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International offshore law practices Harney Westwood & Riegels and Ogier are the largest and second largest firms in the BVI respectively. Conyers Dill & Pearman, Maples and Calder, Walkers and Appleby are the other major international law firms present. Local BVI firms, including Forbes Hare and O'Neal Webster - Barristers & Solicitors, merit mention.
Significant developments within the BVI legal market include Walkers' former corporate and finance partner Richard May joining Maples and Calder, and the latter's joint managing partner Clinton Hempel, who was also a senior corporate partner, retiring from the firm. Withers arrived in the market in 2009, and is mostly focused on litigation, but it is yet to make a serious splash in the market.
In recognition of the BVI's increasing importance globally, we have introduced two new practice areas for research: Dispute resolution and trusts/private client.
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Press releases
The latest news direct from law firms. If you would like to submit press releases for your firm, send an email request to
Legal Developments in British Virgin Islands
Legal Developments and updates from the leading lawyers in each jurisdiction. To contribute, send an email request to
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Through The Open Window - Leveraging Cross-Jurisdictional Opportunities For BVI Property Transfers
Arare congruence of exemptions under the US and BVI tax codes has prompted United States (“U.S.”) citizens holding British Virgin Island (“BVI”) property to undertake inter vivos transfers to their heirs during 2012. -
BVI Funds Update: Exemption from Requirement to appoint Custodian and Manager
On 15 March 2012 the British Virgin Islands Financial Services Commission (the “Commission”) published guidelines for practitioners requesting exemptions for funds from the requirement to appoint a manager, custodian or both (the “Guidelines”). -
VISTA trusts
Different style - Vanessa King looks at VISTA trusts eight years on -
FINANCE 2012
British Virgin Islands -
Investment funds in the BVI
BVI Funds - Legal and structuring considerations- Ogier -
A Brief guide to... British Virgin Islands
So far as tourism is concerned, the British Virgin Islands (the BVI) is described as "Nature's Little Secrets"; in the financial services industry this could not be further from the truth. -
Eastern Caribbean Court of Appral considers enforcement issues in Alfa v Cukurova
On 20 July 2011 the Eastern Caribbean Court of Appeal (“ECCA”) handed down the latest decision in the long running case of Alfa Telecom Turkey Limited v Cukurova Finance International Limited and Cukurova Holdings AS. -
Changes to the EU Savings Tax Regime in the British Virgin Islands
The British Virgin Islands’ Mutual Legal Assistance (Tax Matters) Act, 2003 as amended in 2005 (the “Act”) has given effect in the BVI to EC Directive 2003/48 on the taxation of savings income in the form of interest payments (the “Directive”) for the last six tax years. -
CONTINUATION OF A FOREIGN COMPANY INTO THE BVI
Companies often consider “what if” they could transfer to another jurisdiction based on what is currently happening in their current jurisdiction or simply to take advantage of developments within another jurisdiction. -
DIRECTORS DUTIES – A BVI PERSPECTIVE
Directors of British Virgin Islands (“BVI”) companies have certain fiduciary duties which arise both at common law and under statute. These fiduciary duties ultimately seek to protect companies and their shareholders whose destiny lie primarily in the hands of the directors in charge.the hands of the directors in charge.
Press Releases worldwide
The latest news direct from law firms. If you would like to submit press releases for your firm, send an email request to
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Law Firm Astrea significantly expands Brussels presence
As from 2 May 2012, leading Antwerp-based law firm Astrea has significantly expanded its Brussels office with the recruitment of new Partner Steven De Schrijver and team including Senior Associates Thomas Daenens, Jeroen Mues and Pieter Paepe.- ASTREA -
Delphi advises on merger of OK-Q8 AB and Q8 Danmark A/S
Delphi is advising OK-Q8 AB on the formation of a new Scandinavian group through OKQ8 AB’S acquisition of shares in Q8 Danmark A/S from Kuwait Petroleum Europe BV. Kromann Reumert in Copenhagen advised on the legal due diligence in Denmark.- Delphi -
GENI & KEBE Responds to Questions from British Business Delegation
Investment UK- Francophone Africa -
AVELLUM PARTNERS WON CHAMBERS EUROPE AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE 2012
Kyiv, 15May 2012 – Avellum Partners is proud to inform that it has won the Chambers Europe Award for Excellence 2012 for Ukraine and was recognized as Ukraine Law Firm of the Year. The award ceremony was held in Amsterdam on 10 May 2012. -
Sayenko Kharenko advised on USD 50 mln loan to Ukreximbank
Sayenko Kharenko acted as legal counsel to European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (“EBRD”) in connection with USD 50 million loan to JSC “The State Export-Import Bank of Ukraine” (“Ukreximbank”). -
Ayia Napa marina contract
Our Client MM Makronissos Marina has successfully completed the execution of the BOT contract with the Government concerning the construction and operation of a Marina and a Real Estate development in Ayia Napa. -
The Batang Kali Massacre trial - end of a Very British Cover-Up?
In 1948, Scots Guardsmen shot dead 24 unarmed Chinese labourers in the rubber tapping village of Batang Kali, part of what was then colonial Malaya. -
Bär & Karrer team successfully represents TeliaSonera in a Swiss Federal Supreme Court case
In a judgment rendered on 30 April 2012 (4A_763/2011), the Swiss Federal Supreme Court dismissed an application of Çukurova Holding against Sonera Holding (a subsidiary of TeliaSonera, and at the same time Turkcell's biggest shareholder) for judicial review of an ICC award between the parties. -
2nd Kazakh-British Suppliers Forum was held on 27th of March 2012 in Astana
On 27th of March 2012, the Second Kazakh-British Forum on partnership development among suppliers in the oil and gas industry service sector was held in Astana. About 80 Kazakhstan and British companies attended the event. -
Arbitral Tribunal Orders Respondents to Pay Advance on Costs
Gabrielle Nater-Bass and Melissa Magliana of Homburger's Litigation | Arbitration practice team recently obtained a Partial Award ordering Respondents who refused to pay their share of the advance on costs in an ICC arbitration to make immediate payment to the ICC.