AG’s Remarks - Law Reform Commission at 20 years
Twenty years ago, in May 2005, we established the Law Reform Commission because I felt the Cayman Islands needed a dedicated, independent body to keep our laws in step with a rapidly changing society and economy.
The premise was simple but vital: if the world is evolving, so must our statute books. Today, we mark two decades of that mission. Two decades in which the Commission has matured into a strong, credible, and thoughtful institution at the centre of principled, researched-based reform.
I am pleased with the Commission’s work, indeed, proud of it. You have been instrumental in reshaping our legal landscape across multiple projects, marrying rigorous comparative research with deep local consultation.
Let me single out one example that illustrates both your method and your impact: the Final Report on litigation funding concerning conditional and contingency fee arrangements. That work informed the development of the Private Funding of Legal Services legislation, enacted in 2020, and the accompanying regulations in 2021.
The resulting measures have expanded access to justice while safeguarding standards and transparency. This is law reform at its best: thoughtful analysis, careful balancing of competing interests and a practical framework that works for Cayman.
I look forward to the Administrative Appeals Tribunal legislation progressing successfully through Parliament. It promises a clearer, more efficient route for individuals and businesses to challenge administrative decisions. This is reform that speaks directly to fairness, accountability and trust in public administration.
Another priority is the package of amendments to the Registered Land Act to address the issue of foreclosures, which has been approved by Cabinet and is moving forward.
Beyond these headline items, the Commission has advanced important work on Usury, Penal Code reform, Adverse Possession, and the Settled Land Act, among others. I intend to review those Final Reports with a view to placing them before Cabinet.
I want to acknowledge the ongoing work on consumer protection. This is complex terrain, not least because different sectors may have their own regulators and redress mechanisms.
My own view, offered with respect for the Commission’s independence, is that Cayman would benefit from a bespoke, Cayman-customised framework and a single, accessible point of contact for consumers. That said, I trust the Commission to weigh the evidence, test the options through consultation, and bring forward final recommendations that balance protection, competition, and proportionality.
Looking ahead, we must also recognise the scale of change now being driven by technology and artificial intelligence. The questions are far-reaching and involve data governance and privacy, algorithmic decision-making, the use of AI in legal services and the integrity of public decision-making.
The Commission has a critical role not merely in responding to these developments, but in anticipating them so that Cayman’s legal infrastructure remains trusted, open for business and protective of fundamental rights.
The foundations laid over the last 20 years, independence, rigorous analysis, and meaningful consultation equip you to meet that challenge.
I know I will not be serving as Attorney General for the next twenty years, but I am confident that the groundwork we have laid together positions the Commission and the jurisdiction to thrive.
Our task is to focus on the core purpose set in 2005. That is, to ensure Cayman’s laws keep pace with the world around us, and to do so in a way that reflects our values, our economy and our people.
Let me close with thanks to the Chair and Commissioners and so too the past chairs and members for your service and judgement. Thanks also to the Director and his Legal Team for turning ideas into deliverables. Law reform is a team effort, and Cayman is stronger for it.
Congratulations on your twentieth anniversary.
Samuel Bulgin, KC, JP
Attorney General
