A boutique for the modern global founder.

Iverex Global was born from an empirical observation: the international advisory market for founders is polarised between commodity offerings (online services at £199, introducers selling pre-packaged kits) and Big Four firms that only handle corporate clients with €50k+ annual fees. In the middle, there is a missing advisory boutique that offers institutional rigour, partner-led access and costs proportionate to individual entrepreneurs, compact family offices and scaling startups.

Our philosophy rests on three pillars:

• Dedicated senior partners: every client works directly with an Iverex partner, never with juniors or offshore teams. The partner signs every advice, participates in board calls and is personally responsible for deliverables.
• Data-room confidentiality: we use encrypted data rooms (Tresorit, zero-knowledge), PGP communications on request, binding NDAs before any discovery. We do not publish nominative case studies without the client's written consent.
• Zero commodity: we do not sell pre-packaged solutions. Every structure is custom-designed after two in-depth discovery sessions: tax analysis of the founder (residence, CFC, exit tax), operational flows, scaling ambitions, regulatory risk appetite.

This approach entails explicit trade-offs: we do not accept every mandate. If a founder is only looking for a nominee director at £500 or an LLP "ready in 48h", we direct them elsewhere. If instead they seek a partner who will analyse UK CFC rules, structure a dual UAE-UK holding with real substance, negotiate the opening of a Mercury or Revolut Business account and coordinate an Italian tax lawyer for the exit tax procedure, then Iverex is the right partner.

Why boutique and not Big Four? The Big Four excel in compliance audits, intra-group transfer pricing and corporate M&A. But for a founder with €2-5M turnover, they often over-dimension the service (6-person team, 40-page monthly reports, €30k/year fees) or under-dimension attention (junior partners, 72-hour response times, generic templates). A boutique offers the direct partner-client relationship of small firms with the cross-border expertise of institutional firms, without the structural costs of the latter nor the improvisation of the former.

Our methodology is structured in four sequential phases, always led by a senior partner:

1. Discovery & Tax Mapping (Week 1-2)

First session: 90 minutes via encrypted call. We map:

• Current and historical tax residence of the founder (last 5 years).
• Any US person status (citizenship, green card, substantial presence test) or UK tax residence (statutory residence test, split-year treatment).
• Existing corporate structure: Italian holdings, foreign holdings, direct shareholdings.
• Operational flows: B2B/B2C invoicing, payment processors, current banks.
• Objectives: Italy exit tax, residence transfer, licensing (EMI, VASP, MiFID), group tax optimisation.

Second session: 60 minutes. We present three structural scenarios with tax, regulatory and banking pros/cons. Real example: Italian founder moving to Dubai who wants to invoice from UAE.

• Scenario A: UAE Freezone + Italy exit tax → 0% UAE corporate, but CFC risk in Italy if ties not severed.
• Scenario B: Transparent UK LLP + Dubai residence → no UK CFC, but complexity in account opening and VAT.
• Scenario C: Dubai Freezone + UK Ltd substance → 19% UK corporate, but mainstream banking access and EU client credibility.

The client chooses. We document in an 8-12 page Advisory Memo: chosen structure, legal roadmap, tax, banking, timeline, fee breakdown.

2. Execution & Company Formation (Week 3-6)

The Iverex partner coordinates the professional ecosystem:

• Company formation agent (UK: Companies House; UAE: DMCC, ADGM, DIFC; US: Delaware LLC/C-corp).
• Italian tax lawyer (exit tax, CFC ruling request, RW form completion).
• Local lawyer (UAE: MOHRE labour contract; UK: VAT registration, PAYE if hiring).
• Banking introduction: we write the cover letter for Mercury, Wise Business, Revolut, Barclays, HSBC Expat. We do not guarantee approval (the bank decides), but we present the dossier with financials, business plan, source of funds.

3. Compliance Setup (Week 7-8)

Once the company and account are opened:

• Real substance: if UK Ltd, we configure Xero with UK accountant, virtual office with mail forwarding, UK resident director if necessary to avoid CFC.
• Licensing: if required (e.g. VASP for crypto, Small EMI for payments), we prepare application pack (AML manual, compliance officer, capital proof).
• Tax residency certificate: requested from local government to benefit from double taxation treaties.

4. Ongoing Advisory (Year 1+)

The partner remains available for:

• Intra-group transfer pricing (if flows are created IT Srl → UAE Freezone → UK Ltd).
• Regulatory updates: e.g. UK Economic Crime Act 2023, UAE 9% Corporate Tax from 2023, EU DAC6 reporting.
• Re-domiciliation or spin-off: if the founder scales and needs a Jersey holding or Delaware C-corp for venture capital.

Transparency on limitations: we do not manage ordinary accounting (we have accountant partners), we do not provide M&A advisory on deals >€10M (we direct to mid-market firms), we do not handle tax litigation (we have litigation partners). Our perimeter is strategic advisory, formation, licensing, banking.

Confidentiality is a non-negotiable requirement for founders managing sensitive IP, confidential exit strategies or significant wealth. Iverex implements military-grade protocols:

• Encrypted data room: every client has a Tresorit folder (end-to-end encryption, zero-knowledge, GDPR-compliant). Documents, passports, financials, bank statements are accessible only to the assigned partner and the client. No public cloud (Dropbox, Google Drive).
• Encrypted communications: PGP email on request, Signal/Telegram for operational updates, never WhatsApp for sensitive documents.
• Binding NDA: signed before the first call. Covers verbal information too (no prior disclosure obligation).
• No public case studies: we do not publish names, revenues, jurisdictions without written consent. Aggregated case studies on this site use anonymised data ("EU SaaS founder, €3M ARR" instead of "Mario Rossi, Acme SRL").

But confidentiality does not mean isolation. The value of an advisory boutique is the curated professional ecosystem:

Selected network of specialists

Iverex does not do everything in-house (it would be impossible to cover 42 jurisdictions with local expertise). We collaborate with:

• Italian tax lawyers (10+ years, focus on exit tax, CFC, voluntary disclosure): we write the ruling request to the Revenue Agency together, they sign as registered professionals.
• Regulated company formation agents: UK (Companies House approved), UAE (DMCC/ADGM registered agents), US (Delaware registered agents), Singapore (ACRA filing agents). Never introducers or resellers: only direct agents.
• Partner banks (non-exclusive): warm intro relationships with Mercury (US), Revolut Business (UK/EU), Wise Business, HSBC Expat, Barclays International, Emirates NBD (UAE). We are not tied agents: we present the client, the bank evaluates.
• Institutional trustees: for Jersey, Guernsey, Nevis trusts we work with regulated trustees (JFSC, GFSC licence), never with convenience nominees.
• Freelance compliance officers: for VASP, EMI, MiFID licences we provide certified MLRO (Money Laundering Reporting Officer) and compliance officers, who draft the AML/KYC manual for the application.

The Iverex partner orchestrates these specialists, ensuring coherence. Example: for a UK LLP with Dubai-resident founder:

1. Italian tax lawyer: exit tax + UAE residence certificate.
2. UK agent: LLP formation on Companies House.
3. UK accountant: Xero setup, first VAT return.
4. Bank: Barclays introduction with dossier compiled by Iverex.
5. Iverex partner: supervises milestones, resolves conflicts (e.g. bank requests extra document, tax lawyer must produce in 48h).

Trade-off: this ecosystem has a cost. A DIY UK LLP on Stripe Atlas costs £500. Our fee for UK LLP + exit tax + banking + VAT is £4,500-6,500 (excl. Italian legal fees). The client pays the difference to reduce the risk of error (poorly filed exit tax → Revenue Agency challenge; account refused → months of operational blockage; unresolved CFC → 43% Italian taxation).

Iverex covers 42 jurisdictions, but not with the same depth. We have three levels of specialisation:

Tier 1: Core jurisdictions (complete advisory)

• UAE (Dubai DMCC, ADGM, DIFC, Abu Dhabi): freezone company formation, golden visa residence, 9% corporate tax, real substance, licensing (VARA crypto, DFSA financial services). We manage 40+ active UAE clients, know every freezone authority, have direct relationships with MOHRE (labour), RERA (real estate), local banks (Emirates NBD, ENBD).
• UK (England & Wales): Ltd, LLP, LP, branch. Advanced expertise in CFC rules (TIOPA 2010), transfer pricing, VAT, R&D tax credits, EMI share options, Seed EIS, SEIS. We cooperate with UK Big Four accountants for clients scaling >£5M revenue.
• US (Delaware, Wyoming): LLC, C-corp, S-corp. Focus on non-US founders selling to US clients or raising venture capital. We handle 83(b) election, QSBS exemption, Subpart F, GILTI for controlled foreign corporations. Relationships with Stripe Atlas, Mercury, SVB (pre-2023 crisis).
• Italy: exit tax (art. 166 TUIR), CFC (art. 167), esterovestizione, voluntary disclosure, Revenue Agency rulings, opaque/transparent trusts. We cooperate with 4 Italian tax firms (Milan, Rome, Bologna) for national coverage.

Tier 2: Regular jurisdictions (formation + banking)

• Singapore: Pte Ltd, ACRA filing, accounting/audit, EP visa. We introduce to banks (DBS, OCBC) and accountants.
• Hong Kong: Ltd, HKMA banking, MPF (pension), employment visa.
• Estonia: e-Residency, OÜ, Stripe Atlas alternative. Useful for EU founders wanting to invoice in euros without relocating.
• Canada (Ontario, BC): Corp, banking, startup visa.
• Channel Islands (Jersey, Guernsey): Ltd, LP, trust, private trust company. Focus on family offices and asset protection.
• BVI, Cayman, Nevis, Panama: classic offshore, always with economic substance (BEPS Action 5) and beneficiary register (FATF compliance).

Tier 3: Occasional jurisdictions (network)

For rare jurisdictions (Seychelles, Mauritius, Labuan, Andorra, Portugal NHR) we collaborate with local counsel. We do not sell if we lack direct expertise: we prefer to say "this is not our strength, we'll direct you to X" rather than improvise.

Vertical industry specialisations

Beyond jurisdictions, we have vertical expertise in:

• Crypto/Web3: VASP licensing (UAE VARA, Gibraltar, Liechtenstein), substance for exchanges, AML/KYC for DeFi protocols, tax treatment of airdrops/staking/NFTs in IT/UK/US.
• SaaS/Tech: UK R&D tax credits, US QSBS exemption, Italy/UK Patent Box, IP holding in low-tax jurisdictions (NL, IE, CH).
• E-commerce: EU VAT OSS (One-Stop-Shop), UK VAT, dropshipping substance issues, Stripe/PayPal reserve releases.
• Consulting/Services: UK personal service company (IR35), LLP transparency, UAE freezone for freelancers.
• Real estate: UK SDLT, trusts for property, UAE property holding (RERA), REIT structure.

Honesty about gaps: we do not do M&A >€10M (requires mid-market firm), we do not handle litigation (requires litigation boutique), we do not do pure immigration (requires immigration lawyer). If a client needs these services, we direct them to external partners and remain as tax/corporate coordinator.

The compliance-first label is not marketing: it is an operational choice that permeates every advice. It means three concrete things:

1. Every structure withstands banking and tax scrutiny

Before proposing a jurisdiction or structure, we ask ourselves:

• Will the bank open the account? A UAE Freezone without real substance is rejected by Barclays, HSBC, Revolut. So we set up lease agreement (office), Ejari (registered contract), MOHRE labour contract (employee), utility bill. Cost: ~AED 15k/year. The client knows upfront.
• Will the Revenue Agency challenge it? If a founder moves to Dubai but keeps spouse and children in Italy, the exit tax is at risk (centre of interests in Italy). We tell them. If they want to proceed, we ask them to bring the family too or accept the risk of an assessment.
• Is the jurisdiction on FATF grey-list or EU blacklist? If yes, we avoid it or impose reinforced substance. Example: Panama after the Papers scandal is high reputational risk. We use it only if the client has real business (logistics, shipping) and accepts extended banking due diligence.

2. Transparency on CFC rules, BEPS, ATAD

CFC rules (Controlled Foreign Corporation) are the main trap for Italian founders opening foreign companies. In summary:

• If you own >50% of a foreign company taxed at <50% of Italian rate (so <12% effective tax), and that company has passive income (royalties, dividends, capital gains), Italy can tax those incomes as if they were your personal income (43% IRPEF).
• Exceptions: if the foreign company has real substance (office, employees, actual commercial activity) and incomes are active (sale of goods/services), CFC does not trigger.

Iverex designs every structure to fall within the exception:

• UAE Freezone: lease + Ejari + MOHRE labour contract + active B2B invoicing → CFC not applicable.
• UK Ltd: UK-resident director, serviced office, UK accountant, board minutes in UK → UK substance → CFC not applicable.
• US LLC disregarded entity: if the founder is not a US person, the LLC is transparent → no CFC (because it is not a controlled foreign corporation).

But if a founder wants a BVI company that only collects dividends from an Italian holding, we advise against it: it would be pure CFC, taxed in Italy at 43%.

3. Defensible documentation in audit

Every Iverex structure generates a defensible audit trail:

• Advisory memo with structure rationale, CFC analysis, reference to tax treaties.
• Substance checklist: office lease, utility bill, foreign company bank statement, employee payroll, board minutes.
• Tax residency certificate from the foreign jurisdiction.
• Italy exit tax filing with tax lawyer attestation.

If in 3 years the Revenue Agency challenges, the client has a 50+ page dossier demonstrating: "The structure was designed with real substance, I followed professional advice, I paid the taxes due".

Common objection: "But competitors offer UAE Freezone at €3k all-in, you ask €8k. Why?" Answer: competitors sell the kit (freezone licence + bank intro). We sell substance + Italian tax advisory. The €3k kit gets refused by the bank or challenged by the Revenue Agency. Our €8k includes lease, labour contract, banking cover letter, CFC memo, Italian tax lawyer coordination. The client pays €5k more to reduce the risk of losing €50k in a tax assessment.

If the client only wants the kit, we direct them to the competitor. If they want to sleep soundly, they work with us.

A serious advisory boutique must also state what it does not do. Iverex refuses mandates that fall outside our perimeter or present red flags. Here are the cases where we say "no" or direct elsewhere:

Out-of-scope mandates

• Ordinary accounting: we do not manage monthly bookkeeping, electronic invoicing, payroll. We have accountant partners (UK: Xero certified; IT: Zucchetti software; US: Quickbooks certified). The client can choose our partner or bring their own.
• Annual compliance audit: we do not do statutory audits for companies >£10M revenue. The Big Four do that. We can be the tax interlocutor explaining the structure to auditors.
• Corporate M&A >€10M: due diligence on large deals requires 10+ person teams. Mid-market firms do that (Grant Thornton, BDO, RSM). We can do post-deal integration (holding structure, earn-out tax treatment).
• Litigation and tax disputes: if the Revenue Agency has already issued an assessment notice, a pure tax litigation firm is needed. We can be expert witnesses explaining the international structure, but we do not replace the tax litigation lawyer.
• Pure immigration: we do not manage family reunion visas, naturalisation, asylum. We only handle business-related immigration (UAE golden visa, UK innovator visa, US E-2 treaty investor). For the rest, we direct to immigration lawyers.

Red flags: when we refuse the mandate

Iverex is a reputational boutique. We refuse clients if:

• Dubious source of funds: if the client cannot document lawful origin of capital (company sale, inheritance, dividends), we do not accept them. The bank would refuse, and we do not want to be complicit in money laundering.
• Explicit tax evasion: if the client says "I want to hide income from the Revenue Agency", we end the call. We do tax optimisation (using legal regimes to reduce burden), not evasion (hiding income).
• Abusive nominee: if the client wants a company with nominee director/shareholder to hide the ultimate beneficial owner (UBO), we say no. FATF rules, UK PSC register, UAE UBO register mandate disclosure. We can use nominees for legitimate privacy (e.g. Nevis trust for asset protection), but never for concealment.
• Insufficient client fit: if a founder invoices €50k/year and wants a Jersey holding + Guernsey trust + UK Ltd, we tell them it is over-dimensioned. Advisory fee + annual maintenance would be €15k, 30% of turnover. We advise against it.

When we direct elsewhere

If the client needs:

• Fast commodity package (UK Ltd in 48h, zero advisory): Stripe Atlas, Wise, Finom. Excellent for MVP, not for scaling.
• Big Four for complex corporate: if the company invoices >€50M, has intra-group transfer pricing in 10 countries, KPMG/PwC/EY/Deloitte is needed.
• Family immigration: specialist immigration firm.
• Wealth management: private bank (UBS, Julius Baer) or multi-family office.
• Pure M&A legal: M&A law firm (Clifford Chance, Linklaters for deals >€50M; mid-market boutique for €5-50M).

We direct and, if the client wishes, remain as tax/corporate coordinator in the broader team.

The ideal Iverex client

Profile:

• Turnover €500k-10M (below €500k advisory fee is disproportionate; above €10M mid-market firm is needed).
• International ambition: wants to sell in EU/US/Asia, hire remotely, raise capital.
• Risk-aware: understands that the cheapest structure is not always the best. Prefers to pay €8k for a UAE Freezone with substance than €3k for a contestable shell.
• Long-term mindset: seeks a partner for 3-5 years, not a spot supplier.
• Privacy-conscious: wants confidentiality but not concealment.

If you recognise yourself, book a 30-minute discovery call (free, no commitment). If you do not, we will direct you to the right partner. We prefer to lose a prospect than accept a client who will later be dissatisfied or exposed to risk.