Ogier’s BVI team praised for 'unparalleled expertise' in Legal 500 2024

Ogier in the BVI has received outstanding praise in the Legal 500 Caribbean Guide 2024 for its “remarkable ability to navigate complex legal matters with finesse.”

The guide includes top tier rankings across key practice areas including corporate and commercial, dispute resolution, regulatory compliance, and foreign-based expertise. It also includes nine individual rankings for Ogier’s BVI lawyers.

“It’s wonderful to see such excellent feedback for our teams and individuals, recognising their expertise and innovation, as well as their commitment to putting clients at the heart of everything we do. This is another fantastic set of results for Ogier in the BVI and I’d like to thank the whole team for their dedication, and thank our clients for sharing such fantastic feedback,” said practice partner Ray Wearmouth.

The firm’s top tier corporate and commercial team in the BVI is described as ”super responsive and knowledgeable”. From the team, Michael Killourhy is ranked as a leading individual, who has an “encyclopaedic knowledge and is a very good transactional lawyer”. Ray Wearmouth is also ranked a leading individual and David Mathews is noted as a key lawyer.

Ogier is ranked top tier for dispute resolution and is described as a “go-to firm” with “unequivocally the strongest litigation team in the BVI”. Ranked as leading individuals, Nicholas Burkill is praised as “superb”, and Brian Lacy is described as “an urbane and dynamic litigator who is single-minded in fighting for his client”. Alexander Muksinov is ranked a rising star, and Nicholas Brookes is a next generation partner, noted as “exceptionally capable, commercial, hard-working and intellectually rigorous”. Also a next generation partner, Grant Carroll is “very experienced in all matters BVI and crypto, stands out as a specialist”. Listed as key lawyers are David Welford, who now heads up Ogier’s office in Dubai, and Ewelina Clyde-Smith.

Ranked top tier for regulatory and compliance, the team’s “uniqueness lies in their unparalleled expertise, unwavering dedication and exceptional understanding of the market dynamics”. Michael Killourhy is ranked a leading individual: “His vast knowledge and years of experience have made him a standout in the field, consistently delivering solutions to complex legal matters”. David Mathews is a rising star, whose “unparalleled grasp of the fintech sector sets him apart from others”. Key lawyers in the team are Simon Schilder and Ray Wearmouth.

For banking, finance and capital markets work, Ogier’s team “stands out for its capabilities in handling complex finance matters including traditional bank financing work, financial restructurings, and public capital markets work”. Michael Killourhy and Ray Wearmouth are ranked as leading individuals.

From Ogier’s investment funds practice in the BVI, Simon Schilder is ranked a leading individual and is noted for his involvement in the drafting of the BVI investment fund legislation, while Michael Killourhy is described as a key figure in the digital asset and blockchain sector.