British Virgin Islands ("BVI") companies are widely
used as corporate vehicles for joint ventures in Asia, especially
at their pre-listing stage. There are over 450,000 active BVI
companies set-up by users around the world. From time to time,
shareholder disputes arise out of the affairs of these BVI
vehicles, which often hold valuable businesses in Asia. Substantive
trials lasting weeks over disputes between Asian shareholders are
not uncommon in the BVI Commercial Court.
Covid-19 has posed challenges to effective casemanagement in the
BVI as elsewhere. As disputes before the BVI Commercial Court will
invariably have international elements, the judiciary and legal
practitioners have cooperated to develop practical solutions to
minimise the disturbance caused by the pandemic.
