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Ogier

QWOMAR COMPLEX, 4TH FLOOR, PO BOX 3170, ROAD TOWN, TORTOLA, BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS
Tortola, St Peter Port, St Helier, London, Hong Kong, Grand Cayman

What we say about the firm's legal practice in British Virgin Islands

Corporate and commercial

Within Corporate and commercial , Ogier is a first tier firm,

Ogier's Ray Wearmouth specialises in all corporate and commercial disciplines - banking, capital markets and structured finance matters. Simon Schilder is head of the investment funds practice. The practice advised on the $2.5bn sale of the BVI company that holds the controlling interest in the major Russian commercial seaport, Novorossiysk Commercial Sea Port. Managing associate Rachael McDonald 'does a great job', and Lee Osborne, who joined as senior associate from an in-house role at Equity Trust, was previously at Harney Westwood & Riegels.

Dispute resolution

Within Dispute resolution , Ogier is a first tier firm,

Ogier's 'responses are quick and its knowledge of insolvency matters is very good'. The team acted for Ennio Zannotti in a multi-jurisdictional shareholders' dispute over the shares in a BVI company. Michael Fay is practice head; managing associate Robert Foote 'has an excellent client manner'; and senior advocate Ray Ng is 'a good advocate'.

Legal market overview

Within Legal market overview,

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.

Trusts/private client

Within Trusts/private client, Ogier is a first tier firm,

Ogier's Zac Lucas joined in 2010 from Harney Westwood & Riegels, where he headed the trusts team. The practice acted on behalf of McDonald's Latin America, including drafting, negotiating and provisioning a bespoke trust deed as part of a sale of franchise rights to McDonald's restaurants in South America. It also advised an UHNW individual in relation to the creation of a bespoke tax compliant trust with reserved powers.

What we say worldwide

Please choose another Ogier office to view full details of what we say in that region, or choose from this list to view a specific editorial reference in context.

Foreign Firms in London

Guernsey

Offices in St Peter Port

Hong Kong

Offices in Hong Kong

Jersey

Offices in St Helier

Cayman Islands

Offices in Grand Cayman

British Virgin Islands

Offices in Tortola

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Legal Developments by:
Ogier

Legal Developments in British Virgin Islands

Legal Developments and updates from the leading lawyers in each jurisdiction. To contribute, send an email request to

  • 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.
    - Bedell Cristin

  • 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.
    - Harney Westwood & Riegels

  • 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. 
    - Harney Westwood & Riegels

  • 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.
    - O'Neal Webster - Barristers & Solicitors

  • 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.
    - O'Neal Webster - Barristers & Solicitors

  • Top marks for Harneys in Chambers 2011 global directory

    International law firm Harneys has once again earned stellar recognition from Chambers and Partners as one of the leading firms in the British Virgin Islands, with its practices in the Cayman Islands and Cyprus and recent expansion into Latin America also receiving positive reviews.
    - Harney Westwood & Riegels

  • BVI Companies and their Advantage in Corporate Structures

    Over 800,000 companies have been incorporated in the British Virgin Islands (“BVI”) since 1984, and whilst many of those companies are purely used as holding vehicles for assets, increasing cross border investments has played a significant role in the increased use of BVI companies globally. Some of the key advantages of BVI companies include:
    - O'Neal Webster - Barristers & Solicitors

  • Sales and Acquisitions of BVI Business Companies

    With the increasing popularity of British Virgin Islands (“BVI”) companies as a business entity worldwide, it is inevitable that these companies will become the subject matter of substantial sales and acquisitions. The briefing seeks to identify some of the structuring options for such a transaction, and the preparatory steps and other issues that may be of relevance.
    - Ogier

  • Managing BVI Companies

    British Virgin Island (“BVI”) companies are owned by their shareholders. The directors act as the shareholders’ agents in being responsible for the day to day running of the company and and having the powers necessary to undertake this role.
    - Ogier

  • Solvent Voluntary Liquidation of BVI Companies

    This briefing is intended to give a brief guide to the steps involved in the solvent liquidation of a business company incorporated in the British Virgin Islands (“BVI”). The liquidation process described (where a company has no liabilities or is able to pay its debts as they fall due) is carried out in accordance with Part XII of the BVI Business Companies Act, 2004 (the “Act”)
    - Ogier
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