Southpac Group reports surge in US tech founders seeking offshore protection as AI risks rise

Southpac Group, a Tauranga‑based offshore trustee and international asset‑protection specialist managing about US$4 billion, said demand from United States technology entrepreneurs for offshore structures in the Cook Islands and Nevis has risen sharply. New client numbers grew more than 290 % between 2022 and 2025, and the United States now accounts for roughly 85 % of Southpac’s client base.

A recent US survey of senior in‑house legal counsel found 56 % of respondents in technology, healthcare, financial and energy sectors reporting higher exposure to cybersecurity and data‑privacy disputes, while 46 % reported increased exposure to AI‑related disputes. Data breaches were identified as the most likely trigger for future litigation. Matthew Smith, lawyer and director of business development at Southpac, said founders accumulate wealth quickly and need pre‑emptive asset‑protection, succession planning and legal‑risk management, adding, “Most clients are professionals or company owners looking to protect assets they have spent decades building.” Southpac has established over 4,000 offshore trusts.