George Weston is a partner, global head of our Corporate practice group, and leader of our British Virgin Islands Transactional team. He is also a member of our global Executive Committee.
He advises on all aspects of corporate and commercial law involving offshore structures, including mergers and acquisitions (M&A), takeovers, downstream private equity investments, joint ventures, public and private share offerings, capital raisings, and corporate reorganisations. Although he works with clients across a wide range of industries worldwide, George has particular expertise in leading law firms and private equity investors on cross-bo
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George Weston is a partner, global head of our Corporate practice group, and leader of our British Virgin Islands Transactional team. He is also a member of our global Executive Committee.
He advises on all aspects of corporate and commercial law involving offshore structures, including mergers and acquisitions (M&A), takeovers, downstream private equity investments, joint ventures, public and private share offerings, capital raisings, and corporate reorganisations. Although he works with clients across a wide range of industries worldwide, George has particular expertise in leading law firms and private equity investors on cross-border corporate acquisitions and joint ventures with technology or real estate elements, including hotels and hospitality.
George's extensive capital markets experience includes a strong track record in offshore SPAC transactions involving BVI and Cayman vehicles, working with issuers and sponsors on IPOs and with both targets and SPACs on de-SPACs and business combinations.
George also has experience acting on a range of debt finance, debt capital markets and security matters, representing borrowers and issuers on leveraged transactions, public and private bond issuances, and debt restructurings and work-outs.
Clients have described George as "one of the best lawyers in any Caribbean jurisdiction" (Chambers and Partners, Global Guide 2026).
George consults regularly with the BVI government and regulators on the development of corporate law in the BVI. He is Chair of BVI Finance and a member of the statutory Company Law Advisory and Review Committee. He also sits on the board of the IFC Forum. George is also a member of the International Bar Association and the Institute of Directors.
Prior to joining Harneys, George spent 7 years at Paul Hastings' London office, where he worked on many high-profile corporate transactions. He also completed a secondment in an ECM-focused team at JPMorgan Chase in London.
George is frequently asked to write and speak on corporate law matters and has been quoted and published in a variety of media, including CNBC, MergerMarket, Legal Business, Asian Business Law Review, Business Law Today, Practical Law Company Magazine, the British Tax Review and the International Financial Law Review.
George is recognised for his Corporate & Finance including Investment Funds expertise in the British Virgin Islands. Testimonials from the 2026 guide include: "George is one of the best lawyers I have worked with in any Caribbean jurisdiction." "George Weston is a lawyer with ...
- Chambers and Partners, 2020-2026
George is recognised for his Corporate & Finance including Investment Funds expertise in the British Virgin Islands. Testimonials from the 2026 guide include:
"George is one of the best lawyers I have worked with in any Caribbean jurisdiction."
"George Weston is a lawyer with significant business acumen. He works extremely well under pressure and is very responsive."
"George Weston is a well-respected industry expert."
- Chambers and Partners, 2020-2026
George is recognised as a leading partner in the British Virgin Islands Corporate and Commercial and Banking, Finance and Capital Markets guides. He was previously recognised as a next generation partner (2021 – 2024), a rising star (2020), and a next generation lawyer (2018 – 2019) in the BVI Corporate and Commercial guide. Testimonials include:
“George Weston is an industry expert, and is well respected by peers and clients. He has great attention to detail and is very responsive.” (2026 guide)
He is described as "likeable, creative, thoughtful and pragmatic". One client noted he is "one of the leading lawyers in the jurisdiction and is very well respected in the market. George is very commercial, responsive and always takes the time to discuss any query I have." (2025 guide)
He is "the future of Harneys. George is one of the leading figures in the market from a M&A perspective and an overall, excellent lawyer. Responsive, commercial, and easy to work with. His aptitude to always get things right is impressive!" (2024 guide)
Advising DXC Technology Company (NYSE: DXC) on its US$2 billion acquisition of Luxoft (NYSE: LXFT), at the time the largest ever takeover of a publicly listed BVI company by transaction value.
Acting on the merger of third-party logistics companies UTi Worldwide Inc and DSV in a US$1.2 billion public takeover of a listed BVI company.
Advising a group of private investors on the reorganisation of their holdings in a UK PLC through the establishment of a new BVI joint venture company holding equity assets valued in excess of $1.5 billion.
Advising a BVI-incorporated e-commerce firm on its sale for approximately US$600 million.
Representing the existing owner of a hotel chain on the disposal of majority ownership (through the issue of notes convertible into 51 per cent of its shares) to create a BVI joint venture with a potential value of more than US$1.2 billion.
Acting for SOCAR and its wholly owned subsidiary Sermaye Investments Limited (SIL) on the repayment of a US$1.3 billion loan from Goldman Sachs International (GSI) to SIL, the repurchase acquisition of shares by SIL from GSI, and a corporate restructuring and refinancing with a new US$1.3 billion secured debt from a portfolio of lenders.
Advising on BVI aspects of the US$900 million acquisition of Tripe-S by Guidewell, an insurance firm.
Advising Central Group in its transactions with the Public Investment Fund (PIF) to form a new holding structure and governance arrangement in respect of the Selfridges Group, following PIF's total buyout of Signa Group's interest in Selfridges Group.
Advising H.I.G. Capital, a global alternative investment firm with US$60 billion of capital under management, in its acquisition of Segers Aero Corporation and Segers Aviation S.A. (Segers).
Advising Hyatt Hotels Corporation, the internationally renowned hotel chain, on the BVI aspects of its takeover of Two Roads Hospitality for US$480 million.
Advising the global private investment firm Starwood Capital Group on BVI aspects of its US$250 million strategic investment in the hotel chain YOTEL.
Advising LeniGas Cuba Limited on its reverse takeover of Knowlton Capital Inc by way of a BVI scheme of arrangement.
Advising Road Town Wholesale Trading Ltd, a BVI-based retail and wholesale conglomerate, on the acquisition of 76.1 per cent of its issued shares by a wholly owned subsidiary of The North West Company Inc. The deal is believed to be the largest-ever M&A transaction involving a company operating and trading domestically in the BVI.
Advising a hotel owner/operator on the disposal of a hotel chain held through several BVI vehicles for a consideration of approximately US$350 million.
Advising Hyatt Hotels Corporation in relation to the acquisition of preferred shares (and related joint venture arrangements) in a BVI company owning a major hotel and resort in Latin America in a transaction valued at more than US$100 million.
Representing Polaris Infrastructure Inc., a Toronto-based company engaged in the operation, acquisition and development of renewable energy projects in Latin America, on its acquisition of 100 per cent of the issued and outstanding shares of Union Energy Group Corp. (incorporated in the BVI) in 2018, and on its 2020 refinancing through a facility provided by the Brookfield Infrastructure Debt Fund, a global credit-focused fund managed by Brookfield Asset Management Inc (NYSE: BAM).
Advising iSmash, a high street technology repair service, on multiple fundraising rounds and its ultimate sale.
Advising AlTibbi, an emerging medical technology company targeting the Middle East and North Africa, on two successful fundraising rounds.
Advising on a $200m acquisition of a Peruvian manufacturing company and related joint venture arrangements.
Capital Markets
Advising on the innovative direct listing of WeShop on the Nasdaq stock exchange and related corporate matters.
Advising ACG Metals Limited on a US$200 million bond placement.
Advising Polaris Renewable Energy with the successful private placement of US$175 million senior secured green bonds with a US$50 million tap option.
Advising on the reorganisation and IPO of MBC Media in Saudi Arabia, which was described as the 'world's best performing IPO' by Bloomberg.
Advising Aura Minerals, a BVI-incorporated issuer with a market cap of more than US$4bn on a successful US IPO and on several financing transactions.
Representing Talon Metals Inc., a TSX-listed base metals company, on various capital raisings.
Advising SEAL SQ as issuer on its spin-out from WISeKey, Nasdaq listing and on various secondary transactions.
Advising WISeKey on its proposed re-domiciliation to the BVI by statutory merger and re-listing.
Advised Antelope Enterprise Holdings Limited, a Nasdaq-listed issuer, on several secondary transactions.
Advised BNB Plus Corp, a Nasdaq-listed issuer, on several matters.
Alongside our dispute resolution team, acted for West Ridge Investment Company Limited on matters arising out of a private placement investment in Nam Tai Property Inc.
SPACs
Advising Yorkville Acquisition Corp I, a SPAC, on a US$6.42 billion business combination.
Advising Yorkville International Capital Corp on its USD$200m IPO
Advising Latin American softgel maker Procaps Group on its business combination with Nasdaq-listed Union Acquisition Corp. II for an enterprise value of US$1.1 billion (named "Deal of the Year, Colombia 2021" by Transaction Track Record).
Advising Maxpro Capital Acquisition Corp., a special purpose acquisition company (SPAC), on its US$899 million definitive agreement for a business combination with late-stage clinical biopharmaceutical company, Apollomics Inc.
Advising Saitech Limited, an Eurasia-based energy-saving bitcoin mining operator, on its business combination with TradeUP Global Corporation.
Advising ACG Acquisition Company Limited (ACG), a BVI SPAC, on its initial public offering and standard listing on the London Stock Exchange's Main Market and on its subsequent $290 million de-SPAC (the first in London under its new SPAC rules).
Advising GigCapital 7 on its successful IPO and subsequent $1.2 billion business combination with Hadron Energy.
Advising the issuer and sponsor of Hall Chadwick Acquisition Corp on its IPO and subsequent entry into a definitive business combination agreement with REEcycle Holdings, Inc.
Advising the issuer and sponsor on the IPO of GigCapital 8 Corp.
Advising the issuer and sponsor on the IPOs of Viking Acquisition Corp I and Viking Acquisition Corp II.
Advising the issuer and sponsor on the IPO of Quantum Leap Acquisition, a SPAC.
Advising Aura FAT Projects Acquisition Corp on its IPO and de-SPAC with Dalmore Holdings Pty Limited.
Advising the issuer on the Pono Capital Three, Inc IPO.
