• Technically very knowledgeable.
    Legal 500 (UK) 2024
  • Incredibly knowledgeable and approachable
    Legal 500 (UK) 2024
  • Always available, approachable and thinks outside of the box.
    Legal 500 (UK) 2024
  • Client focused, with a straightforward approach which is underpinned by deep industry knowledge and technical expertise
    Legal 500 (UK), 2024
  • His knowledge of law and its application is extensive and has resulted in good results for many of the clients we have introduced to the firm.
    Legal 500 (UK) 2024
  • Wayne and Gareth managed to create a structure and framework from scratch and get a regulator to approve it. Their willingness to take on this piece of work and execute it makes them stand out.
    Legal 500 (UK) 2023
  • Wayne Atkinson is a very thoughtful lawyer who sees a big picture without neglecting minutiae. Very experienced.
    Legal 500 (UK) 2023
  • He's a good technical lawyer. I have found he delivers efficient, focused points of advice, which is exactly what you want.
    Chambers & Partners 2022
  • Credible across all areas.
    Client feedback
  • Always proactive and excellent at balancing legal requirements with the needs and wishes of the client.
    Client feedback
  • Wayne Atkinson is very responsive and understands clients’ businesses.
    Legal 500 2022
  • Extremely knowledgeable but not protective of that knowledge...very approachable and always willing to assist.
    Client feedback
  • Always proactive, excellent at balancing legal requirements with the needs and wishes of the client.
    Client feedback
  • Resonates with clients.
    Legal 500 (UK) 2024
  • Wayne Atkinson is easily approachable and responsive. He provides an amazing service.
    Chambers UK 2023
  • Wayne Atkinson is very responsive and understands clients’ businesses.
    Legal 500
  • The first person we trust
    Legal 500 (UK), 2024
  • Incredibly helpful.
    Client
  • Responsive and innovative.
    Legal 500

Wayne is a qualified Guernsey Advocate and BVI Attorney, working with a broad range of regulated entities and investment funds on fundraising, transaction and investment structuring, commercial contracts and mergers and acquisitions.

As one of the leaders of Collas Crill's risk and regulatory team he also regularly advises businesses on regulatory compliance including money-laundering issues, listing rules requirements, competition law, data protection, ESG matters and Guernsey financial services regulation more generally.

"It's my job to help clients achieve their objectives with as little unnecessary cost, stress and risk as possible."

Experience

Wayne has built considerable expertise in assisting company boards and activist shareholders in relation to contentious general meetings and associated issues arising out of investor actions.

A regular speaker at seminars and conferences in relation to company law, regulatory and fund matters, Wayne is well known for his down-to-earth plain speaking approach to explaining complex legal and regulatory issues.

Background

Having attended St John's College at the University of Cambridge, Wayne trained and qualified as a corporate lawyer with Herbert Smith in London, working primarily in the firm's investment funds and regulatory team. Following this he spent a number of years in the British Virgin Islands advising on a range of investment funds and general corporate transactions before joining Collas Crill in 2009.

He joined the Board of the Guernsey Nature Commission in 2023.

Awards

Wayne is listed as a Next Generation Partner in Legal 500, and in band 3 in Chambers and Partners UK.

 

Legal 500: UK Next Gen Partner
Chambers Ranking In UK
*Business Assistant
Samantha Davison

Samantha Davison

 
My services
Business relocations, migrations and continuations
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An increasing number of business leaders are looking to relocate their business and indeed live offshore. Our pan-departmental relocation 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 support with company migrations and continuations, regulatory approvals, housing licences and real estate matters through to introductions to other service providers and complementary local businesses.

For guidance on relocating your business in and out of the BVI, Cayman Islands, Guernsey or Jersey, click here.

Corporate
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Successfully navigating the modern global business environment, taking advantage of opportunities as they arise while avoiding legal and regulatory pitfalls, is a challenge for any entrepreneur, business or corporation.

As commercially minded lawyers committed to providing a high quality and cost-effective service we understand those challenges and, more importantly, seek to turn them into opportunities.

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Data protection
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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-business
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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.

Housing and immigration
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If you are looking to expand of move your business offshore we can assist your company with all forms of immigration visas and permits.

Investment fund formation
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Our uniquely diverse practice regularly assists with the establishment of both open and closed-ended fund structures. In addition to traditional Channel Island private equity and real estate structures and Caribbean hedge funds, we have advised on a number of alternative and esoteric classes. We work alongside our clients to understand their investment thesis and provide bespoke drafting to build the fund they want as opposed to generic template structures and documentation. We advise clients at every step of the process, including preparing offer documents, investor negotiations, the preparation of agreements, and in the closing of transactions.

Regulatory
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Our multi-disciplinary approach to providing risk and regulatory consultancy services ensures that every aspect of our clients' business is covered. By drawing on the skills and experience of a highly experienced team of lawyers with expertise from across the firm, we are able to deal with all legal compliance issues that could affect your business, whether contentious or non-contentious. The assistance we are able to provide ranges from strategic matters to specific operational issues.

Collas Crill's market-leading fraud, financial and white collar crime practice sits within our regulatory practice. Uniquely offering a mix of both civil and criminal fraud litigation experience, from internal investigations, to injunctions, to defence and enforcement, the team can lead clients through the most challenging of circumstances.

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Utility licensing and regulation
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We work with a number of local utilities assisting them with their work with regulators and pricing control commissioners as well as advising on the effects of proposed changes in legislation, commercial contracts and corporate governance.

Private wealth structures
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For wealthy individuals, family-controlled businesses and entrepreneurs managing wealth across generations, succession planning and transferring control of assets has never been more challenging. That's why it's important to work with lawyers who not only have the highest standards of legal knowledge and expertise, but also the ability to find unique solutions tailored to your unique circumstances.

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Middle East and North Africa
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The Middle East and North Africa (MENA) is one of the most dynamic and fastest growing regions in the world. With diversifying markets and governments keen to enact strategies and legislation to bring further innovation, MENA is primed for further transformation and growth.

The demand for professional advisers who understand this rapidly changing environment and the opportunities and challenges it brings has never been higher or more important.

Regional clients with worldwide investments as well as international clients conducting business in the area trust Collas Crill to guide them through their business dealings and wealth planning, with expertise in Shariah-compliant products allied with decades of experience using traditional structures to meet the needs of clients wherever their focus lies.

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Funds
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Our fund specialists offer advice on all aspects relating to the establishment, authorisation and structuring of funds and related investment vehicles. We have particular expertise acting for emerging managers who are building their business and acting for institutional investors, including acting for private equity funds and sovereign wealth funds on joint venture and fund investments, as well as planning their internal corporate structures. We provide a highly personalised service working with our clients and their onshore counsel to build strong relationships over the long term.

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Crypto and digital assets
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We advise in relation to a broad range of legal issues involving crypto and digital assets.

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Corporate and commercial regulatory
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Regulation and legal risk management are placing increasing burdens on companies and businesses in terms of time, costs and resources, and the consequences of getting this wrong can be severe. We can assist with all regulatory and compliance issues in Jersey, Guernsey, BVI and Cayman.

Additionally we can help with regulator investigations and visits, enforcement and remediation including representation before regulators, tribunals committees and courts. We have an excellent record in defending corporates and their directors and officers in regulatory proceedings.

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Corporate structuring
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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 ongoing operation, including normal and cellular companies as well as foundations, unit trusts, limited partnerships, limited liability partnerships, segregated portfolio and restricted purpose companies.  

We are able to advise what jurisdiction among the "Big Four" that we advise on will best suit our client's needs and regularly advise on solvent restructuring by way of merger, consolidation, continuation or balance sheet optimisation as well as court based corporate procedures such as schemes and plans of arrangement.

With our mix of non-contentious and litigation restructuring specialists, Collas Crill offers the unique advantage of having being able to provide a team to seamlessly take a transaction from start to finish. 

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5 Jun 2025

Collas Crill assists Jacobi Bitcoin ETF to broaden investor base

Collas Crill has assisted Jacobi Asset Management in securing the relaxation of investment restrictions related to its Jacobi Bitcoin Exchange-Traded Fund (ETF), Europe’s first and only Bitcoin ETF.   Originally launched in 2023 on Euronext Amsterda...

16 Apr 2025

Collas Crill congratulates debut fund launch

Collas Crill congratulates consultant, and former partner, Paul Wilkes and his team at Osney Capital on the successful launch of their debut fund. Paul was a partner in the Guernsey office of Collas Crill until 2021. He remains with the firm in a client-...

30 Jan 2025

Crypto-asset investment structures: A primer

The world of crypto-assets has evolved rapidly, offering innovative investment opportunities as an alternative to traditional financial markets. For investors seeking potentially high returns, diversification, or exposure to the decentralised economy, cr...

9 Jan 2025

Financial crime suspicions in Guernsey: A real bat-tle of wits

Collas Crill assisted its clients in securing the release of over GBP 100 million, informally held at financial institutions as a result of Guernsey's anti-money laundering regime, in 2024 alone. The regime is placing a significant burden upon those cust...

19 Dec 2024

Offshore investment funds

As the year winds down and the holiday season begins in earnest, investment and financial professionals take a moment to reflect on the year’s financial trends and start strategizing for the upcoming one. For those who manage or are interested in offshor...

6 Dec 2024

Channel Islands contract law

Welcome to Collas Crill's first Channel Islands contract law update. Why do we need a Channel Islands specific contract law update? Well, let's start with a history lesson. Both Guernsey and Jersey have historically sent aspiring lawyers to the universit...

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Event 11 Feb 2025

GTA 2025 Compliance CPD Series

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