Complex financing matters and some of the most notable capital markets deals involving BVI entities are all within the wheelhouse of Ogier‘s team for banking and finance. Following the retirement in February 2024 of co-head of the department Ray Wearmouth, the practice is solely led by Michael Killourhy, an experienced corporate lawyer now overseeing all transactional matters at the office and in this area, a particularly well regarded name for equity capital markets. As part of Wearmouth’s planned retirement, his practice is being managed temporarily by Jersey based Christian Burns-Di Lauro, who is increasingly involved in BVI matters. David Mathews is another client-recommended name to note.
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Profile
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.
While Michael has been a leading adviser on BVI financial services regulation and investment business for some time, more recently he has led in building Ogier's Tech practice in the BVI to become the pre-eminent one in the BVI. Michael and his team have now advised on newer innovative Tech, Web3 and other virtual asset businesses than any other firm in the BVI. He is the co-chair of Ogier's Technology and Web3 practice group.
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.
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).
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Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
‘We found the team very collaborative and were willing to invest time in finding the right structure for the deal ahead of the engagement which was much appreciated.’
‘Ogier consistently provides best class services to our group. They are always available, ready to solve complicated issues and advise on complex matters.’
‘I have been working with David Mathews and Michael Killourhy for many years. They are always responsive, provide great legal advice and help on all necessary aspects.’
Key clients
- Constellation Oil Services Holding S.A.
- CTRL Group Ltd
- GDEV Inc.
- HSBC Bank Plc
- IDC Overseas Ltd
- Junee Limited
- Matrixport Technologies Ltd.
- m-Finance Limited / mF International Limited
- Oxbridge RE
- Royal Gold, Inc
Work highlights
Advised HSBC Bank PLC on $2.18bn refinancing facilities to Nord Anglia Education.
Advised IDC Overseas Ltd. on its $150m European medium term notes programme.
Advised Junee Limited and m-Finance Limited on their respective Nasdaq IPOs.