STEP Advanced Certificate in Company Law and Practice
This course will develop and enhance your understanding of how companies are used as offshore asset-holding vehicles. This Advanced Certificate can be taken as part of the STEP Diploma.
Course details
This course provides practitioners with the technical knowledge and understanding of how companies are used as offshore asset-holding vehicles.
- Gain in-depth expertise: Improve your technical knowledge of the practices and procedures involved in incorporating and managing a private asset-holding company, and the relevant company law rules that regulate a company and its affairs.
- Practical focus: Practical advice and guidance written by practitioners, for practitioners on everyday matters encountered in private company management from incorporation, modern usage and administration of companies and the provision of corporate services.
- Build valuable connections: Network with like-minded professionals in varied roles and firms from all over the world.
- Industry recognition: Recognised worldwide as the ‘gold-standard’ benchmark qualification for those working in the international trusts industry by employers, regulators, clients, and professionals, and is awarded in association with Alliance Manchester Business School, a School of the University of Manchester.
Course fees: £1875 + Local taxes
New and improved format – designed around you
We listened to your feedback. This course has been redesigned for cohorts beginning in December 2025, replacing the intensive, week-long workshop and exam format with a more flexible, staggered, and supported learning experience that fits around your life and time zones.
You'll benefit from updated content, short podcasts, interactive workshops, collaborative cohort learning, support videos, and a dedicated revision period to consolidate your knowledge before exams – giving you the time and space to succeed.
You may also be interested in:
STEP Advanced Certificate in Principles of International Taxation, AML and Compliance
Course dates, fees and enrol now:
If you are not already a member of STEP, you need to join before enrolling onto this course as you will need your STEP membership number to hand when booking. Find out more here. Please allow five working days for your membership application to be approved by STEP. Applicable local taxes and discounts will be added to your basket on checkout for this course.
The course fee is increasing from 1 January 2026 – enrol now and benefit from the existing price.
Customised Pricing and Group Rates
Tailored pricing plans and group rate cards are available for firms seeking to train multiple team members or larger groups of employees. We are happy to work with you to design a cost-effective solution that aligns with your training goals and budget.
Instalment Plans
You can pay for your course fees in instalments if you choose the interest-free instalment plans available for certain courses. Specifically, you can opt for three equal monthly instalments for Certificate and Advanced Certificate level courses that total over £800 (excluding VAT), or six equal monthly instalments for the Professional Postgraduate Diploma. Payments can be made using a credit or debit card.
Find out more about this course and the International Trust Management Diploma pathway at our online Information Session.
STEP Diploma: International Trust Management recommended route
STEP Advanced Certificate in Trusts: Law and Practice (International)
STEP Advanced Certificate in Principles of International Taxation, AML and Compliance
STEP Advanced Certificate in Trustees’ Duties: Investment and Management of the Trust Fund
Become a member of STEP
To take this course you need to be a member of STEP at Affiliate level or higher.
What will I learn?
- The relevant company law provisions and legal framework within which companies exist
- The features, characteristics and uses of private asset-holding companies incorporated offshore
- The theoretical and practical aspects of incorporation of a private limited company
- The requirements for registration and migration of foreign companies
- The function, typical content and alteration of the company’s constitutional documents
- The funding and capital structure of a company and capital maintenance/distribution provisions
- The role, appointment, duties and removal of directors and other officers
- The company decision-making procedures, meetings and powers of shareholders and directors
- The provision of company management services and beneficial owner control
- The termination of companies
Course format
A flexible, part-time course delivered online over four months.
Once you have successfully completed this course, you will be awarded the STEP Advanced Certificate in Company Law and Practice.
Courses starting before December 2025
Enrolment includes:
- online guided study, including self-assessment questions
- four tutor-led workshops
- 5-hour final examination (comprising multiple choice and long-answer questions)
Courses starting from December 2025
This course has been refreshed with updated content and new features! It will be available for study four times a year and includes:
- expert-developed course material covering key global jurisdictions
- podcast summaries of key topics
- 4 interactive, tutor-led sessions focussed on application of knowledge
- assessment preparation session and self-assessment questions
- 4-hour final examination (comprising multiple choice and long-answer questions)
Digital Certificates from April 2026
From April 6th 2026, printed certificates will no longer be issued. All certificates will be provided digitally via Diplomasafe.
This change supports our commitment to sustainability and modernisation. Digital certificates are:
- Eco-friendly – reducing paper use and our carbon footprint
- Secure – each certificate includes a QR code for instant verification
- Convenient – easy to access, store, and share
Certificates are issued by our credentials partner, Diplomasafe. CLTI will securely share data with Diplomasafe in line with GDPR to enable digital credentialing. Learn more: https://diplomasafe.com
Is this course right for me?
The course is designed for all professionals moving into or working in financial services (specifically trusts and corporate services), who wish to develop their understanding and knowledge of this area.
Students of this course typically include:
- trust assistants/officers/administrators
- trust managers (senior)
- trustees/fiduciaries
- corporate administrators
- lawyers/solicitors/attorneys
- wealth managers
- accountants
- tax advisers
- compliance officers/managers
- private bankers
- secretarial/administration
- client relations/marketing/sales
- financial/estate planners
