Ganado Advocates
High Net Worth Guide 2024
About
Firm Details:
Managing Partner: Andre Zerafa
Number of partners: 22
Number of fee-earners: 100+ (including partners)
Total number of staff: 200+
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:
Competition/European
Construction
Corporate Finance & Tax
Corporate, M&A & Capital Markets
Environment, Energy & Renewable Energy
Financial Services
FinTech & Blockchain
Intellectual Property, Media, Entertainment & Technology
Labour & Employment
Litigation & Dispute Resolution
Private Client, Trusts & Foundations
Shipping, Yachting & Aviation
Ganado Advocates consistently provides its clients, coming from various industry sectors, with specialist advice and practice. The firm’s practice areas dealing with High Net Worth Individuals (HNWIs) are highlighted below.
Trusts & Foundations:
The trusts and foundations practice regularly assists with the setting up of various types of trusts and foundations governed by Maltese law, including employee benefit trusts, purpose foundations in the context of securitisation transactions, employee share option schemes, and various private trusts and foundations for estate planning and other private purposes. The team assists the majority of international players in the fiduciary sector with obtaining authorisations from the Malta Financial Services Authority (MFSA) — the local regulator — for the provision of fiduciary services in Malta. The team has also successfully assisted HNWIs in setting up the first Private Trust Companies (PTCs) in Malta and has, since then, been assisting other clients with setting up family-office style PTCs. More recently, the firm's team has also been assisting clients with the use of foundations in the innovative blockchain field.
Key Contact: Anthony Cremona
Email: [email protected]
Private Client:
The private client practice provides legal advice and ongoing assistance to HNWIs and their families, foundations, trustees, family offices and other wealth management service providers in connection with the planning and structuring of their own or their clients’ private wealth and assets and the regulatory aspects of their fiduciary activities. Transactions in this space range from the creation of structures for both domestic as well as international HNWIs and ultra-high-net-worth individuals (UHNWIs), consisting both of trusts and foundations, as well as assistance with contentious matters in this sector. This includes, where required, the acquisition of Maltese citizenship by naturalisation for exceptional services by direct investment, as a second citizenship. The practice also advises on the regulatory aspects of anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing (AML-CFT) legislation and regulations, having assisted various regulated entities with respect to their regulatory and other AML-CFT responsibilities in terms of the EU Anti-Money Laundering Directive as well as in respect of relevant Maltese laws, regulations, procedures and guidelines.
Key Contact: Anthony Cremona
Email: [email protected]
Yachting:
Ganado Advocates has a long-standing practice advising clients on the most tax efficient structures for the ownership and leasing of their yachts as well as the registration of the yachts under the Malta flag. The firm also advises and assists yacht financiers on the Maltese security aspects. The firm has been strongly involved in the drafting of much of the relevant shipping legislation over the years, and the Malta regulatory and tax authorities have regularly sought advice from the firm in respect of technical aspects of Malta’s legislation relating to yachts. The yachting practice is renowned for its level of expertise and detail when assisting yacht owners who lease their yachts through Maltese companies, import yachts into the EU through Malta, and acquire or transfer yachts owned by Maltese companies and/or Malta-flagged vessels.
Key Contacts: Christine Cassar Naudi, Matthew Attard
Emails: [email protected], [email protected]
Private Aviation:
The aviation practice at Ganado Advocates is well renowned for its expertise and experience. The team works regularly in sale and purchase transactions, setting up ownership structures, aviation finance transactions, leasing structures and in providing assistance to HNW aircraft owners with various legal aspects related to aircraft registration, management and leasing. The firm is also considered as a market leader in all matters relating to security interests over aircraft registered in Malta as well as in structuring air-finance deals through various methods, including syndicated loans and securitisation.
Key Contacts: Daniel Aquilina, Matthew Xerri
Email: [email protected], [email protected]
For a full list of the firm’s sectors and practices please visit: ganado.com/expertise
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
- View ranked office
Contributions
Latest contributions provided by Ganado Advocates
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Articles, highlights and press releases
386 items provided by Ganado Advocates
Non-Profit Companies: A Contradiction or a Practical Tool?
When one thinks of a company, trading activities and profit-making typically come to mind, with dividends eventually distributed to shareholders.
MiCA Goes Live: A Milestone for Crypto Regulation
On 30 December 2024, the Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCA) came into full force across the EU – ushering in a new chapter for the crypto-asset industry.
Confidentiality prevails: CJEU upholds lawyer-client privilege in tax and company law matters
On 26th September 2024, the Second Chamber of the CJEU, in Case C‑432/23, ‘F SCS and Ordre des Avocats du Barreau de Luxembourg v Administration des Contributions Directes’, addressed a request for a preliminary ruling from the Higher Administrative Court of Luxembourg, in terms of Article 267 of...
Ganado Advocates has contributed the Malta chapter in the 2024 edition of Lexology Panoramic: Fund Management.
Unilateral Option Clauses Survey 2024
Louis Cassar Pullicino and Luisa Cassar Pullicino have contributed to the 2024 edition of Clifford Chance’s Unilateral Option Clauses Survey.
EU Digital Copyright Directive ((EU) 2019/790)
Paul Micallef Grimaud and Philip Formosa have authored the Malta chapter featured in the 2024 edition of the EU Digital Copyright Directive ((EU) 2019/790) on Practical Law.
Rental Law Revamp: Are You Missing Out on Higher Rent and Your Rights?
The case Alexander Vella et al. vs. L-Avukat ta L-Istat u Joseph Grima was brought before the Constitutional Court on 18th November 2024.
Maltese PDMR notification threshold raised to EUR 10,000
On 4 December, the MFSA published a circular to inform the market that, following the publication of EU Regulation 2024/2809, the national threshold for the notification of managers' transactions in terms of article 19 of the EU Market Abuse Regulation has been increased for EUR 5,000 to EUR 10,000
The MFSA’s new Trustees of Family Trusts Rulebook
On the 27th November 2024, the Malta Financial Services Authority (the “MFSA”) published the new Trustees of Family Trusts Rulebook (“Rulebook”), replacing the first set of rules in the context of family trusts that were published way in back in 2016.
Insurance Recovery and Resolution Directive – Estimated Implementation Timeline
In early November 2024, the Council of the European Union adopted legislation aimed at introducing new rules on insurance recovery and resolution.
Data Protection and Targeted Online Advertising
On 4 October 2024, the CJEU, in delivering a preliminary ruling in the name of Maximilian Schrems v. Meta Platforms Ireland Ltd (C-446/21), provided critical guidance on the application of the GDPR to personalised advertising practices on online platforms like Meta Platforms Ireland.
Family Businesses Face Skills Shortages, Financial Strains, and Technology Gaps
A seminar hosted by Ganado Advocates & Zampa Debattista highlighted the unique challenges facing Maltese family businesses. Findings from a misco survey presented at the forum revealed that family businesses account for 70% of Malta’s 75,000 businesses & that while half of them have expanded...
International Arbitration in Malta
Ganado Advocates has contributed the Malta chapter in the 2024 edition of the Chambers International Arbitration Global Practice Guide.
Legal Amendments implementing DORA Regulation in Maltese Law
On the 11th of November 2024, the Malta Financial Services Authority (the “MFSA”) has published a new Circular concerning the necessary legal measures for the purposes of the national implementation of Regulation 2022/2554 on Digital Operational Resilience (the “DORA Regulation”).
Ganado Advocates among Europe’s best at Captive Review Awards 2024
Ganado Advocates has been named one of the top three firms in the Legal Services Firm of the Year category at the 2024 European Captive Review Awards.
Listen: Start-up founders share success stories in podcast
During this episode we met with Philip Camilleri and Julian Pace Ross who took us through the success stories of two start-ups they founded. Each of them managed to raise significant investment, leading to their original shareholders selling out.
Ganado Advocates co-hosted the 16th annual Employment Case Law Conference
On 13th November 2024, Ganado Advocates, in collaboration with Ten Yards Legal and BCGL Advocates, hosted the 16th annual Employment Case Law Conference at The Xara Lodge.
Defining 'consumer' status: CJEU ruling on mortgage agreements for buy-to-let Properties
In a preliminary ruling delivered by the Court of Justice of the European Union on the 24 October 2024 in the case of LB & JL vs Getin Noble Bank S.A, the Court had to consider whether a natural person who enters into a mortgage loan agreement in order to finance the purchase of a single...
Malta Business Registry penalties must be clear enough and satisfy the requisites set out in law
In Marco Aquilina u Euro Concrete Blocks Limited (C 16202) v. Ir-Reġistratur tal-Kumpaniji, decided by Mr Chief Justice Mark Chetcuti, Mr Justice Robert G. Mangion and Mr Justice Grazio Mercieca on 3 September 2024, the Court agreed with the judgement of the first court and rejected the appeal of...
Unfair Trading Practices in the Agricultural and Food Supply Chain in Malta
Clement Mifsud-Bonnici, Calvin Calleja and Giannella Vella have authored the Malta chapter in a book titled “Unfair Trading Practices in the Agricultural and Food Supply Chain: Implementation of Directive (EU) 2019/663 in the EU-27”.
The Maltese Court rejects a €1.58 million claim over three fishing vessels
On 26 September 2024, the First Hall of the Civil Court delivered judgement on the case Malta Fishing Trading Limited vs Al Safa Fishing Joint Stock whereby the Plaintiff claimed that the Defendant owed them the amount of €1,575,653 in relation to the vessels SAFA II, SAFA III, & SAFA IV and that...
Establishing the limits of shipowner standing in In Rem actions against vessels under bareboat chart
In three nearly identical judgements delivered on 3 October 2024, the Maltese Court of Appeal, presided over by Chief Justice Mark Chetcuti, Judge Christian Falzon Scerri and Judge Josette Demicoli, addressed the extent of a shipowner’s standing in in rem proceedings against a vessel subject to...
Navigating extraordinary circumstances: ECJ ruling on flight cancellations and technical failures
On 13 June 2024, the ECJ delivered a preliminary ruling on the interpretation and scope of Regulation (EC) No 261/2004 of the EP and of the Council of 11 February 2004 establishing common rules on compensation and assistance to passengers in the event of denied boarding & of cancellation or long...
Ganado Advocates participates in 30th anniversary event of MMLA
On Thursday, 17th October, the Malta Maritime Law Association (MMLA) celebrated its 30th anniversary with a commemorative event at the Malta National Library.
The Future of Dispute Resolution: Enforcing Metaverse-Related Blockchain Arbitral Awards
The rapid advancement of technology, particularly the internet, has profoundly reshaped our world over the past three decades.
Creditor’s Voluntary Winding Up
Following the first article in this series dealing with the process of a MVWU, the focus of this article will shift to the second mode of voluntary winding up which is the CVWU under the Companies Act, Chapter 386 under the Companies Act, Chapter 386 of the Laws of Malta (the “Act”).
Fuelling A Cleaner Future: How Regulation 2023/1805 aids the EU’s 2050 Climate Neutrality Target
Regulation (EU) 2023/1805 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 September 2023 on the use of renewable and low-carbon fuels in maritime transport and amending Directive 2009/16/EC (the “FuelEU Maritime Regulation”) aims to foster fair competition and boost the use of renewable and...
Overview of the EU AML/CFT Legislative Package
On the 19th June 2024, the EU AML/CFT Legislative Package was published in the EU Official Journal, which includes a set of legislative texts, comprising of two regulations and a directive, proposed by the European Commission to strengthen the EU’s framework and its financial system against money...
Listen: Developing a brand – the main considerations
In this first episode of Ganado Meets Intellectual Property, Paul Micallef Grimaud, IP partner at Ganado Advocates, met up with John Winfield, founder and proprietor of the Dr. Juice business, and Peter Grech, co-founder of the strategic creative branding agency, BRND WGN.
Marriages on Maltese-flagged Vessels
It is well known nowadays that the popularity of the Malta flag has grown substantially and is one of the world’s largest.
Non-Profit Companies: A Contradiction or a Practical Tool?
When one thinks of a company, trading activities and profit-making typically come to mind, with dividends eventually distributed to shareholders.
MiCA Goes Live: A Milestone for Crypto Regulation
On 30 December 2024, the Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCA) came into full force across the EU – ushering in a new chapter for the crypto-asset industry.
Confidentiality prevails: CJEU upholds lawyer-client privilege in tax and company law matters
On 26th September 2024, the Second Chamber of the CJEU, in Case C‑432/23, ‘F SCS and Ordre des Avocats du Barreau de Luxembourg v Administration des Contributions Directes’, addressed a request for a preliminary ruling from the Higher Administrative Court of Luxembourg, in terms of Article 267 of...
Ganado Advocates has contributed the Malta chapter in the 2024 edition of Lexology Panoramic: Fund Management.
Unilateral Option Clauses Survey 2024
Louis Cassar Pullicino and Luisa Cassar Pullicino have contributed to the 2024 edition of Clifford Chance’s Unilateral Option Clauses Survey.
EU Digital Copyright Directive ((EU) 2019/790)
Paul Micallef Grimaud and Philip Formosa have authored the Malta chapter featured in the 2024 edition of the EU Digital Copyright Directive ((EU) 2019/790) on Practical Law.
Rental Law Revamp: Are You Missing Out on Higher Rent and Your Rights?
The case Alexander Vella et al. vs. L-Avukat ta L-Istat u Joseph Grima was brought before the Constitutional Court on 18th November 2024.
Maltese PDMR notification threshold raised to EUR 10,000
On 4 December, the MFSA published a circular to inform the market that, following the publication of EU Regulation 2024/2809, the national threshold for the notification of managers' transactions in terms of article 19 of the EU Market Abuse Regulation has been increased for EUR 5,000 to EUR 10,000
The MFSA’s new Trustees of Family Trusts Rulebook
On the 27th November 2024, the Malta Financial Services Authority (the “MFSA”) published the new Trustees of Family Trusts Rulebook (“Rulebook”), replacing the first set of rules in the context of family trusts that were published way in back in 2016.
Insurance Recovery and Resolution Directive – Estimated Implementation Timeline
In early November 2024, the Council of the European Union adopted legislation aimed at introducing new rules on insurance recovery and resolution.
Data Protection and Targeted Online Advertising
On 4 October 2024, the CJEU, in delivering a preliminary ruling in the name of Maximilian Schrems v. Meta Platforms Ireland Ltd (C-446/21), provided critical guidance on the application of the GDPR to personalised advertising practices on online platforms like Meta Platforms Ireland.
Family Businesses Face Skills Shortages, Financial Strains, and Technology Gaps
A seminar hosted by Ganado Advocates & Zampa Debattista highlighted the unique challenges facing Maltese family businesses. Findings from a misco survey presented at the forum revealed that family businesses account for 70% of Malta’s 75,000 businesses & that while half of them have expanded...
International Arbitration in Malta
Ganado Advocates has contributed the Malta chapter in the 2024 edition of the Chambers International Arbitration Global Practice Guide.
Legal Amendments implementing DORA Regulation in Maltese Law
On the 11th of November 2024, the Malta Financial Services Authority (the “MFSA”) has published a new Circular concerning the necessary legal measures for the purposes of the national implementation of Regulation 2022/2554 on Digital Operational Resilience (the “DORA Regulation”).
Ganado Advocates among Europe’s best at Captive Review Awards 2024
Ganado Advocates has been named one of the top three firms in the Legal Services Firm of the Year category at the 2024 European Captive Review Awards.
Listen: Start-up founders share success stories in podcast
During this episode we met with Philip Camilleri and Julian Pace Ross who took us through the success stories of two start-ups they founded. Each of them managed to raise significant investment, leading to their original shareholders selling out.
Ganado Advocates co-hosted the 16th annual Employment Case Law Conference
On 13th November 2024, Ganado Advocates, in collaboration with Ten Yards Legal and BCGL Advocates, hosted the 16th annual Employment Case Law Conference at The Xara Lodge.
Defining 'consumer' status: CJEU ruling on mortgage agreements for buy-to-let Properties
In a preliminary ruling delivered by the Court of Justice of the European Union on the 24 October 2024 in the case of LB & JL vs Getin Noble Bank S.A, the Court had to consider whether a natural person who enters into a mortgage loan agreement in order to finance the purchase of a single...
Malta Business Registry penalties must be clear enough and satisfy the requisites set out in law
In Marco Aquilina u Euro Concrete Blocks Limited (C 16202) v. Ir-Reġistratur tal-Kumpaniji, decided by Mr Chief Justice Mark Chetcuti, Mr Justice Robert G. Mangion and Mr Justice Grazio Mercieca on 3 September 2024, the Court agreed with the judgement of the first court and rejected the appeal of...
Unfair Trading Practices in the Agricultural and Food Supply Chain in Malta
Clement Mifsud-Bonnici, Calvin Calleja and Giannella Vella have authored the Malta chapter in a book titled “Unfair Trading Practices in the Agricultural and Food Supply Chain: Implementation of Directive (EU) 2019/663 in the EU-27”.
The Maltese Court rejects a €1.58 million claim over three fishing vessels
On 26 September 2024, the First Hall of the Civil Court delivered judgement on the case Malta Fishing Trading Limited vs Al Safa Fishing Joint Stock whereby the Plaintiff claimed that the Defendant owed them the amount of €1,575,653 in relation to the vessels SAFA II, SAFA III, & SAFA IV and that...
Establishing the limits of shipowner standing in In Rem actions against vessels under bareboat chart
In three nearly identical judgements delivered on 3 October 2024, the Maltese Court of Appeal, presided over by Chief Justice Mark Chetcuti, Judge Christian Falzon Scerri and Judge Josette Demicoli, addressed the extent of a shipowner’s standing in in rem proceedings against a vessel subject to...
Navigating extraordinary circumstances: ECJ ruling on flight cancellations and technical failures
On 13 June 2024, the ECJ delivered a preliminary ruling on the interpretation and scope of Regulation (EC) No 261/2004 of the EP and of the Council of 11 February 2004 establishing common rules on compensation and assistance to passengers in the event of denied boarding & of cancellation or long...
Ganado Advocates participates in 30th anniversary event of MMLA
On Thursday, 17th October, the Malta Maritime Law Association (MMLA) celebrated its 30th anniversary with a commemorative event at the Malta National Library.
The Future of Dispute Resolution: Enforcing Metaverse-Related Blockchain Arbitral Awards
The rapid advancement of technology, particularly the internet, has profoundly reshaped our world over the past three decades.
Creditor’s Voluntary Winding Up
Following the first article in this series dealing with the process of a MVWU, the focus of this article will shift to the second mode of voluntary winding up which is the CVWU under the Companies Act, Chapter 386 under the Companies Act, Chapter 386 of the Laws of Malta (the “Act”).
Fuelling A Cleaner Future: How Regulation 2023/1805 aids the EU’s 2050 Climate Neutrality Target
Regulation (EU) 2023/1805 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 September 2023 on the use of renewable and low-carbon fuels in maritime transport and amending Directive 2009/16/EC (the “FuelEU Maritime Regulation”) aims to foster fair competition and boost the use of renewable and...
Overview of the EU AML/CFT Legislative Package
On the 19th June 2024, the EU AML/CFT Legislative Package was published in the EU Official Journal, which includes a set of legislative texts, comprising of two regulations and a directive, proposed by the European Commission to strengthen the EU’s framework and its financial system against money...
Listen: Developing a brand – the main considerations
In this first episode of Ganado Meets Intellectual Property, Paul Micallef Grimaud, IP partner at Ganado Advocates, met up with John Winfield, founder and proprietor of the Dr. Juice business, and Peter Grech, co-founder of the strategic creative branding agency, BRND WGN.
Marriages on Maltese-flagged Vessels
It is well known nowadays that the popularity of the Malta flag has grown substantially and is one of the world’s largest.