In the recent Alfa Telecom litigation, the British Virgin Islands’ court found itself ruling on a far-reaching conflict between EU and English law. Phillip Kite reports
The British Virgin Islands is used to high-profile litigation. The list of recent cases is a Who’s Who of household names from the East, including Alfa, Oleg Deripaska’s Rusal Trading, Roman Abramovich, the Reuben Brothers, Sibneft Oil, Lukoil and TNK-BP. Among the disputes involving these organisations, the extraordinary tale of IPOC stands out: IPOC’s failed billion-dollar claim against Alfa ended with convictions against IPOC companies for perverting the course of justice, and a $45m (£25m) confiscation order by the BVI Government of IPOC assets.
