BVI investment into expanding court facilities welcomed

Investment by the British Virgin Islands into expanding court facilities including the funding of a new Commercial Judge, court administration staff, tech developments and additional working space has been welcomed by practitioners.

"The BVI courts have always done a very effective job of dealing with urgent matters expeditiously," said BVI litigation partner Jeremy Child, who now practises BVI law from London.

"This investment by the Government of the BVI will be a very well-received way of ensuring that the court infrastructure and facilities match the continuing global popularity of BVI vehicles for cross-border structures, financing and private wealth."

BVI companies are popular amongst global clients and used for international structuring – particularly in Asia and the Middle East. The BVI Commercial Court, established in 2009, plays a key role in underpinning the attractiveness of the jurisdiction through providing swift access to the highest quality judges to hear disputes with a minimum value of $500,000.

The investment was approved by the Cabinet of the British Virgin Islands in August.

Jeremy works with partners Alasdair Davidson and Robert Christie in Bedell Cristin's BVI litigation practice, supported by lawyers in the firm's office in BVI, led by counsel Gabriel Adedeji, and across the firm's international offices.