International Financial Centres Forum

International Financial Centres Forum (IFCF) was launched in London in December 2009, with the stated aim to "provide authoritative and balanced information to contribute to the public conversation on the role of IFCs in the global economy."

"The founding members of the IFC Forum are the primary law firms in several of the leading small international financial centres. Member firms include representatives from Appleby, Conyers Dill and Pearman, Mourant Ozannes, Ogier and Walkers, advised by Stikeman Elliott, LLP. Members also include: Maples and Calder, Old Mutual, and Rawlinson & Hunter.

Lobbying activity

In January 2011 IFCF issued a briefing statement on the tax avoidance debate. It begins:

"The recent demonstrations by organisations such as UK Uncut have brought the debate over tax avoidance back into the public arena, as has the publication of Treasure Islands by Nicholas Shaxson. The issues raised are not new, but the tone of the rhetoric - spurred on by public anger over banking bonuses and spending cuts – has reached new heights.

"The IFC Forum is concerned at the unbalanced nature of the debate. Well-informed public discussion is critical to sound policymaking, which should be based on economic fundamentals. The current public conversation requires a better understanding of why and how the rise of offshore finance has benefited the global economy.

However, it states that "true levels of tax avoidance and evasion in most offshore IFCs are far lower than what is asserted by detractors", citing "independent studies such as “Tax evasion, tax avoidance and tax expenditures” from the University of Oxford (Oxford University Centre for Business Taxation).

Contact

Cicero Consulting (Mark Twigg) act as IFCF's Secretariat.