Appleby
The BVI office of international full-service firm Appleby was founded in 2005. The firm’s history dates back to the 1890’s. Since then, it has grown to 10 offices in Bermuda, BVI, Cayman Islands, Guernsey, Hong Kong, Isle of Man, Jersey, Mauritius, Seychelles and Shanghai. The firm’s BVI office is based on Tortola.
Focusses/specialisms
In addition to their top their financial and corporate practice, it also has a notable investment funds practice. The financial and corporate practice acts for clients in acquisitions, mergers, IPOs, share offerings, bond issuances, restructurings, corporate financing, refinancing and ABL. In investment funds, the firm acts for private equity and asset management firms in fund formations and investments.
In addition to BVI law, the firm can also practice law in Bermuda, Cayman Islands, Guernsey, Isle of Man, Jersey, Mauritius and Seychelles.
Client Feedback: 32nd edition (2022/2023)
Financial restructuring
“Appleby across the board are easy to deal with, smart, technical, thoughtful lawyers that help drive forward restructurings. It is a pleasure to work with them.”
M&A
“Responsive and cost effective. Professional.”
Carey Olsen
The offshore outfit of
Carey Olsen
services
its clients in
the legal market of the
British Virgin Islands (BVI)
from its office in Tortola. The firm also
features Bermuda, Cayman Islands, Guernsey, and Jersey branches, as well as
Cape Town, Hong Kong, London and Singapore offices.
The Carey Olsen team is involved in the banking and finance practice, representing both lenders and borrowers and focusing principally on asset finance.
The firm
also deals in
capital markets in the equity and debt spaces, frequently advising on IPO’s,
share offers,
share capital increases and convertible and hybrid securities.
The firm
also attends to matters of restructuring.
The BVI group boasts involvement in a variety of sectors, including but not limited to energy, corporate financing, gaming and mining.
Key firm clients include Banco de Sabadell and the PSG Offshore Fund.
Research period review: 32nd edition (2021 / 2022)
Over the course of the research period, the firm’s banking and finance involvement notably
included representation of Blockchain.com Group Holdings as the lender in a series of transactions which served to the ends of furthering the development and use of digital assets in the jurisdiction.
The firm was chiefly involved in capital market transactions, most of which
were on the equity side.
These involvements mainly concerned
the energy and mining sectors.
The firm also advised on
several complex restructurings with multi-jurisdictional
implications. In this regard, the firm
represented clients from the tourism and mining sectors.
Deal highlights: 32nd edition (2021 / 2022)
Blokchain.com
Group Holdings asset financing
CNMena Holding $37 million share capital increase
Client feedback: 32nd edition (2022/2023)
Financial services regulatory
"Jude Hodge combined her regulatory expertise with a practical, commercial approach. She was a valuable strategic partner in the BVI."
Investment funds: Hedge funds
"Service, speed, efficiency, detailed, cost-effective and great staff to work alongside - always available to help."
"They are very responsive and keep the deadlines imposed by any given transaction."
"The legal advice was precise and gave great clarity. They understood our aims and
first drafts of documents and resolutions were substantially fit for purpose. The response times and document revisions were turned around in very good time. They genuinely seemed to care about our specific matter rather than just being another piece of legal work."
"Jude has strong regulatory knowledge from her background working at the BVI Financial Services Commission. She excels at understanding our business objectives and providing strategic advice to help meet those goals."
"Detailed, diligent, knowledgeable, great to work with, friendly, efficient and very responsive to requests or questions. Also manages costs very well."
"Very responsive and efficient. Comments made were very helpful."
"Very easy to deal with and took a deep interest in our issues, looking at matters from our perspective and ultimate goals whilst remaining impartial in regard to all shareholders including minorities."
Collas Crill
Offshore law firm Collas Crill has offices in five locations: BVI, Cayman Islands, Guernsey, Jersey and London. The BVI office in Tortola became part of Collas Crill in 2017 through its merger with Farara Kerins. Its corporate practice has three partners and six other lawyers.
Focusses/specialisms
The office has a notable financial and corporate practice area, which advise clients in acquisitions, bond issuances, refinancing and general corporate financing. It also represents several investment funds and firms in fund formations and investments.
The firm is very active in the real estate industry, acting for real estate clients in acquisitions and financings.
In addition to BVI law, the firm can also practice under Cayman Islands, Guernsey and Jersey law.
Key clients
Collas Crill works with notable clients in the real estate, mining, shipping and banking and finance industries. All clients are confidential.
Research period review: 30th edition (2019/2020)
Over the most recent research period the firm worked on numerous acquisitions and general corporate financing, as well as a couple of fund investments. It was very active in the real estate and mining industries. All deals are confidential.
Client feedback: 30th edition (2019/2020)
Financial services regulatory
“Quick, comprehensive, professional response.”
M&A
“In Montgomery and his staff, they were always prompt to respond and walk us throughout when we had questions throughout the process up until, during and after closing any deal.”
Conyers Dill & Pearman
Conyers is an international law firm with offices in Bermuda, BVI and Cayman Islands. Their BVI office was established in Tortola in 1996.
Focusses / specialisms
In investment funds the team represents funds held by investment firms in fund investments and formations. The wider financial and corporate practice acts for corporations, private equity firms and financial institutions in mergers, acquisitions, bond issuances, tender offers, insolvencies and corporate financing.
Key clients
Key clients for the firm include SK Capital Partners, All Year Holdings, Weatherford International, Telegram Group, Rock Mountain Capital, Starwood Property Trust, Tarpon Water Solutions, Deutsche Bank, Bank of America, London Branch, Wells Fargo, AdvancedAdvT Limited (formerly Marwyn Acquisition Company I Limited), Government of the Turks and Caicos Islands, Bank of Asia and Government of the British Virgin Islands.
Forbes Hare
Offshore law firm Forbes Hare’s BVI office is based in Tortola and has five partners, five associates and one counsel. The firm has five other offices in Cayman Islands, Nevis, London and Singapore. In addition to its physical presence in these jurisdictions, the firm also maintains Anguilla and Nevis desks.
Focusses / specialisms
The firm has experience in financial and corporate and investment funds practice areas. It acts for clients in IPOs, insolvencies, secondary listings, refinancings, acquisitions and general corporate financings. It also acts for investment firms in fund formations and investments.
Key clients
Key clients for the firm include Goldenbridge Acquisition Limited, Ace Global Business Acquisition Limited, Scienjoy Holding, 8i Acquisition 2 Corp and Portage Biotech.
Client Feedback: 32nd edition (2022/2023)
Banking and finance
“Forbes Hare are very proactive, having deep legal knowledge in the areas they specialise but also commercial awareness.”
Investment funds
“Proactive in its approach coupled with fast turn-around times with regard to all relevant documents inclusive of fund placement memorandum and investment manager and investment advisory agreements.”
Harney Westwood & Riegels
International offshore law firm Harneys was founded in BVI in 1960. It now has eight physical offices in Shanghai, Singapore, Hong Kong, Luxembourg, London, Cyprus, Cayman Islands and BVI. The Tortola office in BVI is one of the largest law firms in the country.
Focusses / specialisms
The firm has expertise in a variety of industries and is especially known for its work in banking and financial services. It advises companies in restructurings, investment grade bond issuances, high yield bond issuances, refinancings, acquisitions and general corporate financing. The firm also does significant work with investment firms in investment fund management, including fund formations and strategic investments.
Key clients
Key clients for the firm include SOCAR Turkey Enerji, BMR Energy and GuideWell Mutual Holding Corporation.
Client Feedback: 32nd edition (2022/2023)
Banking and finance
“Harneys possess strong professional knowledge along with a great deal of experience in the area. Their advice is always well structured and presented, always to the point. They always deliver on time despite the challenging deadlines.”
Hatstone
International offshore law firm Hatstone opened its BVI office in 2018. It has five other locations globally: Ireland, London, Jersey, South Africa and Panama.
Focusses / specialisms
The firm acts for mutual funds, companies and trusts, as well as providing fiduciary services. It also provides advice for family offices, investment funds and trusts.
In addition to BVI law, the firm can also practice under Cayman Islands, Guernsey and Jersey law.
Key clients
Key clients for the firm include Solway Real Estate Limited and Digital Asset.
Maples Group
Leading offshore firm
Maples Group opened its British Virgin Islands (BVI) branch in Tortola in 2004. Globally the Cayman Islands headquartered firm has 16 offices spanning three continents.
The firm advises on acquisition, IPOs, restructuring, public offerings, financing and other general corporate matters. It also has a top-tier investment funds practice.
The firm largely focuses on real estate, banking and financial services, technology and life sciences sector work.
Large hedge fund groups such as Ares Capital Management, Alliance Bernstein, Egerton Capital, Farallon Capital Management and Winton Capital make up a substantial portion of the firm’s clientele.
Research period review: 32nd edition (2021 / 2022)
Over the research period the firm was active in financial and corporate and investment funds.
The firm’s financial and corporate work includes equity and debt capital markets transactions, as well as M&A transactions. Most notably, the firm advised on complex, cross-border mergers, acquisitions and an IPO.
The investment funds team advised on the launches of cross-border private equity funds and provided regulatory counsel to various clients.
Deal highlights: 32nd edition (2021 / 2022)
Alpha Exploration Limited TSXV IPO
Gerdau Trade/GTL Trade Finance $700 million bond buyback
Satellogic/CF Acquisition Corporation $850 million merger
Client feedback: 32nd edition (2021 / 2022)
Financial services regulatory
"Efficient - speedy and easy to work with."
"Friendly, approachable, easy to work with and very professional."
Mourant Ozannes
International offshore law firm Mourant Ozannes opened its BVI office in Tortola in 2012. It has five other locations globally: Cayman Islands, Guernsey, Hong Kong, Jersey and London.
Focusses / specialisms
The firm acts for corporations in refinancing, acquisition, corporate financing and IPO matters. It also works with investment funds in fund formations, investments and maintenance.
In addition to BVI law, the firm can also practice under Cayman Islands, Guernsey and Jersey law.
Client Feedback: 32nd edition (2022/2023)
Financial services
“Very responsive, very comprehensive, proactive.”
Ogier
Ogier is an international offshore law firm founded in Jersey in 1867. It became the first pan-Channel Island law firm in 1998 and now has offices in BVI, Cayman, Guernsey, Hong Kong and Jersey. Its BVI office opened in Tortola in 2007.
Focusses / specialisms
The firm advises on a range of corporate matters and investment funds including strong practices in debt and equity capital markets. It advises large international companies on mergers, IPOs and other corporate transactions.
Key clients
Key clients include Kismet Acquisition One Corp, Eucrates Biomedical Acquisition, Longevity Acquistion Corporation, Constellation Overseas, IsZo Capital, HSBC, Citibank, Deutsche Bank, Barclays and Banco Santander.
Walkers
Walkers is an international law firm with offices in Bermuda, BVI, Cayman, Dubai, Guernsey, Hong Kong, Ireland, Jersey, London and Singapore. Its BVI office is managed by managing partner, Matthew Cowman.
Focusses / specialisms
The firm works on a range of corporate matters. It advises on BVI law aspects of banking transactions including secured and unsecured financings, syndicated lending and acquisition finance. It advises clients around the world on cross-border mergers, acquisitions, restructurings and equity and debt offerings.
Client Feedback: 32nd edition (2022/2023)
Banking and finance
“Common sense approach and ensuring that all parties understand the engagement parameters fully.”
Project development
“Practical, responsive, knowledgeable.”
