British Virgin Islands

The British Virgin Islands (BVI) is a highly respected and sophisticated offshore legal and financial jurisdiction with a robust and modern legislative framework, particularly for corporate and commercial disputes.

With over 10 years of experience in working with the BVI Commercial Court, Court of Appeal and Privy Council the lawyers at CANDEY are able to offer exceptional advocacy and litigation and arbitration services on a range of commercial disputes and insolvency matters to international clients. As a disputes-focused boutique, we are conflict free, with partner-led representation. This enables us to provide our clients with sophisticated solutions and strategies tailored to their commercial needs.

We are one of only a handful of firms who practice both BVI law and English law and the only boutique to do so. The focus of the BVI office, is aligned with the focus of CANDEY in Lincoln’s Inn in London, on representing clients in cross border, multi-jurisdictional issues with high quality legal expertise combined with commercial nous.

We often work closely with our client’s retained and trusted counsel who are based in jurisdictions all over the world to provide a seamless joined up solution to international disputes. As a boutique firm we are quick to clear conflict checks, can move at lightning speed and are a one stop shop for any client seeking BVI and, if required, English representation. We also act for other London law firms, providing BVI only advice and engagements as required, and ruthlessly respecting boundaries for our long term relationships.

CANDEY offers the services of its BVI Legal Practitioners based in BVI and London with extensive expertise and knowledge of the unique challenges and nuances of the BVI legal landscape. We are committed to providing outstanding service as a result of the experience and knowledge of the individuals while utilising the latest technological developments.

Joint Venture & Shareholder Disputes including derivative actions and unfair prejudice claims

CANDEY specialise in joint venture and shareholder disputes.  Our lawyers have a proven record of achieving outstanding results for majority and minority shareholders, partners, companies and directors in disputes concerning businesses around the world.  We have particular experience of all aspects of unfair prejudice petitions and derivative and double derivative actions, claims for misfeasance and breach of duty and clams to enforce partnership and shareholder agreements.

We work in partnership with our clients and forensic accountants and valuers in order to understand the true enterprise value of any dispute.

Our firm is regularly instructed on an urgent basis around the time of meetings to advise on resolutions or actions of Directors and majority shareholders.  We have extensive experience of joint venture disputes across a multiplicity of cases and sectors.

Cross Border Litigation & Insolvency Actions for and against Insolvency Practitioners

CANDEY has extensive experience in all manner of contentious insolvency matters and acts for an against insolvency practitioners, alleged debtors and creditors in complex high value insolvency litigation.  Such cases regularly involve cross border elements including the recognition of Insolvency Practitioners and cross border insolvencies in foreign jurisdictions.

Asset Tracing in the context of Fraud

CANDEY has a broad range of experience in assisting victims of fraudulent activity to preserve and recover assets across multiple foreign jurisdictions.  We are able to act swiftly on an urgent basis to seek to secure such assets.

We work closely with our clients and specialist teams of recovery specialist s to ensure positive outcomes for our clients.

Registration and Enforcement of Foreign Judgments and Arbitral Awards

CANDEY’s team of practitioners regularly act and advise on the Registration of Foreign Judgments and Awards for the purposes of enforcement and are able to progress to enforcement of such Judgments and Awards in numerous jurisdictions.

Applications for Freezing Orders, Norwich Pharmacal Orders and Chabra Relief

CANDEY has significant experience and expertise on making application on an urgent, interim and final basis in support of proceedings in BVI, in support of foreign proceedings and where relief is sought against third parties.  Our team has regularly been instructed to apply for the disclosure of information held in BVI including applications against Banks.  We are able to work efficient;ly and costs effectively as a result of many years of experience in making such applications.

Provisional Liquidation & Receivership Litigation

CANDEY has acted on behalf of clients making applications to appoint Provisional Liquidators and has also advised Provisional Liquidators on the exercise of their powers and subsequent steps following their Appointment.  We also act on behalf of interested groups challenging such appointments.

We have regularly been involved in the appointment of Receivers, in and out of Court and have acted and advised parties affected by such appointments.  Our team works closely and effectively with clients in a responsive and collaborative way and is able to take appointments as Court appointed receivers.

Professional Negligence Claims

Professional advisors can sometimes fail to reach the standards required of them. CANDEY has extensive experience over many years advising on and prosecuting professional negligence claims against a host of professional advisors.  Such circumstances are often difficult and emotional and we have a track record of obtaining justice in these circumstances.

Cryptocurrency Disputes

CANDEY has many years of innovative experience of acting for clients all over the world seeking control of cryptocurrency against a range of opponents including individuals who control online wallets. This has included obtaining and defending freezing injunctions to secure assets and prevent trading.

International Commercial Arbitration

The vast majority of our Arbitration work involves multiple cross border elements. CANDEY is adept at working seamlessly with overseas counsel at all stages of the Arbitration process as required.  The hall marks of our approach are close partner-level involvement and lean focused teams to ensure high-quality work output cost efficiency and flexibility.

Investor v State Arbitration

CANDEY’S international arbitration lawyers are particularly skilled at identifying treaty-based claims on behalf of its clients.  Our clients cases in investor-state arbitration are always advanced in the most compelling terms, focussing on those areas the arbitral panel are most interested in. We have excellent relationships with a number of funders who are keen to provide finance in the right cases.

Expert Opinions on BVI Law

CANDEY’S Legal Practitioners can and have produced written legal opinions on BVI law in the context of commercial transactions.  In addition our experienced lawyers have provided written expert opinions on BVI Company law and the Insolvency Act for use in various foreign Courts and Arbitrations.

We pride ourselves on the quality and accuracy of the opinions produced and the availability of the author of such reports to be present in Court to provide expert evidence.