British Virgin Islands > Leading commercial firms > Leading commercial firms
Leading commercial firms
Harney Westwood & Riegels is widely acknowledged as being the dominant force in the BVI. The firm has grown significantly in recent years and now boasts 50 fee-earners, including 14 partners. It recently promoted four of its lawyers to partnership: Ross Munro and Tim Clipstone of the investment funds team, Chris Young in litigation and Kissock Laing in the firm’s Anguilla office. In a team comprising some of the jurisdiction’s most-respected lawyers, managing partner Richard Peters, Leonard Birmingham (corporate and M&A), Peter Tarn (banking and finance), Ray Wearmouth (corporate and commercial) and Colin Riegels (banking and finance) stand out. Investment funds partner Kieron O’Rourke ‘ knows the jurisdiction inside out and is very knowledgeable about the law’, commented one client. The firm recently advised Citigroup in connection with a US$600m securities loan relating to Lukoil. AIM listings are another key strength. Other highlights include advising the vendors on the £490m sale of Shell-Mex House in London (home to Pearson and Shell) to Westbrook Partners, a New York-based fund. The firm has seen an increasing amount of work coming from Latin America and Russia.
Conyers Dill & Pearman is first-class, particularly in general corporate and commercial issues, finance transactions and hedge funds. Robert Briant, head of the firm’s BVI office, ‘ earns respect’. Also well known in the jurisdiction, Guy Eldridge specialises in asset and aircraft finance, joint ventures, securities offerings and insurance. On the contentious side, highly respected litigator Mark Forté was recently made partner. The firm is ‘ particularly recognised for having very good funds lawyers and litigators’. It represents several international clients on litigation, insolvency and restructuring. Mark Forté was also appointed to the BVI Government Insolvency Liaison Committee to advise on the development and implementation of insolvency law.
Maples and Calder’s growing practice in the BVI spans corporate and commercial (particularly M&A and joint ventures), finance, investment funds and dispute resolution. The BVI office boasts 17 lawyers, including three partners. The firm has acted for the developers of a five-star hotel, as well as for several of the largest trust companies in the BVI. Investment funds expert Robert McIntyre and corporate partner Clinton Hempel are both highly recommended. ‘ Hempel is very impressive, always my first choice’, one client commented. The firm also fields a strong contentious team, spearheaded by solicitor-advocate Arabella di Iorio.
Ogier opened in the BVI in February 2007, following its merger with well-regarded local firm Walker Smiths. Fielding 11 fee-earners, including two partners, the firm advises on a wide range of areas from corporate and commercial to structured finance, banking, dispute resolution, insolvency and trusts. While ‘ rainmaker’ Simon Schilder specialises in cross-border and multi-jurisdictional M&A, corporate finance and investment funds, Michael Fay spearheads the firm’s ‘ simply outstanding’ contentious team. ‘ Michael is an experienced and technically strong lawyer who consistently produces advice with a clear strategic focus as opposed to simply answering questions of BVI law’, one client noted. The firm acted as BVI adviser to Westbrook Acquisitions LLC on the £504m acquisition of Capelle Properties Ltd; it also acted for Beacon Capital Partners on the acquisition £325m of DV3 Mid City Ltd.
Walkers’ powerful performance in the BVI relies on a particularly impressive transactional track record. The firm has significantly grown its practice and is ‘ definitely one to watch’. Recent highlights include acing for GLG Partners, a leading alternative asset manager, on its US$3.4bn reverse takeover by Freedom Acquisition Holdings Limited. ‘ They have a strong team of lawyers in the BVI’, one client reported. Head of corporate and finance Jack Boldarin is widely acclaimed as one of the island’s top practitioners. Managing partner Heidi De Vries and trusts expert partner Chris Mckenzie are also recommended. The firm’s contentious arm is led by Jack Husbands, a ‘ well-regarded’ litigator. Senior associate Simon Hudd is up and coming.
Appleby boasts five fee-earners, including three partners, in the BVI and 16 lawyers across its international network of offices that have been admitted to practice in the BVI. Corporate expert Alex Erskine is the firm’s BVI managing partner. Recent highlights include acting for Bank of Scotland in relation to the financing of Vanguard Oil & Gas International Ltd, Viking Shipping Ltd and Catley Consulting Limited (to be renamed Bravo Energy Ltd).
At Farara Kerins - Barristers & Solicitors, name partners Gerard Farara QC and Charles Kerins are well-known local practitioners. While Charles Kerins, who mainly focuses on corporate and trusts, is ‘ a very good lawyer’, Gerard Farara QC, head of the firm’s litigation practice, is ‘ a sound litigator with strong commercial skills’.
Forbes Hare spans corporate, investments funds, local business, trusts, dispute resolution and insolvency. William Hare, the firm’s managing partner, is a highly experienced commercial expert, as well as being a well-respected litigator. Glenroy Forbes is in charge of local business, advising a wide range of clients on non-contentious corporate and commercial. The firm boasts two partners and three fee-earners.
O’Neal Webster - Barristers & Solicitors is particularly recommended for its dispute resolution capability. While senior partner and head of litigation Paul Webster QC collects praise as ‘ one of the most prominent practitioners on the island’, managing partner Paul Dennis is also a highly experience litigator and specialises in shipping and admiralty. The firm is a member of Lex Mundi.
Price Findlay & Co’s best-known individuals are name partner and dispute resolution expert Margaret Price Findlay and corporate and trusts and estates specialist Susan Demers. The firm has advised local and international clients on corporate and commercial, real estate, family law, trusts, estates and probate, civil and criminal litigation.
Press releases
Legal Developments worldwide
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Harmonising Anti-Circumvention Protection with Copyright Law
Technological measures are increasingly used by rightholders in order to protect their intellectual property rights in digital content. The effect of such measures is to restrict the access to and the use of digital content, by associating pre-defined and self-executing usage rules with it. Within an increasing number of legislations, technological measures enjoy legal protection against circumvention. However, these new rules have been subject to rather severe criticism, especially from a copyright law point of view, the general claim being that anti-circumvention protection threatens to ruin the delicate balance of interests cast in the provisions of copyright law. -
How to stop fraud before it happens
Stopping fraud before it happens is the ultimate goal of a successful fraud prevention and awareness programme. Whilst it is important that fraud prevention controls are robust and are methodically implemented, too often companies fail to recognize that it is the perception of the likelihood of detection and sanction which discourages a person from perpetrating fraud, rather than the actual effectiveness of the internal controls and anti-fraud measures. -
Consumer Protection Act and leases
The Consumer Protection Act 2008 (“ the Act ”) was assented to on 24 April 2009 and is to come into operation incrementally with the majority of the provisions coming into effect 18 months after the date on which the Act was signed by the President. Accordingly the majority of the provisions of the Act will come into operation on 24 October 2010. -
The impact of competition law changes/developments on M&A activity
The Impact of Competition Law changes/developments (including the practices and policies of the Commission/Tribunal) on M&A activity - with a specific focus on 2008 and also forward looking taking into account expected legislative changes. If possible mention actual company names/cases wherever possible to make it have real life application -
Contributed tax capital: simplicity at last!
By now, many will have heard something about c ontributed tax capital (CTC). A year or so hence, the concept will form part of the South African tax terrain – to the relief of tax practitioners who have had to trawl through the Income Tax Act’s (“the Act”) three-to-four page long definition of a dividend . I certainly heaved a sigh of relief when I read the Revenue Laws Amendment Bill of 2008 (“Bill”). -
The Consumer Protection Bill – Changing the Face of Litigation and Dispute Resolution
The Consumer Protection Bill is the Department of Trade and Industry’s omnibus consumer protection legislation which has been passed by Parliament and is currently awaiting the President’s signature. -
Deliberate manipulation of securities prices will invariably and inevitably be harshly penalised
Deliberate manipulation of securities prices will be harshly penalised. That’s the clear message to emerge from the 17 February 2009 Financial Services Appeal Board case of Michael Berman vs the Financial Services Board . -
Unconstitutionality of the Competition Amendment Bill By Andrew Smith and Emmylou Wewege
It is hoped that the President will refer the Competition Amendment Bill to the Constitutional Court rather than sign it into to law so as to resolve its unconstitutionality and avoid unnecessary litigation. Failure to do so will spark constitutional challenges which will prevent it from being implemented while that litigation unfolds. -
New Laws in the Pipe Line to Decisively Respond to the Challenge of Climate Change
New laws may be in the pipeline in South Africa to address climate change after the South African Finance Minister’s (“the Minister”) Budget speech o n 11 February 2009. In the 2009 Budget speech, the Minister announced specific additional measures which South Africa will implement in responding to climate change. -
Big business beware – the class and derivative actions are coming! by Carl Stein
The trend over the past decade in the USA , and more recently in the UK after the enactment of its new Companies Act in 2006, towards more aggressive shareholder activism seems likely to be followed in South Africa once our new Companies Act becomes operative. This new Act is only awaiting the State President’s signature in order to become law, although it will only come into operation at least one year after the State President does so.
Press releases
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Agrofert Successful in Law Suit against PKN Orlen
PRAGUE (30 June 2009) – The Arbitration court in Prague has decided in favour of company Agrofert Holding (“Agrofert”) in its claim against Polish company Polski Koncern Naftowy Orlen (“PKN Orlen”). The Polish company has to pay, on the basis of decision of the arbiters, a contractual penalty which exceeds EUR 77.2 million (over 2 billion CZK) with accessories. -
UBS CHF 3.8bn share placement
On June 25, 2009, UBS AG (SIX: UBSN) announced that it is offering 293,258,050 newly issued shares from authorized capital to a small number of institutional investors at a price of CHF 13.00 per share. After deducting cast associated with the placement, the amount of new equity capital expected to be raised is approximately CHF 3.8 billion. -
DWS reprises advisory role for MENA Infrastructure fund's investment in Oman's power sector
Denton Wilde Sapte continues to act as legal advisor for MENA Infrastructure Fund, picking up an instruction to advise on its second investment, in which it has taken 32.8% of the shareholding in Oman's United Power Company SAOG (UPC). -
Three partner admissions at Carey Olsen in Jersey
Carey Olsen is strengthening its corporate, finance and fiduciary teams in Jersey by admitting three partners to these key practice areas. -
Penningtons celebrates SRA and Farriers Registration Council tender wins
Penningtons Solicitors LLP's professional regulation group is celebrating two key appointments with the news that it has been successful in tenders to advise both the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) and The Farriers Registration Council. -
Penningtons advises on Trans-Siberian Express luxury travel deal
Penningtons Solicitors LLP has advised international tour operator Australian Pacific Touring (UK) Limited on its purchase of a majority share in GW Travel Limited, the market-leader in long-distance luxury rail tours. GW Travel's flagship holidays are trips on the world-famous Trans-Siberian Express. -
Penningtons trainee encourages young Londoners to choose a career in law
Catherine McCann, a trainee solicitor at Penningtons Solicitors LLP's City office, has been invited to contribute to a new guide published by the London Chamber of Commerce & Industry to help young people consider the many types of jobs available in the capital. -
BAKER & MCKENZIE ADVISES FIBERWEB ON JOINT VENTURE WITH PETROPAR
London/Chicago/Sao Paolo, 26 June 2009 - Baker & McKenzie has advised Fiberweb plc on its proposed joint venture with Petropar S.A. The 50/50 joint venture, which will be named FitesaFiberweb, is intended to create the second largest producer of spunbond and non woven fabrics in North and South America. Completion of the transaction is subject to the approval of both Fiberweb and Petropar shareholders. -
Salans awarded Best European Law Firm
Salans has been awarded a Special Distinction in the Best European Law Firm award category at the 2009 International Legal Alliance Summit & Awards (“ILASA”). -
unit specialising in transaction and financing consultancy
HERMANN Rechtsanwälte Wirtschaftsprüfer Steuerberater and the Munich-based team at Grub Brugger join forces: Joint establishment of a unit specialising in transaction and financing consultancy