Companies wanting to set up shop in Bermuda will now be able to fill out their forms online 24-hours a day, seven days a week, thanks to new technology developed by a local law firm.

Appleby Spurling and Kempe, one of the two largest law firms on the Island, has unveiled Bermuda's first Internet site for the incorporation of Bermuda exempted companies.

The scheme is called Just AS&K, and will allow either existing clients or new ones to start the process of setting up an exempted company on the Island.

All the potential company will have to do is log on to the web site at www.justaskinc.bm.

"Bermuda is the leading offshore electronic commerce jurisdiction in the world,'' said AS&K managing partner and senior partner Dianna Kempe. "The Electronic Transaction Act 1999 is a progressive piece of legislation that sets the standard for all other offshore jurisdictions in the area of e-commerce. We believe that Just AS&K (Inc) further enhances the Island's reputation in that regard.'' Law firm offers online incorporations The law firm promises log-on to a secure environment, and will then ask the person to fill out a questionnaire.

From here all the necessary documents needed for filing with the relevant Government authorities will be prepared and generated automatically.

While the whole process cannot yet be done online, clients will be able to monitor the progress of the incorporation through their site and communicate with the company via secure e-mail.

Fees can also be paid online. This service is being provided by Bank of Bermuda and will process payment by credit and debit cards, as well as other payment methods.

AS&K is using Bermuda-based offshore e-commerce gateway provider, First Atlantic Commerce, to allow secure real-time transaction processing service.

"Local companies are realising that Internet technology can provide a competitive advantage,'' said Greg Vasic, President of First Atlantic Commerce. "Our experienced and AS&K's pioneering strategy are a good combination to ensure the success of this cyber initiative.'' Mrs. Kempe said that the new system would take AS&K forward into a new digital era.

She said: "Many of AS&K's clients are technology companies. Those companies expect their business partners to employ cutting edge technology, and we are pleased to offer them and in fact, all our clients this innovative new product.'' In a presentation at the Bermuda Underwater Exploration Institute, Mrs. Kempe introduced the scheme, which she said would take AS&K into the digital age and make it a paper-less environment.

Warren Cabral, a partner at AS&K and head of the company's information technology group took guests through the setting up of a company online.

"The Internet and new technologies challenge virtually every assumption about the way business is conducted,'' said Mr. Cabral, who was a key figure in drafting Bermuda's e-commerce legislation.

"Providing this new method of incorporating Bermuda exempted companies is a perfect example of the important role that technology will play in the development of business for Bermuda.

"AS&K has embraced this new technology and in so doing we have provided our clients with a secure, efficient, convenient way of incorporating a Bermuda exempted company.'' Just AS&K is the first of a series of electronic products planned by the law firm.

Other schemes in the pipe-line are for one-day trusts to be set up online.

Just ask: AS&K managing partner Dianna Kempe unveils a new way of incorporating exempted companies -- justaskinc.bm.

LAWYERS LEG