Selected experience · Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court, BVI Commercial Division
QVT Fund V LP v China Zenix Auto International Group Ltd
BVIHC (COM) 0026 of 2014 (24 January 2017)
BVIHC (COM) 0026 of 2014 (24 January 2017)
Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court, BVI Commercial Division
2017
Counsel with Tim de Swardt for the second to fourth defendants
Offshore shareholder litigation and specific disclosure
Commercial Court Judge (the published judgment does not identify the judicial author by name)
Alexander acted for majority-shareholder defendants in BVI unfair-prejudice and conspiracy proceedings concerning a proposed corporate restructuring. This ruling determined a substantial application for specific disclosure shortly before trial.
Case overview
Minority shareholders challenged a proposed restructuring of a BVI holding company whose operating subsidiaries manufactured wheels in China. They alleged unfair prejudice, oppression and conspiracy and sought disclosure across multiple document classes concerning the proposal, its valuation, participants and withdrawal.
Principal issues or remedies
- Whether the timing of the application and the supporting evidence justified refusing specific disclosure.
- Whether the requested document classes were directly relevant, necessary and proportionate under BVI CPR Part 28.
- The treatment of searches, documents said not to exist and material potentially subject to legal professional privilege.
Alexander's role, work and outcome
Alexander successfully resisted a number of the requested disclosure classes and secured narrower formulations for others. His submissions required the court to address timing, evidential sufficiency, proportionality, searches and legal professional privilege in detail.
Why the case matters
The judgment demonstrates Alexander's offshore company and shareholder-dispute experience and contains practical analysis of specific disclosure, proportionality and privilege in substantial BVI litigation.