A QUICK LOOK AHEAD: CAYMAN ISLANDS REGULATION 2026
Dear reader,
I hope you are well and welcome to our 2026 Regulatory Calendar.
As we head into 2026, I wanted to share a short, practical preview of the regulatory developments most likely to impact your business or that are worthwhile bringing to your attention. The overarching theme for the immediate future is clear: Cayman Islands regulators are moving from ‘rules on paper’ to demonstrable effectiveness, with tighter expectations around governance, data quality and day-to - day compliance.
Sharper supervision and enforcement. CIMA has continued to intensify risk-based oversight across securities intermediaries, trust and corporate services providers, and virtual asset providers. Expect more targeted inspections, firmer remediation timelines and greater use of warning and decision notices. Persistent gaps flagged by the regulator—customer due diligence (“CDD”), sanctions compliance, risk assessments and independent AML audits— will remain in focus.
Virtual assets: into the licensing era. Phase Two of the virtual asset regime is now live, bringing custodians and trading platforms into a full licensing framework with higher governance, prudential and conduct standards. A new Market Conduct Rule and Guidance are in the works, alongside formal procedures for licence and registration cancellations. If you are engaged in custody, trading, or related services, plan for board composition, change -approval and client-asset safeguarding requirements to be tested and evidenced.
Securities intermediaries: modernised expectations. The Government has consulted on comprehensive reforms to the securities investment business regime covering capital and liquidity, prudential reporting and audited accounts, suitability and governance, client-asset protections and prior approval for ownership and management changes. We anticipate concrete rulemaking, so assessing your current controls, policies and reporting depth now will pay dividends in the future.
Beneficial ownership and transparency. Legislative refinements are tightening definitions, clarifying contact-person responsibilities, strengthening discrepancy reporting and enabling legitimate -interest access in certain cases. The bottom line is more consistent data and quicker responses to competent authority requests, accuracy and currency of records will matter.
Tax transparency: CRS amendments and CARF. The Cayman Islands is moving to implement the amended Common Reporting Standard 2.0 and the new Crypto -Asset Reporting Framework, with domestic legislation targeted on an accelerated timeline and exchanges expected to commence in 2027. Authorities have signaled stricter portal compliance and penalties. Validating classifications, being mindful of reporting deadlines (a Regulator Calendar is useful!) and data integrity will be essential.
Readiness for the next FATF round. With the fifth-round methodology emphasising effectiveness and major risks, the 2025–2026 National Risk Assessment and related supervisory initiatives will continue to drive higher standards in monitoring and information sharing. Expect more outcome - oriented testing of your controls.
We recommend using Q1 2026 to refresh your regulatory roadmap, prioritise remediation where inspection findings have clustered (e.g. CDD, sanctions and independent AML audit), and align governance, reporting and data quality to the new regimes. We are, of course, happy to discuss what these changes mean for your specific operations.
Wishing you all a happy and prosperous 2026!
Warm regards,
Chris Capewell
Global Head of Regulatory & Financial Services Practice Maples Group chris.capewell@maples.com
REGULATORY FILING REQUIREMENTS KEY DEADLINES
Registration deadline for new entities that are Financial Institutions (“FIs”) under the CRS (established between 1 May 2025 and 31 December 2025) and FATCA (established between 1 January 2025 and 29 April 2026). FIs under the CRS established on or after 1 January 2026 will be required to be registered by 31 January 2027
Julian Ashworth, Partner in the Cayman Islands Investment Funds team, summarises the regulatory and compliance obligations that apply to all Cayman Islands-domiciled investment funds.
Michael Oldfield from the Maples Group Accounting, Agency and Tax Services team for the Americas, talks about key steps, tips and deadlines for Cayman Islands Fund Annual Returns.
INVESTMENT FUNDS KEY FILING DEADLINES:
ANNUALLY
Governing Body of an investment fund to hold an annual meeting each year sometime during the year.
Q1
Registered but unlaunched investment funds to file a declaration of no capital contributions (or file an audit waiver application).
Each investment fund registered with, and regulated by, the Cayman Islands Monetary Authority (“CIMA”) is required to establish, implement and maintain a corporate governance framework in accordance with certain regulatory measures established by CIMA (the “Regulatory Measures”).
The governing body of each registered investment fund (in such capacity, the “Governing Body”) is responsible for implementing a corporate governance framework that addresses, at a minimum, those matters set out in the Regulatory Measures.
The Governing Body (being the board of directors where the registered investment fund is a company, the general partner where the registered investment fund is an exempted limited partnership, the managers (or equivalent) where the registered investment fund is a limited liability company and the trustee where the registered investment fund is a trust) has ultimate responsibility to oversee and supervise the activities and affairs of the registered investment fund and must hold at least one operator meeting each year. The governance structure must be appropriate and suitable to enable the effective oversight of the registered investment fund by the Governing Body, taking into account the size, complexity, structure, nature of business and risk profile of the operations of the registered investment fund (including by reference to assets under management, number of investors, complexity of the structure, nature of investment strategy and nature of the operations).
A registered investment fund’s corporate governance framework must, at a minimum, address:
CORPORATE GOVERNANCE FRAMEWORK
Objectives and strategies
Structure of governance of the Governing Body
Appropriate allocation of oversight and management responsibilities
Independence and objectivity
Collective duties of Governing Body
Duties of individual directors
Appointments and delegation of functions and responsibilities
Rule – Corporate Governance for Regulated Entities
Risk management and internal control systems
Conflicts of interest and code of conduct
Remuneration policy and practices
Reliable and transparent financial reporting
Transparency of communications
Duties of Senior Management
Relations with CIMA
Statement of Guidance – Corporate Governance for Mutual Funds and Private Funds
AML SURVEY DEADLINES
Alice Reid, Co-Head of the AML Services team, shares important annual AML survey deadlines, as set out on CIMA’s annual reporting schedule.
Alice Reid Senior Vice President alice.reid@maples.com
Anti-Money Laundering (AML) Legal Guide
ECONOMIC SUBSTANCE
At the start of 2019, a number of offshore jurisdictions, including the Cayman Islands, introduced economic substance (“ES”) laws and regulations (“Economic Substance Regimes”) in response to global OECD Base Erosion and Profit Shifting (“BEPS”) standards for geographically mobile activities. The Economic Substance Regimes aim to create a level playing field among all OECDcompliant ‘no or only nominal tax’ jurisdictions.
Global standards in this field continue to develop. Accordingly, it is to be expected that the Economic Substance Regimes will continue to evolve in order to address certain important practical aspects of the economic substance requirements.
Those who establish offshore structures do not generally do so to engage in BEPS activity; they do so because the chosen jurisdiction is an efficient, stable and trusted neutral hub with key expertise in handling complex transactions. Accordingly, the financial services industry in these jurisdictions and their respective clients should be able to take these requirements in their stride, given the nature of the transactions and the global standards that are already applicable in such jurisdictions.
The extent to which an entity is affected will depend upon a number of factors, including the type of entity, the type of business the particular entity is engaged in, and the way in which the entity operates. In particular, entities conducting the following ‘relevant activities’ will need to determine whether
they fall within scope of a particular Economic Substance Regime:
a. Banking business;
b. Distribution and service centre business;
c. Finance and leasing business;
d. Fund management business;
e. Headquarters business;
f. Holding company business;
g. Insurance business;
h. Intellectual property holding business; and
i. Shipping business.
Depending on their particular circumstances, in-scope entities may have notification and/or reporting obligations, as well as be required to satisfy enumerated substance requirements.
If you have any questions in relation to particular entities, industries and / or structures, please speak to your usual Maples Group contact, who will be able to guide you in this area of law. Inevitably, much will depend upon the specific entity, industry, structure and transaction(s) involved.
Economic Substance (ES) Legal Guide
AUTOMATIC EXCHANGE OF FINANCIAL ACCOUNT INFORMATION
The Cayman Islands has entered into an intergovernmental agreement with the United States (the “US IGA”) to give effect to the US Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (“FATCA”) and a multilateral competent authority agreement (the “MCAA”) to implement the Common Reporting Standard (“CRS”). The Cayman Islands has also entered into an inter-governmental agreement with the United Kingdom (the “UK IGA”) in broadly similar terms to the US IGA to improve international tax compliance (“UK CDOT”). The UK is a Participating Jurisdiction for CRS. There are therefore no separate registration or reporting obligations regarding UK CDOT, and all UK reporting has been pursuant to CRS from 2017 onwards.
Automatic Exchange of Financial Account Information (“AEOI”) is the collective term used to refer to FATCA and CRS.
The Cayman Islands has passed regulations (the “AEOI Laws”) to give effect to its AEOI commitments. Under the AEOI Laws, all “Financial Institutions” are required to comply with registration, due diligence and reporting requirements, unless they can rely on an exemption that allows them to become a “Non-Reporting Financial Institution” (as defined in the AEOI Laws), in which case only the registration requirement would apply under CRS.
The AEOI Laws require each Reporting Financial Institution to, amongst other things (i) register with the United States Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) to obtain a Global Intermediary Identification Number (in the context of the US IGA only); (ii) register with the Cayman Islands Tax Information Authority (“TIA”) to notify such authority of its status as a “Reporting Financial Institution” or a “Non-Reporting Financial Institution” (in the case of CRS only); (iii) adopt and implement written policies and procedures setting out how it will address its obligations under CRS; (iv) conduct due diligence on its accounts to identify whether any such accounts are considered “Reportable Accounts”; and / or (v) report information on such Reportable Accounts to the TIA.
Account holders in such Reporting Financial Institutions are required to provide certain personal financial information, including certifications as to such account holder ’s global tax residencies and tax identification numbers, to the Financial Institution. The Reporting Financial Institution’s compliance with the AEOI Laws may result in the disclosure of the account holder ’s financial information to the TIA which will transmit such information to the overseas fiscal authority relevant to a reportable account (e.g. the IRS in the case of a US Reportable Account) annually on an automatic basis.
AEOI and ES Obligations
Michelle Bailey, Head of AEOI in the Cayman Islands, gives an overview of the services provided by the Maples Group to assist our clients in meeting their AEOI and ES obligations.
Michelle Bailey Senior Vice President michelle.bailey@maples.com
Automatic Exchange Of Financial Account Information (AEOI) Legal Guide
The term “Financial Institution” catches entities that are depository institutions, custodial institutions, investment entities and specified insurance companies. Depository institutions and custodial institutions are largely self-explanatory terms, and specified insurance companies will mostly be long-term insurers. Investment entities is a term defined very broadly and catches most types of investment fund, investment managers and advisors, and other entities that might be service providers in fund management world.
An entity that is not a Financial Institution will be a non-financial entity and out of scope of the AEOI Laws, although if that entity is an account holder of a Financial Institution, it may in certain circumstances be required to confirm to such Financial Institution its AEOI status and, where applicable, details of its controlling persons.
If in doubt, please take appropriate legal advice as to whether an entity is in scope and any related compliance obligations.
BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP REGIME
On 24 November 2023, the Parliament of the Cayman Islands passed the Beneficial Ownership Transparency Act, 2023 (the “BOTA”), which came into force on 31 July 2024. However, the Ministry of Financial Services & Commerce delayed the enforcement of obligations under the BOTA until 1 January 2025. The BOTA replaces the beneficial ownership regime that had been in place in the Cayman Islands since 2017 in a manner that aligns with equivalent regimes in other jurisdictions. The BOTA extends the application of the beneficial ownership regime to most Cayman Islands entities and removes a number of exemptions that existed under the previous regime.
An entity that is subject to the BOTA is required to identify, and monitor changes to, its beneficial owners and reportable legal entities (as such terms are defined in the BOTA). Each in-scope entity must establish and maintain a beneficial ownership register with its corporate service provider (“CSP”) and provide its CSP with certain “required particulars” with respect to its registrable beneficial owners and reportable legal entities in a timely manner to ensure the entity’s beneficial ownership register remains accurate and up-to-date. The details contained within that register will be filed by the CSP with the Cayman Islands competent authority (the “Competent Authority”) each month.
There are various administrative fines and other sanctions, including restriction notices, that will be applied to in-scope entities that fail to comply with their obligations under the BOTA.
Summary of Key Features
In-Scope Entities
The BOTA applies to all Cayman Islands ‘legal persons’, which includes Cayman Islands companies, limited liability companies, limited liability partnerships (“ELPs”), limited partnerships, exempted limited partnerships and foundation companies; and any other legal person that may be prescribed in regulations (“Legal Persons”). NonCayman Islands entities (including those registered as foreign persons in the Cayman Islands, typically to act as the general partner of an ELP) and certain other categories of legal person, are carved out of the BOTA (e.g. certain charities and not-for-profits).
Beneficial Ownership Transparency Act Legal Guide
Definition of Beneficial Owner
Under the BOTA, the definition of ‘beneficial owner’ refers to an individual who (i) ultimately owns or controls (directly or indirectly) 25 per cent or more of the shares, voting rights or partnership interests in the Legal Person; or (ii) otherwise exercises ultimate effective control over the management of the Legal Person; or (iii) is identified as exercising control of the Legal Person through other means. A person operating solely in the capacity of a ‘professional advisor’ or ‘professional manager’ (both terms defined in the BOTA) will not be considered a beneficial owner.
Where a trust meets one of the above conditions for identifying a ‘beneficial owner’, the trustee of that trust shall be identified as a contact person in the entity’s beneficial ownership register, in order to comply with the BOTA.
In instances where no natural person or ‘reportable legal entity’ is identified as a “beneficial owner”, an individual who is a “senior managing official” of the in-scope entity, being a person such as a director, chief executive officer or another person with control or authority over the in-scope entity, will need to be named in as a contact person in the entity’s beneficial ownership register, in order to comply with the BOTA.
Required Particulars
Under the BOTA, the required particulars to be reported on the Legal Person’s beneficial ownership register are largely unchanged from the requirements of the previous regime with two notable exceptions, those being that the Legal Person must also report (1) the nationality of all beneficial owners; and (2) the nature in which the individual or ‘reportable legal entity’ owns or exercises control of the Legal Person (whether, for example, by ownership of economic interests or voting interests in, or as a senior managing official of, the Legal Person).
Alternative Routes to Compliance; Investment Funds
The BOTA features certain ‘alternative routes to compliance’ whereby a Legal Person is not required to report its beneficial owners, nor establish a beneficial ownership register, but instead must report limited ‘required particulars’.
Legal Persons able to apply an alternative route to compliance include those that are:
a. listed, or is a subsidiary of a listed entity, on the Cayman Islands Stock Exchange or an approved stock exchange;
b. licensed under a regulatory law (note this is limited to certain Cayman Islands regulatory laws); and
c. a fund registered under the Private Funds Act (As Revised) or the Mutual Funds Act (As Revised); or d. otherwise exempted by Cabinet (none currently).
Relevant to the investment funds industry, Legal Persons under category (c), being Cayman Islands mutual or private funds registered with CIMA, are permitted to supply the contact details of an authorised contact, being a registered office services provider, a Cayman Islands licensed fund administrator or another appropriately licensed Cayman Islands service provider that is required to provide beneficial ownership information (on behalf of the fund) to the Competent Authority, on request (from the Competent Authority), within 24 hours (or such longer period as is specified in the request).
Entities falling outside categories (a) – (d) above (or otherwise opting not to apply an alternative route to compliance) are considered ‘in-scope’ and are required to establish and maintain a beneficial ownership register.
Legitimate Interest Access and Access Restriction
The Beneficial Ownership Transparency (Legitimate Interest Access) Regulations (As Revised) (the “LIA Regulations”) commenced on 28 February 2025. The LIA Regulations set out the framework for certain members of the public to apply to the Competent Authority to request access to beneficial ownership information, relating to a Legal Person. A member of the public may apply for and be granted access where that member of the public:
a. is a person engaged in journalism or bona fide academic research;
b. is acting on behalf of a civil society organisation whose purpose includes the prevention or combating of money-laundering, its predicate offences or terrorism financing; or
c. is seeking that information in the context of a potential or actual business relationship or transaction with the Legal Person about whom that information is sought, and has a legitimate interest in that information for the purpose of preventing, detecting, investigating, combating or prosecuting money laundering or its predicate offences or terrorist financing.
Regulations have also been passed which allow beneficial owners to apply to the Competent Authority for protection from their information being disclosed pursuant to the LIA Regulations. The Beneficial Ownership Transparency (Access Restriction) Regulations (As Revised) (“Access Restriction Regulations”) commenced on 9 December 2024.
Under the Access Restriction Regulations, the right to seek protection from disclosure of beneficial ownership information may be sought by an applicant, where the applicant reasonably believes that the disclosure of the information relating to the applicant and the applicant’s association with a Legal Person will place the applicant or an individual living in the same household as the applicant at serious risk of:
(a) kidnapping;
(b) extortion;
(c) violence;
(d) intimidation; or
(e) any similar danger or serious harm.
BANK AND TRUST COMPANIES ACT(AS REVISED)
CIMA Banking Services Reporting Schedule
CIMA Trusts Reporting Schedule
SECURITIES INVESTMENT BUSINESS ACT (AS REVISED)
Cayman Islands Securities Investment Business Act: Continuing Obligations of SIBA Registered Persons
CIMA Reporting Schedule
VIRTUAL ASSET (SERVICE PROVIDERS) ACT (AS REVISED)
The Virtual Asset Service Providers Regime
CIMA Reporting Schedule
REGULATORY ENFORCEMENT AND INSPECTIONS
The Maples Group provides expert legal advice in contentious regulatory matters, ranging from risk assessment and risk management, through to onsite inspections, regulatory investigations, enforcement actions and, ultimately, to appeals of decisions by regulatory authorities, including to the Grand Court of the Cayman Islands.
With enforcement activity from regulators and authorities increasing each year, we combine indepth knowledge of the key enforcement areas (such as beneficial ownership, economic substance, CRS, AML/CFT/CPF and sanctions) with specialist regulatory and litigation expertise.
Time is of the essence in any regulatory enforcement matter, and our specialist team is able to use its in-depth industry knowledge and experience to respond quickly and efficiently.
SPOTLIGHT ON COMPLIANCE FOR 2026
With the Caribbean Financial Action Task Force (CFATF) onsite for the FATF Fifth Round Mutual Evaluation slated for late 2027, Cayman Islands financial service providers (“FSPs”) should prioritise immediate, demonstrable effectiveness across anti-money laundering, countering the financing of terrorism, counter-proliferation financing (“AML/ CFT/CPF”) and sanctions controls. The Fifth Round raises the bar: regulators will look beyond policies to evidence of outcomes. FSPs should act now.
• Evidence effectiveness. Demonstrate the effectiveness of documented AML, CFT, CPF and targeted sanctions policies, procedures and controls by conducting independent audits.
• Engage the board. Governing bodies should demonstrate awareness of the upcoming FATF inspection and participate in national preevaluation initiatives and risk assessments.
• Complete and operationalise entity-wide risk assessments. Ensure AML/CFT/CPF frameworks are informed by these assessments, and that sanctions screening is risk-based, calibrated and performed at onboarding and throughout the relationship with real-time access to global lists.
Adam Huckle, Partner in the Cayman Islands Regulatory and Financial Services and Dispute Resolution & Insolvency teams, discusses regulatory enforcement and inspections of Cayman Islands-domiciled entities.
Adam Huckle Partner adam.huckle@maples.com
• Ensure beneficial ownership transparency. Collect, verify, retain and make readily available accurate beneficial ownership information for legal persons and arrangements.
• Train your people. Ensure annual AML/CFT/ CPF and sanctions training is undertaken by all governing body members and staff (where applicable) that reflects legislative changes and current global risks.
Maples Group can help you get there. Our team supports FSPs with business risk assessments and tailored AML/CFT/CPF and sanctions manuals; corporate governance and internal control policies; record keeping policies; outsourcing policies and procedures; policy gap analyses, mock audits and remediation planning; regulatory notifications, prudential returns and responses to information requests; governance and AML/CFT/CPF and sanctions training for boards, senior management and staff; customer lifecycle controls, including onboarding, beneficial ownership verification and ongoing due diligence; sanctions screening calibration and adverse media processes; and alignment of data protection, cybersecurity and tax reporting within a coherent compliance architecture.
To discuss practical next steps and an implementation plan aligned to the Fifth Round, contact the Maples Group team in the Cayman Islands.
REGUL ATORY & FINANCIAL SERVICES
Overview of Legal Advisory Services
Overview of Legal Advisory Services
To ensure compliance with an ever-changing global regulatory landscape, clients trust our Regulatory & Financial Services Advisory team to provide informed, prompt and clear advice, to help enhance their Cayman Islands operations and protect their commercial reputation.
Our Regulatory & Financial Services Advisory team is the largest in the Cayman Islands and is comprised of highly skilled lawyers and professionals from multi-disciplinary backgrounds. Our team extends beyond the Cayman Islands’ shores with a dedicated legal team based in Hong Kong who practise Cayman Islands law, as well as a full-time consultant in New Zealand who was previously a partner of the Maples Group.
Collectively, the team draws on years of unrivalled experience and provides a unique perspective in the offshore market on regulatory and compliance issues.
Our Regulatory & Financial Services Advisory team is the largest in the Cayman Islands and is comprised of highly skilled lawyers and professionals from multidisciplinary backgrounds. Our team extends beyond the Cayman Islands’ with dedicated team members in Australia, London and Hong Kong who practise Cayman Islands law.
We have assisted some of the world’s largest financial institutions in establishing a presence in the Cayman Islands and have established relationships with regulatory agencies.
Collectively, we draw on years of unrivalled experience to provide a unique perspective in the offshore market on regulatory and compliance issues.
Offshore Regulatory & Compliance (2025 Europe Hedgeweek Awards), both highlighting the Group’s continued excellence in Regulatory & Financial Services.
We keep our clients infor med of the ver y latest regulator y and financial ser vices developments that may impac t their business through a range of mediums, including complimentar y monthly webcasts and calendars that can be used to t rack key regulator y filing deadlines.
We keep our clients informed of the very latest regulatory and financial services developments that may affect their businesses through a range of mediums, including complimentary monthly webcasts and calendars that can be used to track key regulatory filing deadlines.
Our Regulatory & Financial Services Advisory team can assist with and advise on the following areas:
We have assisted many of the world’s largest financial institutions in establishing a presence in the Cayman Islands and maintain strong working relationships with key regulatory agencies.
The team are extensively involved with the development of financial services law and policy (both locally and internationally) and are members of a range of industry associations, which help us develop sound risk management principles for our clients and determine how best to maintain legal and regulatory compliance in an increasingly complex business environment.
We are actively involved in the development of financial services law and policy, both locally and internationally, and participate in a range of industry associations. This engagement informs our approach to risk management principles for our clients and enables us to determine how best to maintain robust legal and regulatory compliance in an increasingly complex environment.
We are proud to be continuously ranked in the top tier for Cayman Islands Regulatory & Financial Services in leading international legal directories, Chambers Global and Legal 500. Individually, Chris Capewell and Tim Dawson are both ranked in Chambers Global and Legal 500 as Leading Individuals, along with Adam Huckle who is ranked as a Next Generation Partner. The team is recognised as a market leader in providing specialist regulatory and financial services to investment funds, investment managers, securities advisors, trust companies, corporate services providers, insurance companies, fintech and virtual asset service providers, ultrahigh-net worth individuals and family offices, international banks, regulatory bodies and governmental agencies.
We are consistently ranked in the top tier for Cayman Islands Regulatory & Financial Services in leading international legal directories, Chambers Global and Legal 500. Individually, Chris Capewell is ranked in Chambers Global and Legal 500 as a Leading Individual and Adam Huckle is ranked in both as a Next Generation Partner. The team is recognised as a market leader in providing specialist regulatory and financial services to investment funds, investment managers, securities advisors, trust companies, corporate services providers, insurance companies, fintech and virtual asset service providers, ultra-highnet worth individuals and family offices, international banks, regulatory bodies and governmental agencies. Other recent accolades include Regulatory & Compliance Firm of the Year: Offshore (2025 Hedgeweek US Awards in New York) and Winner:
• Licensing and registration of investment funds, securities advisers and managers, banks, virtual asset service providers, trust companies, administrators and corporate service providers with CIMA including the surrender of license or registration
Regulator y & Financial Ser vices
• Local business licensing, immigration, and employment obligations
15 15 THE REGULATORY 15/15 PODCAST
• Business activity classification to determine application of regulatory regimes
• Change of control applications for CIMA regulated entities
If you would like to stay on top of the latest regulatory developments in the Cayman Islands, please subscribe on Spotify, Apple Podcast and other leading platforms, to our monthly podcast (the "15/15") released on the 15th day of each month.
Click here to subscribe.
• Prudential and governance obligations under Cayman Islands regulatory laws and CIMA’s Rules and Statements of Guidance, including assistance with updated applications, notifications, prudential reports and statistical returns
• Routine and ad hoc regulatory inspections and information production requests
• Desktop and on-site mock audits
• Preparation and review of compliance manuals and policies
• Training programmes and resources to meet ongoing regulatory and compliance obligations
Our Regulator y & Financial Ser vices Advisor y team can assist with or ad vise on the following areas:
• Development and assessment of AML/CTF/CPF sanctions compliance and risk management systems, policies and procedures
• Tax information obligations with the Cayman Islands Department for International Tax Cooperation (“DITC”), including under FATCA, CRS, CbCR, Economic Substance and equivalent initiatives
• Record Keeping, Cybersecurity and Data Protection obligations
& FINANCIAL SERVICES
Services
• Foreign and local disclosure requests for confidential information / personal data and advising on duties of confidentiality and statutory data protection obligations
• DITC/CIMA enforcement notices, administrative fines and appeals
• Anti-corruption, bribery and sanctions obligations
Services Advisory team is the largest in the Cayman Islands lawyers and professionals from multi-disciplinary beyond the Cayman Islands’ shores with a dedicated who practise Cayman Islands law, as well as a full-time was previously a partner of the Maples Group.
unique regulatory
largest presence established the and policy members which help us principles for our maintain legal increasingly in the top Financial directories, Individually, Chris ranked in Leading is ranked is providing services to securities services and virtual worth international banks, agencies.
• Extraterritorial effects of foreign legislation and cross-border business activities
• Beneficial ownership transparency regime requirements
• Family office and private wealth management structuring and regulation
• Digital assets and fintech structuring and regulation
We keep our clients infor med of the ver y latest regulator y and financial ser vices developments that may impac t their business through a range of mediums, including complimentar y monthly webcasts and calendars that can be used to t rack key regulator y filing deadlines.
Regulatory Round-Up Blog
Regulator y & Financial Ser vices
15 15 THE REGULATORY 15/15 PODCAST
If you would like to stay on top of the latest regulatory developments in the Cayman Islands, please subscribe on Spotify, Apple Podcast and other leading platforms. Click to subscribe.
KEY CONTACTS
Cayman Islands
London
Hong Kong
Chris Capewell +1 345 525 5611
chris.capewell@maples.com
Patrick Head +1 345 525 5377
patrick.head@maples.com
Adam Huckle +1 345 525 5318
Michelle Bailey +1 345 525 5711
Alice Reid +1 345 526 6150
Karen Watson +1 345 525 5827
Michael Oldfield +1 345 525 5796
adam.huckle@maples.com michelle.bailey@maples.com alice.reid@maples.com karen.watson@maples.com michael.oldfield@maples.com
Anthony Mourginos +1 345 924 5155
anthony.mourginos@maples.com
Beth Waterfall +44 20 7466 1638 beth.waterfall@maples.com
Daniel Moore
+852 5729 3584
daniel.moore@maples.com
Yunie Wong
+852 9016 0076 yunie.wong@maples.com
Specialist legal advice should be taken in relation to specific circumstances. If you require legal advice, please reach out to your usual Maples and Calder contact. Published by Maples and Calder (Cayman) LLP.
© MAPLES GROUP | December 2025