Conyers hosts tenth annual Offshore Law Forum in New York

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 7: Conyers Dill & Pearman hosted its tenth annual Offshore Law Forum on September 15 at the Four Seasons Hotel in New York.

This year’s forum featured an in-depth look at offshore funds litigation arising out of the global financial crisis.

A senior delegation from across Conyers’ jurisdictions addressed a large audience drawn from New York’s legal, financial and professional services community.

Well over 100 attendees were present, including senior partners of AM Law 100 firms, fund managers, directors, bankers, administrators, accountants and financial executives.

The forum featured Conyers lawyers Robert Briant, Anthony Whaley, Alex Potts, Maree Martin, and director of business development Ross Webber, and showcased the firm’s expertise in Bermuda, the British Virgin Islands, the Cayman Islands and Mauritius.

Disputes

One of the highlights of the forum was a discussion by Alex Potts of recent high-profile fund disputes in the courts of Bermuda, the British Virgin Islands and the Cayman Islands.

Despite the unprecedented nature of many of these cases, the courts of each jurisdiction have proven themselves prompt and efficient in resolving fund disputes, both at first instance and on appeal.

Islam

The panellists also discussed the signing of TIEAs, recent activity in IPOs, asset backed securitisations, and catastrophe bonds; the growth of Islamic financial services, and the extension of Bermuda’s Tax Assurance Act to 2035.

The BVI’s new Commercial Court and Securities and Investment Business Act was also examined, as well as the impact of the EU Funds Directive on the offshore funds industry, and developments in Mauritius, where Conyers has acted on several headline transactions this year including the listing of the first Mauritius entity on NASDAQ.

Speaking after the event, Conyers director Anthony Whaley said: “As the effects of the global financial crisis continue to manifest themselves, industry players are looking for greater insight into issues arising in the major offshore jurisdictions.