Important Update as to Filing of Annual Returns for BVI Companies

The Rights of Sanctioned Litigants to access to the Court: Court of Appeal issues Key Decision in the BVI

The Eastern Caribbean Court of Appeal has delivered a significant judgment in AO Alfa-Bank v Kipford Ventures Limited, overturning a stay of proceedings and reinstating a US$142 million freezing injunction. The decision provides important guidance on access to justice, sanctions, and interim relief in the BVI.

Andrew Willins, KC, Tamara Cameron

Drelle Overturned in Latest UK Supreme Court Decision

The United Kingdom Supreme Court in its recent decision in Drelle v Servis-Terminal LLC [2026] UKSC 29 (Drelle SC) has overturned the controversial decision of the English Court of Appeal in Servis-Terminal LLC v Drelle [2025] EWCA Civ 62 (Drelle CA), and in doing so has provided welcome clarity on the effect of unrecognised foreign judgments in cross-border bankruptcy and insolvency contexts. This is likely to have a wide-reaching impact – not only in the UK but also offshore – and particularly in the British Virgin Islands following the recent decision in JJW Hotels & Resorts Holding Inc v Rhodes (BVIHCM2025/0296) (JJW Hotels) (which relied heavily on Drelle CA), and in the Cayman Islands where previous authorities had recognised the ability, in the corporate context, for petitioners to present winding up petitions on the basis of an unrecognised foreign judgment.

Daniel Mitchell, Harriet Ter-Berg, Jae Shin

Back to Basics - Dispute Series

Winding-Up Petitions in the BVI – A Practical Guide For Creditors Applying to appoint a BVI liquidator is one of the most cost effective and efficient tools available to creditors who want to recover debts or liabilities from BVI companies and is often a go-to strategy where simpler methods of debt collection have failed. Once appointed, a liquidator has a broad range of immediate powers including the ability to take possession and control of all of the company’s assets. In this guide, we highlight the process and the key principles for creditors to consider prior to and during the liquidator appointment process. 

Daniel Mitchell, Kara Benjamin

Regulation, Regulation, Regulation

The article discusses updates to global trust guidance and regulation, as well as beneficial ownership and the regulatory burden on trustees that comes with increased transparency.

Richard Grasby

Prospects of Asian Companies in U.S. Listings in 2026

Nasdaq introduced a series of rule changes in 2025 to raise minimum requirements for public float and offering size for certain new listings.

Kitty Chan

Guide to Fintech in the British Virgin Islands 2025/2026

This country-specific guide provides an overview of the fintech landscape in the British Virgin Islands.

Andrew Jowett, Patrick Gill

Navigating the New Legitimate Interest Access Regime for BVI Beneficial Ownership Information

The BVI legitimate interest access (“LIA”) system became operational on 1 April 2026. To establish a “legitimate interest”, an applicant must demonstrate that the purpose of the request for beneficial ownership information is to investigate, prevent or detect money laundering, terrorist financing or proliferation financing, or that the applicant is carrying out client due diligence or other obligations in accordance with the BVI’s anti-money laundering laws.

Shana Simmonds-Lewis, Maree Martin

International Women’s Day 2026 Roundtable: Rights. Justice. Action. For all women and girls.

As we recognise International Women’s Day 2025, we are reminded that gender equality is not just a vision – it’s a call to action.