Oliver Clifton
Partner
British Virgin Islands
Oliver works on complex cross-border disputes often involving ultra-high-value assets.
He joined Walkers in 2006 and is part of our Insolvency & Dispute Resolution Group. Oliver specialises in complex cross-border commercial litigation, and has experience of fraud and asset tracing, often involving urgent injunction and disclosure applications. He is also an expert at getting orders to support foreign Court and arbitration proceedings.
Oliver is an experienced advocate and appears in the British Virgin Islands Commercial Court, and before the ECSC Court of Appeal and the Privy Council.
Oliver is an experienced advocate and appears in the British Virgin Islands Commercial Court, and before the ECSC Court of Appeal and the Privy Council.
I consider Oliver Clifton to be the go-to lawyer for litigation in the BVI Commercial Court.
Experience and recent work
Before moving to the British Virgin Islands, Oliver was a barrister in London.
Qualifications
Admitted in:
- British Virgin Islands
- England and Wales (not practising)
Education:
- BA (Hons), University of Oxford, UK
- MA, University of York, UK
- Postgraduate Diploma in Law
- Bar Vocational Course
Oliver is a member of COMBAR (North America) and an honorary member of the Chancery Bar Association. He is also a member of the BVI Bar Association.
2023 Chambers Global - Notable Practitioner - Dispute Resolution - "The guru when it comes to knowing and understanding BVI procedures and how they differ from what we might expect from an English perspective."
2023 Legal 500 - Leading Individual - Dispute Resolution - ‘Oliver Clifton is the best litigator in the BVI. He has a brilliant relationship with all his clients, who rightly trust him implicitly. He leads a very energetic team who always strives to win.’
2022 Who's Who Legal - Recommended - Asset Recovery
2022 Who's Who Legal - Recommended - Investigations
2022 Chambers Global - Notable Practitioner - Dispute Resolution - "He is an experienced and savvy BVI litigator." "He is very quick to catch every single detail and react. Oliver's presence is key to a smooth trial."
2022 Legal 500 - Leading Individual - Dispute Resolution - ‘Oliver Clifton is a guru in offshore litigation. He is very quick to catch every single detail and react. Oliver’s presence is key to a smooth trial.‘ and 'I consider Oliver Clifton to be the go-to lawyer for litigation in the BVI Commercial Court.'
2022 Legal 500 - Recommended - Trusts & Private Client
2021 Who's Who Legal - Recommended - Commercial Litigation
2021 Who's Who Legal - Recommended - Asset Recovery
2021 Who's Who Legal - Recommended - Investigations
2021 Chambers Global - Notable Practitioner - Dispute Resolution - Interviewees describe him as "very intelligent" and "very calm" as well as "very helpful in making strategic decisions."
2021 Who's Who Legal - Recommended - Restructuring & Insolvency
2021 Legal 500 - Leading Individual - Dispute Resolution - "cerebral approach, methodical and focused."
2021 Legal 500 - Recommended - Trusts & Private Client
2020 Who's Who Legal - Investigations
2020 Chambers Global Guide - Notable Practitioner - Dispute Resolution - "Sources acknolwdge him as 'one of the best litigators in the BVI" and "a really experienced and highly sophisticated lawyer who is respected by his clients, his opponents and the courts."
2020 Legal 500 - Leading Individual - Dispute Resolution
2019 Who's Who Legal - Thought Leaders - GIR
2019 Who's Who Legal - Global Leader - Asset Recovery
2019 Who's Who Legal - Litigation
2019 Chambers Global Guide - Notable Practitioner - Dispute Resolution -"Oliver is a "very good technical lawyer who knows the offshore jurisdictions very well." One client said of him that "first and foremost he's an excellent lawyer, but he's also a great tactician."
2019 Legal 500 - Recommended Lawyer - Trusts & Private Client
2019 Legal 500 - Leading Individual - Dispute Resolution - "Oliver Clifton is 'a great strategic thinker' "
2018 Who's Who Legal - Litigation, Investigations, and Asset Tracing
2018 Legal 500 - Dispute Resolution - "great strategic thinker"
2018 Legal 500 - Private Client - "very experienced and not afraid to argue difficult points in court"
2018 Who's Who Legal - Litigation
2018 Chambers Global Guide - Notable Practitioner - Dispute Resolution - "He is an excellent lawyer and a very sure hand on the tiller for substantial cross-border litigation. He's unflappable, realistic and has a dry sense of humour - clients rightly have every confidence in him."
2018 Legal 500 - Recommended Lawyer - Dispute Resolution
2018 Legal 500 - Recommended Lawyer - Trusts & Private Client
Team Members
Other team members with related expertise
Rosalind Nicholson
Partner
British Virgin Islands
