STEP Cayman Islands Conference 2026

The STEP Cayman Islands Conference 2026 returns to Grand Cayman for two focused days on international trusts and estates, bringing private client lawyers, trustees, family office leaders, tax advisers, and wealth planners together in one of the world’s pre‑eminent offshore jurisdictions. Confirmed for January 22–23, 2026, at Hotel Indigo Grand Cayman on Seven Mile Beach, this year’s theme centers on “International trusts & estates: a global perspective,” with expert panels, case‑law updates, and high‑level networking designed for decision‑makers who advise cross‑border families and complex structures. Early‑bird registration is open, and seats are expected to move quickly as the industry gathers to compare notes on regulatory shifts, litigation risk, and next‑generation planning in an increasingly transparent world.​

Dates, venue, and who should attend

STEP Cayman 2026 runs Thursday–Friday, January 22–23, at the new Hotel Indigo Grand Cayman, an upscale Seven Mile Beach–corridor venue purpose‑built for meetings and social programming. The conference attracts a global mix of STEP members and non‑members—trust and estate lawyers, litigators, professional trustees, fiduciary risk leaders, accountants, tax specialists, investment advisers, and single‑ and multi‑family office executives—who want practical insights, case studies, and Cayman‑specific context to serve ultra‑high‑net‑worth families with assets across multiple jurisdictions.​

Agenda highlights and learning outcomes

The 2026 agenda, published on the official events portal, presents a concentrated program that balances technical depth with practical takeaways. Expect sessions across:​

• Global trust litigation trends: forum strategy, directions applications, information rights, indemnities, and cost risks across common‑law courts.​
• Cross‑border estate planning and tax: structuring for mobility, non‑domiciled clients, CFC/PFIC interactions, and transparency regimes.​
• Family governance: succession to control, family charters, protector roles, and trustee independence in founder‑driven dynasties.​
• Digital assets in trusts: custody, valuation, control mechanics, and directing powers when tokens and off‑exchange assets feature in family balance sheets.​
• Regulatory horizon: AML/CFT, sanctions risk, beneficial ownership developments, and the practical reality of information sharing for trustees and counsel.​

Panel formats mix leading Cayman practitioners with international experts to triangulate best practice and offer jurisdictional contrast you can apply as soon as you return to the office.​

Registration, pricing guidance, and key deadlines

Registration is live on the STEP events site. Early‑bird pricing is advertised across STEP Cayman’s social channels with a deadline of November 28 for discounted rates, after which standard fees apply; the registration page confirms final amounts at checkout. Historic STEP Cayman announcements list typical member vs non‑member tiers, with members receiving a discount, and past STEP Cayman seminars showing reference day‑rates in the US$150–$200 range for smaller events; the annual conference is a premium two‑day program priced higher accordingly. Booking early secures the lowest available rate and helps lock preferred networking add‑ons.​

What your pass includes:

• Two days of plenaries and panels
• Refreshment breaks and networking lunches
• Access to the conference app with delegate list (subject to permissions)
• Social receptions as listed in the final agenda

Optional extras (limited capacity) may include pre‑conference workshops or invite‑only roundtables announced via the events portal.​

Why Cayman—and why January

Cayman’s role as a top‑tier private client and funds jurisdiction makes it a natural hub for cross‑border trusts, reserved powers structures, STAR trusts, foundations, and bespoke family office frameworks. Running the event in January aligns with the regional financial calendar and gives international attendees peak airlift, excellent weather, and ready access to the Seven Mile Beach corridor for efficient networking outside the ballroom. STEP Cayman’s local branch—established in 1997 and now a broad, multidisciplinary community—curates a program that reflects both Cayman case law and comparative views from other leading courts.​

Travel logistics and where to stay

• Fly: Owen Roberts International Airport (GCM) has frequent connections to Miami, Atlanta, Charlotte, New York, Toronto, and London. Book flights to arrive by Wednesday evening to make Thursday’s opening session relaxed.
• Stay: Hotel Indigo is the host venue; nearby business‑friendly properties on Seven Mile Beach also offer easy transfers to the conference. Locale and other corridor hotels list proximity to major conferences, noting STEP Cayman 2026 at Hotel Indigo on Jan 22–23. Book early due to concurrent events.​
• Move: Taxis and hotel shuttles are straightforward on the corridor; rental cars are useful if you plan client dinners around West Bay or South Sound.

Networking that moves the needle

STEP Cayman is renowned for curated networking. The two‑day format maximizes face‑time: breaks spaced for real conversations, hosted lunches, and evening receptions that bring together on‑island practitioners with visiting counsel and family office leaders. Many firms organize satellite breakfasts or private dinners; confirm your availability early and use the conference app to coordinate. The result is a dense two days where panels inform and the hallways secure the follow‑up calls that matter.​

Practical tips for getting the most value

• Build your agenda: Identify your “can’t miss” sessions—litigation update, regulatory horizon, digital assets—then fill gaps with topics where you want to broaden perspective.​
• Schedule meetings now: Reach out to Cayman counsel and administrators ahead of time to lock coffee slots during breaks; strong calendars beat hallway roulette.
• Bring a viewpoint: Panel Q&A favors delegates who come prepared with specific, practice‑grounded questions; it is the fastest way to leave with actionable answers.
• Document and share: Take session notes and circulate a two‑page memo to your team the following week; STEP conferences pay dividends when the learning scales.

Extend your stay: island time well spent

If your schedule allows, add a weekend day. Seven Mile Beach is ideal for early‑morning swims or sunset walks; Stingray City is a quick boat ride in North Sound if you have half a day. For dinners, look to West Bay or Camana Bay for client‑friendly dining and quieter tables after the conference rush. A morning coffee on the Camana Bay Paseo, followed by a seaside lunch, resets the mind before the flight home.

The 2026 takeaways to expect

• Clearer playbooks for trustee decision‑making in contentious environments
• Updated structuring guidance for globally mobile families balancing tax exposure and control
• Practical frameworks for integrating digital assets into fiduciary mandates
• A grounded view of information exchange and AML realities that trustees face now
• An expanded Cayman vs “elsewhere” lens to help you advise across borders

In short, STEP Cayman 2026 is built to help you return with sharper risk radars, fresher structuring tools, and new relationships you can activate immediately.

Ready to be in the room where private client strategy is being written for the year ahead? Reserve your place, book your Seven Mile Beach stay, and set meetings now so January’s two days in Cayman deliver a year’s worth of value.

Verified Information at a Glance

• Event: STEP Cayman Islands Conference 2026 (International trusts & estates: a global perspective)​
• Dates: January 22–23, 2026 (Thursday–Friday)​
• Venue: Hotel Indigo Grand Cayman (Seven Mile Beach corridor)​
• Organiser: STEP Cayman Islands (local branch of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners)​
• Registration: Open now on the STEP Events portal; Early‑bird ends November 28​
• Who attends: Private client lawyers, trustees, family offices, tax advisers, fiduciary risk and litigation counsel​
• Agenda themes: Litigation updates, cross‑border tax/estate planning, governance, digital assets, regulatory horizon​
• Travel note: Conference listed at Hotel Indigo Jan 22–23; corridor hotels highlight proximity and dates​