About

Provided by WH Partners

Type of Work Handled

  • Licensing of fintech and financial services entities
  • DLT (Distributed Ledger Technology) asset classification
  • Crypto-asset issuance and MiCA transition support
  • Legal integration of fintech solutions
  • Regulatory compliance (AML, data protection)
  • Tax, VAT, and corporate structuring
  • Company secretarial and registered office services
  • Accounting and operational legal support
  • Employment and immigration matters
  • Corporate / M&A transactions
  • Litigation and dispute resolution
  • Trademark registration
  • Ongoing legal advisory and support

Recent Work Highlights

Key Achievements:

  • Guided multiple crypto brokers and custodians to obtain VFA licences
  • Assisted in securing an EMI licence for Malta’s first embedded finance institution
  • Obtained exemptions from VFA licensing from the regulator

Ongoing / Recent Projects:

  • Supporting ~15 fintech operators with:
    • VFA service provider licences
    • EMI licences
    • MiCA CASP licences
  • Preparing clients for transition to MiCA regulatory framework
  • Advising on DLT asset classification under VFA, MiCA, and MiFID
  • Providing continuous regulatory and compliance support

Specialisations

  • Fintech regulatory law
  • Crypto-assets and blockchain (DLT)
  • Licensing and regulatory approvals
  • MiCA framework advisory
  • AML and compliance
  • Corporate structuring and tax
  • Financial services law
  • Cross-border fintech operations
  • Legal support for digital economy businesses

Chambers Review

Provided by Chambers

FinTech Legal - Malta

1
Band 1

What the Team is Known For

WH Partners has a leading technology practice. Its lawyers handle regulatory issues concerning virtual financial assets and often advise clients on blockchain, data protection, cybersecurity and tax matters.

Strengths

Provided by Chambers

Notable Practitioners

Provided by Chambers

Joseph Borg
1
Joseph Borg
Head of FinTech Legal
1
Band 1

Joseph Borg has significant expertise in the legal issues surrounding cryptocurrency and blockchain. He has additional capability in IP matters as well as being an expert in gaming law.

Joseph Borg is extremely knowledgeable. I see him more as a business ally, not just a legal adviser.

Joseph Borg's sophistication in handling complex legal matters, combined with a keen commercial awareness and vision, distinguishes him from his peers.

Gaby Zammit
Gaby Zammit
Associates to watch

Gaby Zammit is a managing associate at WH Partners. She assists clients with a range of matters including licensing and corporate structuring in the blockchain industry.

Gaby Zammit is meticulous and does a fantastic job. She handles timelines well.

Galyna Podoprikhina
Galyna Podoprikhina
Associates to watch

Galyna Podoprikhina is an associate at WH Partners. She specialises in FinTech, gaming and gambling work, and intellectual property. She regularly assists FinTech clients with obtaining Maltese virtual financial assets licences.

Galyna Podoprikhina is very approachable, she's always willing to talk things through with you. She is very helpful. I enjoyed working with her.

Galyna Podoprikhina is fantastic, very knowledgeable and technical.

Ranked Individuals at
WH Partners

Provided by Chambers
Filter by
Band

Malta

FinTech Legal

Joseph Borg
1
Joseph Borg
Head of FinTech Legal
1
Band 1
Gaby Zammit
Gaby Zammit
Associates to watch
Galyna Podoprikhina
Galyna Podoprikhina
Associates to watch

Members

Provided by WH Partners

Gaby Zammit

Joseph Borg

Joseph Borg

Head of Department

Kelly Fenech

Olga Finkel

Ramona Azzopardi

Clients

Provided by WH Partners

Clients seeking EMI (Electronic Money Institution) licenses

Clients seeking PSP (Payment Service Provider) licenses

Cryptocurrency exchanges and intermediaries

Financial institutions

ICO issuers

Investors or traders of cryptocurrencies/ICO funds

MIFID II-compliant Multilateral Trading Facilities

blockchain space start-ups

Industries

Provided by WH Partners

Artificial Intelligence

Aviation

FMCG

Fintech & Financial Services

Gaming & Gambling

Information & Communication Technology

Leisure & Hospitality

Maritime

Private Client

Real Estate

Sports & Entertainment