Corporate Advisory

An increasing number of business leaders are looking to relocate their business and and indeed lives offshore. Our pan-departmental relocation's team has the knowledge and experience to assist in all aspects of such a move and welcome you to our islands. We are well placed to advise on, and project manage such a relocation and can advise on: company migrations and continuations, regulatory approvals, housing licences and real estate matters through to introductions to other service providers and complementary local businesses.

Offshore vehicles are used for a huge range of purposes either standing alone or as part of large multi-jurisdictional structures. Our highly commercial team specialises in advising clients on the most effective uses of such vehicles and their on-going operation, including normal and cellular companies as well as foundations, unit trusts, limited partnerships and limited liability partnerships. Our experienced team also provides commercial contracts for clients whether bespoke documents to effect specific transactions or suites of precedent documents for company service providers or offshore groups.

It is important for businesses to understand what constitutes a dominant market position in order to avoid unnecessarily or unknowingly becoming involved in anti-competitive practices, especially during mergers and acquisitions. Penalties can be significant and, potentially, directors may be disqualified or worse. In addition to regularly gaining merger approvals, our commercial team also advise a number of major businesses on the practical effect of the competition regimes on their businesses.

Good corporate governance and a sound understanding of directors duties is important to companies. Regardless of size, establishing a best practice approach should be fundamental to all boards. The board of directors are responsible for ensuring the company achieves its objectives and the corporate governance framework they adhere to should underpin their accountability to the company and its members. We advise company boards in relation to both the non-contentious and contentious aspects of shareholder relations with a focus on corporate governance to prevent contentious issues arising. We have also advised both boards and activist shareholders in relation to highly contentious general meetings and associated issues arising out of investor actions.

Data is the most valuable asset for many of our clients and data protection is a growing facet of offshore business. We have advised a number of institutional clients on their commercial obligations in terms of data security and data protection and regularly provide advice on contract terms in this difficult area. We also have significant experience in using the full range of legal remedies available to obtain access to data and information held, and so are ideally placed to advise clients on either side of the data protection equation.

E-gaming and E-commerce have become increasingly important sectors to the economy, having grown exponentially in recent years. Collas Crill has a particular specialism in E-gaming. The opportunities are huge, but the legislative and regulatory issues facing the industry require close attention. Our specialists can advise and assist companies and other organisations on the issues in setting up and managing online businesses as well as managing the risks to succeed in a global market.

In the insurance and banking sectors, a business restructure can prove difficult without the backing of statutory procedures and court approvals that facilitate the transition of policy holders or account holders from one enterprise to another. Understandably, this process requires careful consideration by the Courts to ensure those parties are treated fairly and appropriately. Our team has significant experience in this space, acting for insurers and banks looking to divest, acquire or restructure their arrangements.

Restructuring takes many forms, and Collas Crill's Corporate, Finance and Funds team has broad experience in reshaping businesses to the changing needs and demands of the market. For financially distressed companies in need of restructuring and reorganisation, or for those where the opportunity to do so has passed or failed, we work with our insolvency and restructuring team to achieve the most beneficial outcome. At any stage, our involvement will assist in identifying on-going risks and opportunities, as well as managing deteriorating relationships with creditors, financiers, investors or other interested parties. The team brings a wealth of experience from a range of backgrounds to give quick, accurate, commercial advice.