Appleby Announces New Leadership Appointments and Promotions in the British Virgin Islands
Tortola, British Virgin Islands – Appleby is pleased to announce the appointment of Andrew Willins KC as Managing Partner of Appleby (BVI) Limited, and Shana Simmonds-Lewis as Practice Group Head, Corporate in the firm’s British Virgin Islands office. Both appointments are effective immediately. In addition to his new responsibilities, Andrew will continue in his role as Practice Group Head, Dispute Resolution.
These appointments mark an important step in strengthening Appleby’s leadership in one of the world’s most sophisticated international financial centres.
Andrew Willins KC, a highly respected litigator and long-standing member of Appleby’s Dispute Resolution team, brings deep jurisdictional experience and an established reputation for excellence to the role of Managing Partner.
Commenting on his appointment, Andrew said “Jeff Kirk has led the BVI office for over 12 years with integrity, calm authority and with a strong commitment to our clients and our people. He has established an excellent foundation for the BVI office in recruiting and developing a team that delivers excellence across both our corporate and litigation practices. I look forward to building on his work in supporting the continued evolution of the BVI’s legal offering as we guide clients through an increasingly dynamic global landscape.”
Shana Simmonds-Lewis, a highly regarded corporate and finance lawyer and a long-standing member of Appleby’s Corporate team, brings almost 20 years of deep, market leading experience across complex international transactions, high-value financings and sophisticated restructurings. Shana is ranked as “Highly Regarded” in IFLR1000, a “Next Generation Partner” in Legal 500 and “Up and Coming” in Chambers Global Guide, earning praise from clients including “Shana stands out for her combination of technical expertise, responsiveness and practicality. She is highly capable in cross-border matters.”
Reflecting on her new role, Shana said “Stepping into this role is both a profound privilege and a deeply personal milestone. I look forward to supporting our clients, strengthening our corporate practice, and contributing to the continued success of Appleby.”
Malcolm Moller, Appleby’s Group Managing Partner, welcomed the appointments, saying “Andrew and Shana bring outstanding technical ability, strong leadership qualities and an unwavering commitment to the BVI. Andrew’s experience and strategic perspective will serve the office exceptionally well, while Shana’s commercial insight and tenacity will drive the office to even further success. These appointments strengthen our leadership and position us strongly for the future.”
Appleby is also pleased to announce the promotion of Fay O’Halloran from Associate to Senior Associate in the firm’s British Virgin Islands office. Fay is a valued member of the team, and her promotion reflects her continued development, strong technical capability and commitment to delivering high-quality service to clients.
These leadership and career advancements reinforce Appleby’s strategic focus on combining global capability with strong, locally grounded leadership to deliver the highest standards of client service.
