THE offshore legal services provider Appleby has announced the appointment of a new senior associate for the corporate and commercial team in the Isle of Man.
Kyle Sutherland, a British Virgin Islands and Manx qualified corporate lawyer, takes up the position after spending the last three years working as a senior associate for the British Virgin Islands law firm Harneys.
This appointment means the Appleby Isle of Man office now offers a British Virgin Islands qualified legal team in a GMT time zone.
Kyle returns to the firm where he trained and qualified as a Manx advocate seven years ago under its former name of Dickinson, Cruickshank and Co.
He said: "I am really looking forward to being able to offer BVI legal advice from Appleby’s Isle of Man office.
"With the transactional experience I have gained whilst in the BVI, together with the support of having other BVI-qualified lawyers both in the Isle of Man and in Appleby Group’s BVI office, I feel we have a really strong package to offer clients.
"In the short time I have been back, I’ve already found a real market for clients wanting BVI legal advice without the five hour time delay they experience when dealing with firms located in the BVI."
Nick Verardi, local group head of corporate and commercial, said: "I am delighted to welcome Kyle back to the Isle of Man.
"With Kyle’s experience of BVI law – and the fact that John Melia and I have recently qualified as BVI lawyers – we are truly excited at the prospect of being able to offer our local and international clients BVI legal advice in a GMT time zone.
"We have been aware for some time that our clients use BVI companies, either as holding or trading companies, and until now have had to pass on the work to our BVI office, some five hours behind the Isle of Man.
"However since Kyle’s arrival, and with John’s and my qualification, we are able to provide this service to our clients directly – with the confidence that there will be the right level of support and management provided locally, here in the Isle of Man."
