John Clayton Lawyer, legal news, Partner...
The British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Bermuda and the UK Channel Islands are among most picturesque places in the world. The BVI hosts unbelievable beaches with the bluest sea imaginable, while the Cayman Islands are a hotspot for expats with an interest in sailing, snorkelling and diving. Not only are offshore destinations beautiful places to live, they also provide fantastic opportunities to work on high profile mandates for top international firms.
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What is the legal sector like offshore?
Each offshore region has slight differences when it comes to the legal sectors and what skills are in demand. The Cayman Islands are a hub for funds, corporate, commercial and insolvency litigation. Bermuda has similar legal disciples to that of the Cayman Islands but also deals with trusts and e-commerce. If you have a background in finance, corporate or complex litigation, it is likely your background will be transferable offshore.
What are the financial benefits of living and working offshore?
Depending which offshore jurisdiction you work within there are differing tax laws. For example, if you work within the Channel Islands you pay 20% income tax. For the Cayman Islands you pay 0% income tax. This compares quite favourably to the UK tax rate for higher earners of up to 45%, meaning a considerably higher standard of living in the offshore world.
What is the work/life balance like?
Lawyers we have assisted in making the move offshore, a shorter commute and more predictable working hours are commonly reported. This means you are granted a better work/life balance with the added benefit of living on an island which has plenty of activities you can enjoy such as diving, horse riding and sailing. The other main benefit that one of our candidates stated was that when living in Grand Cayman they could get a flight to New York for a weekend break! Short trips to Miami and even South America are possible from a base in several key offshore locales, offering great options for travel.
“I’m Western qualified, could I move Offshore?”
We find that lawyers who are South African, Asian, USA, UK or Australian qualified are always attractive to top international Offshore firms. Firms typically seek mid-level Associates from a well-regarded firm, whose career situation and personal narrative would suit a stint offshore. Nexus Legal have assisted a number of lawyers in moving to top offshore firms, some of whom constitute the exception to the rule, so we are always open to hearing from people interested in making this career transition.
Are you a legal professional looking for a new opportunity? Nexus Legal Recruitment can help
Nexus Legal are a leading recruitment firm that works within major financial and growth markets that has successfully placed candidates in the best law firms in the world. We operate in 6 continents and can tailor your job search to exactly suit your skills and experience. Our highly experienced senior consultants aim to find the perfect job match for their candidates and therefore find the best candidates for the world’s biggest law firms.
For have an initial confidential conversation get in touch with John Clayton (Director) by calling: +44 203 984 6565 or email: jclayton@nexuslr.com. Alternatively, complete the contact form below.