BVI Dispute Resolution specialist David Welford joins Ogier as partner

BVI Dispute Resolution specialist David Welford has joined Ogier as partner.

David joins Ogier's BVI law team in Europe, which works seamlessly alongside the firm's BVI-based team to provide BVI Dispute Resolution support across the European and Caribbean timezones.

David is a barrister with broad experience of commercial and financial disputes, with a focus on cross-border company, trusts and insolvency matters. He has extensive advocacy experience before the BVI Commercial Court and the Court of Appeal.

David previously acted on behalf of PT Ventures SGPS, S.A in proceedings against Vidatel Ltd., a BVI company owned by Isabel dos Santos, the daughter of the former president of Angola. PT Ventures successfully obtained and maintained a US$2.1 billion freezing injunction in support of Paris sited arbitral proceedings which amounted to a battle for control of Angola's largest telecommunications company. Following PT Ventures' success in those arbitral proceedings in 2019, David continued to act in relation to enforcement steps taken in the BVI.

David has also previously advised the senior secured creditors in the restructuring of the Brazilian Constellation Group, which involved the appointment of the first ever BVI 'light touch' provisional liquidators for the purpose of implementing a debt restructuring. Ogier acted for the Constellation Group itself.

Ogier's Head of Dispute Resolution in the BVI, Brian Lacy, said: "We are very pleased to welcome David to the team at a time when we are seeing high demand for our BVI Dispute Resolution services. Our reputation is built on our ability to manage complex, high-value matters and David will add strength to our team who are already known in the industry as stand-out lawyers."