OUR PRACTICE AREAS
Our practice areas are extensive because our lawyers have specialized in many areas, including:
We advise international top bankers and issuers on major securitization transactions, swaps and derivatives, debt restructuring and property and acquisition finance. We are able to issue standard and specialized legal opinions on transactions involving BVI entities according to our clients’ needs.
We advise clients on the Economic Substance (Companies and Limited Partnership) Act, 2018 (as amended) (the “ES Act”), which came into force on 1 January 2019 in the BVI.
We advise on all corporate and commercial transactions involving British Virgin Islands entities, including joint ventures, private equity transactions, venture capital deals, shareholders’ agreements, sale and purchase agreements, advice on security over shares or other assets, continuations/redomiciliations, mergers, consolidations, acquisitions and re-organizations.
We provide directorship and/or secretarial services to BVI Business companies on a selective basis.
We specialize in advising managers and onshore law firms on establishing investment funds under the Securities and Investment Business Act, 2010 (“SIBA”) – including hedge funds and private equity funds – which may be in the form of regular companies, segregated portfolio companies, partnerships or unit trusts in the British Virgin Islands.
We provide legal advice on the regulatory laws and changes in the British Virgin Islands, including advice on the Regulatory Code. We also advise regulated or licensed entities and handle all licence applications to the BVI Financial Services Commission, including banks and trust companies, management companies, administrators, managers, segregated portfolio companies and funds.
We assist with creating of all types of BVI Trusts, including Discretionary Trusts, VISTA Trusts and private trust companies (commonly referred to as “PTC’s”). Additionally, we prepare and advise on Wills under the laws of the British Virgin Islands for local and international clients having BVI located assets.
We handle applications to the BVI Court for grants of probate or letters of administration, and applications for resealing of a grant, in order for a personal representative to be able to handle the assets of a deceased who died leaving BVI assets, such as shares in a BVI Company or property held by a BVI Company. Without the BVI grant, it will be difficult to impossible to legally handle the assets of the deceased.
The British Virgin Islands achieved Category 1 Red Ensign ship registry status in June 2008, which allows the British Virgin Islands to register ships of unlimited tonnage, type and size.
We advise on all aspects of land transfer matters, including advising on and negotiating sale and purchase agreements, transfers, charges, mortgages and covenants.
We advise on and assist clients who need to apply for a trade licence in order to carry on a trade or business in the British Virgin Islands.
We advise internationally acclaimed trademark holders and onshore law firms worldwide on intellectual property rights in the British Virgin Islands. We provide our clients with services including advising on and registering patents and trademarks, monitoring trademark registrations and advising on potential trademark infringements.
We are Notaries Public and Commissioners of Oaths and provide all services required of notaries and commissioners. In addition to notarizing documents and legalisations, we can prepare Affidavits, Powers of Attorneys and Notarial Certificates drafted to provide for the particular needs of our clients.
SINCLAIRS BVI