John O'Driscoll

John O'Driscoll

Partner

T +44 (0)20 7220 4987
M +44 (0)7812 222 043

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Practice Areas

John is a partner in Walkers' London office where he heads up the Insolvency and Dispute Resolution (IDR) team in London practising British Virgin Islands (BVI) and Cayman law.

John has extensive experience in insolvency and commercial litigation including multi-jurisdictional disputes and restructurings. He advises on all forms of formal appointments of insolvency officeholders in BVI and Cayman and advises creditors, debtors, private equity and hedge funds and other stakeholders. He also frequently advises on matters relating to crypto-currency and digital assets.

John has significant experience in cross border litigation matters involving India, Kazakhstan, the Middle East, Africa, and South America.

He is co-founder of RAIIDAR International network.

John is ranked by Chambers and Partners (2022 edition) and as a leading lawyer by Legal 500 (2022 edition). He enjoys the unique distinction of being the only offshore practitioner ranked in England for Restructuring & Insolvency by Who's Who Legal (2022 edition).

Prior to his move to London to launch Walkers' London IDR team, he also worked in the firm's Cayman and BVI offices.

Recent matters worked on, include:

  • advising on aspects of the high profile crypto liquidation, Three Arrows Capital;
  • advising a board of directors of a shopping centre in the INTU portfolio;
  • advising on a multi-jurisdictional default in relation to bonds worth over euro 300 million and the movement of assets beyond the reach of creditors;
  • acting as BVI counsel for the joint liquidators on the restructuring of a high value multi-national shipping group;
  • acting for the shareholders of the Washington Special Opportunity Fund in highly contested winding up proceedings in the Cayman Islands;
  • advising the liquidators of an international hotels and resorts group across 17 different jurisdictions;
  • advising on a shareholder dispute litigated by way of a BVI arbitration;
  • acting for a US bank on the winding up of two Cayman funds;
  • advising on the high profile restructuring of General Healthcare Group, UK’s largest private hospital group, which includes 35 hospitals and debt of circa £2.1 billion; and
  • advising on two complex and contentious European bank insolvencies with interests in the Cayman Islands.

Prior Employment Experience

Prior to joining Walkers, John spent six years at a leading law firm in Dublin followed by five years at top US firms in London.

Admitted in & Qualifications

Admitted In:
British Virgin Islands
Cayman Islands
Ireland
England and Wales (not practising)
New York (not practising)

Qualifications:
Bachelor of Laws (LLB), Trinity College Dublin
Diploma in Insolvency and Corporate Restructuring (Law Society of Ireland)

Other Distinctions

2022 Chambers and Partners UK Guide - Band 3: "He is very bright, switched-on, commercial and user-friendly."

2020 Chambers and Partners UK Guide - Notable Practitioner: "Very well networked, good on strategy, commercial and pragmatic."

2020 Legal 500 - (Offshore) Leading Lawyer

2019 Legal 500 - (Offshore) Recommended Lawyer

2018 Legal 500 - (Offshore) Recommended Lawyer

2017 Legal 500 - (Offshore) Recommended Lawyer

"a trusted and responsive adviser, who is extremely user-friendly and proactive on any matter he advises on"

2016 Legal 500 - (Offshore) Recommended Lawyer

"always responsive and available to help"

​2015 Legal 500 - Insolvency specialist and 'up-and-coming star in the making'

Boards & Associations

​John is a member of INSOL, R3, the Law Society of England & Wales, the Law Society of Ireland and the New York Bar Association.

News, Matters and Publications

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A trusted and responsive adviser, who is extremely user-friendly and proactive on any matter he advises on

Legal 500

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