Matthew Brown
Counsel
Matthew Brown is Counsel in the Litigation & Restructuring Department of Conyers in the British Virgin Islands. Matthew has a broad practice covering all contentious aspects of commercial, trusts and insolvency law.
Between 2012 and 2017, Matthew was a commercial chancery barrister in England and Wales, practising from a nationally-renowned set of chambers in London and Bristol. His practice included commercial, trusts and insolvency work. He was ranked in legal directories as an up and coming leading junior, where he was described as ‘clever and diligent’, and somebody who ‘sees the bigger picture’ and is ‘good with clients’.
Since joining Conyers in 2017 Matthew has been involved in some of the jurisdiction’s leading cases, and has appeared in a number of cases in the Commercial Court and the Court of Appeal. He has been ranked in several legal directories (in both private client & trust and dispute resolution), and is recognised as a ‘Rising Star’.
Jurisdiction
Experience
- Representing a high net worth Brazilian individual in relation to allegations of breach of fiduciary duty (valued in the region of US$30 million) in respect of a BVI company.
- Advising and acting for the liquidator of a BVI company in relation to substantial misfeasance claims (valued in the region of US$14 million) against the former directors of the BVI company.
- Acting for a non-BVI company in successfully seeking leave to enforce a substantial foreign arbitral award (in excess of US$100 million) in the BVI and subsequently representing that company in its opposition to a set aside application based on New York Convention defences.
- Obtaining and continuing urgent injunctive relief (including a receivership) in aid of ongoing foreign proceedings.
- Acting for two high profile claimants in a high value breach of trust and tracing claim (valued in the region of US$200 million) against a trust company and various high profile business/political figures in Ukraine.
- Acting for an estate in relation to multiple BVI proceedings brought against the estate and related companies raising issues of fraud, breach of trust/fiduciary duty, forum non conveniens and issue estoppel.
- Acting for the trustees of a non-BVI trust against (among others) the former BVI trustees of the trust and directors of the companies forming part of the trust fund in relation to substantial claims for breach of trust/fiduciary duty and claims for knowing receipt and dishonest assistance.
- Acting for a shareholder in a significant unfair prejudice claim in respect of the affairs of a company involved in the provision of telecommunication services in the Middle East.
Qualifications
Professional Background
- Barrister, Guildhall Chambers, London and Bristol
Education
- University of Oxford, BCL (specialising in Personal Taxation, Corporate Insolvency, Restitution and Civil Procedure) – Distinction
- University of Cardiff, LLB – First Class Honours (ranked 1st in the year group)
- University of the West of England – Bar Professional Training Course – Outstanding (ranked 1st in the year group)
- Awards & Scholarships: Astbury Scholarship, Baron Dr Ver Heyden de Lancey Price, Certificate of Honour (Middle Temple), Faculty of Business and Law Prize (UWE), Sweet & Maxwell Law Prize (Cardiff), The Western Circuit Advocacy Prize (2011)
Bar Admission
- British Virgin Islands, Barrister, 2017
- England & Wales, Barrister, 2011 (not currently practising)
Awards & Accolades
- Recognised in the 2023 edition (and since the 2019 edition) of The Legal 500 Caribbean (dispute resolution)
- Recognised in the 2023 edition (and since the 2019 edition) of The Legal 500 Caribbean (private client & trust)
- Recognised in the 2020 edition (and 2019) of Global Restructuring Review 100
Associations
- BVI Bar Association
- Recovery and Insolvency Specialists Association (BVI)