British Virgin Islands

BVI, April 2026 – Leading offshore law firm Baker & Partners is pleased to announce the appointment of Eltin Ryle as Counsel to the growing BVI office. Eltin specialises in complex dispute resolution and regulatory matters, having previously worked at the BVI’s largest litigation practice. Eltin represented clients in USD 700 million+ commercial disputes before the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court as well as advising fiduciary services firms in relation to regulatory enforcement matters. Eltin has successfully obtained, and successfully defended against, urgent injunctive relief before the BVI Courts. Before moving to the BVI, Eltin worked at Matheson LLP and Byrne Wallace Shields LLP, working on high value commercial matters, including the multi-billion Euro Russian Aircraft litigation case. He also has experience in constitutional law, where he was involved in two landmark Irish State Body cases before a seven member panel of the Supreme Court of Ireland. Baker & Partners BVI Partner, Shaun Reardon-John, commented: “Eltin’s appointment is a key part of our growth in the BVI. His BVI knowledge and international experience supports our BVI and pan-Caribbean growth trajectory. We warmly welcome Eltin to the team.” This follows the appointment of Senior Associate Olena Golovtchouk and Associate Nina Roheman to the BVI office in recent months. Baker & Partners is an offshore dispute resolution and litigation-only law firm based in the BVI, Jersey, Cayman Islands and London. The firm maintains an independent and conflict-free model to ensure our advice is straightforward, objective and in our clients’ best interests.   Media Contact: Cherith Fothergill E: [email protected]   About Baker & Partners Baker & Partners is a specialist independent offshore litigation and dispute resolution law firm, headquartered in Jersey, Channel Islands with offices in the Cayman Islands, the British Virgin Islands and London. Since 2003, Baker & Partners has been at the forefront of some of the most complex and high value offshore commercial, trust, and asset recovery litigation.

Baker & Partners announces two new hires, Senior Associate Olena Golovtchouk and Associate Nina Roheman, to its growing office in the British Virgin Islands (BVI). Olena’s expertise lies in commercial disputes with a particular focus on cross-border litigation, enforcement, asset recovery and international arbitration. Olena speaks English, Russian and Ukrainian and frequently works with Russian-speaking clients. With over twenty years of experience, Olena previously worked at Osborne Clarke and Gateley Legal. Prior to working in commercial disputes, Olena began her career in immigration and human rights law. Olena joins Baker & Partners in the BVI to support on complex international disputes. Her previous cases often included cross-border disputes related to the laws of Switzerland, Cyprus, Ukraine, Russia, Tajikistan, Kazakhstan and other former Soviet Union jurisdictions. Associate Nina joins the firm with a strong background in commercial and insolvency law, having practised in both the BVI and Saint Lucia. She will support the team across various commercial disputes, enforcement and asset recovery cases. Both Olena and Nina bring a wealth of expertise in international arbitration. BVI Partner Shaun Reardon-John says, “Baker & Partners is delighted to welcome Olena and Nina. I have no doubt Olena and Nina will strengthen our growing team on island and allow us to handle even the most heavy duty cases going forward.” Baker & Partners is an offshore dispute resolution and litigation-only law firm based in the BVI, Jersey, Cayman Islands and London. The firm maintains an independent and conflict-free model to ensure our advice is straightforward, objective and in our clients’ best interests.     Contact Kymianne Frett [email protected]   About Baker & Partners Baker & Partners is a specialist independent offshore litigation and dispute resolution law firm, headquartered in Jersey, Channel Islands with offices in the Cayman Islands, the British Virgin Islands and London. Since 2003, Baker & Partners has been at the forefront of some of the most complex and high value offshore commercial, trust, and asset recovery litigation.  

Mourant, a law firm-led professional services firm, has announced 40 mid-year promotions – an increase of over 40 per cent on the previous year. These appointments include 24 promotions in Mourant Governance Services, reflecting significant growth in the firm's entity management and administration business. Five promotions were also awarded to lawyers in the legal practice and 11 in business services. All promotions are effective from 1 August 2025*. This announcement marks another successful round of mid-year promotions, which provide the firm's employees with a second annual window to progress, supporting workplace motivation and satisfaction. Mourant CEO, Jonathan Rigby, said: "I'd like to congratulate my colleagues on their well-deserved promotions. The year-on-year growth in those progressing mid-year is incredibly encouraging. It speaks to the depth of talent at Mourant and our commitment to nurturing and supporting the next generation of leaders." This latest round of promotions follows the 74 appointments in May, an increase of over 30 per cent on the previous year. In addition, two Channel Islands lawyers were promoted to Partner in March this year. Mourant has also recently welcomed a number of significant new hires, including former Kirkland & Ellis Partner, Brad Hillson, who was appointed Global Head of Private Capital in May. Last month, distinguished Guernsey litigator, John Greenfield, and Tom McLaughlin, previously of Dentons New Zealand, also both joined the firm. *Relevant Cayman promotions subject to immigration approval. For further information please contact: Chloe Whittaker, External Communications and Content Manager: [email protected] About Mourant Mourant is a law firm-led, professional services business with over 60 years' experience in the financial services sector. We advise on the laws of the British Virgin Islands, the Cayman Islands, Guernsey, Jersey and Luxembourg and provide specialist entity management, governance, regulatory and consulting services. We are an international and globally-integrated firm with offices in a number of the world's leading international finance centres, including London and Hong Kong. Our business is intrinsically linked to the global economy and the capital flows that support it. We serve the needs of our clients in all major time zones, facilitating responsible cross-border finance and investment, the pooling and protection of capital and the resolution of disputes. Our clients include many of the world's leading financial institutions, international corporations, asset managers and institutional investors. We are routinely instructed to work alongside the world's pre-eminent legal, accounting and financial services firms. We have an outstanding reputation for integrity and professional ethics, underpinned by a strong risk management culture. Find out more: mourant.com

Stephen has served as an officer on the committee for several years and will, in the period 2025 -2027, co-chair the committee with Kate McMahon, founding partner of Edmonds Marshall McMahon.   We believe Stephen is the first Channel Islands practitioner appointed as chair of a committee of the International Bar Association which has been in operation for more than seventy years.  This appointment does much to reflect the fact that Stephen has worked tirelessly with successive attorneys general to craft structures  and methods of international asset recovery and repatriation which have been widely adopted elsewhere, which remain functional to this day, and which have done much to enhance the reputation of Jersey as an international finance centre.   The focus for Stephen’s tenure in office is the rule of law. This was the founding theme of the IBA when it was established in the aftermath of WW2 and with a particular aim to promote a rules-based order. The rule of law underpins democracy, human rights, and societal progress. Without it, chaos and corruption can all too easily take root, undermining the very principles that allow societies to thrive. The legal profession must actively defend these principles, educate the public, raise awareness, and hold failing systems accountable.    As Co-Chair, Stephen looks forward to progressing the agenda of the Asset Recovery committee.  This includes the development of a thriving programme of events, the production of expert publications focussed on knowledge-sharing for best practice in the field, and growing its membership.  In this way the committee will create a legal model for asset recovery specialists enabling them to play a full role in upholding the rule of law to the benefit of this and future generations.   The IBA is made up of 80,000 member lawyers and over 190 bar associations spanning over 170 countries.  Stephen is also the Jersey representative of the IBA.   Please connect with Stephen Baker on Linkedin if you would like to stay-up-to date with the Committee’s progress and plans.