\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tFind Staff\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\n\t\tOffshore\n\t<\/h2>\n\t
For many years, Agnew O’Brien has been a trusted partner in guiding legal professionals to rewarding positions both domestically and internationally. Our team possesses deep knowledge and experience in the jurisdictions we operate in, ensuring comprehensive support for candidates throughout the recruitment process. What we don’t know immediately, we swiftly uncover to equip our candidates with all the information needed for informed decision-making.<\/p>\n\t
Offshore Legal Market Evolution:<\/strong><\/p>\nThe offshore legal market has witnessed substantial growth in the past 5-10 years, with firms expanding beyond their traditional Caribbean and Channel Islands bases. This expansion now spans Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and North America. Globally recognised offshore law firms, including industry leaders, provide a platform for diverse opportunities in locations such as Bermuda, the British Virgin Islands (BVI), the Cayman Islands, Jersey, and Guernsey.<\/p>\n\t
Qualifications and Opportunities:<\/strong><\/p>\nOverseas applicants seeking these opportunities are required to be admitted in a qualifying Commonwealth jurisdiction. A robust academic background and a stable career history with recognized onshore\/offshore law firms are essential. Lawyers considering relocation should possess a strong technical skill set and substantial experience across various practice areas, including Corporate\/Commercial, Banking\/Finance, Investment Funds, Litigation\/Disputes, Insolvency & Restructuring, Trust\/Private Client, Employment & Pensions, and Regulatory & Compliance.<\/p>\n
The growing Crypto\/FinTech industry, a frontier of considerable expansion, sees offshore law firms actively participating in this evolution.<\/p>\n\t
Rewards and Lifestyle:<\/strong><\/p>\nFinancial rewards rival those of leading international law firms, often coupled with the allure of very low or zero personal tax rates. Commitment to living and working offshore is rewarded with excellent work opportunities, responsibilities, a thoughtful work\/life balance, and genuine, achievable career progression.<\/p>\n\t
Key Locations:<\/strong><\/p>\nExplore opportunities in the following Caribbean & Channel Islands locations:<\/p>\n\t
Bermuda<\/strong><\/p>\n\n- Bermuda is Britain’s oldest, smallest and most affluent British Overseas Territory. Possessing a sub-tropical environment, it has a distinctive blend of British and American culture which supports a thriving ex-pat community.<\/li>\n
- International business accounts for 85% of the island’s GDP. Insurance and other financial services are key pillars of the island’s economy with the jurisdiction continuing to attract new reinsurer captives, insurance-linked funds and funds investing in insurtech products and blockchain technologies. Other important strands of legal work in the region include SPACs, asset-backed securitisation transactions, insurance securitisations through catastrophe bonds, and international debt listings.<\/li>\n
- Lawyers looking to work in Bermuda must have a Commonwealth qualification to practice Bermuda law (England & Wales, Australia, New Zealand and Canada being the most common) and are generally required to have at least three years post qualified experience.<\/li>\n
- Compensation is competitive, though can vary, and generally includes a high basic and bonus \/ commission arrangement plus relocation, temporary accommodation and other benefits. Firms pay their lawyers in Bermudian Dollars (which is pegged to the United States Dollar on a 1:1 basis) while there is a payroll tax of 5.5%.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\t
The British Virgin Islands (BVI)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n- The BVI is a British Overseas Territory in the Caribbean. Possessing a sub-tropical climate, the BVI is well known as a superb location for sailing and waters sports enthusiasts with fantastic beaches and other outdoor attractions. Possessing a small but friendly ex-pat community there is a full range of sports facilities and clubs available that will appeal to both families and singles.<\/li>\n
- The BVI is recognized as a leading offshore hub, with approximately 500,000 foreign businesses incorporated in the BVI and around 40% of all offshore companies in the world BVI registered.<\/li>\n
- The territory maintains innovative and modern statutes dealing primarily with company, banking, trust, insolvency and insurance laws, with a large number of firms in the region heavily involved in insolvency proceedings, M&A deals, work involving digital assets and cryptocurrencies, as well as matters concerning closed-end funds and incubator funds.<\/li>\n
- Lawyers looking to relocate to the BVI must be England & Wales \/ Northern Ireland qualified with at least 3yrs PQE (although technically relocators can be admitted in the BVI from NQ upwards).<\/li>\n
- Salaries are competitive if slightly below those in other offshore jurisdictions (such as Cayman & Bermuda) while the cost of living is lower in comparison (c20%). Packages include basic salaries and bonus \/ commission (at a prevailing tax rate of 8%) plus relocation, temporary accommodation and other benefits.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\t
The Cayman Islands<\/strong><\/p>\n\n- The Cayman Islands is a British Overseas Territory in the western Caribbean Sea possessing a tropical climate that offers a wonderful island lifestyle that will appeal to both individuals and families. With a plentiful selection of bars and restaurants, great medical facilities, schools and shops, most needs are catered for.<\/li>\n
- A stable and attractive offshore legal market, renowned in particular for its vast pool of investment funds which creates lots of work in the structuring \/ establishment \/ regulatory space, the region is increasingly prominent for SPAC work, cryptocurrencies, global insurance and reinsurance issues, and big-ticket M&A deals. Dispute resolution also continues to be at the heart of many firms’ practices; commercial disputes involving insolvencies, funds, trusts, insurance matters, fraud and asset-tracing issues dominate.<\/li>\n
- Lawyers looking to relocate to Cayman will need to be Commonwealth qualified (England & Wales, Australia, New Zealand and Canada being the most common) with at least 3 years PQE (soon to be raised to 5yrs PQE).<\/li>\n
- Salaries are paid in United States Dollars and are very competitive, although will vary from firm to firm and include basic and bonus \/ commission elements plus relocation, temporary accommodation and other benefits. There is no income tax payable (0%).<\/li>\n
- All overseas individuals are required to possess a work permit to live and work in Cayman while a legal spouse can be dependent on their partner’s work permit. Unmarried partners however are not permitted to live on the island without their own job and work permit.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\t
Jersey<\/strong><\/p>\n\n- Jersey, the largest of the Channel Islands, a self-governing dependency of the United Kingdom combining a mix of British and French cultures. Offering inhabitants an attractive outdoors lifestyle, excellent work\/life balance and vibrant social scene, Jersey will appeal to both individuals and families.<\/li>\n
- Firms range from the larger, international offshore firms to high profile domestic and boutique practices, all of whom handle a wide range of interesting and profitable work.<\/li>\n
- The climate is generally slightly better than the mainland United Kingdom. Overseas lawyers will need to complete 2 years working on island and a number of exams before requalification to practice in Jersey, if so wished, which is of particular importance to litigators wanting to appear before the courts.<\/li>\n
- Those looking for partnership will be required to be admitted to practice in Jersey. Work permits will not be required if UK or EEA passport holders. Commonwealth citizens may be exempt, if qualified for a UK ancestry visa while all other professionals will need to obtain a skilled worker visa to take up employment on the island. This is however usually straightforward.<\/li>\n
- Paid in Jersey Pounds (pegged 1:1 with \u00a3GBP) salaries are competitive, although will vary from firm to firm and generally include basic, bonus and other benefits (including relocation assistance and temporary accommodation where required). Income tax is set at 20%.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\t
Guernsey<\/strong><\/p>\n