Family investment companies are increasingly part of the conversation around succession and control, but they are not a substitute for trusts or foundations. This article sets out how FICs work, where governance matters most and where Gibraltar may fit in a wider cross-border structuring discussion.

The Acquarius team recently attended an industry briefing hosted by ISOLAS, exploring the evolving relationship between artificial intelligence, data protection and the EU AI Act.

The Acquarius team recently attended an industry briefing and roundtable hosted jointly by the Gibraltar Association of New Technologies (GANT) and the Gibraltar Funds & Investments Association (GFIA), focused on the future of fund tokenisation in Gibraltar.‍

Gibraltar has confirmed changes to Category 2 status, raising the application fee to £5,000 and the minimum net wealth threshold to £5 million, alongside a tightened Residence Criteria framework for employment-based applications. Advisers with clients considering relocation, via Category 2 or otherwise, should revisit current guidance in light of both changes.

Acquarius has been accredited as a STEP Employer Partner, recognising the firm’s commitment to professional learning, development and high standards across its fiduciary and corporate services practice. The accreditation reflects Acquarius’ continued investment in its people, supporting the judgement, knowledge and continuity that clients and advisers rely on.

Cross-border structures are complex to operate over time, particularly when governance, decision-making and administration span multiple jurisdictions. Acquarius supports advisers by focusing on the Gibraltar component of wider structures, coordinating closely with lead legal and tax teams, and maintaining disciplined governance in practice. The goal is long-term credibility and smooth collaboration, not short-term establishment.

The choice between a Gibraltar Private Fund and an Experienced Investor Fund (EIF) is rarely about speed. It is about governance, reporting discipline and how the structure will operate in practice. EIFs assume regulated oversight and formal accountability. Private Funds rely on adviser-led discipline to remain credible over time.

In regulated corporate environments, AI is not just a productivity tool-it is a governance question. The organisations getting value without creating new risk are building human judgement, safe prompting, documentation and escalation into AI-assisted workflows. That is how AI becomes a reliable, auditable extension of the team.

The UK-EU treaty governing Gibraltar's relationship with the Schengen area takes effect on 15 July 2026. Physical border controls will be removed and Gibraltar's profile as a jurisdiction will change materially. For advisers with international clients, understanding what the treaty does and does not affect is a practical priority.