
Michael Killourhy
Partner | Legal
British Virgin Islands

Michael Killourhy
Partner
British Virgin Islands
Services
We have the expertise to handle the most demanding transactions. Our commercial understanding and experience of working with leading financial institutions, professional advisers and regulatory bodies means we add real value to clients’ businesses.
Sectors and specialist teams
Our sector approach relies on smart collaboration between teams who have a deep understanding of related businesses and industry dynamics. The specific combination of our highly informed experts helps our clients to see around corners.
We have the expertise to handle the most demanding transactions. Our commercial understanding and experience of working with leading financial institutions, professional advisers and regulatory bodies means we add real value to clients’ businesses.
See legal pages
Corporate and Fiduciary
Consulting
Corporate and Fiduciary (1)
Corporate and Fiduciary (2)
Corporate and Fiduciary (3)
Corporate and Fiduciary (4)
Ogier provides practical legal advice globally, across BVI, Cayman, Guernsey, Irish, Jersey and Luxembourg laws.
Banking and Finance
Corporate
Dispute Resolution
Employment and Immigration
Intellectual Property
Investment Funds
Listing Services
Local Legal Services
Delivering integrated legal, corporate and fiduciary services with a focus on governance and regulatory compliance.
Independent regulatory, compliance, AML, ESG and digital solutions for evolving financial and operational needs.
Our sector approach relies on smart collaboration between teams who have a deep understanding of related businesses and industry dynamics. The specific combination of our highly informed experts helps our clients to see around corners.
Ogier provides practical advice on BVI, Cayman Islands, Guernsey, Irish, Jersey and Luxembourg law through our global network of offices across the Asian, Caribbean and European timezones. Ogier is the only firm to advise on this unique combination of laws.
Keep up to date with industry insights, analysis and reviews. Find out about the work of our expert teams and subscribe to receive our newsletters straight to your inbox.
Fresh thinking, sharper opinion.
We get straight to the point, managing complexity to get to the essentials. Our global network of offices covers every time zone.
About us
Corporate social responsibility (CSR)
Diversity, equity and inclusion
Information security
Innovation
Sustainability
Cryptocurrency, blockchain and other innovative technologies are revolutionising not just financial services but the way we live, interact and do business generally. The internet is continuing to evolve through the idea of Web3, bringing the concepts of blockchain, cryptocurrency and non-fungible tokens (NFTs) to us and revolutionising traditional concepts of ownership, and with this comes increasingly complex regulation that must be navigated.Â
Our global specialists have considerable experience navigating this complex space, helping clients match the pace of development by offering practical solutions. We also provide truly expert disputes advice in relation to digital assets where our best-in-class disputes and litigation practices leverage our unparalleled experience in this area to advise clients in some of the highest profile disputes and recoveries.Â
At Ogier, we have experts across our jurisdictions covering the fintech ecosystem advising on decentralised autonomous organisations (DAOs), decentralised finance (DeFi) and the Web3 landscape generally. We have established ourselves as the market leader in the Cayman Islands and British Virgin Islands (BVI) for creating and implementing a variety of innovative and regulatory compliant structures and have experts across our jurisdictions, including Hong Kong, Jersey, Guernsey, Ireland, BVI, Cayman and Luxembourg, which are fully engaged with their local regulators to help steer the future regulatory landscape.Â
Our global, multijurisdictional approach brings together our sector-leading legal, corporate, and regulatory practices. Our range of Technology and Web3 services differ across our jurisdictions and target markets, but collectively our dedicated Ogier team will offer clients exceptional market insight, whatever your diverse needs, servicing:Â
regulatory and complianceÂ
structuring and formationÂ
financingÂ
intellectual property and commercial mattersÂ
local legal servicesÂ
trusts and estate planning (for founders/principals)Â
restructuring and corporate recoveryÂ
dispute resolutionÂ
We use flexible and innovative structures to help launch and support new DAOs,including advising on the formation of Cayman Islands’ foundation companies and advising existing operational DAOs and other governance models.
We can assist with DeFi projects related to decentralised exchanges and other decentralised protocols and financial platforms.
Our global team offers cross-border advice on evolving regulation for virtual assets service providers (VASPs) and can assist VASPs, including trading platforms and exchanges, in obtaining registration or licensing to conduct virtual asset services and token issuances in relevant jurisdictions. We also offer AML advice, VASP licencing and regulatory advice.
We provide advice and assistance at every stage of a dispute, including providing crisis management assistance and strategic communications advice from the outset. We have significant experience in all contentious matters, including representing clients affected by liquidation events such as the collapse of Three Arrows and FTX.
Our experts are able to provide advice from the very beginning of a dispute, through to providing representation during any court or arbitration process.
We can draft or review the documents needed for your project including SAFTs, SAFEs, token purchase agreements, warrants and options grants, fund documents, incentive schemes, service agreements and other terms and conditions.Â
We assist with a variety of fundraising activities, including private and seed-round fundraising for token launches, raising capital via simple agreements for future tokens/equities, as well as subsequent token launches and series financing.Â
We draft or review the documents needed for your project including SAFTs, SAFEs, token purchase agreements, warrants and options grants, fund documents, incentive schemes, service agreements and other terms and conditions. Â
We advise on all aspects of intellectual property concepts for Web3, including trade marks, copyright, industrial designs and patents, as well as specialising in multi-jurisdictional IP clearance, prosecution, exploitation and enforcement.Â
We advise crypto fund managers, from crypto natives to traditional fund managers, with all aspects of a fund launch, from structuring to regulatory matters.Â
We work with experienced fund administrators, auditors, AML compliance firms, brokers, custodians, professional director and other service providers to help you steer through the fund launch process.  Â
We advise on the most suitable vehicle for your project and, if necessary, can provide cross-jurisdictional advice for the most appropriate structure.Â
Whether launching funds to invest directly or indirectly in digital assets, we offer expertise tailored to clients' specialised needs.Â
We can help set up or relocate your Web3 business (including blockchain developers, as well as VASP service providers) and provide a physical presence in the Cayman Islands, including as a special economic zone company or as a sponsored enterprise with TechCayman.Â
We carry out an in-depth analysis of your project and provide a full written memorandum of advice. We work with regulators to get your project or your business entity (including exchanges and custodians) licensed or registered if appropriate and necessary.Â
We advise on the most suitable vehicle for your project and, if necessary, can provide cross-jurisdictional advice for the most appropriate structure. We work with experienced formation agents, AML compliance firms, fund administrators, auditors, secretaries, directors and other service providers to achieve your objectives.Â
We can assist with the tokenisation of real estate as well as all stages of token offerings, including issuance, private sales, airdrops and grants of tokens and NFTs.Â
Ogier provides practical advice on a unique combination of six laws: BVI, Cayman, Guernsey, Irish, Jersey and Luxembourg. All these jurisdictions are tech-friendly, and the below breakdown can help you discover which is best placed to help you depending on what you are looking to achieve.
 | Cayman | BVI | Jersey | Guernsey | Ireland | Luxembourg |
Regulation of P2P structures, fintech and other decentralised financial platforms generally | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
"Regulatory sandbox" and other temporary "light touch" alternatives for start-ups and other early-stage initiatives | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | No |
Recognition of electronic signatures and electronic transactions | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
 | Cayman | BVI | Jersey | Guernsey | Ireland | Luxembourg |
ICOs and other crypto sales or offerings | Yes | Yes | Yes | ? | Yes | Yes |
Regulation of virtual asset services | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Virtual asset exchanges and custodians | Yes | Yes | Yes | ? |
Yes |
Yes |
Application of AML / CTF / AP Rules | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
 | Cayman | BVI | Jersey | Guernsey | Ireland | Luxembourg |
DeFi platforms | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Gaming and gambling platforms | No | Yes - if licence obtained, but licensing body not yet established | Yes | Alderney | Yes | No |
Decentralised autonomous organisations (DAOs) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
 | Cayman | BVI | Jersey | Guernsey | Ireland | Luxembourg |
Tokenised securities | Yes | Yes | Yes | ? | Yes | Yes |
Tokenised investment funds | Yes | Yes | Yes | ? | Yes | Yes |
Tokenisation of real-world and Meta assets | Yes | Yes | Yes | ? | Yes | Yes |
 | Cayman | BVI | Jersey | Guernsey | Ireland | Luxembourg |
IP recognition and protection? | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Local registration of trade marks, patents and other IP? | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
 | Cayman | BVI | Jersey | Guernsey | Ireland | Luxembourg |
Data protection | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Application to VASPs and decentralised platforms | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
 | Cayman | BVI | Jersey | Guernsey | Ireland | Luxembourg |
Economic substance law | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Substance requirements and reporting | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Availability of substance solutions | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
 | Cayman | BVI | Jersey | Guernsey | Ireland | Luxembourg |
Application of local tax rules | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Treaty relief | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes |
Reporting | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
No Content Set
Exception:
Website.Models.ViewModels.Blocks.PageBlocks.CardBlocks.EventCardBlockVm
Partner | Legal
British Virgin Islands
Michael Killourhy
Partner
British Virgin Islands
Partner | Legal
Cayman Islands
Bradley Kruger
Partner
Cayman Islands
Partner | Legal
Cayman Islands
Chris Wall
Partner
Cayman Islands
Partner | Legal
British Virgin Islands, Guernsey
Tim Clipstone
Partner
British Virgin Islands, Guernsey
Group Partner (BVI) 集团合伙人 (英属维京群岛) | Legal
Hong Kong
Alan Wong 黄伟麟
Group Partner (BVI) 集团合伙人 (英属维京群岛)
Hong Kong
Partner | Legal
Ireland
Dominic Conlon
Partner
Ireland
Partner | Legal
Jersey
Alexander Curry
Partner
Jersey
Senior Consultant | Consulting
Jersey
Andy Carpenter
Senior Consultant
Jersey
Partner | Legal
Luxembourg Legal Services
Bertrand Géradin
Partner
Luxembourg Legal Services
Partner | Legal
British Virgin Islands, Jersey
Brian Lacy
Partner
British Virgin Islands, Jersey
No Content Set
Exception:
Website.Models.ViewModels.Blocks.PageBlocks.ContentBlocks.RecognitionBlockVm
Technology and Web3
"Extremely sophisticated in terms of its understanding of Cayman law, particularly as it pertains to cryptocurrencies and digital assets."
Chambers FinTech Guide 2023
No Content Set
Exception:
Website.Models.ViewModels.Blocks.PageBlocks.CardBlocks.NewsAndInsightFeaturedCardBlockVm
No Content Set
Exception:
Website.Models.ViewModels.Blocks.PageBlocks.CardBlocks.EventCardBlockVm
No Content Set
Exception:
Website.Models.ViewModels.Blocks.PageBlocks.CardBlocks.BrochureAndGuideFeaturedCardBlockVm
No Content Set
Exception:
Website.Models.ViewModels.Blocks.PageBlocks.CardBlocks.DealAndCaseFeaturedCardBlockVm
No Content Set
Exception:
Website.Models.ViewModels.Blocks.PageBlocks.CardBlocks.RelatedSectorsCardBlockVm
Sign up to receive updates and newsletters from us.
Sign up
No Content Set
Exception:
Website.Models.ViewModels.Blocks.SiteBlocks.CookiePolicySiteBlockVm