercial law and insolvency, Charles Kerins is a 'prominent name' with respect to general corporate and trust issues. Dispute resolution partner Tana'ania Small also collects praise for her 'sound knowledge of BVI law'.
At Forbes Hare, managing partner William Hare receives praise for being 'a safe pair of hands in complex litigation issues'. Hare has represented a number of international clients on several commercial and contentious matters. The firm offers BVI law advice on a wide range of issues, including commercial law, corporate finance, corporate law, employment and labor, investment law, joint ventures, regulatory law, torts and wills. Corporate and commercial partner Glenroy Forbes is also well-regarded.
O'Neal Webster - Barristers & Solicitors fields four partners and five associates and spans a broad range of issues, commercial litigation, to banking and finance, mutual funds, IP, real estate, shipping and admiralty and trusts and estates. Senior partner and head of litigation Paul Webster QC is highly regarded for his 'huge experience as a commercial litigator'. Also well regarded are managing partner and head of shipping and admiralty Paul Dennis, and commercial expert partners Vanessa King and Kerry Anderson.
Boutique firm Price Findlay & Co fields two fee-earners. Managing partner Margaret Price Findlay is lauded for her 'professional approach to every matter'. The firm continues to act as local BVI counsel to Marty Steinberg, court appointed Receiver of Lancer Offshore, and The Omni Fund, appointed by the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida. It also provides legal opinions in connection with international business transactions involving BVI companies.