Brexit, ICOs, and Space – Ogier's most-clicked briefings of 2017

Brexit, ICOs, and Space – Ogier's most-clicked briefings of 2017

Ogier's lawyers write around 200 briefings each year, and the publications that earn the most "clicks" always throw up a few surprises.

The top ten most popular publications of 2017 reflect not just the focus of our different teams and the major changes that took place over the year, but also at least one subject that we just didn't see coming.

The top publications were:

Brexit: Article 50 triggered - what next for UK-based fund managers

Released on 29 March – the day that formal notification of the UK's intention to leave the EU was delivered – this joint effort by partners from our Guernsey, Jersey and Luxembourg teams ran through how the jurisdictions could be central to UK fund managers through the transition and beyond.

The Cayman Islands Beneficial Ownership Regime

Partners Nick Rogers and Giorgio Subiotto combined for a straight-forward, plain-English explanation of the Cayman Islands beneficial ownership regime, which came into force on 1 July.

Country-by-Country Reporting - Channel Island Legislation

Jersey and Guernsey introduced new regulations complying with the OECD's Base Erosion and Profit Shifting (Beps) agenda-inspired mover to Country-By-Country reporting, and partners Marcus Leese and Matthew Shaxson produced this briefing – although the regulations were introduced in 2016, this piece was easily one of the most-read in 2017.

Trust variation to benefit children from same-sex and unmarried families - the facts, considerations and implications

Global Managing Partner Edward Mackereth successfully applied for an article 47 variation to Jersey's Royal Court in respect of two trusts – the judgment considered the definition of "benefit" and public policy questions.

Tax residency of Jersey companies – a reminder and update

Building blocks for ICOs in the Cayman Islands

Nick Rogers again, on Cayman as a jurisdiction for Initial Coin Offerings (ICOs), and how ICOs fit into the regulatory framework around money service businesses, AML, exchange of information and the Mutual Funds Law.

Luxembourg set to become Europe's commercial space exploration hub with new Space Law

A Luxembourg law governing the exploration and use of near earth objects in space came into effect on 1 August – partner Laurent Thailly and associate Fiona Schneider published a briefing explaining the international legal context and the Grand Duchy's wider space exploration strategy.

BVI Limited Partnership Act

The reform of the BVI's limited partnership legislation was the first in more than 20 years, and continued through the Hurricane Irma disruption and recovery efforts – partner Michael Killourhy explained the new structure and how it would strengthen BVI's offering as a funds jurisdiction.

A Guide to new legislation on Foundation Companies in the Cayman Islands

Offshore jurisdictions are increasingly offering variations on the same themes, but the foundation company law in Cayman is unique – trusts partner Anthony Partridge published this much-read briefing on the potential uses of the new structure.

The Carlyle case and Directors' Duties

The seven-year Carlyle case gave rise to publications on anti-anti-suit injunctions and Guernsey as a funds dispute centre by Global Head of Dispute Resolution Simon Davies, who represented the Carlyle companies in the $1 billion claim – but it was this briefing on the judgments impact on directors' duties that drew the most clicks.