The move is the latest development as part of the firm’s strategy to grow its global reach in key offshore financial centres. The BVI opening follows the recent launch of Quantuma’s Singapore office and the appointment of Managing Directors Luke Furler and Ellyn Tann to lead its Asia-Pacific team. In September 2021 the firm launched an office in Dubai and, to strengthen its presence in Central Europe, appointed Poland-based Managing Director Adam Markiewicz. BVI will be the sixth international office the firm has set up, since Quantuma was founded by CEO Carl Jackson in 2013, alongside already established offices in Cyprus, Mauritius, the Cayman Islands and Dubai.
The BVI office will be led by Caribbean region lead, Angela Barkhouse who joined the firm in January 2021 to establish its new office in the Cayman Islands following the acquisition of local firm Alchemy. BVI-based insolvency practitioner, Toni Shukla, also joins the firm to lead the BVI office and team, taking on the role of director.
Ms. Shukla has over 15 years of expertise in complex cross-border liquidations and receiverships, including leading a ground-breaking liquidation engagement that saw the first recognition of a foreign insolvency proceeding in the Dubai International Finance Centre Court. Ms. Shukla also has extensive experience in financial investigations, asset tracing and recovery.
The BVI team will work closely with the local professional community, providing a full advisory offering including restructuring and insolvency, cross-border asset recovery, investigations, and eDiscovery. Operating as a standalone office, the team will work closely with Barkhouse and the Cayman Islands office to support the wider Caribbean region, as well as working with colleagues in the UK, UAE, Cyprus, Poland, Singapore, Hong Kong, and Mauritius.
In August 2020, the firm merged with K3 Capital Group plc, an AIM-listed group of professional services businesses, as part of its plan to continue at pace to build an international, multidisciplinary advisory services firm.
Andrew Hosking, Head of International at Quantuma, said: “The opening of the new office in the British Virgin Islands builds on our momentum in expanding our international service capability across the globe and strengthens our position as a key player in complex cross-border advisory work. Along with our new offices in Dubai, Cayman Islands, Cyprus, Mauritius, Poland, and Singapore, I am excited for the opportunities that our BVI office will create in the future.”
Angela Barkhouse, Head of Caribbean Region at Quantuma, added: “The addition of the British Virgin Islands office will cement Quantuma’s status as a key player in the Caribbean region, as well as bolstering our position as a major player for cross-border cases. The arrival of Toni is a fantastic addition to a highly talented team and will help us build on our relationships with the local professional community.”
Toni Shukla, Director, BVI, said: “I am delighted to be joining Quantuma as a director at the BVI office. Quantuma’s recent growth and international expansion is extremely impressive, and I look forward to developing our local capabilities in the BVI and Caribbean region as a key advisory firm.”
