Michael Killourhy > Ogier > Tortola, British Virgin Islands > Lawyer Profile
Ogier Offices
RITTER HOUSE, WICKHAMS CAY II
PO BOX 3170, ROAD TOWN
TORTOLA VG1110
British Virgin Islands
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Michael Killourhy
Work Department
Partner Corporate and Commercial
Position
Partner
Career
Michael advises on a broad range of corporate and corporate finance transactional matters, including mergers and acquisitions, equity and debt capital markets, financings and complex corporate restructuring. Michael is widely recognised as one of the BVI’s leading public company experts and its pre-eminent special purpose acquisition company expert. Michael’s expertise in this area has been recognised internationally with him being invited to take prominent speaker roles in the SPAC industry’s premier international convention, as well as being frequently published in leading capital markets journals.
With a client list including Coca-Cola, Hyatt Hotels, United Airlines, Western Union and Texas Pacific Group, Michael is highly regarded and respected by both clients and peers in the BVI’s legal community. A standing which has led him to be sought out for industry and government advisory appointments in the Territory.
Michael is also a market leading adviser on complex corporate and finance reorganisations and reconstructions. He lead the BVI corporate teams on Constellation Overseas’ 2019 ground breaking “soft touch” provisional liquidation and subsequent 2020 BVI scheme of arrangement, as well as the mammoth financial reorganisation of UK-Nigerian oil and gas group Severn Energy’s note programmes.
Michael is a former member of the board of directors of BVI Finance and the long standing chairman of BVI Finance’s Corporate Business Advisory Group. He is a leading adviser to both industry and government bodies in the BVI on the interpretation and application of the BVI’s Economic Substance Law. As a thought leader and key figure in the BVI’s embrace of FinTech and other new innovative financial services products Michael also sits on the BVI Financial Services Commission’s Financial Services FinTech.
Michael studied at BPP Law School in London for his Post-Graduate Diploma in Law (with Distinction) and then for the Legal Practice Course (with Commendation). He was awarded the Blackstone Award for the most outstanding student of the year in 1999. Michael also holds both a Bachelor of Arts and a Master of Arts degree from the University of Oxford (where he read history at St Peter’s College) and a Master of Arts degree from Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, North Carolina.
Admitted in:
2012 – British Virgin Islands
2002 – England and Wales (non practising)
Memberships
Chairman of BVI Finance’s Team BVI, Corporate Business Advisory Group
Sits on the BVI Financial Services Commission’s Financial Services FinTech
Education
Michael studied at BPP Law School, London, University of Oxford and Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, North Carolina.
He has since been admitted in BVI (2012) and England and Wales (2002).
Lawyer Rankings
British Virgin Islands > Corporate and commercial
(Leading individuals)The ‘outstanding’ corporate team at Ogier advises clients on multi-billion-dollar M&A transactions, capital markets deals, and restructuring mandates, with a primary focus on industries spanning the energy, transportation, healthcare and technology sectors. In the technology space, the team often partners with the firm’s dedicated technology and Web3 sector group, harnessing its commercial and fintech expertise to secure significant appointments, including representing some of the largest crypto funds. Leading the dynamic practice are Michael Killourhy, an expert in equity capital markets and M&A transactions, and Ray Wearmouth, who is renowned for his profound knowledge of BVI corporate law. In addition to spearheading billion-dollar transactions, Wearmouth is regularly sought after to provide expert evidence on BVI law to foreign tribunals. The team also includes David Matthews, who is highly regarded for his corporate finance expertise.
British Virgin Islands > Banking, finance and capital markets
(Leading individuals)Ogier‘s banking and finance practice stands out for its capabilities in handling complex finance matters including traditional bank financing work, financial restructurings, and public capital markets work. The team includes head of corporate Michael Killourhy, who is noted for his expertise in equity capital markets issues, public and private M&A, as well as fintech and digital asset matters; and fellow co-head Ray Wearmouth, who is recognised as a seasoned transactional lawyer.
British Virgin Islands > Investment funds
With offices in the BVI and the Channel Islands, Ogier‘s BVI funds practice is routinely instructed by investment managers on hedge fund, private equity, real estate, venture capital and crypto asset matters. Practice chair Simon Schilder divides his time between Jersey and the BVI, and is noted for his involvement in the drafting of the BVI investment fund legislation, while fellow co-chair Michael Killourhy is a key figure in the digital asset and blockchain sector.
British Virgin Islands > Regulatory and compliance
(Leading individuals)Ogier’s ‘remarkable ability to navigate complex legal matters with finesse’ makes it a standout in the BVI regulatory and compliance market, routinely advising fintech players and high-profile virtual asset service providers on blockchain technologies, initial coin offerings (ICOs) and token issuances. Regulatory advice, investment business licensings, registrations and anti-money laundering compliance work are further core workflows of the practice, which is led Michael Killourhy, who is noted for his ‘proactive and insightful approach’ to regulatory and compliance issues. Head of the funds and regulatory practice Simon Schilder regularly advises on regulatory applications to the BVI Financial Services Commission. while Ray Wearmouth is a seasoned transactional lawyers known for leading complex multi-billion transactions. Praised for his ‘unparalleled grasp of the fintech sector’, managing associate David Mathews is also highly recommended.
Lawyer Rankings
- Corporate and commercial British Virgin Islands
- Leading individuals British Virgin Islands > Banking, finance and capital markets
- Leading individuals British Virgin Islands > Corporate and commercial
- Leading individuals British Virgin Islands > Regulatory and compliance
- Regulatory and compliance British Virgin Islands
- Banking, finance and capital markets British Virgin Islands
- Investment funds British Virgin Islands