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Road Town, BVI circa 1984 A woman walks along Main Street in the capital of Road Town on the island of Tortola, where the first Harneys office began and still exists today.

Harold Harney Harold Harney was a practicing lawyer in Antigua who travelled to the British Virgin Islands periodically to practice law. In 1960 he relocated full time to the BVI where he became the first resident lawyer in the territory. He spent the next eight years of his legal career in the BVI and the law firm now known as Harneys bears his name.

Neville Westwood A qualified English barrister, Neville Westwood, arrived in the BVI in 1967 to begin working with Harold Harney, the only lawyer practising full-time in the BVI. Together, they formed Harney Westwood.

Michael Riegels Michael Riegels, a young English-qualified lawyer living in Tanzania at the time, was recruited to the BVI in 1973. He joined the firm and formed Harney Westwood & Riegels and his tenure lasted until he retired in 1997. Michael was a founding member of the BVI Bar Association in 1977 along with Neville Westwood and served as president from 1996-1999.

Joyce May Westwood Joyce May Westwood, wife of founding partner Neville Westwood, joined the firm in an administrative role during the late 1960s. She became the manager of Harney Westwood & Lloyd (later Riegels) for some 16 years and consequently wore many hats.

Richard Peters Cambridge graduate Richard Peters joined the firm in 1979. For six months, he worked alongside then-Attorney General (and later Harneys partner) Lewis Hunte, Noel Barton and Neville Westwood to draft the International Business Companies Act. Richard was the firm’s managing partner for 21 years. He left in 2012 after a 33-year career with the firm.

Emily Yiolitis Emily was a founding partner of Harneys Cyprus, and during her term with the firm, she served as head of Tax and Regulatory, amongst other positions. She has also headed Harneys Fiduciary practice in Cyprus since its launch in February 2017. Emily left the firm in June 2020 and was appointed Minister of Justice & Public Order of the Republic of Cyprus.

One of the largest employers in the BVI Harneys is one of the largest employers in the BVI, with over 180 members of staff, some of whom have been with the firm for over 30 years.

BVI Commercial Law Textbook cover The BVI Commercial Law Textbook was first published in December 2011 by Sweet & Maxwell and is the leading legal textbook on the laws of the British Virgin Islands. The fourth edition, published in June 2018, was substantially updated and revised to include the latest developments in the jurisdiction.

Harneys Training Programme In 2000, the firm instituted its first legal training programme in the BVI for newly qualified lawyers. Since then, the programme has graduated more than two dozen lawyers, many of whom have gone on to success not only at Harneys but at other law firms and in the judiciary.

Articles of Clerkship Programme In 2016 Harneys Cayman introduced a structured Articled Clerk Training Programme through which articled clerks have the opportunity to work with leading offshore practitioners. Natasja Levy and Moesha Ramsay-Howell were appointed to the programme in November 2019.

Adopting the Francis Lettsome Primary school In 2004 the firm pioneered the concept of corporate social responsibility by adopting the Francis Lettsome Primary School, a relationship which continues to this day. Over the years we have made improvements to the facilities, purchased playground equipment, sponsored enrichment activities, and volunteered at school events.