The Offshore Litigation Blog and our contributors
The Harneys Offshore Litigation Blog is a unique online hub for news and insights about offshore litigation in jurisdictions including the British Virgin Islands, the Cayman Islands, and Bermuda. We are the authoritative resource for recent cases, jurisdictional news, court lists, interviews with the judiciary and even some tips on island life.
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Detailed analysis by the Cayman Court on the impact of offers on the valuation date for a buy-out order
In the recent decision of In the Matter of Madera Technology Fund (CI), Ltd, the Cayman Islands Grand Court considered the principles and authorities in relation to the determination of the valuation date for a buy-out order as an alternative remedy to a just and equitable winding-up petition.
12 Sep 2024
English Court of Appeal silences Chime
The two predominant types of claims brought by shareholders are unfair prejudice petitions, brought by the shareholder on their own behalf, and derivative claims, brought by the shareholder on behalf of the company.
08 Jan 2024
FamilyMart Privy Council decision – Just & equitable petitions susceptible to arbitration “hive off”
In a recent decision of the Privy Council in FamilyMart China Holding Co Ltd v Ting Chuan (Cayman Islands) Holding, on appeal from the Cayman Islands, the…
22 Sep 2023
Shareholders of a Cayman Islands company may enforce their right to wind up the company on just and equitable grounds notwithstanding ongoing related foreign proceedings
The recent Cayman Islands Grand Court decision in Re Youbi Capital (Cayman) GP has clarified the position regarding an application to strike out a winding up petition as an abuse of process where related proceedings are taking place in another jurisdiction.
25 May 2023
Third time’s not the charm! Only in exceptional cases will the Privy Council entertain appeals against concurrent findings of fact from the Court of Appeal
On 10 November 2022, the Privy Council handed down its decision in Sancus Financial Holdings Ltd and others (Appellants) v Holm and another (Respondents) reaffirming its long-held practice to only entertain second appeals against concurrent findings of fact in exceptional cases.
02 Dec 2022
Unfair family fights? Legitimate expectation and proper purpose in family businesses
In the recent judgment of Ma v Wong [2002] UKPC 14 the Privy Council unanimously dismisses the appeal against the dismissal of the unfair prejudice claim under s184I of the BVI Business Companies Act 2004, alleging breach of equitable constraints on the majority shareholders in relation to the conversion of preference shares into ordinary voting shares, changing the balance of power in the Third Respondent BVI-company (STIC), and breach of directors’ fiduciary duty in the exercise of power for an improper purpose.
13 May 2022
Missed understanding: BVI Court holds directors in breach of their duty to act for a proper purpose
On 17 January 2022, the BVI Commercial Court handed down judgment in Green Elite (In liquidation) v Fang Ankong et al, in which a claim for breach of directors’ duties was brought by the liquidators of Green Elite against the former directors of that company. The Court held that the directors breached the requirement under section 121 of the BVI BCA to carry out their duties for a proper purpose with the result that they were liable in restitution for certain sale proceeds received by them.
08 Feb 2022
Take 10 podcast: Never back down in the face of adversity
In this episode of our Take 10 podcast, Asia Managing Partner Ian Mann interviews Victor Joffe QC about his extensive legal career including his aspirations as a law student, his role models, how he overcame challenges and lessons learned, as well as helpful advice to younger generations of legal practitioners.
26 Nov 2021
BVI Court has the power
In the recent decision of the BVI Commercial Court in Hydro Energy v Zhaoheng, the Court continued the appointment of provisional liquidators and refused to stay the underlying application to wind up a BVI company on just and equitable grounds, notwithstanding that the applicant had already commenced arbitration proceedings in Hong Kong pursuant to which interim relief had already been granted.
02 Sep 2021