Andrew Thorp

Partner | British Virgin Islands

Andrew is “one of the most effective lawyers in the jurisdiction”, “a great strategist who has excellent knowledge of local law and is a first choice for major litigation involving substantial firms and clients”.

Legal 500

Biography

Andrew Thorp is a partner and head of our Litigation, Insolvency and Restructuring group in the BVI, where he specialises in cross-border asset recovery and insolvency work. His clients include law firms, banks, funds, private equity houses and trust companies. Andrew is a recognised industry leader and largely focuses on pre-emptive remedies, including freezing orders, provisional liquidations and discovery orders, often against a background of fraud. He has a prolific track record of successful asset retrieval operations across CIS, Latin America and Asia. He is known for his strategic approach and effectiveness; clients benefit from ...

Andrew is a recognised industry leader and largely focuses on pre-emptive remedies, including freezing orders, provisional liquidations and discovery orders, often against a background of fraud. He has a prolific track record of successful asset retrieval operations across CIS, Latin America and Asia. He is known for his strategic approach and effectiveness; clients benefit from his commerciality and insight. Additionally, Andrew has pioneered a number of cross-border protocols between court officers and are regularly retained to advise on the restructuring of international distressed structures.

His leadership roles include serving as a director of INSOL Global and as chairman of RISA. He is also an honorary member of COMBAR and the Chancery Bar Association. You can read more from Andrew on our Offshore Litigation Blog.

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Recommendations

Andrew is ranked for his British Virgin Islands Dispute Resolution expertise. Testimonials include: Andrews is “very affable, very user-friendly, and knowledgeable. He's a good guy and he does know his stuff." (2023 guide) “Andrew Thorp is a really good lawyer." (2022 guide) Sources ...

- Chambers and Partners, 2019 - 2023

Andrew is ranked for his British Virgin Islands Dispute Resolution expertise.

Testimonials include:

Andrews is “very affable, very user-friendly, and knowledgeable. He's a good guy and he does know his stuff." (2023 guide)
“Andrew Thorp is a really good lawyer." (2022 guide)
Sources praise him for his "excellent way of relating to the client", with other clients stating that he is "extremely experienced" and "great to work with". (2021 guide)
Sources appreciate him as "a very knowledgeable partner with good negotiation skills." (2020 guide)
He’s described as a “smart guy” who does an “outstanding” job for his clients. (2019 guide)

- Chambers and Partners, 2019 - 2023

Andrew is recognised as a leading individual in the British Virgin Islands Dispute Resolution rankings. Sources have said he is “excellent to work with, and a clear and strategic thinker who is good to have in a client's corner” (2020 guide).

- Legal 500, 2020 – 2024

Andrew is recognised as a GIR – Asset Recovery thought leader (2019 – 2023 guides), Restructuring & Insolvency thought leader (2021 guide), Asset Recovery global leader (2019 – 2023 guides), Private Client global leader (2019 – 2023 guides), and Restructuring & Insolvency global leader (2019 – 2023 guides).

- Who’s Who Legal, 2019 – 2023

Andrew is recognised as a leading lawyer in the private wealth industry.

- Citywealth Leaders List

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Acting as BVI and Cayman counsel to HKSE-listed PRC property development firm Kaisa Group in a US$2.77 billion debt restructuring via a scheme of arrangement.

Acting for Huawei Technologies Co Ltd, the world’s largest telecommunications equipment maker and supplier, in a dispute concerning the appointment of a liquidator of C-Mobile Services.

Advising a shareholder of one of the top 10 New York hedge funds on a petition brought to prevent the US$350 million restructuring of a NYSE-listed BVI company invested in a Chinese aluminium wheel business.

Acting for LeniGas Cuba on its reverse takeover of Knowlton Capital Inc. by way of a BVI scheme of arrangement. The restructuring was intended to enable major foreign direct investment into Cuba’s growing economy.

Advising FTI as liquidator of a number of Pacific Andes entities connected with the high-profile US$1.6 billion insolvency matter involving multiple proceedings in the US, Hong Kong and Cayman. The case is one of the largest ever insolvency matters to be heard by the BVI court.

Acting for Grant Thornton as provisional liquidators of BVI-incorporated financing entities related to the OAS Group international bankruptcy involving US$943 million in debt and courts in New York, the BVI and Brazil.

Anguilla
2012

British Virgin Islands
2005

England and Wales (not practising)
1998

Chester College of Law (LPC)
1996

University of Nottingham (LLB)
1994