Offshore firm Appleby has said it is warning clients, including high net worth individuals and corporations, that their financial details could be exposed after admitting that it fell victim to a security breach.

In a statement on its website the firm says: ‘We are committed to protecting our clients’ data and we have reviewed our cybersecurity and data access arrangements following a data security incident last year that resulted in some of its data being compromised.’

The Bermuda-based firm, which counts FTSE 100 companies among its clients, said it had received enquiries from the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ) in relation to documents involving allegations made against its business and some of its clients.

‘We are disappointed that the media may choose to use information that could have emanated from material obtained illegally and that this may result in exposing innocent parties to data protection breaches,’ the firm said.

Appleby it was satisfied that there was no evidence of any wrongdoing, either on the part of itself or its clients.

‘We are an offshore law firm who advises clients on legitimate and lawful ways to conduct their business. We do not tolerate illegal behaviour,’ it added.

Earlier this year some offices belonging to international firm DLA Piper were hit by a ransomware attack that primarily targeted businesses based in Ukraine, Spain, France and Russia.