Appleby’s regulatory and compliance team provides a full spectrum of advisory, transactional and compliance services, combining deep expertise with a thorough knowledge of financial services laws and regulations. The group is particularly strong in assisting clients with Cayman Islands Monetary Authority compliance, licence applications, and both on-site and desk-based CIMA inspections. Head of team Menelik Miller advises on a wide range of regulatory and licensing issues, with a practice focused on bespoke solutions for insurers, reinsurers, banks, corporate service providers and other regulated entities. Miriam Smyth further strengthens the team with her specialisation in financial services regulation.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
- ‘Appleby are well established in the Cayman Islands and have a local network and infrastructure that allows clients to meet increasing compliance requirements efficiently. For example, Appleby Global Services provides registered offices and secretarial services, and they also have the capability to offer outside directors to companies to comply with novel requirements regarding on-site annual general meetings for entities incorporated in the Cayman Islands.’
- ‘Appleby and Appleby Global Services work closely together on a range of compliance regimes covering beneficial ownership, economic substance, and CRS and FATCA. They communicate directly with clients in some instances to obtain the required information to allow regulatory filings to be completed within the stated deadline. This collaboration helps ensure the correct information is reported and filings are submitted on time. They also assist clients with regulatory classifications covering beneficial ownership, economic substance, and CRS and FATCA.’
- ‘In Cayman, Appleby are a go-to firm for complex financings, property, and high-net-worth structuring, with strong corporate and disputes support. Unlike peers more narrowly focused on investment funds, they offer clients a broader, full-service platform enhanced by cross-border regulatory expertise.’
- ‘The team at Appleby are responsive, engaged, and highly competent. We often have tight deadlines or very specific requests that require an understanding of our operations and multi-jurisdictional requirements, and we have found they are always up for the challenge, taking the time to truly understand before providing an answer. This level of personalised response is highly effective and a clear differentiator compared to our experience with other firms in the field.’
- ‘They have great legal and regulatory experience and are able to apply that in practice.’
- ‘We have worked with Miriam Smyth over the years and she has become a key point of contact for regulatory classifications and remediation work with the DITC. She has a strong understanding of the Cayman regulatory framework and applies it in a sensible and commercial manner. Miriam is responsive during busy filing seasons, particularly during economic substance notification reporting, and coordinates directly with clients to ensure deadlines are met.’
Key clients
- JTC PLC
- Greenlight Reinsurance Limited
- Kroll Group
- Solventum Corporation
- RF Bank & Trust (Cayman) Limited
- The London & Amsterdam Trust Company Limited
- Cayman Islands Reinsurance Companies Association
- Kasikornbank Public Company Limited
- RFA Capital Holdings Inc.
- JetBlue Airways Corporation
- GeoVera Investment Group, Ltd
- Appleby Global Services (Cayman) Limited
Work highlights
Advised JTC, the global professional services business, in connection with the Cayman Islands law aspects and regulatory requirements in respect of their acquisition of Citi Trust, the global fiduciary and trust administration services business, from Citigroup.
Acted as Cayman Islands regulatory counsel to RFA Capital Holdings Inc., a Canadian private investment group, in connection with its acquisition of a 51% equity interest in the Five Continents Group, a regulated financial services provider group which is licensed by CIMA.
Advised JetBlue and its Cayman Islands based subsidiaries in connection with the structuring and regulatory treatment of its enhanced customer loyalty programme using a newly formed Cayman Islands-based issuer, valued at US$2.75 billion.
Lawyers
Next Generation Partners
Junior partners with significant recognition from clients and peers in the market and key roles on multiple matters.
Practice head
Menelik Miller
Other key lawyers
Miriam Smyth