About Cook Islands Trust Corporation

Cook Islands Trust Corporation Ltd (CIT) was licensed as a trustee company in the Cook Islands in 1988. Formerly owned by one of the largest and most reputable banks in Australasia, in 1998 CIT was bought by the partners of an established legal firm who have specialised in international trust services since 1984.

CIT is regulated by the Cook Islands Financial Supervisory Commission (www.fsc.gov.ck) pursuant to the Trustee Companies Act 1981.

CIT has continued to specialise in asset protection utilising the unique and extensive experience of its directors in this area, while also providing more traditional offshore services to its international clientele.

Corporate Policy

At CIT our objective is to provide trustee services to the highest standard expected by the lawyers and other professionals who entrust their client’s affairs to us. Professional integrity, probity and honesty, experience and an established track record are the cornerstones of our company.

Directors & Management Team

CIT ‘s directors have nearly 60 years combined experience as Barristers in the Cook Islands and New Zealand courts. All CIT professional staff are New Zealand qualified lawyers and accountants who have worked in both New Zealand and the Cook Islands.

Antony Will (BCOM, LLB)

Antony Will graduated in law and commerce at the University of Canterbury in Christchurch, New Zealand in 1996 and was subsequently admitted as a Barrister and Solicitor of the High Court of New Zealand. Antony spent 3 years in London working for two major investment banks. In 2000 he returned to New Zealand before commencing work as legal counsel for CIT. Antony is involved in all aspects of client services including the administration of client entities, litigation management and the development of new financial products and legal structures. As the Managing Director of CIT, Antony has overall responsibility for the day to day running of the Company and Client affairs.

Justin Rous (CA)

Justin Rous is CIT’s financial controller and is a New Zealand qualified Chartered Accountant. Justin has been a member of the New Zealand Institute of Chartered Accountants for over 10 years, and has over 16 years accounting experience across a variety of industries both in New Zealand and the United Kingdom. Justin is responsible for managing our accounting team, all internal and management accounts and more specifically for preparing and overseeing all client accounting requirements.

Reuben Tylor (BA, LLB)

Reuben Tylor graduated in law at the University of Auckland, New Zealand in 1973, and became a partner in a law firm in 1975. He played a significant part in setting up the Cook Islands offshore centre in 1982 and in 1989 pioneered and developed the asset protection legislation for which the Cook Islands is the dominant international jurisdiction. As a director of CIT, and a special legal consultant, Reuben is responsible for the design and development of sophisticated structures for high net worth clients, as well as forward planning for the company.

Iaveta Short OBE (LLB)

Iaveta Short graduated in law at the University of Auckland, New Zealand in 1968. Iaveta joined a major law firm in New Zealand in 1969, and went on to establish the first private law firm in the Cook Islands. He has had a distinguished international career as a lawyer, Cabinet Minister, and foreign diplomat, and was awarded an OBE from Her Majesty the Queen in 1998. Iaveta has been involved in various aspects of the offshore industry since 1981.

Samyak Veera

Samyak Veera graduated from Harvard College, Harvard University summa cum laude with a degree in applied mathematics. Samyak went on to become a successful entrepreneur with significant experience in financial markets. This experience includes a number of years working for Goldman Sachs, and Morgan Stanley in New York, followed by years operating private boutique investment firms in the United States. Now based in Singapore, Samyak has been a director of CIT since April 2009 and brings a significant diversity of expertise to the Company.