CONTRIBUTORS
STEPHEN ADAMS joined Bedell Cristin BVI in February 2012 as a partner and is now based in Singapore. He has over 15 years’ offshore legal experience and advises on a full range of corporate matters including banking, mergers, acquisitions, investment funds, hedge funds, alternative investment, financing and capital market transactions. In this his first Business BVI article jointly shared with his colleague Kristian Wilson, they take an in depth look at Emerging Opportunities in Asia for BVI Products p.90.
CHRISTOPHER BICKLEY: Partner and Head of the Hong Kong office of Conyers Dill & Pearman. His practice includes all aspects of corporate law with specialist expertise in corporate finance. He is experienced in IPOs and listings on the Main Board and the GEM of the HKSE. The BVI: China’s Investment Route to the World p.84 is his first contribution to Business BVI looking at the BVI role in China’s FDI growth from approximately US$38 billion in 2000 to $240billion in 2010.
ROBERT BRIANT: Partner & Head, BVI office of Conyers Dill & Pearman advises on all aspects of corporate and commercial law and provides specialist advice to hedge funds. He is a frequent contributor to Business BVI. Two timely pieces - Delaware Lessons p.54. Delaware, the leading corporate American domicile and how the BVI can use similar strategies as the dominant global offshore incorporation centre. Transactional Success Offshore? The Role Of Corporate Lawyers p.62.
In today’s global financial arena Compliance = Change or Extinction p.64 It is also fast becoming a critical element in a company’s competitive arsenal as detailed by SHAMINI CHASE. She is Head, Compliance ATU General Trust (BVI) Limited. She is a qualified attorney at law with a masters in international banking and finance law, with extensive regulatory experience in offshore services jurisdictions, including the British Virgin Islands, Anguilla and Saint Lucia. She has been a BVI FSC Approved Compliance officer for a number of years.
JEFFREY CHEN: Partner of Shanghai Chen He Law Firm in Shanghai, practicing in crossboarder investment, financing and tax planning, focusing on Counseling SMEs, and Legal Support to Wealth Management of HNWIs. In particular, Due Diligence for FDI or ODI Projects; Structuring, Investments and Documentation Guidelines of Investment and Management. China’s Future SPV Demand Spells Opportunity for the BVI p.94 is a new area of opportunity for the BVI and Jeffrey is uniquely qualified to lead the way.
The BVI: A Brand and an Idea p.70. A must read on the DNA of the modern BVI. “There is nothing artificial about the success of the BVI—a British Overseas Territory that has the United States dollar as its legal tender; a territory where people from over one hundred different nationalities reside.” By DR. KEDRICK PICKERING the Deputy Premier and Minister of Natural Resources and Labour. The BVI, the world’s leading corporate domicile, with 454,000 active companies and over 500 active limited partnerships, plays a key role in structuring global FDI, the world’s fourth largest recipient with approximately US$92 billion in 2013.
COLIN RIEGELS is a partner and head of the banking & finance global practice group at Harneys, Singapore. His experience includes some of the largest M&A in BVI legal history - US$5.6 billion Alfa Telecom and Cukurova Group and US$8.6 billion Russian oil BP and TNK mergers. Colin’s articles - The IBC Act: Building of a Nation p.78, The history of the groundbreaking Act and Taking Stock: The Changing Face of BVI Finance p.60 - Its critical global role.
SIMON SCHILDER: Partner and Head of the Investment Funds practice at OGIER, BVI Office, covering cross border and multi jurisdictional M&A; corporate finance; equity capital markets, listings of SPACs, joint ventures and investment funds. BVI Funds: Preparing for the New Abnormal p.68, examines the BVI Fund sector, concluding that the continued appeal of the sector in the new abnormal will be the territory’s ability to remain nimble, innovative and willing to embrace new product development.
ANDREW SEECKTS joined KRyS Global - BVI in June 2011, relocating to the BVI from Melbourne, Australia. Andrew has over six years’ experience in dispute resolution, fraud recovery, insolvency and turnaround. At KRyS Global, Andrew has managed the complex liquidation of Fairfield Sentry Limited, the largest feeder fund into the Bernard Madoff scheme. In this his first Business BVI article, jointly shared with his colleague Sean Theron, they take an in depth look at Forensic Technology in the Information Age p.52.
CHRIS SMITH relocated to the BVI in 1992 to work for Sir Richard Branson on Necker Island and transitioned later to Virgin Gorda and real estate, villa rentals and management. BVI sales and vacation rental clients are mainly Americans, so in 2005 Chris and his colleagues partnered with Coldwell Banker. They are Exclusive Agents for Rosewood Little Dix Bay on Virgin Gorda and Nanny Cay on Tortola. Villas - Meeting the 5-Star Demand p.103 a growing accommodation choice for multigenerational visitors.
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January 2015 Edition