Tim Dawson

Partner
D +1 345 914 6941C +1 345 525 6941E  download vCard PDF bio
“Tim Dawson acts as our right hand in all regulatory legal matters. He has the ability to work efficiently and effectively within our deadlines, which shows he grasps the level of urgency.” Chambers and Partners, 2025
“He provides prompt guidance on complex legal matters, always making himself readily available and responsive.” Chambers and Partners, 2025
“Tim is a lawyer who really understands his jurisdiction and responds quickly.” Chambers and Partners, 2025

Overview

Tim is a partner in our Corporate Department, based in the Cayman Islands office. He specialises in the provision of regulatory advice including Cayman Islands licensing, prudential and conduct of business requirements, reporting and information exchange obligations, among others.

He provides all aspects of regulatory and financial services advice, including in respect of Cayman Islands licensing, prudential and conduct of business requirements, reporting and information exchange obligations (including those deriving from FATCA and the Common Reporting Standard), and advice on duties of data protection and confidentiality, anti-money laundering and combating of terrorist finance and the Cayman Islands beneficial ownership regime.

Tim has been a member of both industry and Cayman Islands Government legal and regulatory working groups. He is fluent in Portuguese and Spanish.

Expertise

Work Highlights

In the Cayman Islands Tim has worked on multiple transactions involving changes in ownership of regulated entities and associated approvals from the Cayman Islands Monetary Authority.

He has particular experience advising on the licensing of banks and their continuing obligations, although he had advised clients across the full range of Cayman Islands regulated activities.

Tim was at the forefront of industry consultation and Government committees with respect to updates to AML legislation and guidance in the run up to and following the last CFATF mutual evaluation of the Cayman Islands in 2019.

Tim was part of the Ombudsman working group in the development of data protection regulations and guidance around the introduction of the Cayman Islands Data Protection Act.

He has also been on industry working groups consulting on the Cayman Island beneficial ownership regime.

Prior to moving to Cayman Tim’s practice in England as a financial institutions corporate lawyer had a particular focus on insurance and reinsurance matters, including white label general insurance distribution agreements and negotiating associated reinsurance arrangements, the establishment of a new general insurance underwriter for a supermarket group, buy-in pensions reinsurance arrangements, and the transfer of a with-profits annuity book.

Tim also had in-house secondments at Zurich Insurance, General Re and Prudential PLC.

Qualifications and Admissions

  • Admitted as an attorney-at-law in the Cayman Islands, 2011
  • Admitted as a solicitor of the Supreme Court of England and Wales (not practising), 2003
  • College of Law, UK, Legal Practitioners Course, 2001
  • College of Law, UK, Post Graduate Diploma in Law, 2000
  • St John’s College, University of Cambridge, UK, MA (Hons), Modern and Medieval Languages, 1999

Prior Career History

  • Maples Group, Cayman Islands
  • Mourant Ozannes, Cayman Islands
  • Freshfields, Bruckhaus Deringer LLP, London
  • Hogan Lovells LLP, London

Recognition and Awards

He is ranked by Chambers and Partners and the Lexology Index, recognised as a ‘Leading Partner’ by Legal 500, and listed as a Rising Star in IFLR1000.

Publications and News

News