Robert J.D. Briant

Partner, Head of BVI Corporate Practice

Robert Briant is a Partner and Head of the British Virgin Islands Corporate practice. Robert joined Conyers in 1994 and is highly regarded for his extensive experience in all aspects of corporate and commercial law.

Robert is considered one of the most senior corporate lawyers in the BVI and focuses on mergers and acquisitions, joint venture companies and investment vehicles. He provides specialist advice to hedge funds and private equity funds, as well as advising on a broad range of financing transactions. His clients include Amazon, Diageo, Burger King, the Virgin Group, LVMH, Belmond, Denham Capital, Bank of America, Morgan Stanley, JP Morgan, Commerzbank, Bank of Asia and others.

Robert is the former Chairman of BVI Finance Limited, a public/private partnership created to develop further BVI’s financial services industry. He also sits on the Securities, Investment Business and Mutual Funds Advisory Committee and is a past member of the Joint Anti-Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing Advisory Committee of the BVI. Robert was also responsible for forming and chairs a consortium of the largest law firms in the BVI to make recommendations to Government on issues affecting financial services in the BVI. He is also regular contributor to the media on matters of BVI law.

Robert is consistently recognized in the top tier in Chambers Global, Legal 500 and IFLR1000. Robert holds a BA from McGill University, an LLB from University of Toronto and an LLM from Cambridge University.

Jurisdiction

Experience

  • Advised Weatherford International Ltd. on the sale of equity interest in Borets International Limited.
  • Acted for Compañía Española de Petróleos, S.A.U. and Strategic Resources (Global) Limited in connection with their recent acquisition of Coastal Energy Company.
  • Advised an international client in connection with issues arising out of the shareholders agreements.
  • Advised on the export receivables financing by a syndicate of banks.
  • Advised Burger King in its US$1.4 billion business combination with Justice Holdings Limited.

Qualifications

Professional Background

  •  Corporate & Securities Law Associate, Stikeman Elliott, Toronto (with postings in Budapest and Vancouver)

Education

  • Cambridge University, LLM, 1993
  • University of Toronto, LLB, 1988
  • McGill University, BA (Hons) Economics & Finance, 1985

Bar Admissions

  • British Virgin Islands, Solicitor, 2000
  • England & Wales, Solicitor, 2000
  • Bermuda, Solicitor and Barrister, 1995
  • Ontario, Solicitor and Barrister, 1990

Awards & Accolades

  • Recognised in the 2023 edition (and since 2010) of Chambers Global (corporate and finance, investment funds – Band 1)
  • Recognised in the 2024 edition (and since 2010) of Legal 500 Caribbean (corporate and commercial)
  • Recognised in the 2024 edition (and 2018) of Legal 500 Caribbean (banking, finance and capital markets)
  • Recognised in the 2022 edition (and since 2011) of Who’s Who Legal (private funds)
  • Recognised as “The A-List Top 50 Offshore Lawyers 2022” by Asia Business Law Journal
  • Recognised in the 2023 edition (and since 2010) of IFLR1000 (investment funds, financial and corporate)
  • Recognised in the 2021 edition (and 2019) of Legal 500 Caribbean (investment funds)
  • Recognised in the 2019 edition (and since 2016) of Chambers HNW (offshore: trusts)
  • Recognised in the 2015 edition (and since 2014) of Who’s Who Legal (mergers & acquisitions)
  • Recognised in the 2015 edition of Who’s Who Legal (banking)
  • Recognised in the 2015 edition of Legal Media Groups’ Expert Guides (investment funds)

Associations

  • Chair of BVI Finance
  • Chair of the BVI FSBDC Legislative Sub-Committee
  • Board Member of BVI Finance Limited
  • Member of the BVI SIBA Advisory Committee
  • Past member of the BVI Premier’s Financial Services Task Force
  • Past Chairman of the BVI Mutual Funds Advisory Committee
  • Past member of the BVI Joint Anti-Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing Advisory Committee