Offshore in London Bar

With long-standing experience in litigation and advisory work that covers the business, financial and property sectors, Maitland Chambers has developed notable strength in offshore jurisdictions at both silk and junior level. A recent highlight at chambers has seen Richard Morgan QC representing Broad Idea International against Convoy Collateral in an expedited Privy Council appeal concerning the court’s power to grant freezing injunctions against third parties and in support of foreign proceedings. Thomas Fletcher has been acting in Investec Trust (Guernsey) Ltd v Glenalla Properties Ltd – another Guernsey case in the Tchenguiz saga – in further Guernsey and Privy Council proceedings, while Andrew Westwood QC continues to have a diverse practice in various jurisdictions including the BVI, Cayman Islands and Guernsey.

Serle Court is seen by a number of clients as 'a go-to set in this area' and its members are frequently instructed on heavyweight trusts matters, both contentious and advisory. Chambers' coverage spans the Cayman Islands, Bermuda, the Bahamas, the BVI and Channel Islands, with a recent highlight of Jonathan Adkin QC's global practice seeing him represent the latter party in Winston Wong v Grand View Private Trust Company Ltd & Others, a $15bn trusts dispute at the Bermuda Supreme Court. Several members of chambers are also involved in that matter, including Richard Wilson QC, Jonathan Harris QC and Adil Mohamedbhai, while John Machell QC appeared before the Bermuda Court of Appeal in January 2021 in a different $8bn trusts case. Senior junior Kathryn Purkis, a former managing partner of Collas Crill in Jersey, continues to operate a standout practice in the Channel Islands, her 2021 work covering trusts, fraud and property matters.

A 'go-to set for anything complex', South Square excels in offshore insolvency cases, including some of the biggest matters involving heavyweight allegations of fraud. Tom Smith QC is lead counsel to the plaintiff in Primeo vs HSBC, one of the largest trials in Cayman Island history, and includes two trips to the Privy Council in 2021. Several members continue to be engaged in the fallout of the collapse of private equity house Abraaj, and Felicity Toube QC is working on the long-running AHAB vs Saad litigation. Chambers has a particularly strong Cayman caseload but also acts in a number of significant matters across the Caribbean, with David Alexander QC's litigation-based practice seeing a lot of Hong Kong-related BVI disputes. Exceptional juniors Adam Al-Attar, Toby Brown and William Willson all have experience in some of the biggest recent cases in offshore jurisdictions.

‘One of the pre-eminent offshore sets‘, Wilberforce Chambers has a presence across all of the principal offshore jurisdictions, with expertise in company-related litigation and seen as ‘one of the strongest in the area of trusts.‘ Thomas Lowe QC, John Wardell QC and 2020 silk Andrew Mold QC are acting for different parties in a case regarding an application to wind-up the Torchlight investment fund, which is now one of the longest-running recent Cayman Island cases. Clare Stanley QC is acting for the joint official liquidators of Ardent in BDO (Cayman) Ltd v Ardent Harmony Fund Inc (in Official Liquidation), while David Phillips QC is representing the former party in the politically sensitive litigation Estate Management and Business Development Co Ltd v Namalco Construction Services Ltd & Ors. On the junior side, Graeme Halkerston continues to impress, recently acting for liquidators of Global Steel Holdings in recovery investigations.

Covering insolvency, trust disputes and commercial litigation, XXIV Old Buildings has 'for many years been one of the premier sets with a focus on the offshore market.' Members' work covers a breadth of jurisdictions: in Bermuda, Francis Tregear QC is instructed in the large-scale B Trust litigation before the Court of Appeal. In the Cayman Islands Robert Levy QC has become a go-to name for dissenter appraisal cases, Nicole Langlois is a former litigation partner at Carey Olsen, and as a Jersey advocate gave expert evidence in The Serious Fraud Office & anor v Litigation Capital Limited & ors in February 2021. Other names to note include Elspeth Talbot Rice QC, who continues to be a leading name in offshore litigation, and Stephen Thompson QC, who was particularly active in Bermudan cases recently, including being instructed by Point Investments to oppose a winding up petition and provision liquidation application.

Praised by one client for 'growing and improving all the time', 3 Verulam Buildings had another strong year of offshore work, with highlights including David Quest QC leading Philip Hinks in acting for the former party in Banque Havilland v Christophe Mazurier, a $10m fraud action before the Supreme Court of the Bahamas. In the BVI, Hefin Rees QC is acting for the claimant in Holm v Sancus Financial Holdings, a dispute over the ownership of the newest bank to be licensed in the BVI for the last 20 years, to be heard at the Privy Council in 2021. Among the sets eclectic mix of cases, Hodge Malek QC acted for the trustee of a multi billion dollar Bermudian trust in a judicial review concerning the Bermudian Police Service.

3 Hare Court's offshore work is best known by its representation of government entities, with its public law practitioners displaying 'quality from top on down'. Members frequently appear before the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council, with Aidan Casey QC appearing in several Mauritian cases in that forum. Elsewhere, Tom Poole QC took silk in March 2021, having had extensive experience of appellate advocacy before Court of Appeal, the Privy Council and the Supreme Court. James Guthrie QC continued to work in key cases, including representing Delta Petroleum against British Virgin Islands Electricity Corporation in a Privy Council appeal regarding a contract dispute.

'A highly effective set with increasing strength in depth for offshore work', 4 New Square's practitioners are frequent fixtures in finance-focused matters across the Caribbean, the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands. Commercial litigation specialist Justin Fenwick QC has been leading 2021 silk appointment George Spalton QC in Eurochem v Rogalskiy and others, acting for the claimants in civil fraud proceedings that have reached the Privy Council. Professional negligence and regulatory work are key areas of work for the set in the London courts, and the set's members are equally active in offshore cases of that nature - Graham Chapman QC represents the claimants in Arnage Holding Ltd v Walkers; the claimants allege that the offshore law firm acted for them but then switched sides, accepted instructions to act against them by a liquidator seeking to recover alleged proceeds of the Brazilian Mensalão political scandal.

Essex Court Chambers members are frequent fixtures in in long-standing commercial dispute resolution and chancery commercial litigation across the Caribbean. Paul McGrath QC had a standout year, advising Convoy as the appellant in Convoy v Roy Cho and Broad Idea, which was heard by the Privy Council in February 2021. Appointed silk in March 2021, James Willan QC is retained to act for Madam Yao in her appeal to the Privy Council in shareholder dispute Yao Jun v Kwok Kin Kwok & Crown Treasure Group Ltd.

Members of Fountain Court Chambers bring strong practices in commercial, fraud, banking and financial services, as well as company and insolvency law, to clients needing representation in a range of offshore jurisdictions. Head of Chambers Bankim Thanki QC has been acting for Ukrainian oligarchs Sergii Lagur and Stepan Ivakhiv in an $800m fraud dispute in the BVI, and Ben Valentin QC represents the AwalCo Respondents in the AHAB v Saad litigation. Nico Leslie is the set's standout junior in this area, acting for defendant law firm in the $400m Cayman Islands professional liability case, Arnage Holdings v Walkers. Michael Green QC (as was) was appointed to the Chancery Division of the High Court bench in October 2020.

'Very strong at all levels in the contentious trusts and probate areas', Ten Old Square's members focus their offshore work on private client, trusts and partnerships. A team of Simon Taube QC, Eason Rajah QC and James MacDougald have been acting for the latter party in Dawson-Damer v Grampian Trustee Company in the Bahamian courts, a case which has in the past featured issues about trustees' duties of confidentiality meshing with data protection law. Head of chambers Francis Barlow QC has particular expertise in drafting Offshore trusts.

A long-standing notable chambers for offshore work, 4 Stone Buildings excels in cross-border contentious and advisory work, corporate and commercial disputes, and international trusts and funds.  Orlando Fraser QC led 2021 silk Hermann Boeddinghaus QC in a 12 day BVI Zoom trial in June 2020, acting for the widow and executrix of the estate of a late billionaire in a complex family dispute. On the junior side, Alexander Cook acted as sole counsel in the BVI on a trial over the ownership of a BVI company holding a £2m property in Chelsea Harbour.

Praised for its work trusts and financial remedy cases, 5 Stone Buildings has a small but strong team of members dedicated to offshore work. Shân Warnock-Smith QC continues to be involved in major trust and estate cases across the Caribbean, while Penelope Reed QC specialises in trusts, wills, probate and related tax issues, and is acting for the latter party in the long-running Hayward v Bloom and others trusts dispute before the Grand Court of the Bahamas, concerning the estate of the former Wolverhampton Wanderers owner. On the junior side, Matthew Paton remains involved in complex litigation in the Bahamas, and Jordan Holland is noted for his Channel Island practice. 

Blackstone Chambers has its strengths in public law and commercial disputes, as well as trusts matters, which translate to a solid slate of offshore work across the Caribbean and other commonwealth countries. Sir Jeffrey Jowell QC is noted for advice to governments of the British Overseas Territories on their highest sensitivity matters, and public law expert Tim Parker has recently been instructed in a number of matters in the Caymans involving Hong Kong based companies, and is able contribute experience practicing in the SAR as a full member of Denis Chang’s Chambers.

Erskine Chambers focuses its offshore work on high-ticket Chancery matters, particularly in the Cayman Islands. 'A first port of call for black letter law issues', the sets wider strengths in corporate transactions, restructuring and insolvency, civil fraud and financial services, are all reflected in members' work in offshore jurisdictions. Edward Davies QC was instructed to represent IsZo Capital LP as claimant against Nam Tai Inc in action brought to set a $170 million placement of shares. In Tianrui International v Shandong Cement David Chivers QC acted in complex proceedings in the Cayman Island with connections in Hong Kong and Mainland China, and Michael Todd QC has led Andrew Blake in a number of recent shareholder disputes. Stephen Smith QC retired in November 2020.

Praised  as ‘a brilliant offshore/civil fraud set‘, Twenty Essex has grown its offshore offering in recent years, with Andrew Ayres QC the latest addition with a notable practice in offshore litigation. 2020 silk Blair Leahy QC continues to advise in the BVI, Caymans and the East Caribbean on commercial disputes, insolvency and company law matters, including acting for the five claimants in $80m dispute Glen Moar Properties Ltd (and 4 others) v (i) Simon McNally (ii) Simon Cooper in the BVI, a claim involving allegations of breach of duty and knowing receipt against former management of a group of BVI and Manx investment companies. Stephen Atherton QC is a further name to note, leading Sarah Tresman in representing GHF Group and its related funds in two sets of large-scale fraud proceedings in the Cayman Islands.