A BVI Law Firm that Makes a Difference

Sheila C George specialises in all aspects of British Virgin Islands property and commercial law. She works with an array of private clients, including developers and foreign nationals.

Sheila brings to the table over twenty years of extensive experience in commercial and property law, where she has acted for numerous investors, developers, owners of private islands, hotels, resorts and marinas, and private investors. She has also assisted with their various business needs including, acquisitions, sales, leasing, development and reclamation, property financing, business contracts and regulatory permits. In addition, Sheila advises foreign nationals on issues relating to acquiring property for private and commercial use, establishing and structuring businesses, and handling immigration and labour.

Sheila’s experience over the many years include sitting on the boards of numerous entities, including regulated and non-regulated entities, multinational corporations and statutory bodies, including as chairman of the BVI Social Security Board.

Sheila is a notary public in the BVI.

Johann E Henry is our key contact for shipping and advises some of the world’s leading financial institutions, law firms, ship builders and yacht owners.

Johann advises local and foreign institutional and private clients on a wide variety of commercial and real property matters.  He has advised on every major infrastructural development project in the BVI for the last decade and advises lenders in financing transactions and generally in relation to BVI banking law. Johann’s client base includes statutory bodies and central government who he advises on a range of public law matters including public sector governance, the exercise of statutory power and legislative reform.

With expertise in both the BVI and the Cayman Islands, Johann assists clients with all aspects of the acquisition, registration, financing, disposal and operation of ships.

Johann sits as a director on the boards of private sector entities and has served as the BVI Bar Association representative on the Maritime Advisory Board. He is also a member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners and is a notary public in the BVI.

Paul E Mellor advises corporate and private clients as well as financial institutions on a wide range of commercial and property matters.

With regards to property matters, Paul has extensive experience in providing advice on the acquisition, disposal and development of property, and in relation to landlord and tenant work.

Paul advises institutional and private clients on a variety of commercial matters including commercial contract negotiation, business, and trade licences, immigration and employment. Paul also helps clients to establish business operations in the BVI and advises business and property owners on compliance with their regulatory requirements.

Paul advises domestic banking institutions in connection with their lending matters, particularly where the underlying security is property-related.

Paul is a notary public in the BVI.

Jennifer A Potter is our Head of Operations, Risk and Compliance and has a range of leadership responsibilities within the firm, including in the areas of operational resilience, driving the efficient operation and development of our business, risk management and compliance.

Jennifer has extensive experience in the implementation of innovative solutions to manage and optimise business systems and resources. Jennifer is particularly adept at identifying and harnessing advances in technology to achieve business objectives. She led strategic solutions for the BVI financial services regulator for over two decades and has demonstrable experience in delivering change and innovation in the fields of risk-management, corporate governance and regulatory compliance. Jennifer’s considerable experience in these areas is of fundamental importance to our business and we are fortunate to be able to draw on her skills and experience to better serve our clients.

Jennifer has served as non-Executive Director and trusted advisor to a range of BVI public sector and private organisations.

Jermaine O Case advises on a wide range of banking, financial services regulatory, corporate and commercial, debt finance, public law, employment and general commercial litigation matters. 

He advises international and domestic financial institutions on lending transactions including with respect to the creation, registration, release and enforcement of security interests under BVI law.

In his regulatory practice, Jermaine regularly assists clients with general tax guidance, financial services licence applications and anti-money laundering compliance. He specialises in entity classification and financial account reporting under FATCA and AEOI under the OECD’s Common Reporting Standard and other similar reporting protocols. He also has extensive experience advising on all aspects of the telecommunications and maritime regulatory frameworks in the British Virgin Islands. His regulatory client base includes international and domestic financial institutions, trust companies, statutory bodies, investment funds and investment managers.

Jermaine also advises on a variety of general corporate, private client and employment matters including redomiciliations, corporate restructurings and liquidations. He has significant experience advising legal entities on BVI economic substance requirements and their implementation. Additionally, he represents corporate and private clients in relation to employment, regulatory, contractual and commercial disputes.

Kerri-Anne J Mayne advises clients on a wide range of regulatory, employment, corporate and commercial, banking, dispute resolution and tax matters.

She supports the firm’s clients in the financial services and general commercial sectors, advising on legal and regulatory compliance including with respect to data privacy, anti-money laundering, tax information exchange and economic substance requirements. Kerri-Anne’s practice focuses in particular on regulatory issues affecting virtual assets and service providers in the fintech space, and mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures and reorganisations in the corporate and commercial practice environment.

Kerri-Anne plays an integral role in our growing dispute resolution practice which supports the firm’s clients in a variety of contentious employment, general commercial, public law and regulatory matters.

Lesley-Ann Stewart is an associate in our expanding Dispute Resolution team.

Her practice at GHP BVI includes advising corporate and individual clients, statutory bodies and Government on a broad range of commercial and civil litigation matters including employment disputes, tortious and contract claims, contentious real estate, debt recovery, judicial review, arbitration and mediation and enforcement of judgments and arbitral awards.

Lesley-Ann has significant advocacy experience having appeared frequently before courts and tribunals in Jamaica prior to joining GHP BVI.

By leveraging her passion for the law, robust experience and commitment to excellence in advocacy and client care, Lesley-Ann plays a key role in supporting GHPBVI’s clients in effectively and efficiently resolving their most complex disputes.

Our clients also value Lesley-Ann’s responsiveness, practical and commercially savvy approach to resolving disputes and willingness to go the extra mile to deliver the best outcomes.

Julia A Durante is GHP’s Finance Manager. 

Kenisha has extensive experience in Compliance and Internal Audit. Her expertise is an important part of our commitment to good governance and effective compliance as the firm continues to grow and to expand its service offerings.

With international qualifications in Compliance, Governance and Cyber Risk, Kenisha supports GHP’s operations providing ongoing support for these critical functions to ensure we maintain robust systems and controls. Committed to safeguarding the firm’s integrity and enhancing its culture of compliance, Kenisha’s attention to detail and strong background in corporate and regulatory environments will help the firm to continue to operate smoothly and sustainably.

Shanika Maduro is a paralegal with over 15 years of experience in the legal profession and supports clients in a wide range of shipping & aircraft, banking & finance, real estate and intellectual property matters.

Priscilla Donovan-Bobb is a paralegal with over 20 years of experience in the legal profession and provides support and assistance to clients in a wide range of areas, with a particular focus on real estate, wills & estates and intellectual property. 

Keithia supports clients in a wide range of dispute resolution, corporate, commercial, real estate and intellectual property matters.