About
Managing Partner: Andre Zerafa
Number of partners: 22
Number of fee-earners: 90+ (incl. partners)
Total number of staff: 170+
Firm overview:
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. Ganado Advocates has over the past decades contributed directly towards creating and enhancing Malta’s hard-won reputation as a reliable and effective international centre for financial and maritime services. Today, the firm continues to provide high standards of legal advisory services to support and enhance Malta’s offering.
Main areas of practice:
■ Financial services
■ Corporate, M&A & capital markets
■ Shipping, yachting & aviation
■ Litigation & dispute resolution
■ Corporate finance & tax
■ Private client, trusts & foundations
■ Labour & employment
■ Environment, energy & renewable energy
■ Intellectual property, media, entertainment & technology
■ Competition/European
■ Construction
Financial services:
The firm’s financial services and regulatory practices are internationally renowned as country leaders. This practice grouping encompasses the firm’s industry-focused teams 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.
Key Contacts: Matthew Bianchi, Andre Zerafa, Conrad Portanier, James Farrugia, Matthew Brincat, Leonard Bonello, Marina Grech
Corporate, M&A & capital markets:
The firm regularly advises on major corporate and capital market
ts transactions in Malta, for the benefit of international corporate groups and private equity firms. This 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. The firm also operates a corporate services and governance team focused in particular on supporting the boards of both regulated and non-regulated businesses.
Key Contacts: Stephen Attard, Nikolai Muscut Farrugia, Simon Schembri, Nicholas Curmi, Annalise Papa
Shipping, yachting & aviation:
Ship registration, ship finance and admiralty law are at the heart of the firm’s maritime law practice. The firm was a pioneer in this field and its specialist maritime lawyers hold leading industry expertise and provide dependable support and advice, making the firm amongst the most established in this area. While very active in the yacht and superyacht space, the firm was also a prime mover in the development of local aviation law; today it regularly advises aircraft financiers, owners, lessors and operators.
Key Contacts: Karl Grech Orr, Jotham Scerri-Diacono, Daniel Aquilina, Christine Cassar Naudi, Matthew Attard, Matthew Xerri
Litigation & dispute resolution:
Traditionally prominent in commercial and civil litigation, the firm has represented clients in some of Malta's largest and most complex commercial and maritime litigation. This includes arrests and judicial sales of vessels, salvage and other maritime disputes, corporate and financial services, and insurance claims. Today, the firm also offers highly specialised litigation in the fields of corporate disputes, insolvency, intellectual property, public procurement, competition law, funds, press law and international arbitration.
Key Contact: Antoine G Cremona
Corporate finance & tax:
Ganado Advocates has one of the largest and longest-established tax practices amongst Maltese law firms. The firm’s multidisciplinary team of legal and tax specialists regularly advises corporate and individual high-net-worth clients, both international and local, on all aspects of Maltese tax legislation and their impact, whether at structuring stage, transactional or on an ongoing basis.
Key Contacts: Stephen Attard, Christine Cassar Naudi
Private client, trusts & foundations:
Regularly involved in structuring and providing general legal advice on trusts and foundations, the firm actively provides ongoing assistance to various Maltese-based (local and international) trustees, administrators of foundations and other fiduciaries on regulatory aspects of their fiduciary activities. It regularly assists private clients with their various legal needs, ranging from estate planning to setting up the appropriate trustees for them (which includes private trust companies). This includes, where required, the acquisition of Maltese citizenship by naturalisation for exceptional services by direct investment, as a second citizenship.
Key Contact: Anthony Cremona
Labour & employment:
This practice encompasses the full range of employment services, including advice on litigious and non-litigious employment law matters, industrial relations, employment benefits and pensions. While having a practice in its own right, the employment team also provides invaluable support to the other teams within the firm on transactions which span a broad range of areas, such as M&A transactions.
Key Contact: Matthew Brincat
Environment, energy & renewable energy:
Ganado Advocates has been at the forefront of the significant developments in this dynamic and ever-changing sector in Malta and advises a wide variety of clients on both regulatory and commercial issues, including drafting and negotiating power purchase agreements, assisting with public procurement, implementing EU Directives into local law and advising on ship-sourced pollution issues. The firm has also experienced increasing interest from industry stakeholders acting as intermediaries in the recycling of hazardous waste on account of Malta’s central Mediterranean location, its ratification of the most important environmental Conventions and an efficient and proactive regulator.
Key Contacts: Jotham Scerri-Diacono, Antoine G Cremona
Intellectual property, media, entertainment & technology:
The firm advises clients on the full range of contentious and non-contentious issues in the technology, media and entertainment space. Services include the registration of trademarks, advice on and drafting of IP agreements, and representing clients in IP infringement lawsuits. The firm leads a project for the Government of Malta bringing together the various Malta-based legal and advisory service providers with a view to overhauling the current IP legal framework and providing solid and innovative legislative solutions to the IP industries, not least involving blockchain and digital currencies. The team also leads the firm’s privacy law practice, assisting all clients with their ongoing GDPR requirements, including data subject requests and investigations by the Information and Data Protection Commissioner. In the media space, the team regularly advises and assists, including through the legal representation in Court, key local players on legal matters relating to journalistic freedoms, freedom of information and defamation.
Key Contact: Paul Micallef Grimaud
Competition/European:
The firm’s competition and EU law practitioners have gained substantial recognition in this field, advising clients and public authorities in all industry sectors serviced by the firm and frequently also engaging in privatisations and public procurement processes. Besides regularly providing advice on antitrust issues affecting agreements between undertakings and abuse of dominance, merger control and State aid law, the firm often represents undertakings in competition investigations and litigation as well as merger notifications.
Key Contacts: Antoine G Cremona, Sylvann Aquilina Zahra
Construction:
The firm has one of the leading international construction law practices in Malta with specialist focus on FIDIC contracts and construction arbitration. Lawyers practising in this area have specific academic qualifications in international construction contracts and construction dispute resolution. The firm has assisted developers, financiers, contractors and engineers in a significant number and across a wide range of large-scale construction projects in Malta, from major infrastructural works, to waste management and recycling plants, hospitality, residential and marina developments. The firm also regularly assists in all matters relating to real estate and in the design and execution of procurement models for major construction works.
Key Contact: Antoine G Cremona
Ranked Offices
Provided by Ganado Advocates
- Valletta171 Old Bakery Street , Valletta, Malta, Malta, VLT 1455
- Web: www.ganado.com
- Tel: (+356) 21 23 54 06
Contributions
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Articles, highlights and press releases
460 items provided by Ganado Advocates
Understanding the Proposed Critical Medicines Act
A step forward in securing Europe’s medicine supply.
The Artificial Intelligence Act and insurance sector overview: Where are we so far?
The Regulation (EU) 2024/1689 (AI Act), published in July 2024, applies across all sectors, including insurance.
Strengthening Oversight and Innovation in Malta’s Insurance Sector
An overview of the MFSA 2024 Annual Report
EBA's opinion on PSD2 and MiCA: Path for CASPs who provide services in relation to EMTs
On 10 June 2025, the European Banking Authority (“EBA”) published its long-awaited Opinion[1] on how the existing second Payment Services Directive (“PSD2”) interacts with the Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (“MiCA”), in the context of electronic money tokens (“EMTs”)...
MFSA publishes observations from inspections with investment services providers
The Malta Financial Services Authority (“MFSA”) has published a Dear CEO letter addressed to all chief executive officers and compliance officers of ‘persons professionally arranging or executing transactions’, particularly to investment services providers.
Chambers Global Practice Guide – Artificial Intelligence 2025
Ganado Advocates is the author of the Malta chapter in the Chambers Global Practice Guide 2025 on Artificial Intelligence (AI).
ESMA final reports on amendments to the Prospectus Regulation and Civil Prospectus Liability
The European Securities and Markets Authority (“ESMA”), the EU’s financial markets regulator and supervisor, has today released its final reports on the Prospectus Regulation and on civil prospectus liability.
Publication of Luxembourg’s 2025 National Risk Assessment
Luxembourg’s National Prevention Committee on money laundering and financing of terrorism (“NPC”) has published a revised version of Luxembourg’s National Risk Assessment which was prepared under the direction of the Ministry of Justice in Luxembourg and approved by the NPC on 28th April 2025...
Lexology Panoramic – Trademarks guide 2025
Ganado Advocates is the author of the Malta chapter in Lexology Panoramic – Trademarks guide, 2025 edition.
Lexology Panoramic – Restructuring and Insolvency guide 2025
Ganado Advocates has contributed to the Malta chapter in the 2025 edition of Lexology Panoramic – Restructuring and Insolvency guide.
Cross-Border Wars: CJEU clarifies jurisdiction rules in BSH v. Electrolux
On 25 February 2025, the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) issued a pivotal ruling in BSH Hausgeräte GmbH v. Electrolux AB (Case C-339/22), addressing jurisdictional issues in cross-border patent litigation.
Renewable Energy in Malta 2025
Ganado Advocates has contributed to the Malta Chapter of the 4th edition of the Legal 500 Renewable Energy Comparative Guide.
Acceleration Clauses in Personal Loan Agreements in the context of the Unfair Terms Directive
The general provisions found under Council Directive 93/13/EEC of 5 April 1993 on unfair terms in consumer contracts (the “Unfair Terms Directive”), which is aimed at safeguarding consumer rights in contracts with suppliers, have often been analysed and supplemented by judgments of the Court of...
ID-DRITT XXXV – Clean titles & cross-border conflicts: Resolving the international effects of judici
In today’s rapidly evolving global economy, ships are identified as key industry players by virtue of their day-to-day cross-border voyages making them one of the most essential and volatile economic units.
MFSA amendments to FIR/02 and FIR/03: Participation in payment systems and DORA alignment
The Malta Financial Services Authority (“MFSA”) has revised Chapter 2 of the Financial Institutions Rulebook (“FIR/02”) and Chapter 3 of the Financial Institutions Rulebook (“FIR/03”) to reflect recent regulatory developments at European level.
ID-DRITT XXXV – Procedural requirements for counterclaims under the ICSID Convention: Consent and co
A counterclaim is an independent claim made by a respondent party against a claimant, which reacts and is incidental to the original claim, while also having an objective which extends beyond the mere dismissal of that original claim.1
Key amendments to the Maritime Labour Convention: Strengthening protections for seafarers
The most recent amendments to the Maritime Labour Convention (MLC) of 2006, represent a significant step in strengthening the rights and welfare of seafarers.
Small Initiatives Support Scheme renewed with €180,000 budget for 2026 projects
The Small Initiatives Support Scheme (SIS), a key funding mechanism for voluntary organisations, has been renewed for another year.
Arbitration in Malta: Court balances procedure, legislative intent and party autonomy
On 28 April 2025, the Court of Magistrates, presided over by Magistrate Dr Victor G. Axiak, delivered a partial judgment in the case of Nigel Scerri and Ennessee Ltd v. SR Environmental Solutions Ltd.
A constitutional tug of war over Malta’s rent laws
For decades, Malta’s rental laws have been a legal minefield, balancing the rights of landlords against the protection of tenants.
Maritime trade in the crosshairs: Understanding the EU’s 16th sanctions package
On 24th February 2025, the European Union (“EU”) introduced its 16th package of restrictive measures and sanctions against Russia (the “16th Package”) through Council Regulation 2025/395 amending Regulation (EU) No. 833/2014 concerning restrictive measures in view of Russia’s actions...
MFSA seeks industry feedback on EU Banking Package implementation
On the 9 May 2025, the MFSA issued a consultation document on the national transposition and implementation of the Banking Package,1 namely CRDVI2 and CRRIII.
Malta Ship Registry to issue electronic certificates effective 1 June 2025
On 12 May 2025, the Merchant Shipping Directorate of Transport Malta issued Merchant Shipping Notice 193, which introduces a significant regulatory development concerning the issuance and legal recognition of statutory certificates by the Malta Ship Registry.
The interpretation of ‘Pre-Existing Medical Condition’ clauses in travel insurance policies
On 5 February 2025, the Court of Appeal (in its inferior jurisdiction), delivered its final judgment in the case of ‘D.M. v X Insurance’ which related to an appeal filed by X Insurance (the “Insurer”).
Luxembourg actively managed UCITS ETFs
Relaxation of transparency rules and subscription tax exemption.
Publication of draft delegated act in terms of the Listing Act
As part of the reforms introduced by the EU Listing Act (“Listing Act”), important amendments have been made to article 17 of the Market Abuse Regulation (“MAR”), specifically in relation to (a) the disclosure of inside information during “protracted processes”, and (b) the delay of disclosure...
Case Note: CJEU’s Commission v Malta — rethinking citizenship by investment
The case concerns Malta’s 2020 investor citizenship framework, formally called “Citizenship by Naturalisation for Exceptional Services by Direct Investment” or NESDI.
Salvage claims and debt recovery: Legal perspectives on compensation obligations
In ‘Sandy Yacht Marina Limited v. Bastiment M/Y Leymour’ decided by the First Hall of the Civil Court (the “Court”) on 27th March 2025, the Court held that defining whether services qualify as ‘salvage’ is a key consideration to make when determining the payment of salvage services.
MFSA revises bancassurance policy in the light of ECJ judgment
On the 16th April 2025, the Malta Financial Services Authority (MFSA) has issued a Circular introducing key regulatory changes affecting bancassurance in response to a 2022 European Court of Justice (ECJ) ruling.
The validity of post-insolvency transactions
Interpreting Article 31(1) of the EU Regulation on Insolvency Proceedings.
Understanding the Proposed Critical Medicines Act
A step forward in securing Europe’s medicine supply.
The Artificial Intelligence Act and insurance sector overview: Where are we so far?
The Regulation (EU) 2024/1689 (AI Act), published in July 2024, applies across all sectors, including insurance.
Strengthening Oversight and Innovation in Malta’s Insurance Sector
An overview of the MFSA 2024 Annual Report
EBA's opinion on PSD2 and MiCA: Path for CASPs who provide services in relation to EMTs
On 10 June 2025, the European Banking Authority (“EBA”) published its long-awaited Opinion[1] on how the existing second Payment Services Directive (“PSD2”) interacts with the Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (“MiCA”), in the context of electronic money tokens (“EMTs”)...
MFSA publishes observations from inspections with investment services providers
The Malta Financial Services Authority (“MFSA”) has published a Dear CEO letter addressed to all chief executive officers and compliance officers of ‘persons professionally arranging or executing transactions’, particularly to investment services providers.
Chambers Global Practice Guide – Artificial Intelligence 2025
Ganado Advocates is the author of the Malta chapter in the Chambers Global Practice Guide 2025 on Artificial Intelligence (AI).
ESMA final reports on amendments to the Prospectus Regulation and Civil Prospectus Liability
The European Securities and Markets Authority (“ESMA”), the EU’s financial markets regulator and supervisor, has today released its final reports on the Prospectus Regulation and on civil prospectus liability.
Publication of Luxembourg’s 2025 National Risk Assessment
Luxembourg’s National Prevention Committee on money laundering and financing of terrorism (“NPC”) has published a revised version of Luxembourg’s National Risk Assessment which was prepared under the direction of the Ministry of Justice in Luxembourg and approved by the NPC on 28th April 2025...
Lexology Panoramic – Trademarks guide 2025
Ganado Advocates is the author of the Malta chapter in Lexology Panoramic – Trademarks guide, 2025 edition.
Lexology Panoramic – Restructuring and Insolvency guide 2025
Ganado Advocates has contributed to the Malta chapter in the 2025 edition of Lexology Panoramic – Restructuring and Insolvency guide.
Cross-Border Wars: CJEU clarifies jurisdiction rules in BSH v. Electrolux
On 25 February 2025, the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) issued a pivotal ruling in BSH Hausgeräte GmbH v. Electrolux AB (Case C-339/22), addressing jurisdictional issues in cross-border patent litigation.
Renewable Energy in Malta 2025
Ganado Advocates has contributed to the Malta Chapter of the 4th edition of the Legal 500 Renewable Energy Comparative Guide.
Acceleration Clauses in Personal Loan Agreements in the context of the Unfair Terms Directive
The general provisions found under Council Directive 93/13/EEC of 5 April 1993 on unfair terms in consumer contracts (the “Unfair Terms Directive”), which is aimed at safeguarding consumer rights in contracts with suppliers, have often been analysed and supplemented by judgments of the Court of...
ID-DRITT XXXV – Clean titles & cross-border conflicts: Resolving the international effects of judici
In today’s rapidly evolving global economy, ships are identified as key industry players by virtue of their day-to-day cross-border voyages making them one of the most essential and volatile economic units.
MFSA amendments to FIR/02 and FIR/03: Participation in payment systems and DORA alignment
The Malta Financial Services Authority (“MFSA”) has revised Chapter 2 of the Financial Institutions Rulebook (“FIR/02”) and Chapter 3 of the Financial Institutions Rulebook (“FIR/03”) to reflect recent regulatory developments at European level.
ID-DRITT XXXV – Procedural requirements for counterclaims under the ICSID Convention: Consent and co
A counterclaim is an independent claim made by a respondent party against a claimant, which reacts and is incidental to the original claim, while also having an objective which extends beyond the mere dismissal of that original claim.1
Key amendments to the Maritime Labour Convention: Strengthening protections for seafarers
The most recent amendments to the Maritime Labour Convention (MLC) of 2006, represent a significant step in strengthening the rights and welfare of seafarers.
Small Initiatives Support Scheme renewed with €180,000 budget for 2026 projects
The Small Initiatives Support Scheme (SIS), a key funding mechanism for voluntary organisations, has been renewed for another year.
Arbitration in Malta: Court balances procedure, legislative intent and party autonomy
On 28 April 2025, the Court of Magistrates, presided over by Magistrate Dr Victor G. Axiak, delivered a partial judgment in the case of Nigel Scerri and Ennessee Ltd v. SR Environmental Solutions Ltd.
A constitutional tug of war over Malta’s rent laws
For decades, Malta’s rental laws have been a legal minefield, balancing the rights of landlords against the protection of tenants.
Maritime trade in the crosshairs: Understanding the EU’s 16th sanctions package
On 24th February 2025, the European Union (“EU”) introduced its 16th package of restrictive measures and sanctions against Russia (the “16th Package”) through Council Regulation 2025/395 amending Regulation (EU) No. 833/2014 concerning restrictive measures in view of Russia’s actions...
MFSA seeks industry feedback on EU Banking Package implementation
On the 9 May 2025, the MFSA issued a consultation document on the national transposition and implementation of the Banking Package,1 namely CRDVI2 and CRRIII.
Malta Ship Registry to issue electronic certificates effective 1 June 2025
On 12 May 2025, the Merchant Shipping Directorate of Transport Malta issued Merchant Shipping Notice 193, which introduces a significant regulatory development concerning the issuance and legal recognition of statutory certificates by the Malta Ship Registry.
The interpretation of ‘Pre-Existing Medical Condition’ clauses in travel insurance policies
On 5 February 2025, the Court of Appeal (in its inferior jurisdiction), delivered its final judgment in the case of ‘D.M. v X Insurance’ which related to an appeal filed by X Insurance (the “Insurer”).
Luxembourg actively managed UCITS ETFs
Relaxation of transparency rules and subscription tax exemption.
Publication of draft delegated act in terms of the Listing Act
As part of the reforms introduced by the EU Listing Act (“Listing Act”), important amendments have been made to article 17 of the Market Abuse Regulation (“MAR”), specifically in relation to (a) the disclosure of inside information during “protracted processes”, and (b) the delay of disclosure...
Case Note: CJEU’s Commission v Malta — rethinking citizenship by investment
The case concerns Malta’s 2020 investor citizenship framework, formally called “Citizenship by Naturalisation for Exceptional Services by Direct Investment” or NESDI.
Salvage claims and debt recovery: Legal perspectives on compensation obligations
In ‘Sandy Yacht Marina Limited v. Bastiment M/Y Leymour’ decided by the First Hall of the Civil Court (the “Court”) on 27th March 2025, the Court held that defining whether services qualify as ‘salvage’ is a key consideration to make when determining the payment of salvage services.
MFSA revises bancassurance policy in the light of ECJ judgment
On the 16th April 2025, the Malta Financial Services Authority (MFSA) has issued a Circular introducing key regulatory changes affecting bancassurance in response to a 2022 European Court of Justice (ECJ) ruling.
The validity of post-insolvency transactions
Interpreting Article 31(1) of the EU Regulation on Insolvency Proceedings.