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)
  • Guernsey (11)
  • Jersey (3)
  • Hong Kong (1)
  • Isle of Man (7)
  • BVI (2)
  • Mauritius (4)
  • Seychelles (2)
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

More news
Appleby-Website-Regulatory-Practice
19 Feb 2026

Bermuda Monetary Authority 2026 Business Plan: Overview & Expertise – Regulatory

Bermuda operates a highly integrated regulatory architecture under which the Bermuda Monetary Authority (BMA) exercises consolidated oversight across insurance, banking, investment business and funds, trusts, corporate service providers, money services and digital asset activity. While the statutory framework has long been risk-based, the previous five years marks a clear evolution in supervisory practices. The BMA moved decisively beyond technical compliance and periodic reporting toward an emphasis on supervisory judgement, governance outcomes and system-wide resilience.

Appleby-Website-Regulatory-Practice
16 Feb 2026

Preparing for and Managing a CIMA Onsite Inspection

The Cayman Islands Monetary Authority (CIMA) is empowered, under the Monetary Authority Act and certain other regulatory laws, to inspect regulated financial service providers (FSP) in the Cayman Islands such as banks, trust companies, administrators, investment managers and virtual asset service providers for compliance with applicable regulatory frameworks. CIMA routinely conducts onsite inspections of such regulated entities – which can be full-scope (involving a review of all areas of a regulated entity's business operations) or thematically focused on specific areas such as corporate governance and/or internal controls, policies and procedures pertaining to AML/CFT/CPF. With the breadth and number of onsite inspections carried out by CIMA having increased through 2024 and 2025 we consider, in this briefing: (i) the CIMA onsite inspection process; (ii) the latest feedback available from CIMA in respect of inspections conducted to date; and (iii) some frequently asked questions in relation to CIMA onsite inspections.

Appleby-Website-Regulatory-Practice
10 Feb 2026

2026 BVI Regulatory Calendar

Be ready for regulatory filing dates. In our 2026 calendar we list the key regulatory and corporate filing dates applicable to British Virgin Islands entities on filing and other obligations. The dates listed are those provided by British Virgin Islands regulatory authorities. For further information on any of the upcoming deadlines covered by the calendar, please contact the related contact(s) on this page.

Appleby-Website-Corporate-Practice
4 Feb 2026

Key Developments in the BVI Beneficial Ownership Regime

The BVI Business Companies and Limited Partnerships (Beneficial Ownership) (Amendment) Regulations, 2025 (the “Amendment Regulations”) were gazetted and came into effect on 1 July 2025.  The Amendment Regulations introduced important changes and additions to the BVI Business Companies and Limited Partnerships (Beneficial Ownership) Regulations, 2024 (the “BO Regulations”) including, amongst other changes:   providing additional categories of entities that are exempt from the requirement to file beneficial ownership information with the BVI Registrar of Corporate Affairs (the “Registrar”);   changing the threshold for determination of a “subsidiary” in the relevant exemption from “more than 75%” to “75% or more”; the introduction of provisions for the imposition, effect of and withdrawal of restrictions notices;  the introduction of criteria for legitimate interest access to beneficial ownership information together with a process to apply to the Registrar for an exemption from the disclosure of beneficial ownership information; and  the addition of further penalty provisions in Schedule 3 to the BO Regulations. Transitional provisions: The Amendment Regulations provide that for legal entities incorporated, registered or continued prior to 1 July, 2025, they must be in compliance with the Amendment Regulations within 6 months (by 1 January 2026).  Entities that failed to make their filings by the due date will not be considered to be in good standing.  However, there is a moratorium on filing fees and penalties until 31 March 2026. In addition, applications for inspection of, or a copy of an entry in, a beneficial ownership register (BO Register) will not be accepted before 1 April 2026.  Persons may apply for an exemption from disclosure of beneficial ownership information from 2 January 2026.

Appleby-Website-Corporate-Practice
4 Feb 2026

The New Crypto-Asset Reporting Framework – Relevance for Cayman Investment Funds

The Tax Information Authority (International Tax Compliance) (Crypto-Asset Reporting Framework) Regulations, 2025 (CARF Regulations) came into effect on 1 January 2026 and provide for the collection, reporting and automatic exchange of information on transactions in crypto-assets.  The CARF Regulations will operate in a similar fashion to the existing Cayman Common Reporting Standard (CRS) regime which facilitates the automatic exchange of financial account information.  For information on recent changes to the CRS, please see our December advisory here.

Appleby-Website-Fund-Finance
28 Jan 2026

Fund Finance Laws and Regulations 2026 – Mauritius

The Mauritius fund industry demonstrated significant resilience and adaptability in 2025, successfully navigating a complex period of global tax reform and heightened regulatory standards. The year was defined by the integration of the 2025 Finance Act’s new tax framework (including the Qualified Domestic Minimum Top-Up Tax, or QDMTT) and a reinforced focus on economic substance, such as the two resident director rule for global business companies (GBCs). This pivot has further solidified the jurisdiction’s move from a tax-led financial centre to a substance-based one. Private equity and debt funds, particularly those focused on African and Asian markets, continue todominate the landscape, with Mauritius retaining its top-tier ranking as an investment gateway for Africa. The variable capital company (VCC) structure remains a popular choice for its flexibility, supplemented by a mature ecosystem of legal and administrative experts.

Appleby-Website-Regulatory-Practice
27 Jan 2026

CIMA Launches Prudential Information Survey for SIBA Registered Persons

The Cayman Islands Monetary Authority (CIMA) has published a General Industry Notice launching a new Prudential Information Survey for Registered Persons under the Securities Investment Business Act (SIBA) of the Cayman Islands.