Regulatory Advice

The offshore market represents a unique and evolving regulatory environment, and one that can be high profile if things go wrong.

We have a global network of experts on hand to advise clients who want to alleviate the burden of understanding each offshore jurisdiction’s regulatory frameworks and requirements.

We have one of the world’s largest offshore regulatory and compliance teams, comprised of experts who not only have first hand knowledge of local regulation, but who have in many cases, helped to shape it. In addition, our team are skilled at putting technical regulatory information and decision-making in a commercial context, and clients know that we can assemble the team to deliver an international service, quickly and seamlessly.

Our team covers all key areas of business and financial services regulation including compliance, corporate governance, regulatory and risk advisory services. We have offices in ten highly regarded, well-regulated global locations and practise the laws of eight jurisdictions.

Our office locations include the key international jurisdictions of Bermuda, the British Virgin Islands, the Cayman Islands, Guernsey, Isle of Man, Jersey, Mauritius, and the Seychelles, as well as the international financial centres of Hong Kong and Shanghai.

Our regulatory disputes practice handles all aspects of this increasingly contentious environment, and our team of highly-experienced experts can assist with regulatory investigations across business sectors and across national borders. We have a global network of first-class advisers on hand as part of our offshore regulatory and compliance team, ready to help clients not only in their interactions with the regulators, but also in dealing with exposure to civil, criminal and administrative sanctions should they arise.

We advise on

We regularly advise clients including financial institutions, global corporations, professional and public bodies on a wide range of regulatory issues.

We believe that an informed client is an empowered client. We deliver regular updates to our clients and industry on proposed or implemented amendments to statutes and regulations and more importantly, how they can impact client business.

  • Anti-money laundering
  • Anti-bribery & corruption
  • Competition law
  • Data protection
  • eGaming
  • Financial services regulation
  • New business activities
  • Regulatory training
  • Risk management & compliance
  • Sanctions & export controls
  • Telecommunications regulation

Regulatory Consulting and Compliance Services

The past few years have seen the rapid expansion of regulatory oversight across all jurisdictions. Clients faced with new, unfamiliar, confusing and time-consuming obligations are looking for clear, practical advice and products which allow them to navigate their new environment with ease and confidence. Appleby’s team of global offshore experts specialise in providing cost-effective solutions that work for both companies and individuals at times when they most need it.

Our experienced and solution-oriented regulatory and compliance teams in the legal jurisdictions of Bermuda, the British Virgin Islands, the Cayman Islands, Guernsey, Isle of Man, Jersey, Mauritius and Seychelles are committed to delivering the highest possible level of regulatory advice, consulting and compliance support where required.

Key Contacts
  • All
  • Bermuda (4)
  • Cayman Islands (5)
  • Jersey (3)
  • Hong Kong (1)
  • Isle of Man (7)
  • BVI (3)
  • Mauritius (5)
  • Seychelles (2)
  • Guernsey (8)
AJ Photo Jan 2022

Andrew Jowett

Group Partner: BVI

T +44 (0) 1534 818057 and +1 284 393 5316
E Email Andrew

John Wasty

John Wasty

Partner & Head of Dispute Resolution : Bermuda

T +1 441 298 3232
E Email John

Lisa_Upham_WEBPROFILE (1)

Lisa Upham

Professional Support Lawyer and Notary Public: Guernsey

T +44 (0)1481 755 605
E Email Lisa

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Firms are complying themselves out of business because compliance no longer matches the evolving sophistication of the Bermuda Monetary Authority (BMA).

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The Global - 2026 Q2 Review

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The Cayman Islands Monetary Authority (CIMA) has recently published a number of Enforcement Notices that provide helpful context for regulated entities, including Licensees and Registered Persons under the Securities Investment Business Act (Revised) (SIBA), seeking to understand and meet their ongoing regulatory obligations in the Cayman Islands. In early June 2026, CIMA exercised its enforcement powers under SIBA Section 17 to cancel the registrations of several SIBA Registered Persons on the basis that it had reasonable grounds to believe that such Registered Persons had failed to meet certain key regulatory obligations. The Appleby Team takes this opportunity to review the relevant findings and CIMA enforcement action; and to highlight certain key obligations that attach to regulated entities in the Cayman Islands.

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Important Cayman Islands Industry Advisory: Common Reporting Standard 2.0 and Economic Substance Updates

Further to the introduction of the Tax Information Authority (International Tax Compliance) (Common Reporting Standard) (Amendment) Regulations, 2025 (the CRS Amendment Regulations or CRS 2.0), the Cayman Islands Department for International Tax Cooperation (DITC) has issued an Industry Advisory flagging certain key updates in respect of Common Reporting Standard (CRS) and Economic Substance (ES) reporting in the Cayman Islands. Cayman Financial Institutions will be required file 2025 CRS Returns and Declarations by 31 July 2026, ahead of the online DITC Portal’s closure to facilitate its transition to XML Schema v3.0. ES courtesy reminders (which have historically been sent by email to designated Responsible Persons in advance of annual ES reporting deadlines) will no longer be issued such that Relevant Entities will need to independently track such deadlines themselves. Updated Individual and Entity CRS Self-Certification forms, aligned with CRS 2.0, are now available online via the DITC website.

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Briefing Note: CDD – Acceptance of Scanned PDFs of Wet Ink Certified Documents

The Guernsey Financial Services Commission (GFSC) has updated the Handbook on Countering Financial Crime (AML/CFT/CPF) (Handbook), introducing changes that affect how regulated businesses verify their clients’ identities and documents.

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17 Jun 2026

Changes of control: A recurring gap in fitness & propriety due diligence

Change of control transactions involving Isle of Man regulated entities continue to expose a recurring (and avoidable) risk.  Namely, a failure to carry out, and evidence, due diligence on incoming controllers.

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27 Apr 2026

Guide to Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A) in Bermuda 2026

A guide to Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A) law and practices in Bermuda, with a focus on key areas including deal structure, due diligence requirements, regulatory frameworks, treatment of seller liability, deal process, hostile bids and other trends across the M&A sector in the jurisdiction.

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23 Apr 2026

ReConnect 2026: Practical takeaways for Reinsurers, Cedants and Investors doing business in the Cayman Islands

The Cayman International Reinsurance Commercial Association (CIRCA) held its annual conference, [Re]Connect, last week at the Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman. This year’s [Re]Connect has once again demonstrated Cayman’s growing influence in global reinsurance and the strength of the jurisdiction’s regulatory, professional and commercial ecosystem. The event brought together 675 registered delegates, including reinsurers, cedants, major US law firms, audit firms, tax practices, asset managers, overseas regulators, industry leaders and rating agencies – as well as Appleby Cayman’s [Re]Insurance Team, with Miriam Smyth, Regulatory Counsel, speaking on a panel of experts on structuring, licensing and operating a Cayman insurer.