Structuring & Compliance

Company Formation Guides

Step-by-step guides to company and entity formation across our key jurisdictions — covering setup steps, documentation requirements, costs, timelines and the regulatory considerations that affect new entity formation.

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Formation Guide Topics

  • UAE mainland, ADGM and DIFC entity formation
  • BVI and Cayman company setup
  • UK company and LLP formation
  • Luxembourg and EU entity setup
  • Offshore registered agent selection
  • Documentation standards by jurisdiction
What We Cover

Topics & Content Areas

UAE Entity Formation

Step-by-step guides to forming entities in the UAE — ADGM SPCs, DIFC companies, Dubai mainland LLCs, Ajman Free Zone, RAKICC and other UAE jurisdictions — including licensing, visa requirements and banking considerations.

BVI & Cayman Formation

Practical guides to British Virgin Islands Business Companies (BVIBCs) and Cayman Islands exempted companies — structure types, registered agent requirements, substance obligations, economic substance registration and annual compliance.

UK Company & LLP Formation

Guides to forming UK limited companies, LLPs and other UK vehicles — Companies House registration, PSC register, confirmation statement obligations, registered office requirements and statutory compliance.

Luxembourg & EU Structures

Formation guides for Luxembourg SARLs, SAs, SCAs and SCSps — the EU holding and fund vehicle of choice — covering incorporation, notarial requirements, VAT registration and ongoing compliance obligations.

Registered Agent Selection

Guidance on selecting a registered agent for offshore entities — what to look for, questions to ask, red flags to avoid and the ongoing responsibilities of the registered agent relationship.

Document Standards by Jurisdiction

Reference guides to the documentation required for entity formation in each jurisdiction — identity documents, source of funds evidence, corporate structure charts, business plan requirements and notarisation or apostille requirements.

About This Section

How to Use These Resources

Company and entity formation guides are practical tools — they are most useful when they give you a clear picture of what to expect, what to prepare and what the common pitfalls are, before you engage formation agents or counsel.

Our guides are written from advisory practice — reflecting the questions we are asked repeatedly and the mistakes we see made repeatedly. They are not legal advice, but they will help you ask the right questions of those who provide it.

Jurisdictions Our Formation Guides Cover

  • UAE — ADGM, DIFC, Dubai mainland, RAKICC, Ajman Free Zone
  • British Virgin Islands — BVIBC and limited partnerships
  • Cayman Islands — exempted company, LLC, limited partnership
  • United Kingdom — private limited company, LLP, PLC
  • Luxembourg — SARL, SA, SCA, SCSp, SIF
  • Jersey & Guernsey — company, limited partnership, foundation

What Each Guide Covers

  • Entity types available in the jurisdiction
  • Step-by-step formation process
  • Documentation requirements and standards
  • Typical costs and timelines
  • Post-formation compliance obligations
  • Economic substance and reporting requirements

Common Formation Mistakes

  • Wrong entity type for the intended purpose
  • Formation without considering substance requirements
  • Documentation not apostilled or notarised where required
  • Banking not arranged before formation completes
  • Registered agent selected without due diligence
15+
Jurisdictions covered across formation guides
UAE
Primary hub — most detailed and updated guides
Step-by-step
Every guide includes a checklist format
Advisory
Available for structures requiring integrated design
Finding What You Need

How to Navigate

01

Choose Your Jurisdiction

Select the jurisdiction relevant to your formation — UAE, BVI, Cayman, UK, Luxembourg or other.

02

Follow the Setup Steps

Each guide walks through the formation process step by step — from name reservation through to post-incorporation compliance.

03

Prepare Your Documentation

Use the documentation checklists within each guide to prepare your filing pack before engaging registered agents or formation agents.

04

Engage Our Advisory Team

For formations that are part of a larger structural arrangement, engage our team to ensure the entity fits correctly within your holding architecture.

Common Questions

Frequently Asked

For simple, single-entity formations in straightforward jurisdictions, the guides provide sufficient information to work effectively with a registered agent or formation agent. For formations that are part of a multi-entity holding structure, we strongly recommend advisory input to ensure the entity is correctly positioned within the wider structure.
Regulated activities — financial services, fund management, professional services — require licensing in addition to entity formation. Our guides cover the formation process. For regulated activities, we advise on the licensing requirements as a separate step.
Formation requirements change — fees are updated, documentation standards evolve and new requirements are introduced. We update guides when material changes occur, and we always recommend verifying current requirements with local counsel or registered agents before filing.

Need More Than a Guide? Talk to Our Advisory Team.

For formations that are part of a broader holding structure or advisory mandate, our team designs the entity architecture before any filing is made.

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