Chris Newton > Maples Group > Tortola, British Virgin Islands > Lawyer Profile
Maples Group Offices
RITTER HOUSE
PO BOX 173, ROAD TOWN
TORTOLA
VG1110
British Virgin Islands
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Chris Newton
Work Department
Corporate
Finance
Position
Chris is the Managing partner of Maples and Calder in the Maples Group’s British Virgin Islands office where he is also co-head of the Corporate and Finance practices. He has a broad corporate and finance practice with particular expertise in restructuring as well as acquisition, asset, project and real estate finance, advising financial institutions, sponsors, investors and borrowers. Chris has substantial experience advising in distressed credit situations including both consensual work outs and contentious enforcements.
In addition to his finance practice, Chris advises on debt capital markets transactions and plays an active role in the public equity group, advising companies listing on the North American exchanges as well as bidders and targets in acquisitions. Chris regularly advises a number of key clients around the ongoing requirements of public companies.
Chris’ clients include high profile Canadian, Chinese, UK and US financial institutions, investment funds and corporates.
Career
Chris joined the Maples Group in 2016. Prior to joining, he was with an international law firm in the British Virgin Islands. Before moving to the British Virgin Islands in 2012, Chris was a member of the Banking and Corporate Recovery team at Travers Smith in London, where he also trained. Chris is ranked in Chambers Global, IFLR1000 and been recommended in the Legal 500 as a ‘Leading Individual’. Clients describe him as ‘without doubt one of the most detailed and smart lawyers I have had the opportunity to work with. His attention to detail and practical implementation when navigating challenging restructuring and other projects have been pivotal to the successes that we have shared,’ and commenting that ‘Chris Newton and his team are very committed to providing innovative and timely solutions to their clients’ needs.’
Education
New College, University of Oxford
Lawyer Rankings
British Virgin Islands > Banking, finance and capital markets
Maples Group
continues to focus on high value transactions for institutional clients, with a banking, finance and capital markets offering that is especially well regarded in the aircraft and shipping sectors. The department makes for a reliable high-end choice in general banking matters, equity and debt capital markets, deals with private equity backing, cross-border restructurings, and asset and project financing. Chris Newton has well over a decade of experience offshore and a track record assisting with all manner of banking, finance and restructuring transactions for financial institutions, sponsors, investors and borrowers. He co-leads the practice group with Ruairi Bourke, go-to counsel for a number of multinational banks, and the capital markets contact for prominent group companies and investors. Key support comes from Chloe Harris, while veteran former group leader Richard May retired in November 2023.
British Virgin Islands > Corporate and commercial
The long-established BVI corporate law offering at Maples Group is a top choice for corporate advisory issues, M&A, private equity matters, and restructurings. Its client base includes a host of leading public companies and private equity houses, and the practice collaborates closely with related areas, both at the BVI office and abroad, to support clients on the full scope of corporate and finance law, including the newest regulatory developments and how they impact transactions. Leadership of the team is shared between Chris Newton, an expert in M&A for US public companies; and Ruairi Bourke, whose M&A experience includes assistance to both private and public companies. Amel Wehden is a regular fixture of the firm’s teams of counsel on major transactions, and Chloe Harris advises on a broad range of corporate and banking and finance transactions.
British Virgin Islands > Investment funds
Collaborating closely with its London office, the BVI-based investment funds department at Maples Group is characterised by a comprehensive knowledge of the licensing and regulatory law requirements for the gamut of funds operating in the jurisdiction. Market-leading asset managers and private equity houses are regular beneficiaries of the practice’s expertise in matters ranging from fund set-up to contentious winding-up proceedings. Following the November 2023 retirement of senior partner Richard May , Chris Newton leads the group at the Tortola office and focuses on downstream acquisition work and subscription line financings. Ruairi Bourke impresses clients with his ‘practical and helpful advice‘, and Amel Wehden is a younger lawyer, particularly well regarded in the establishment and maintenance of hedge funds and private equity funds.