A ‘preeminent Caribbean firm for complex disputes’, Harneys is a go-to firm for major bankruptcies and commercial disputes. The team demonstrates prowess in innovative areas, including cryptocurrency and digital assets disputes. It excels in claimant and applicant work and advises on the gamut of disputes, from fraud claims and shareholder disputes to restructuring and insolvency cases and enforcement. Claire Goldstein co-leads the team, specialising in litigation involving contentious trusts and multi-jurisdictional fraud and asset tracing cases. Practice co-head Christopher Pease is a leading figure in digital assets disputes, related to asset tracing and recovery and insolvency and restructuring. Andrew Thorp is a go-to advisor in insolvency matters and advises a stellar clientele of banks, multinational companies and hedge fund firms. Peter Ferrer is another name to note, along with Jonathan Addo, who specialises in injunctive relief. Victoria Lissack has an active multi-jurisdictional disputes practice and September 2023 hire James Petkovic, who boasts sector expertise in the oil and gas and heavy industries. Natasha Guthrie is another key team member.

Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

  • ‘Pre-eminent in the BVI.’

  • ‘Peter Ferrer is an excellent lawyer and strategist. Marcia McFarlane is also a great associate.’

  • ‘Their degree of knowledge and understanding of the jurisdiction is unparalleled.’

  • ‘Responsiveness and attention to detail.’

  • ‘Harneys is the preeminent Caribbean firm for complex disputes. Their bench strength, responsiveness, and technical ability set them apart.’

  • ‘Christopher Pease is exceptional. He is sharp, always understands the issues, commercial, and responsive.’

  • ‘Harneys BVI litigation team is effortlessly dominant in the market, with real strength in depth, and the ability to scale up on complex and heavy matters.’

  • ‘Jonathan Addo is superb, conscientious, strategically excellent.'

Key clients

  • Kipford Ventures
  • GSHL
  • IQ EQ Global Investor Services
  • Ivelitz Chebaux-Fernandez
  • Bright Idea Ventures Limited
  • Global Mining Development L.P. and Gerald Metals LLC
  • Zola Ventures Limited
  • Premium Tobacco Limited
  • Green Elite
  • Hector DAO
  • Haitong International Securities

Work highlights

  • Representing the bankruptcy trustee, in a very high-profile case concerning controversial exiled Chinese billionaire, Kwok Ho Wan, also known as Miles Guo.
  • Acting for Kipford Ventures, which is connected to Russian billionaires Dmitri and Alexei Ananyev, defending it against a claim for $180m brought by Russia’s Alfa-Bank.
  • Acting for a claimant company and the joint liquidators of the company in proceedings concerning wide-ranging claims, valued in excess of $357m, relating to an alleged scheme to defraud creditors.

Lawyers

Leading associates
Leading associates with regular involvement in their team's key work, and recognition from peers or clients as being ones to watch.
Leading partners
The strongest partners in their field, leading on market-leading deals and endorsed by peers and clients alike.
Next Generation Partners
Junior partners with significant recognition from clients and peers in the market and key roles on multiple matters.

Practice head

The lawyer(s) leading their teams.

Claire Goldstein, Christopher Pease

Other key lawyers

Andrew Thorp, Peter Ferrer, Victoria Lissack, James Petkovic, Natasha Guthrie, Kimberly Crabbe-Adams