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.

${ !hiddenTextVisible ?"Read more": " Show less"}

Recommendations

Andrew has been recognised as a Global Leader in the Restructuring & Insolvency guide and the Asset Recovery guide.

- Who’s Who Legal 2023

Andrew has been recognised as a Global Leader in the Restructuring & Insolvency guide and the Asset Recovery guide.

- Who’s Who Legal 2023

Andrew is ranked for his BVI Dispute Resolution expertise. Sources say: "He’s very affable, very user-friendly and knowledgeable. He's a good guy, and he does know his stuff."

- Chambers and Partners, 2023

Andrew is recognised as a "leading individual".

- Legal 500, 2023

Andrew has been recognised as a Thought Leader in the GIR - Asset Recovery and Private Client guides; and a Global Leader in the Restructuring & Insolvency and Asset Recovery guides.

- Who’s Who Legal 2022

Andrew is ranked for his BVI Dispute Resolution expertise. Sources say: “Andrew Thorp is a really good lawyer."

- Chambers and Partners, 2022

Andrew is recognised as a “leading individual” in the British Virgin Islands Dispute Resolution rankings.

- Legal 500, 2022

Andrew has been ranked for his BVI Dispute Resolution expertise. 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".

- Chambers and Partners, 2021

Andrew is recognised as a “leading individual” in the British Virgin Islands Dispute Resolution rankings. Clients say he is “great to work with, very responsive and pragmatic in his approach."

- Legal 500, 2021

Andrew is recognised as a GIR "thought leader" and an expert in asset recovery.

- Who's Who Legal, 2020

Andrew was recommended as an expert in restructuring and insolvency.

- Who's Who Legal, 2020

Andrew has been ranked for his BVI Dispute Resolution expertise. Sources appreciate him as "a very knowledgeable partner with good negotiation skills."

- Chambers & Partners, 2020

Andrew is consistently ranked as a Band 1 lawyer and is described as a “smart guy” who does an “outstanding” job for his clients.

- Chambers & Partners, 2019

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”.

- Legal 500, 2020

Andrew is recognised as a GIR "thought leader" and an expert in asset recovery, private client, and restructuring & insolvency.

- Who's Who Legal, 2019

Andrew has been recognised as Thought Leaders in Who’s Who Legal’s recent GIR – Asset Recovery 2023 guide.

- Who's Who Legal, 2023

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

- Citywealth Leaders List

${ !hiddenTextVisible ?"Read more": " Show less"}

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