The Legal 500 > Caribbean > British Virgin Islands > Corporate and commercial

Conyers is singled out for its advice on large and complex transactions and M&A deals; the group also fields senior funds specialists. Head of the BVI corporate department Robert Briant is focused on M&A and acts for joint venture companies and investment vehicles; he also provides specialist advice to hedge funds and private equity funds, and handles a broad range of financing transactions. Briant recently advised Philips on its acquisition of EPD Solutions, a BVI company that is an innovator in image-guided procedures for cardiac arrhythmias. Anton Goldstein has a broad corporate practice with particular expertise in M&A and private equity work, while Audrey Robertson and Nicholas Kuria are the key names to note at counsel level. Rachael Pape and Marcus Hallan are experienced associates.

Maples Group's BVI corporate group regularly handles a variety of complex matters spanning corporate advisory work, M&A, private equity work and restructurings. In a recent mandate, the team acted for Tate & Lyle on its equity investment into Sweet Green Fields, a BVI company. Richard May's practice is focused on North America and Europe, with particular experience in the natural resources sector, Ruairi Bourke regularly acts on M&A transactions, restructurings and joint ventures, and Chris Newton's expertise includes downstream investment work in the funds space. Guy Williamson was promoted to of counsel.

At Ogier, Ray Wearmouth has led many of the BVI’s most complex and high-profile transactions, and BVI corporate head Michael Killourhy regularly advises on public and private M&A, and complex corporate reorganisations. Killourhy is also highly regarded for his expertise in the use of BVI companies as listed special purpose acquisition companies. Wearmouth and Killourhy recently advised hypermarket chain Lenta on its takeover by Severgroup. Managing associate Rebecca Clark is experienced in multi-jurisdictional M&A deals.

Appleby is 'extremely professional and its response times are very quick'. The BVI office is recognised for its corporate and M&A and corporate restructuring expertise, and fields specialists in the shipping, aviation, energy, natural resources and infrastructure sectors. Jeffrey Kirk is the corporate department head, Andrew Jowett leads the natural resources and mining team, and senior associate  Rebecca Jack has particular expertise in private equity mandates. Robert Varley, who was the funds head at Guernsey law firm Babbé LLP, joined the BVI office, while David Clark relocated to the Bermuda office.

Collas Crill opened its BVI office in 2017 following a merger with local firm Farara Kerins, and has 'a highly responsive, professional and capable team that has the flexibility to accommodate all requests, however urgent, quickly and efficiently'. In 2018, the firm appointed Ian Montgomery, who was previously located in its Jersey office, as head of corporate, finance and funds in the BVI; his core corporate practice includes M&A work, corporate migrations, group restructurings, joint ventures, private equity issues, class rights, corporate governance mandates and directors' duties issues. Additional growth saw senior associates Richard Doyle and Natalie Bell join from Byrne Wallace in Dublin and Harneys, respectively, while associate Christian Hidalgo was hired from Carey Olsen's Jersey office.

Mourant handles a variety of transactional and advisory corporate matters including mergers, joint ventures, private equity work, and corporate restructurings and reorganisations. BVI managing partner Rachael McDonald heads up the BVI finance and corporate department and advises on M&A work, private equity structures, corporate governance and regulatory matters, corporate reorganisations, directors' duties issues and joint venture arrangements. Saraid Taylor is an experienced senior associate and Gary Hall is the associate to note.

O'Neal Webster 'listens to clients' needs, is flexible and reasonable, and resolves issues in a timely manner'. Led by managing partner Vanessa King, the corporate and commercial department is highly regarded for its advice to international investors, companies, trusts, domestic statutory bodies and hospitality companies. Christopher Simpson is also a key adviser, while former managing partner Kerry Anderson now leads the firm's newly established New York office.

The BVI corporate practice at Carey Olsen is 'responsive and commercial in its approach to all matters' and regularly handles significant international M&A mandates involving the BVI; the group is also particularly noted for its advice to BVI-registered clients that are listed on the London Stock Exchange and other exchanges. Clinton Hempel, who divides his time between South Africa and the BVI, is the managing partner of the BVI practice group. Counsels Elizabeth Killeen and Sharon Mungall are also highly regarded.