The Mayfair event hosted by the Jersey Funds Association (JFA) and organised by Jersey Finance attracted about 150 UK delegates – considerably more than anticipated – plus a further 60 from the Island.
The overall theme, which sparked a number of searching questions, was ‘What you always wanted to know about hedge funds in Jersey but were too busy to ask’.
On the panel of specialists were JFA chairman Gary Clark, Wendy Dorman of Deloitte, Richard Boléat of Channel House Group, Martin Paul of Bedell Cristin, Helen Hatton, deputy director general of the Jersey Financial Services Commission, and leading hedge fund lawyer Christopher Hilditch of Schulte Roth and Zabel International.
The discussion was chaired by Rod Sparks, managing editor of Hedge Fund Journal.
Outlining the background, Phil Austin, chief executive of Jersey Finance, said that whereas in the past Jersey’s position outside the European Union had been a disadvantage in terms of retail funds, with business lost to Dublin and Luxembourg, the lack of EU constraints meant that the Island could be more flexible in other funds areas, in particular since the simplification of regulation on expert funds.
‘We have already come a long way, although we have some way to go,’ said Mr Austin.
‘Our ambition is to be the domicile of choice and we are even inviting you to come and live in the Island.
We have the full backing of our government, which has changed the immigration criteria.
