Bio
Martin Byers is the Head of the Regulatory Practice Group in the Cayman Islands and advises financial institutions, multinational corporations, insurers, governments, regulators and other public authorities, asset managers, private equity sponsors, investment funds, administrators and other entites and individuals on regulatory and compliance matters, including all regulatory aspects of the formation, management, operation and termination of companies, partnerships and other vehicles in the Cayman Islands.
Martin is a financial services regulatory specialist with extensive experience advising on a wide range of matters including licensing, registration and approval requirements, reporting and information exchange obligations (including those deriving from FATCA, the Common Reporting Standard (CRS), Country-by-Country Reporting (CbCR) and the Crypto-Asset Reporting Framework (CARF)), economic substance, corporate governance, beneficial ownership transparency, international financial sanctions, on-site compliance inspections, administrative fines and other regulatory enforcement actions, and matters relating to anti-money laundering, counter proliferation financing and combatting the financing of terrorism.
Prior to joining Appleby, Martin led the regulatory practice of another offshore law firm, having originally trained and qualified as a solicitor at Slaughter and May and subsequently worked in the leveraged finance practices of two leading US law firms in London and then as a lawyer in the General Counsel’s Division of the UK Financial Conduct Authority.
Before qualifying as a lawyer, Martin worked as an analyst in the derivatives and structured finance group at Goldman Sachs.
Bio
Martin Byers is the Head of the Regulatory Practice Group in the Cayman Islands and advises financial institutions, multinational corporations, insurers, governments, regulators and other public authorities, asset managers, private equity sponsors, investment funds, administrators and other entites and individuals on regulatory and compliance matters, including all regulatory aspects of the formation, management, operation and termination of companies, partnerships and other vehicles in the Cayman Islands.
Martin is a financial services regulatory specialist with extensive experience advising on a wide range of matters including licensing, registration and approval requirements, reporting and information exchange obligations (including those deriving from FATCA, the Common Reporting Standard (CRS), Country-by-Country Reporting (CbCR) and the Crypto-Asset Reporting Framework (CARF)), economic substance, corporate governance, beneficial ownership transparency, international financial sanctions, on-site compliance inspections, administrative fines and other regulatory enforcement actions, and matters relating to anti-money laundering, counter proliferation financing and combatting the financing of terrorism.
Prior to joining Appleby, Martin led the regulatory practice of another offshore law firm, having originally trained and qualified as a solicitor at Slaughter and May and subsequently worked in the leveraged finance practices of two leading US law firms in London and then as a lawyer in the General Counsel’s Division of the UK Financial Conduct Authority.
Before qualifying as a lawyer, Martin worked as an analyst in the derivatives and structured finance group at Goldman Sachs.
Recognition
Martin is ranked as a ‘Next Generation Partner’ (Regulatory and Compliance) in the Legal 500 Caribbean 2026 directory, with selected client feedback including the following:
- “Martin Byers brings a rare combination of deep regulatory expertise and practical, business-focused judgment. He stands out for his ability to interpret complex Cayman Islands
regulatory requirements and translate them into clear, actionable guidance. Martin is highly responsive, solutions-oriented, and consistently provides advice that is both
technically sound and commercially aware.” - “Martin Byers is fantastic to work with. He is smart, intelligent and empathetic. He understands how to deal with clients under stress and is great at reassuring them with
knowledge and expertise.”
Martin has also been ranked in successive years in the Chambers Global Legal Guide and features as a Band 3 Partner (Financial Services Regulatory) in the 2025 Chambers Global
Legal Guide, with selected client feedback including the following:
- “Martin is our go-to industry contact on regulatory matters. In the continually evolving financial sector, having Martin’s expertise in current trends and changes is vital.”
- “He is super-proactive, commercial and realistic in his advice. He always gives options, identifies risks, and is thorough and precise.”
- “He is always available to discuss things, understands our needs and provides clear and comprehensive legal assistance.”
- “Martin Byers is fantastic to work with. He is a breath of fresh air in the industry.”
Martin is ranked as a ‘Next Generation Partner’ (Regulatory and Compliance) in the Legal 500 Caribbean 2026 directory, with selected client feedback including the following:
- “Martin Byers brings a rare combination of deep regulatory expertise and practical, business-focused judgment. He stands out for his ability to interpret complex Cayman Islands
regulatory requirements and translate them into clear, actionable guidance. Martin is highly responsive, solutions-oriented, and consistently provides advice that is both
technically sound and commercially aware.” - “Martin Byers is fantastic to work with. He is smart, intelligent and empathetic. He understands how to deal with clients under stress and is great at reassuring them with
knowledge and expertise.”
Martin has also been ranked in successive years in the Chambers Global Legal Guide and features as a Band 3 Partner (Financial Services Regulatory) in the 2025 Chambers Global
Legal Guide, with selected client feedback including the following:
- “Martin is our go-to industry contact on regulatory matters. In the continually evolving financial sector, having Martin’s expertise in current trends and changes is vital.”
- “He is super-proactive, commercial and realistic in his advice. He always gives options, identifies risks, and is thorough and precise.”
- “He is always available to discuss things, understands our needs and provides clear and comprehensive legal assistance.”
- “Martin Byers is fantastic to work with. He is a breath of fresh air in the industry.”
Qualifications & Education
Martin is admitted as an attorney-at-law in the Cayman Islands and as a solicitor of the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (British Virgin Islands). He is also admitted as a solicitor
of the Senior Courts of England and Wales (non-practising).
- University of Cambridge (UK), MSt
- University of London (UK), LLM
- University of Warwick (UK), BA(Hons) Law and Sociology
Martin is admitted as an attorney-at-law in the Cayman Islands and as a solicitor of the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (British Virgin Islands). He is also admitted as a solicitor
of the Senior Courts of England and Wales (non-practising).
- University of Cambridge (UK), MSt
- University of London (UK), LLM
- University of Warwick (UK), BA(Hons) Law and Sociology
Memberships & Associations
- Alternative Investment Management Association (AIMA): Member of the Executive Committee and Co-Chair of the Education and Research Committee of AIMA Cayman.
- Cayman Islands Legal Practitioners Association (CILPA): Ordinary Member
- Alternative Investment Management Association (AIMA): Member of the Executive Committee and Co-Chair of the Education and Research Committee of AIMA Cayman.
- Cayman Islands Legal Practitioners Association (CILPA): Ordinary Member
