Trust Essential - May 2018

New probate rules for BVI company owners

Reforms to BVI probate rules have placed more pressure than ever before on practitioners to have their paperwork in proper order for grant applications - the difference in terms of turning around a grant being issued can be from a few months to more than a year if the application is not filed correctly.

This piece by partner Advocate Marcus Leese explains what you need to know and what you need to do: New probate rules for BVI company owners

Investec Trust v Glenalla: implications for Trusts (Jersey) Law

A recent appeal against a decision of the Guernsey Court of Appeal raised points of general public importance regarding the interpretation of articles 26 and 32 of the Trusts (Jersey) Law 1984 (TJL).

Read the full article here: Investec Trust (Guernsey) Limited et al v Glenalla Properties Limited et al, Privy Council, 23 April 2018

New charity law implemented in Jersey

The  Charities (Jersey) Law 2014 – which largely came into force on 1 May 2018 - is already generating increased interest and activity establishing philanthropic structures in Jersey. Partners Steve Meiklejohn and James Campbell and counsel Katherine Neal explain why.

Read the full article here: At a Glance Guide to Jersey's new Charity law

Ogier named Best Offshore Law Firm by Chambers Europe

Ogier has been named Best Offshore Law Firm by leading independent legal directory Chambers Europe. It’s the second time in the last three years that Ogier – which is the only law firm with offices in Guernsey, Jersey and Luxembourg – has been recognised with the prestigious award.

Read the news story here: Ogier named Best Offshore Law Firm by Chambers Europe for the second time in three years

Reforms held back - new mental capacity law faces six-month delay in Jersey

The implementation of Jersey's new Capacity and Self Determination Law 2016, which was originally due to come into effect in April 2018, has been delayed and is now anticipated to come into effect in October 2018.

Read the full article here: Reforms held back - new mental capacity law faces six-month delay in Jersey

Another string to the bow - the Cayman Islands new foundation company legislation

Cayman partner Anthony Partridge is already one of the acknowledged experts on the Cayman Foundation Company law - in this piece, originally published in STEP Journal, he explains the wide potential uses of this innovative new structure.

Read the full article here: Another string to the bow – the Cayman Islands new foundation company legislation

Embracing change – a critical element to Guernsey's success

“Global news coverage like the Panama Papers has also made some US clients assess jurisdictions more stringently for disclosure, tax compliance and quality trusteeship and that has helped Guernsey win work.”

That's the view of Guernsey practice partner Advocate Marcus Leese in Citywealth's most recent report on Guernsey.

You can read more of what Marcus had to say here about recent trends in US-focused work: Embracing change – a critical element to Guernsey's success