BVI Finance This Week 25/9/20

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28Sep

BVI Finance This Week 25/9/20

28 Sep, 2020 | View Counts (770) |Return|

FRIDAY 25 SEPTEMBER, 2020

CONGRATULATIONS HARNEYS ON YOUR 60TH ANNIVERSARY

Pictured: Peter Tarn, Chairman , Harneys BVI

Global offshore law firm Harneys marks its 60-year anniversary in tandem with the 15-year anniversary of its Hong Kong office.

In 1960, a lawyer named Harold Harney set up shop on a small island in the Caribbean. It was the only legal practice on the island of Tortola, and the first of its kind that the British Virgin Islands had ever seen. This is how Harneys, today a law firm with a sister fiduciary business, employing more than 500 people in over 10 locations around the world, came to be.

Since its founding, Harneys has remained at the forefront of the development of offshore jurisprudence and consistently advises on legislative developments such as the BVI’s landmark International Business Companies Act, the Limited Partnership Act, and the Economic Substance (Companies and Limited Partnerships) Act, to name a few. In 1974, Harneys’ associated corporate and private wealth services business, Harneys Fiduciary, was established to provide clients with integrated legal and administrative support. Sixty years later, Harneys stands on the global stage as a leading law firm, consistently listed, awarded and ranked amongst the best and brightest in the offshore industry.

Chairman Peter Tarn said: “When I joined the firm in 1997, there were around 15 lawyers in the BVI and no foreign offices, which is chalk and cheese compared to our global offering today. It is impossible for me to consider Harneys’ history without thinking about the contributions of Harold Harney, Michael Riegels, Neville Westwood, Richard Peters and Lewis Hunte to the development of the offshore world and I am delighted that their devotion towards pushing legislation forward continues at Harneys today.”

Click here to read more.

BVI Finance congratulates Harneys on this great milestone and thanks them for their contribution to the BVI financial services industry.

Harneys turn 60 years. Watch the video above to see our highlights from the past 60 years set against the backdrop of world events.

MOURANT ADVISES ON SALE OF SECURITIES IN LANDMARK BRAZILIAN IPO

Pictured: Rachael McDonald, Partner, Mourant BVI

Pictured: Saraid Taylor, Senior Associate, Mourant BVI

Mourant has advised Monazita Resources Ltd. on the sale of its securities in Aura Minerals Inc. in the US$100 million IPO of the Toronto Stock Exchange-listed mining company.

Aura Minerals Inc.'s first public offering in Brazil, along with a concurrent listing of Brazilian depositary receipts on B3 S.A. – Brasil, Bolsa, Balcão, means that it becomes the first gold and copper production company to be listed on the São Paulo Stock Exchange.

The deal is another high profile Latin-American transaction for Mourant's team in the BVI, led by Senior Associate Saraid Taylor, working with Partner, Rachael McDonald.

Mourant Partner Rachael McDonald said: "As the first foreign issuer to have listed on the São Paulo Stock Exchange this was a landmark deal to be part of. This was a significant transaction for all parties and we're pleased to have worked with Monazita Resources Ltd. in securing the sale of its interests in Aura Minerals."

Mourant worked alongside onshore law firm, Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP. Milbank LLP represented the syndicate of banks in the offering.

BVI FINANCE SPONSORS 2020 SPEAR'S WEALTH INSIGHT FORUM

BVI Finance is a proud sponsor of the 2020 Spear’s Wealth Insight Forum (SWIF), virtual event, taking place on September 29.

As stated by Spear’s Magazine online, the Spear's Wealth Insight Forum “focuses on the needs and interests of high-net-worth individuals” or HNW’s.

Simon Gray, BVI Finance Head of Business Development and Marketing said it is an opportune time for BVI to participate in the forum due its visibility and distribution, adding that Spear’s facilitates networking opportunities with HNW’s.

Mr. Gray is also a panelist on the pre-recorded panel ‘Shaping the Future’, featuring discussions on wealth creation and digital assets in Africa. He is joined by Alec Marsh, panel chair and Spear’s editor-at-large; Annamaria Koerling, Managing Partner Delfin Private Office LLP; Greg Boyd, Corporate Partner (BVI) Harneys; Jeffrey Kirk, Office Managing Partner, Appleby British Virgin Islands and Sally Sfeir Tait, CEO, RegulAItion & Honorary Research Professor – UCL.

Mr. Gray said he was excited to not only be a part of discussions, but also for the roll-out of Spear’s first-ever virtual forum, adding, “This is pretty cutting edge, and BVI Finance is delighted to participate in this fully virtual conference – a different feel from the traditional conference but with greater reach.”

The annual forum was previously held in London.

The event will feature a number of panels on subjects ranging from wealth management to citizenship and residency, property, tax and trusts, luxury and more. [The forum] helps wealth managers, lawyers and other private client professionals to navigate the world of their HNW clients by bringing together a network of experts to share insight, intelligence and opportunities.

STATEMENT BY PREMIER HON. ANDREW A. FAHIE

PRESSING THE RESET BUTTON WITH INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS AND PRODUCT DESIGN: INNOVATION IN THE BVI

In this episode, Patrick and Lodewijk of Walkers Global explore what makes the BVI so business-friendly and how this environment has managed to attract so many world-class lawyers and financial firms with its capacity for innovation and high-class standards of law and regulation.

ENJOY AND SHARE

APPLEBY BVI SHORTLISTED 'OFFSHORE' FIRM OF THE YEAR' BY THE LAWYER

Leading offshore firm Appleby has been shortlisted in The Lawyer Awards 2020, ‘Offshore Firm of the Year’ award category. The Lawyer awards recognise and celebrate excellence across the legal industry. The criteria for the awards include: excellence in your key jurisdictions, depth and breadth of expertise, commercial strength, legal innovation and market-leading strategy.

The 2020 awards are comprised of 28 categories and received over 500 entries this year. The shortlists were decided by 60 judges from across the legal industry who debated entries from law firms, companies and barristers chambers. This year’s winners will be announced by The Lawyer in their first ever Virtual Awards Ceremony on 3 November 2020.

Malcom Moller, Appleby’s Group Managing Partner said, “We are delighted to once again be recognised for our legal expertise. I’d like to thank our legal teams and staff across all our offices for their dedication and hard work, and our valued clients for their enduring support.”

Appleby is one of the world’s leading offshore law firms. Our global teams of legal specialists advise public and private companies, financial institutions and private individuals. Appleby provides comprehensive, expert advice and services across corporate, dispute resolution, property, regulatory and private client and trusts practice areas. Through Appleby Global Services, we offer a range of administration, reporting and fiduciary services.

CAREY OLSEN SHORTLISTED FOR EIGHTH YEAR RUNNING AT THE LAWYER AWARDS

Carey Olsen has been shortlisted for Offshore Firm of the Year at The Lawyer Awards 2020.

The awards, which this year take place virtually on Tuesday 3 November due to the ongoing COVID-19 disruption, once again look to recognise the best firms and practice teams from across the legal sector.

Carey Olsen has been shortlisted in the offshore category every year since 2013, winning for the first time in 2014 and also claiming back-to-back award wins in 2017 and 2018.

Nomination for this year's category followed another year of robust growth for the firm, which has included the launch of new practice areas in Hong Kong and Singapore and its involvement in a number of standout matters and deals, including:

advising Permira on the launch and final closing of its €11 billion buy-out fund, Permira VII;
acting for the Petitioner in proceedings before the Supreme Court of Bermuda to secure the appointment of joint provisional liquidators over Hsin Chong Group, one of the oldest construction companies in Hong Kong; and
acting in the first major trial to take place remotely before the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court since the British Virgin Islands introduced emergency court measures in response to the global coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

FIRST-STEP ANALYSIS: AVIATION FINANCE AND LEASING IN BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS

Conyers’ Counsel Audrey Robertson provides an overview and analysis of Aviation Finance and Leasing in BVI in Lexology: Getting the Deal Through Aviation Finance & Leasing 2020.

Click here to read the full article: First-step analysis: aviation finance and leasing in British Virgin Islands

GOLD LEAF ANNOUNCES ITS COLLABORATION WITH FRAUD SPECIALIST

At Gold Leaf, ensuring that our clients receive Gold Standard services and solutions is always at the forefront of our minds. Our products and solutions delivered by our team of reputable experts guarantee our commitment to maintain our clients’ peace of mind and provide the support they need, to protect their company’s reputation.

Click here to read more.

INNOVATION IN FUNDS - A HIVE OF ACTIVITY

Two leading members of the Hatstone Group and prominent businessmen in the BVI, Calum and Phillip discuss what has made the BVI so popular with the world of offshore funds and financial product development – including discussion of recent fund innovation.

JOB POSTINGS:

COMPLIANCE OFFICER/MLRO

The role requires candidate with a minimum experience of 5 years, additional qualification will be considered as well, with well-rounded knowledge in AML Code of Practice, AML Regulations and all other relevant legislations, since he/she will interact with Compliance Committee at a Board level, as well as other persons at managerial level in the organization. Responsible also to liaise with Financial Services Commission, the International Tax Authority and the Financial Investigation Agency.

Belonger status is preferred, excellent verbal and written communication skills in English. Please note this is a position subject to the approval of the BVI Financial. CV can be sent to the following email: mhibbert@pmalawyers.com

IMPLEMENTATION COORDINATOR

Role Summary

The successful applicant will serve as a technical for the AML/CFT Implementation unit with responsibility for ensuring progress at each phase of implementation and review of the recommendations emanating from the Virgin Islands’National Risk Assessment (NRA) in preparation for the 2018 Caribbean Financial Action Task Force’s Mutual Evaluation.

Click here to read more.