Department profile
Harneys

Corporate & Finance including Investment Funds

Global Guide 2026 : British Virgin Islands


Harneys

Rankings

About

Provided by Harneys

Our British Virgin Islands corporate and finance team advises on complex cross-border transactions throughout the corporate life cycle. Led in the global practice by George Weston, we deliver commercial, responsive counsel on public and private M&A, ECM, private equity, joint ventures, restructurings, governance and regulatory issues, as well as acquisition and structured finance. We work seamlessly across time zones and alongside Harneys Fiduciary to provide integrated legal and administrative solutions.

We act for international law firms, listed and private companies, financial institutions, private equity sponsors, funds, family offices and high-growth businesses across technology, financial services, energy, real estate, hospitality and consumer sectors.

Recent BVI mandates include DXC Technology’s US$2 billion acquisition of Luxoft (the largest takeover of a BVI-listed company), DSV’s US$1.2 billion acquisition of UTi Worldwide, Aura Minerals’ US listing raising over US$196 million, the acquisition of Reading Football Club and stadium, Shanghai Pudong Development Bank’s US$3.8 billion facilities for the privatisation of 58.com, and ACG Acquisition Company’s London IPO and US$290 million de-SPAC.

Specialisms include SPACs and de-SPACs, seed and series financings, virtual assets and Web3, and security over BVI shares and assets. Clients choose us for technical excellence, sector fluency and our ability to get deals done efficiently and with certainty.

Clients (32)

  • Mondelēz International
  • Sellers of Kean Soft Drinks Ltd
  • Central Group
  • DXC Technology Company
  • UTi Worldwide Inc
  • DSV
  • Rob Couhig
  • Shanghai Pudong Development Bank (Shanghai Branch)
  • Group of private investors (UK PLC reorganisation)
  • Macau-based institutional investor
  • H.I.G. Capital
  • Ganfeng Lithium Group
  • TechCreate Group Ltd.
  • Suppple Group PLC
  • ChowChow Cloud International Holdings Ltd.
  • Aura Minerals Inc.
  • Heather Venture Holdings Ltd.
  • Tapir Holdings Ltd.
  • PRC state-owned insurance group (fund launches)
  • XPeng Inc.
  • The GrowHub Limited and The GrowHub Innovations Company Limi
  • Polibeli Group Ltd.
  • GigCapital7 Corp.
  • ACG Acquisition Company Limited
  • TOYO Co.
  • Finfront Holding Company (BitFuFu)
  • Yorkville Acquisition Corp
  • Cheche Group Inc.
  • SAITECH Limited
  • Procaps Group
  • Union Acquisition Corp. II
  • Reading Football Club

Industries (12)

  • Technology and virtual assets/Web3
  • Financial services (including banks, broker-dealers and insurance)
  • Energy and resources/mining
  • Real estate
  • Hotels and hospitality
  • Consumer goods/food and beverages
  • Transportation and logistics
  • Infrastructure (including fibre optics and broader G7-focused projects)
  • Telecommunications, media and technology (TMT)
  • Healthcare and pharmaceuticals
  • Sports
  • Retail

Chambers Review

Provided by Chambers

Corporate & Finance including Investment Funds - British Virgin Islands

Band 1

Band 1


What the Team is Known For

Harneys has a sizeable transactional team that offers high-quality advice across the full spectrum of corporate, finance and investment funds work. The team frequently acts on some of the largest M&A transactions in the jurisdiction and also regularly assists with syndicated lending and structured finance. It has especially noteworthy abilities in the establishment of investment funds, regularly being noted among the leading teams in the BVI when it comes to high-value launches. Other areas of expertise include financial restructuring and capital markets.

Work Highlights

Provided by Chambers

  • Harneys advised ACG Metals on the BVI aspects of its successful USD500 million de-SPAC.

Strengths

Provided by Chambers

  • The firm provides strong customer service and excellent tailored advice.

    Corporate & Finance including Investment Funds respondentGlobal
  • Harneys are market leaders; they have partners with great all-round knowledge.

    Corporate & Finance including Investment Funds respondentGlobal
  • Harneys always deliver in time and produce good-quality work.

    Corporate & Finance including Investment Funds respondentGlobal
  • The Harneys team always proposes pragmatic solutions that mean we can close transactions.

    Corporate & Finance including Investment Funds respondentGlobal
  • I appreciate their combination of sound advice, directness and practicality.

    Corporate & Finance including Investment Funds respondentGlobal

Notable Practitioners

Provided by Chambers

  • Band 1Philip Graham
    Band 1Philip Graham

    Philip Graham

    Philip Graham has extensive expertise in BVI-domiciled investment funds, a field in which he is regarded by multiple sources as the jurisdiction's leading lawyer. He has many years of experience advising on such issues and heads up the global investment funds and digital assets group within Harneys.

    • Philip Graham is a true thought leader.

      Corporate & Finance including Investment Funds respondentGlobal
    • Philip Graham leads a great team and gives comprehensive and clear advice on investments, regulations and licensing requirements in the BVI.

      Corporate & Finance including Investment Funds respondentGlobal
    • Philip Graham is a fantastic lawyer. He provides excellent advice and strong knowledge, and is always professional and friendly.

      Corporate & Finance including Investment Funds respondentGlobal
  • Band 2George Weston
    Band 2George Weston

    George Weston

    George Weston is Harneys' global head of corporate, a role he combines with his position as leader of the BVI transactional team. He has frequent lead roles on some of the largest M&A transactions and joint ventures in the market, and also regularly acts on equity capital markets listings and bond issuances.

    • George Weston is a well-respected industry expert.

      Corporate & Finance including Investment Funds respondentGlobal
    • George Weston is a lawyer with significant business acumen. He works extremely well under pressure and is very responsive.

      Corporate & Finance including Investment Funds respondentGlobal
    • George is one of the best lawyers I have worked with in any Caribbean jurisdiction.

      Corporate & Finance including Investment Funds respondentGlobal
  • Band 4Michelle Frett-Mathavious
    Band 4Michelle Frett-Mathavious

    Michelle Frett-Mathavious

    Michelle Frett-Mathavious is a key lawyer in Harneys' transactional practice. She is well versed in banking and finance law and is frequently seen advising on structured finance transactions.

    • Michelle Frett-Mathavious is focused on finding pragmatic solutions.

      Corporate & Finance including Investment Funds respondentGlobal
    • Michelle Frett-Mathavious is an expert in her field and provides high-quality service.

      Corporate & Finance including Investment Funds respondentGlobal

Ranked Individuals at Harneys (3)

British Virgin Islands

  • Profile image of Philip Graham

    Philip Graham

    Head of Corporate & Finance including Investment Funds

    View profile
  • Profile image of George Weston

    George Weston

    Head of Corporate & Finance including Investment Funds

    View profile
  • Profile image of Michelle Frett-Mathavious

    Michelle Frett-Mathavious

    Corporate & Finance including Investment Funds

    View profile

Members

Provided by Harneys

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