On 31 July 2023, significant changes to the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court Civil Procedure Rules ("ECSC CPR") will come into effect. Arguably the most significant changes for parties to litigation in the BVI Commercial Court are the amendments to ECSC Part 7, governing service of proceedings out of the jurisdiction ...
In two recent decisions from the BVI, the Eastern Caribbean Court of Appeal has provided useful clarity on the application and scope of the Duomatic principle. In particular, the Court addressed the evidentiary standard for establishing Duomatic assent, as well as whether the Duomatic principle gave a sole beneficial owner a "power" over which receivers could be appointed ...
Contents Legal and Enforcement Frameworks Blockchain Market Cryptocurrencies Smart Contracts Data and Privacy Cybersecurity Intellectual Property Trends and Predictions Tips and Traps Legal and Enforcement Framework What general regulatory regimes and issues should blockchain developers consider when building the governance framework for the operation of blockchain/distributed ledger technology protocols? Fintech legislation and guidance notes: The British Virgin Island
The decision will be relevant for parties seeking to bring claims in the BVI courts where there are competing jurisdictions and systems of law at play. Funders and ATE insurers will also find the decision of interest where they are considering the merits of funding cross-border claims involving BVI defendants. A copy of the judgment is available here. Background WWRT had commenced proceedings in the BVI against Carosan, a BVI company, and BK, a Ukrainian businessman ...
BVI annual returns - frequently asked questions 1. What information needs to be included in the annual return? The annual return needs to provide a basic balance sheet and income (profit and loss) statement. The form of annual return is prescribed by statute, a copy of which can be found here. 2. When does the first annual return need to be filed? A Company must file its first annual return within 9 months of its fiscal year end ...
Overview There is no sell-out right in the 2008 Law for minority shareholders to be bought out. However, the constitutional documents of the target Guernsey Company (the “Target Company”) may provide additional rights to minority shareholders. From 1 July 2009, a provision to appoint a body to regulate takeovers and mergers in Guernsey was introduced to the 2008 Law, under the Companies (Panel on Takeovers and Mergers) Ordinance, 2009 (the “Takeover Panel”) ...
This is a question that arises with some regularity in trust administration, and one to which the English Court has offered a very welcome answer in the recent case of Sarah Butler-Sloss & Others v Charity Commission [2022] EWHC 974. This case has potentially wide-ranging implications and in this article we will focus on those relevant to trustees of Guernsey-law trusts ...
British Virgin Islands Litigation Guide 2024 (Chambers) CONTENTS General Litigation funding Initiating a lawsuit Pre-trial proceedings Discovery Injunctive relief Trials and hearings Settlement Damages and judgment Appeal Costs Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Arbitration Outlook GENERAL General Characteristics of the Legal System Sources of law As a largely self-governing British Overseas Territory, the legal system of the British Virgin Islands (BVI) is roo
CONTENTS General LItigation funding Initiating a lawsuit Pre-trial proceedings Discovery Injunctive relief Trials and hearings Settlement Damages and judgment Appeal Costs Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Arbitration Outlook and COVID-19 GENERAL General characteristics of the Legal System Sources of law As a largely self-governing British Overseas Territory, the legal system of the British Virgin Islands (BVI) is rooted in English common law and eq
British Virgin Islands investment funds update Q1 2024 BVI Financial Services Commission statistics – Q3 2023 The BVI Financial Services Commission ("FSC") has published its Statistical Bulletin for the third quarter of 2023. The FSC’s Statistical Bulletin is one mechanism by which the FSC communicates the progress made within several different sectors of the Financial Services industry, including Investment Business ...
British Virgin Islands Economic Substance - frequently asked questions Who has to comply with the Substance Legislation? All companies and limited partnerships that are registered or incorporated in the British Virgin Islands (“Entities”) must comply with the Substance Legislation. The Substance Legislation does not apply to trusts or general partnerships ...
[[{"type":"media","view_mode":"media_large","fid":"13504","attributes":{"alt":"","class":"media-image","height":"298","typeof":"foaf:Image","width":"480"}}]] Definitions: "LCF Law" means The Lending, Credit and Finance (Bailiwick of Guernsey) Law, 2022. "Notice" means the Guernsey Financial Services Commission's Notice with respect to the disapplication of the requirement to hold a licence under section 40 of the Lending, Credit and Finance (Bailiwick of Guernsey) Law, 2022 ...
Bermudian lawyer Yan-Xia Rogers returns home to join Carey Olsen Yan-Xia will specialise in corporate and commercial law, advising clients on a range of cross-border transactions, mergers and acquisitions, and corporate governance matters. Having moved to London in 2020, Yan-Xia worked for a year as a paralegal at Broadgate Legal before training as a solicitor at Kennedys Law LLP in London, with a focus on regulatory, corporate, product liability law and insurance litigation ...
In the meantime, many individuals and families with significant wealth have seen their fortunes grow considerably despite these crises. In this environment, misassumptions may readily run rife ...
Content Legal and enforcement framework Definitions Virtual currencies market Crossover with banking Technology Data security and cybersecurity Financial crime Consumer protection Competition Taxation Trends and predictions Tips and traps Legal and enforcement framework In broad terms, which legislative and regulatory provisions govern virtual currencies in your jurisdiction? Bermuda has a digital asset sector with a specific legal and regulatory regime that governs both the i
In summary, in most jurisdictions, trust assets will be more vulnerable to attack from a settlor’s creditors in the following scenarios: A settlor’s retention of dispositive powers (particularly positive powers e.g. powers to direct the trustee in contrast to a power to veto a trustee’s proposal) generally renders a trust more vulnerable to attack by creditors. Retaining powers to revoke the trust and/or a general power of appointment (i.e ...
Bermuda remains a preferred jurisdiction in which to establish and maintain trusts (and increasingly, family offices). Bermuda's Courts and regulatory regime carefully balance privacy with the objective of maintaining appropriate regulation to preserve Bermuda's stellar reputation as a premier international financial services jurisdiction ...
Annex II is a list of cooperative jurisdictions maintained by the EU that reflects ongoing cooperation between the EU and its international partners and the commitments of these countries to reform their legislation to adhere to agreed tax good governance standards. Its purpose is to recognise ongoing constructive work in the field of taxation, and to encourage the positive approach taken by cooperative jurisdictions to implement tax good governance principles ...
Employer obligations From the date the Order takes effect, all employers will need to ensure they are paying at least the minimum wage and that their contracts and/or Statements of Employment are updated where necessary to ensure that they are compliant. Note that only 'employees' are entitled to the minimum wage, not self-employed contractors ...
CONTENTS General Litigation funding Initiating a lawsuit Pre-trial proceedings Discovery Injunctive relief Trials and hearings Settlement Damages and judgment Appeal Costs Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Arbitration Outlook and COVID-19 GENERAL General Characteristics of the Legal System Bermuda is a British Overseas Territory. The modern legal system of Bermuda is established by the Bermuda Constitution Order 1968, an Order in Council of the UK ...
Bermuda investment funds update Q1 2024 Bermuda Monetary Authority Investment Fund Statistics (Q3 2023) Recent amendments to the funds regime highlight Bermuda’s commitment to a comprehensive and innovative approach to the underlying legislative framework applicable to funds and Bermuda’s status as a premier international financial centre ...
In a Pre-Budget Report (PBR) announced to Parliament last week, the Government has set out its priorities for next year's budget. These include proposals to increase revenues via significant changes to the current employment tax regime. Perhaps the most headline-grabbing aspect of these potential reforms is the proposal to increase the employer portion of payroll tax for exempted companies, from 10.25% to 10.75% ...
The President characterised this initiative as one necessary to counter "a pandemic of the unvaccinated", stating, "This is not about freedom or personal choice. It’s about protecting yourself and those around you" ...
Contents Please click on the links below to jump to the relevant section: Legislation Relevant entities Relevant activities Tax residence requirements Guidance General requirements Directed and managed Core-income generating activities (CIGA) Premises Employees and personnel Expenditure Enhanced requirements Reduced requirements Outsourcing Enforcement authorities Reporting formalities Demonstrating compliance Penalties Recent developments Legal framework Legisl
At the time, most captive owners (and their advisers) were attracted by Bermuda's perceived economic, social and political stability, its strong infrastructure, its close proximity to New York and a legal system that tended to follow the English common law and provided for an ultimate right of appeal to the Privy Council in the U.K ...
