Global legal advisory · Special Licences

FSC · FS-1.10 · Licence

1. GroupCounsel Ltd’s shop

GroupCounsel Ltd will advise related corporations on contracts and regulatory filings from Mauritius, without holding client money as a management company. This is not a Law Practitioners Act practice certificate, and it is not a section 14 shop.

That shop is FS-1.10 Global Legal Advisory Services, licensed under sections 77A and 77B. The statutory book is legal services pertaining to global business, international arbitration, corporate law, taxation law and foreign and international law.

The three facts that have to stay true:

1. Section 77A does not apply to a person authorised to provide legal services under the Law Practitioners Act. 2. A foreign-licensed law firm may apply under section 77B if the two-foreign-lawyer and physical-establishment tests are met. 3. Directory fees match the headquarters band; the statutory section is still 77A.

Section 77A(1): “an entity whose main activity is to provide legal services pertaining to global business, international arbitration, corporate law, taxation law and foreign and international law, shall apply to the Commission for a Global Legal Advisory Services licence.”

Financial Services Act 2007, Sections 77A and 77B. See the register note · Open the published text ↗.

2. A week with the related corporations’ contracts

Monday. The group general counsel wants a Mauritius entity to draft intra-group contracts and filings. Nobody calls it a management company.

Tuesday. Section 77A is put on the file cover. A section 14 form is not a substitute.

Wednesday. An officer asks whether two Mauritius barristers on secondment will “cover” a foreign firm’s 77B application. Read the two-foreign-lawyer test in the home jurisdiction.

Thursday. The Attorney-General notification on grant is diaried as a Commission step, not as a practice certificate.

Friday. The weekly matter list is contracts and filings. No client money. No trust administration.

The other files on this desk should look like that first one: a named person, a specified activity, and a letter that matches the work. That is what FS-1.10 is used for. The Act matters when GroupCounsel Ltd applies, when the Commission writes conditions onto the letter, and when the same promoter telephones with a different idea.

3. What the same promoter asks next

The facts are fictional. The method is the course: keep the shop you have just watched, and ask which desk is now doing the work.

This licence

Advise related corporations on contracts and filings from Mauritius

GroupCounsel Ltd will not hold client money as a management company.

Why it fits. FS-1.10 / FSA sections 77A–77B.

Different paper

Treat it as ordinary Mauritius law practice

The promoter has a local advocate and wants this letter as a cheaper practice certificate.

Why it does not. Section 77A does not apply to a person authorised under the Law Practitioners Act.

Different paper

Fold in a management licence

While the lawyers are in the building, they will also be directors of client GBLs.

Why it does not. A management licence is FS-3.1A under section 77. It is not this letter.

The promoter asks GroupCounsel Ltd to…	This licence?	Why
Advise related corporations on contracts and filings from Mauritius	Yes	FS-1.10 / FSA sections 77A–77B.
Treat it as ordinary Mauritius law practice	No	Section 77A does not apply to a person authorised under the Law Practitioners Act.
Fold in a management licence	No	A management licence is FS-3.1A under section 77. It is not this letter.

4. Papers that sit beside this one

Not ordinary Mauritius law practice by admission, not FS-1.9 treasury, and not a management licence (FS-3.1A). Professional qualifications, the two-foreign-lawyer test and physical establishment in Mauritius must be taken from the Act.

ordinary Mauritius law practice by admission
FS-1.9 treasury
a management licence (FS-3.1A)

Neighbouring codes have their own chapters. Do not import their books into this letter.

5. The letter and the file

An entity under section 77A, including a foreign-licensed law firm meeting section 77B(2). The application is still subject to the regulation of financial services under Part IV. On grant, the Commission informs the Attorney-General.

Permitted activities — the sections

Section 77A(4): “this section shall not apply to a person authorised to provide legal services or give legal advice under the Law Practitioners Act.” Ordinary Mauritius law practice by admission is outside this licence.

Section 77B(1)–(2): a foreign-licensed law firm may apply. The Commission may grant where it is satisfied that the parent law firm is qualified, licensed or regulated to practise law in its home jurisdiction, that two foreign lawyers qualified in that jurisdiction are employed by or are part of the entity, and that the applicant has a physical establishment in Mauritius.

Licensing conditions — the sections

Section 77A(2): the application “shall be subject to the regulation of financial services under Part IV.” Sections 16 and 18 therefore still apply, with necessary modifications.

Section 77B(3): the Commission “may impose such terms and conditions as may be prescribed or as it deems appropriate before granting” the licence. Section 77B(4): on grant, the Commission informs the Attorney-General.

Section 16(1): an application must be in such form and manner as FSC Rules specify and accompanied by “(a) a business plan or feasibility study outlining the proposed business activity of the applicant; (b) particulars and information relating to customer due diligence verification of promoters, beneficial owners, controllers and proposed directors …; (c) such fees as may be specified in FSC Rules; and (d) such other information as may be specified in FSC Rules or otherwise required by the Commission”.

Section 18(1): the Commission may issue a licence “authorising the applicant to carry out the business activity specified in the licence on such terms and conditions as may be specified in FSC Rules or as it deems appropriate in the circumstances.” Section 18(2) forbids a grant unless, among other things, the application complies with the law, the applicant has “adequate resources, infrastructure, staff with the appropriate competence, experience and proficiency”, adequate arrangements to supervise everything done under the licence, fit-and-proper controllers and beneficial owners, and “no prejudice would be caused or would ensue to the financial services industry”. Section 18(3): the holder “shall, at all times, continue to satisfy the requirements specified in subsection (2)”.

Section 25: the Commission may, by written notice, vary a licence. It must not restrict the authorised activity or include further conditions unless it has notified the licensee of the proposal and the reasons and given a reasonable opportunity to make representations.

Directory fees match the headquarters/treasury band; the statutory section is 77A. Record the section on the file. A circular cannot move the activity back to section 14.

Who may hold it. An entity under section 77A, including a foreign-licensed law firm meeting section 77B(2). Directory fees match the headquarters/treasury band but the statutory section is different.

Published criteria. Published licensing criteria on the FSC codified list (consolidation as at 1 July 2026) are guidance. They neither derogate from nor restrict the Commission’s statutory powers, and they must be read with the relevant Act, rules, codes and circulars. FS-1.10 criteria on the directory. Professional qualifications, the two-foreign-lawyer test in section 77B(2)(b) and physical establishment in Mauritius must be taken from the Act, not from a letterhead.

Rules, codes and circulars. CL20260107 for fees. Section 77A is the enabling provision; a circular cannot move the activity back to section 14.

6. How to cite FS-1.10

Coordinate	As at 20 September 2026
Directory code	FS-1.10 Global Legal Advisory Services
Legal nature	Licence
Enabling law	Financial Services Act 2007 · Sections 77A and 77B
Fees as at 1 July 2026	Processing fee Rs 30,000 (USD 1,000). Fixed annual fee Rs 75,000 (USD 2,500). Unless the directory states a different conversion rule, USD figures apply only to an applicant for a Global Business Licence or a corporation holding a Global Business Licence. FSC Circular Letter CL20260107 (1 July 2026) records that the replacement fee schedule operates from 1 July 2026 and that annual fees are due by 30 September 2026. A circular does not rewrite the activity this code authorises.
Status at cut-off	Published directory category as at 1 July 2026. Section 77A is the locator, not section 14.

The structured library card keeps the same coordinates for search. Open FS-1.10 in the reference library.

FSC codified list of licences, authorisations, approvals, recognitions and registrations ↗Register note Financial Services Act 2007 ↗Register note FSC licensing and fees amendment rules 2026 ↗Register note FSC Circular Letter CL20260107 — review of fees and renewal of licences ↗Register note FSC rules and regulations directory ↗Register note

Follow the sources.

Each title opens the published text. The register note records the edition used for this course.

FSC codified list of licences, authorisations, approvals, recognitions and registrations ↗ All published category codes, fees, forms and licensing-criteria columns; consolidation as at 1 July 2026 · Register note
Financial Services Act 2007 ↗ Sections 2, 14, 14A, 16–18, 25, 33, 71A, 72, 77, 77A, 77B, 77C, 78, 79A; Second Schedule Parts I–III; Fifth Schedule · Register note
FSC licensing and fees amendment rules 2026 ↗ Rule 3 and replacement First Schedule; rule 4 commencement · Register note
FSC Circular Letter CL20260107 — review of fees and renewal of licences ↗ 1 July 2026 fee review; annual-fee due date 30 September 2026; FSCOne alternative arrangements · Register note
FSC rules and regulations directory ↗ Consolidated licensing and fees rules; sector-specific rules including Securities (Licensing) Rules and Family Office Rules · Register note

FS-1.10 Global Legal Advisory Services.

By the end of this chapter