Professional notice
Website: http://bviiac.org/
History
The BVI International Arbitration Centre (BVI IAC), an independent not-for-profit institution, was established pursuant to the BVI Arbitration Act, which came into effect on 1 October 2014, to meet the demands of the international business community for a neutral, impartial, efficient and reliable dispute resolution institution in the Caribbean.
The Act, through which the BVI largely adopted the UNCITRAL Model Law, and the BVI’s accession to the New York Convention on 25 May 2014 are crucial steps that have enabled the establishment of a viable and internationally respected arbitration centre in the BVI.
Lord Goldsmith singled out the BVI IAC as having the potential to become the “best-thought-out and thus most popular” centre in the Caribbean and beyond.
A well-run and well-equipped state-of-the-art centre, together with the acknowledged quality of the BVI legal framework and the stable political environment offered by a British overseas territory, should enable the BVI to rapidly become the leading arbitration hub in Latin America and the Caribbean.
Why arbitrate in the BVI?
- It has an excellent new Arbitration Act, based on the UNCITRAL model law.
- The new Arbitration Act gives the parties to arbitration the freedom to select a legal representative of their choice without restriction and gives civil immunity to arbitrators.
- The Arbitration Act gives great flexibility to parties on various options. For instance, parties can choose whether or not a court is to have jurisdiction to consider an appeal against an award; to challenge against an award on the grounds of serious irregularity; or to determine a point of law arising in the arbitration. Other opt-ins include providing the tribunal with the power to consolidate arbitrations and limiting the tribunal to a single member.
- It accessioned to the New York Convention on 25 May 2014.
- The BVI IAC has strong governmental support, as validated by the work permit requirement exemption for anyone participating in an arbitration.
- It has a sophisticated, learned, ethical and impartial judiciary.
- There is a high-quality legal community and Bar Association.
- It has a strong reputation as an international financial services centre.
- It has much existing expertise in international financial services.
- It has outstanding, state-of-the-art facilities.
The International Arbitration Centre
The BVI IAC administers arbitrations under its own rules, but also offers users of ad hoc or other institutional arbitration first-class premises and support services in a jurisdiction that enjoys a good reputation for the quality of its commercial and appellate courts and for political stability.
The aim is to ensure that the BVI IAC becomes the regional centre of choice for the arbitration of disputes arising out of business activity and projects worldwide.
While parties will always be free to nominate arbitrators of their choice, the BVI IAC maintains a roster of over 200 highly regarded international arbitration and other dispute resolution practitioners, drawn from both common law and civil law jurisdictions, who are able to conduct arbitrations in a number of languages including English, Spanish, Portuguese, Russian, Chinese, French, German and Italian.
The BVI IAC provides full administrative and concierge services in support of parties and arbitrators conducting arbitral proceedings under its auspices, serving as the official channel of communications and ensuring safe custody of documents. The BVI IAC also provides services such as financial administration, logistical and technical support for meetings and hearings, travel arrangements, and general secretarial and linguistic support.
The Board
The five inaugural members of the BVI International Arbitration Centre Board (the BVI IAC Board) were appointed by Cabinet effective 7 September 2015 under section 95 of the Arbitration Act. They are Mr John Beechey CBE, Mr Mark Forte, Mr Cherno Jallow QC, Mr Murray-Smith and Ms Felice Swapp.
Francois Lassalle
CEO
3rd Floor, Ritter House, Wickham’s Cay II
Tortola, VG1110
British Virgin Islands
Tel: +1 284 393 8000
[email protected]
Francois Lassalle
CEO