Department profile

Financial Services

Global Guide 2026 : Malta

Rankings

Ranked Individuals

About

Provided by Ganado Advocates

Ganado Advocates is a leading commercial law firm with a particular focus on the corporate, financial services and maritime/aviation sectors, predominantly servicing international clients doing business through Malta. The firm also promotes other areas such as tax, pensions, intellectual property, employment and litigation. The firm traces its roots back to the early 1900s, and is today one of Malta’s foremost law practices, consistently ranking as a leading firm in all its core sectors.

The firm’s financial services and regulatory practices are internationally renowned as country leaders, servicing asset managers and their funds, banks, insurers and reinsurers, pension schemes and funds, investment firms, payment service providers, e-money institutions, fintech operators, blockchain and cryptocurrency service providers, trade finance institutions and other operators in the financial services sphere. The practice covers all corporate, regulatory and transactional work and, in conjunction with lawyers from other practice areas, litigation, dispute resolution, tax and regulatory.

The firm regularly advises on major corporate and capital markets transactions in Malta, for the benefit of international corporate groups and private equity firms. The practice provides the full range of transactional corporate legal services, having long standing experience in assisting foreign clients in establishing local presence across all commercial sectors.

Chambers Review

Provided by Chambers

Financial Services - Malta

What the Team is Known For

Ganado Advocates remains a powerhouse law firm with an outstanding practice in the field of corporate, financial services and dispute resolution. On the financial services side, the team has a strong focus on investment funds and insurance regulatory matters, as well as acting on bond issuances, IPOs and financing transactions. Ganado advises clients on debt restructuring matters. Other high-level contentious work handled by the firm includes arbitration representation and litigation involving governmental entities. The firm is additionally popular with clients from the telecoms and technology industries for advice on M&A transactions and data protection mandates. Lawyers at the firm have notable expertise in the fields of tax and intellectual property law.

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Work Highlights

Provided by Chambers

Ganado Advocates counselled Goldman Sachs Alternatives on the acquisition of Melita, a digital infrastructure operator in Malta.

Strengths

Provided by Chambers

Ganado Advocates can approach complex, regulatory financial matters with a thorough analysis and a good understanding of difficult situations.
Financial Services respondentGlobal
Ganado Advocates is an excellent firm. The lawyers are extremely thorough. They are experts in Maltese law and in structuring and implementing complex corporate transactions.
Financial Services respondentGlobal
The Ganado Advocates team provides outstanding responsiveness and expertise, as it builds an excellent rapport with the clients.
Financial Services respondentGlobal

Notable Practitioners

Provided by Chambers

Senior Statespeople
Senior Statespeople
Max Ganado
Max Ganado is a longstanding lawyer who has notable experience assisting clients with regulatory matters in the technology sector.
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Band 1
Band 1
Andre Zerafa
Andre Zerafa is one of the key names for investment funds matters in Malta, assisting clients with the establishment of funds and transactional matters.
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Band 1
Band 1
Stephen Attard
Stephen Attard is an accomplished lawyer who assists clients with corporate transactions and debt restructuring mandates. He also has experience in tax law, advising on the tax aspects of corporate restructurings, VAT matters and the taxation of dividends.
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Band 2
Band 2
Conrad Portanier
Conrad Portanier is a prolific lawyer in banking and finance who also assists clients with capital markets matters, including bond issuances.
Conrad Portanier is one of the most approachable lawyers in Malta.
Financial Services respondentGlobal
He has significant experience and a client-focused approach.
Financial Services respondentGlobal
Conrad Portanier is a leader in the financial services. He is well respected by both clients and authorities.
Financial Services respondentGlobal
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Band 2
Band 2
Matthew Bianchi
Matthew Bianchi has a strong focus on matters in the insurance sector, including acquisitions and the establishment of new insurance ventures in Malta.
I would like to highlight Matthew Bianchi's knowledge and experience. He brought a lot of added value.
Financial Services respondentGlobal
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Band 2
Band 2
Nicholas Curmi
Nicholas Curmi is an accomplished lawyer who is active in capital markets mandates, advising clients on IPOs as well as bond and notes issuances.
Nicholas Curmi is very pragmatic and has good commercial instincts.
Financial Services respondentGlobal
Nicholas Curmi is service-minded, with a high level of deliverables. He knows who to engage his team and has the much-needed transactional and international experience.
Financial Services respondentGlobal
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Band 3
Band 3
Leonard Bonello
Leonard Bonello is an adept lawyer who acts for banks on corporate financing matters and on the issuance of notes.
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Band 3
Band 3
Nikolai Muscat Farrugia
Nikolai Muscat Farrugia is a highly regarded lawyer who assists clients with a range of transactions, including corporate finance and M&A.
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Band 3
Band 3
Simon Schembri
Simon Schembri is an adept lawyer who assists clients with corporate transactions, including due diligence processes and M&A.
Simon Schembri has a quiet and gentle disposition. He is a sharp mind, with good organisational and team leadership skills. He is an absolute delight to work with.
Financial Services respondentGlobal
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Band 4
Band 4
Matthew Brincat
Matthew Brincat is praised by a number of sources for his ability to handle a range of commercial issues, including those stemming from corporate transactions as well as employment law matters.
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