Hashtag: #ChrisGarrodColumns

Column: The Fintech Flexibility Of Bermuda

Column: The Fintech Flexibility Of Bermuda

[Opinion column written by Chris Garrod] After less than two years, the island’s core digital asset laws are being amended. Bermuda’s new Digital Asset Issuance Act 2020, which became effective on May 6th, 2020, comes soon after the introduction in 2018 of two fundamental pieces of Fintech legislation. First, we had what is commonly called Bermuda’s... Read more of this article

Column: Working To Build A Digital Economy

Column: Working To Build A Digital Economy

[Opinion column written by Chris Garrod] How easy is it to build a digital economy? Bermuda has worked to be a major player in a Fintech revolution. Is it? Fintech and Bermuda. I’m sure you have all read many articles over the last few years and seen much press regarding the rise of Fintech vehicles forming on the Island. They haven’t formed at... Read more of this article

Column: Credit Cards, Fintech & Job Losses

Column: Credit Cards, Fintech & Job Losses

[Opinion column written by Chris Garrod] “Do You Take Credit Cards?” When did you last hear someone say that? If I had to guess, for most people, perhaps 2 or 3 years ago. Perhaps at a cafe, in a taxi? But it is unbelievably rare now. Bermuda’s oldest bank, The Bank of N.T. Butterfield & Son Limited, announced two weeks ago that it had to... Read more of this article

Column: Looking At Island’s Digital Asset Plans

Column: Looking At Island’s Digital Asset Plans

[Opinion column written by Chris Garrod] A look into how a 21 sq mile island opened its door to digital asset business It’s called The Digital Asset Business Act 2018, which doesn’t really sound that interesting, I suppose. But, yes, it is. The Act introduced the concept of digital asset businesses setting up and being regulated in Bermuda. Creating... Read more of this article

Column: Crypto Banks & Digital Transformation

Column: Crypto Banks & Digital Transformation

[Opinion column written by Chris Garrod] Bermuda’s Banks and Deposit Companies Act was amended in August 2018. While the amendment legislation is less than three pages long, the amendments should be far-reaching. Its provisions permit the creation and/or licensing of a new category of Bermuda bank to be regulated by the Island’s primary regulator,... Read more of this article

Column: Looking Forward At Fintech In 2019

Column: Looking Forward At Fintech In 2019

[Opinion column written by Chris Garrod] In 2018, the Bermuda Government had a very busy year passing Fintech legislation, paving the way and laying the groundwork for future jobs and digital growth. Essentially, the Island was undergoing the process of digital transformation in the financial sector. But benefiting from the fruits of all this effort... Read more of this article

Column: Bermuda & Digital Assets A Busy 2018

Column: Bermuda & Digital Assets A Busy 2018

[Opinion column written by Chris Garrod] The beginning Looking at it from a Fintech perspective, 2018 was both a formative and busy year for Bermuda. It primarily started back in January, 2018. The Premier and his Minister, Wayne Caines, along with representatives from the Bermuda Business Development Agency attended the annual World Economic Forum... Read more of this article

Column: ‘At Beginning Of A Digital Revolution’

Column: ‘At Beginning Of A Digital Revolution’

[Written by Chris Garrod] “Do you accept crypto?” I work in the services industry and it was an email from a client. I immediately responded “no, sorry” as I knew my firm didn’t. But we should. It won’t be very long before the words “Do You Accept Crypto?” will be so common place, they will be as common as, “Do you take cards?” There... Read more of this article

Column: FinTech, Blockchain, ICOs, Currencies

Column: FinTech, Blockchain, ICOs, Currencies

[Written by Chris Garrod] On November 22nd 2017, Bermuda’s Premier David Burt, held a press conference regarding the potential impact of blockchain on Bermuda’s economy. In summary, he said that the Island was going to look at blockchain opportunities as a new aspect of its overall economic plan, seeking to attract initial coin offering [ICO] and... Read more of this article

Column: Insurtech, Demystifying The Hype

Column: Insurtech, Demystifying The Hype

[Opinion column written by Chris Garrod] I work in the reinsurance world. Wait don’t leave. Specifically, I work in the legal sector, and for whatever reason, it always feels like conference and/or event season. And I’ve been to a number of insurance and reinsurance related events/conferences lately. And every single one has had one panel [some... Read more of this article

Column: The ‘Internet Of Things’ Is Taking Over

Column: The ‘Internet Of Things’ Is Taking Over

[Opinion column written by Chris Garrod] On February 9th, 2018, Apple suddenly woke up and finally released the HomePod. What is it? It plays music and, assuming your house and all its gadgets are connected using Apple’s HomeKit ecosystem, it will let you control them via Apple’s intelligent assistant, Siri. It can tell you what the weather or... Read more of this article

Why Is Crypto So Important And Should I Care?

Why Is Crypto So Important And Should I Care?

[Written by Chris Garrod] A few years ago, if you had mentioned the term “cryptocurrency” to me, I would have imagined some kind of currency involving an underworld banking system, with hooded traders sitting behind shady computers. We now read about it not only in the business sections of daily websites or financial publications, but on their... Read more of this article

Column: Law Firms & Cyber Security

Column: Law Firms & Cyber Security

[Opinion column written by Chris Garrod] Hello Hackers My veterinarian was recently hacked. Someone wanted to extort money from them as ransom for private information they held. On dogs… and cats. And of course, more realistically, their clients. It was dealt with and they beefed up their software and data systems. But, to me, it was a telling example... Read more of this article

Column: Social Media & Lawyers: Why So Afraid?

Column: Social Media & Lawyers: Why So Afraid?

[Opinion column written by Chris Garrod] I’m an attorney in my mid-forties. Every day, I tweet and retweet. I go on LinkedIn to comment on articles. I go on Facebook. I’ve written my own articles and published them on Medium, LinkedIn Pulse and then tweeted them. Social media. When I mention it to many colleagues who tend to be my age or above,... Read more of this article

Column: Transformation, Goodbye Time Sheets

Column: Transformation, Goodbye Time Sheets

[Opinion column written by Chris Garrod] The AI Transformation begins Every working day, I sit behind my desk and record what I do in increments of 6 minutes. Time recording. Every qualified lawyer in private practice has been exposed to it, whether it be in the form of manually recording it via time sheets, or entering it directly into a specialized... Read more of this article

Column: Will We Need Lawyers By 2050?

Column: Will We Need Lawyers By 2050?

[Opinion column written by Chris Garrod] My 6 year old son may never have to learn to drive a car. We may at that stage in his life all be driven around in driver-less cars. All thanks to current advancements being made in automation and in artificial intelligence. That fact alone boggles my mind. A Starting Point: Automation vs Artificial Intelligence Artificial... Read more of this article