O’Neal Webster, a well-established British Virgin Islands law firm with offices in Tortola and London, is organized for the efficient delivery of legal services for our clients throughout the world. Our dedication to professional standards frames our business savvy approach and contributes to our clients’ successes. We stand by our client service promise and welcome your enquiry.
The awards recognize women who lead, inspire and contribute to the professional advancement of women in the international financial services and wealth sectors.
Now in its twelfth year, the Citywealth International Financial Centre Awards spotlight advisers and managers in the private wealth sector from the major international financial centres who not only have a successful career progression but have also been active, together with their firms, in maximizing the potential of all women. Judged by an international panel of highly respected practitioners, the awards recognize winners who excel in achievement, innovation, expertise, and service.
Congratulations, Vanessa, on this well-deserved recognition! And thank you for all you do to create and support an equitable environment and inspire women to succeed in business and beyond.
We are thrilled to announce that O’Neal Webster partner Jenelle Archer was named “Lawyer of the Year” during the BVI Financial Services Awards 2022 held on February 15, 2023. The awards recognize leading people and firms in the British Virgin Islands’ financial services industry in an array of categories. Jenelle is a partner and head of our firm’s Property & Business Practice, advising clients on British Virgin Islands property, business and estate matters, including business succession, wills and probate. Her practice includes business acquisitions, dispositions, and developing strategic ownership structures, and is particularly knowledgeable in matters associated with foreign nationals and entities requiring layers of BVI regulatory approvals.
Congratulations Jenelle! A well-deserved recognition.
O’Neal Webster is pleased to announce that Chambers Global Guide has named Partner Christopher Simpson in its 2023 edition as a ranked lawyer in area of British Virgin Islands Corporate & Finance, including Investment Funds. Chambers rankings are the definitive mark of excellence across the international legal industry. A ranking from Chambers shows that a particular lawyer or firm stands out in the most rigorous, independent, and in-depth research process of any legal directory on the market and has emerged as one of the best in their field.
Simpson is recognized by Chambers for his international and domestic work advising a client base of leading financial institutions, corporations and law firms on corporate finance; investment business and regulatory matters, including fin tech and digital assets; general aspects of corporate law; and investment funds, including crypto funds.
In addition to Simpson’s entry into the Chambers Global Guide this year, O’Neal Webster’s Corporate, Commercial, Investment Funds and Dispute Resolution practices were also recognized in the 2023 rankings.
By Christopher McKenzie
For Trusts & Trustees published by Oxford University Press
The November 2022 European Court of Justice judgment rejecting the wholesale implementation of public registers of beneficial ownership in the EU has caused quite a stir globally, including within offshore financial centres such as the British Virgin Islands (BVI). It might be said that the judgment justifies the BVI’s well thought out, slow and steady approach to beneficial ownership information. The BVI’s approach ensures maintenance of beneficial ownership information but only allows access to appropriate authorities. The approach also contemplates that such information should only be available to the general public when public access to beneficial ownership information becomes the global standard. LEARN MORE HERE
The United Nations General Assembly adopted the UN Convention on the International Effects of Judicial Sales of Ships on 7 December 2022. The Convention looks to ensure certainty on an international scale regarding legal aspects of a ship’s judicial sale.
Overall, when the Convention comes into force sometime in 2023, it will enhance legal certainty by creating a uniform regime for the international effects of judicial sales of ships. For the international maritime community, the Convention is encouraging, beneficial, and delivered at the most appropriate time. Read the full article here.
LAW TALK host Frank Nagy spoke with O’Neal Webster partner Kerry Anderson on “How to Set Up an Offshore Hedge Fund,” and investment fund laws in the BVI. The informative, 18-minute YouTube video is now available for on-demand viewing. Watch Here: https://youtu.be/MCg1LtmStYk
Frank Nagy of Frank Nagy Financial Services is a global leader in business consulting in the capital markets arena and is the founder of the LAW TALK channel on YouTube.
Kerry Anderson leads O’Neal Webster’s Investment Funds and Regulatory Department and has been practicing law in the BVI for more than 20 years, with a focus on funds, regulatory, and corporate law.
O’Neal Webster acted as British Virgin Islands counsel to Masplay, S.A. and its wholly owned subsidiary Equinox Los Andes SPA on its multimillion-dollar acquisition of Nike de Chile Ltda.
Masplay is the leading Andean region marketer and distributor of athletic footwear, apparel, and equipment for a wide variety of sports and fitness activities, including the exclusive distribution of Nike in Peru, Ecuador, Bolivia, and now Chile.
The success of Masplay’s transaction adds to O’Neal Webster’s reputation as an advisor and legal partner to multinational entities in their significant cross border transactions involving the BVI.
COVID-19 Notice: For the safety of our clients and staff, O’Neal Webster has implemented all precautions recommended by the World Health Organization and the British Virgin Island’s Government. Although all of our offices have been serving clients and operating on a work-from-home schedule, our Tortola, BVI, office is now physically open. If you need to visit our offices, we ask that you make an advance appointment. Before entering our offices, please observe health guidelines, which are posted at our entrance. Please be assured that we are taking every possible measure to ensure proper sanitation and social distancing. We look forward to serving you.
