Directors Duties Under Gibraltar Law: Guidance, Liabilities and Expert Support

Company directors in Gibraltar hold a position of significant responsibility and legal accountability governed primarily by the Companies Act 2014 and robust common law principles. Understanding the full range of directors’ duties, liabilities and the specific obligations for regulated entities is vital for effective governance and risk management in any Gibraltar company.

General Duties of Directors

Directors in Gibraltar are subject to statutory duties under the Companies Act 2014 and overarching common law fiduciary obligations.

Key statutory duties include:

• Ensuring all statutory filings are made such as returns of allotment, annual financial statements and tax returns, audited accounts where required and maintaining a register of beneficial owners.

• Administrative compliance including the upkeep of statutory registers, shareholder records and statutory books.

Common law duties focus on:

• Acting in accordance with the company’s constitution, namely its articles and memorandum of association.

• Promoting the company’s success for the benefit of its members and long term viability.

• Exercising independent judgment, reasonable care, skill and diligence.

• Avoiding conflicts of interest and declaring personal interests in transactions.

Directors must remain actively engaged and carefully interrogate company activities and decisions. Their role goes far beyond passive oversight. Failures to adhere to these duties can lead to significant civil, regulatory or even criminal liability.

Director Liabilities

Directors who breach their statutory or fiduciary obligations may face both civil claims and in serious cases criminal penalties. Individual liability may arise from default, negligence, breach of duty or breach of trust. Gibraltar law permits companies to acquire insurance for directors to mitigate personal liability but does not generally allow exemptions or indemnities for liability arising from serious breaches. Directors who trade while insolvent may risk personal financial and criminal repercussions. The law permits directors to be disqualified or removed from office in cases of serious misconduct, though Gibraltar does not have a formal statutory directors’ disqualification regime like the UK. Sanctions and bans are instead imposed under regulatory laws.

Additional Duties for Regulated Entities

Directors of regulated businesses face heightened compliance expectations, particularly in financial services, insurance and funds sectors. The Financial Services Act 2019 requires regulatory approval for directors and subjects them to the “fit and proper test”. Directors must determine whether material transactions require notification or approval by the Gibraltar Financial Services Commission. Obligations extend to maintaining compliance with anti money laundering standards, international best practices and sectoral regulations. Directors of funds and other regulated entities also face elevated expectations around ongoing professional development, competency and transparency in decision making.

Differences Compared to the UK Position

While directors’ duties in Gibraltar closely follow English common law tradition there are notable distinctions:

• Duties in Gibraltar are derived from common law and equitable principles and are not directly codified in the Companies Act 2014, whereas the UK Companies Act 2006 sets out a comprehensive statutory code.

• Gibraltar does not have a dedicated statutory directors’ disqualification regime but relies on regulatory actions for sanctions, bans and removal of directors in regulated sectors.

• UK directors face stricter statutory requirements on service contracts, remuneration policies and certain governance matters for listed companies. Gibraltar companies have more flexibility in structuring remuneration but must adhere to EU listed companies’ regulations where applicable.

How Hassans Can Assist

Hassans’ broad expertise enables directors and boards to navigate the complex landscape of Gibraltar company law, regulatory compliance and best governance practices. We can assist in:

• Advising on directors’ duties, risk management and liability mitigation across unregulated and regulated entities.

• Drafting and reviewing constitutional documents, service agreements, remuneration policies, board minutes and compliance frameworks.

• Providing bespoke training, guidance and ongoing support for directors and company secretaries.

• Assisting with regulatory notifications, Gibraltar Financial Services Commission approval requirements and representation in disputes or enforcement actions.

We support directors in upholding best practices, ensuring robust governance and protecting their interests as well as the company’s reputation whether for local enterprises, cross border structures or listed entities seeking to optimise operations in Gibraltar’s dynamic environment. Our commitment is to deliver clarity, practical expertise and tailored advisory services to match the evolving regulatory requirements and strategic business needs in Gibraltar. 

Please contact me on matthew.torres@hassans.gi for expert support.