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Sara-Jane is a partner in our litigation and arbitration team.
Based in the British Virgin Islands and heading up the Withers BVI office, Sara-Jane is recognised by Chambers Global and Legal 500 BVI as a leader in her field, advising on a wide range of matters from commercial, contractual and finance disputes to insolvency, fraud and asset tracing. Sara-Jane also advises on probate and trust matters, both contentious and non-contentious.
Working together with her colleagues in other Withers' offices around the world, Sara-Jane strives to provide her clients with a dedicated global team, ready to tackle cross-border cases with local on-shore and offshore experience. She regularly acts for high-net-worth individuals (HNWIs), trustees, beneficiaries, insolvency practitioners, creditors, companies, directors, shareholders and officer holders, either directly or via intermediaries. She also works with key intermediaries, service providers and foreign lawyers in various jurisdictions to ensure a seamless service for her clients. Additionally, Sara-Jane frequently works with her colleagues in the global fintech team in relation to BVI matters regarding the development of emerging products in that area.
Sara-Jane practices public law and recently acted for the BVI Government in relation to a Commission of Inquiry brought to investigate governance issues and allegations of corruption.
Sara-Jane is a Solicitor-Advocate, regularly appearing in Court on behalf of her clients, including dealing with interim injunctions, appointment of receivers, appointment of liquidators and dealing with shareholder disputes, just to name a few.
Having trained at Withers, Sara-Jane is dual qualified, maintaining practising certificates in both the BVI and England.
Recent recognition
Experience
Track record
Removal of a Trustee
We act for the beneficiary of a large BVI Trust who is applying to remove the trustee of a family trust. The other beneficiary and trustee are actively opposing the application.
Successful restructuring of two BVI Trusts worth in excess of US$400m
We acted for the trustees of two BVI trusts worth in excess of US$400 million, who undertook an extensive restructuring process involving assets and beneficiaries located in multiple jurisdictions and received the blessing of the BVI Court for their restructuring decisions following an application made under the Public Trustee v Cooper regime. Not only did this matter involve complex issues of cross-border restructuring, but also issues of surrogacy and parental rights of children in the BVI. Click here to read the Judgment.
Successful strike out of an Appeal
We acted for the Respondent to an Appeal and successfully struck out the Appeal at the initial stage, before significant work was undertaken. The Appellant was attempting to appeal a judgment relating to the beneficial ownership of a valuable property in London, which we had secured for our client.
Successful discharge of receivership order in BVI
We acted for an Anguillan company whose asset, a BVI company, was the subject of a receivership order obtained by VTB Bank. VTB is attempting to enforce Russian judgments against a Russian individual via BVI companies, which VTB claims are ultimately owned by the Russian individual. The receivership order was successfully discharged. Click here to read the Judgment.
Trustees of two BVI Trusts
We are instructed by the trustees of two BVI trusts worth in excess of US$400 million, who are currently undergoing a restructuring exercise involving assets in multiple jurisdictions. Recent issues relating to this matter have involved a discussion of parental rights in the BVI.
Successfully resisted the enforcement of Russian judgement
We acted for a high-net-worth individual in the successful defence of the enforcement in the BVI of Russian judgments obtained by VTB Bank. The matter involved the BVI Commercial Court, Eastern Caribbean Court of Appeal and the Privy Council. Click here to read one of the many Judgments relating to this matter.
BVI hedge fund
Successfully acted for a BVI hedge fund in the removal of its investment manager and its liquidation.
Cyprus based trustee
Successfully acted for a Cyprus based trustee in defending beneficiary claims of $150m in the BVI Commercial Court.
Insight
Admissions
England and Wales, 2011
British Virgin Islands, 2012
Education
BPP Law School, Graduate Diploma in Law
BPP Law School, LPC
University of St Andrews, MA International Relations
Languages
- English
Memberships
Recovery and Insolvency Specialists Association (BVI) Limited
Solicitor Advocate of the Senior Courts of England and Wales
Solicitor Advocate of the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court
Key dates
- Year joined: 2007
- Year became partner: 2022