The Legal 500 > Europe, Middle East & Africa > Malta > Banking, finance and capital markets

Camilleri Preziosi’s team handles the full range of banking and finance issues, including foreign facility loans and regulatory advice. Practice head Louis De Gabriele assists clients with major banking and asset management matters, while Malcolm Falzon leads on capital markets mandates. In a key highlight, the team assisted PG Group with its equity listing on the Malta Stock Exchange. Andrei Vella made partner in January 2018.

With a 'depth of knowledge', ‘attention to detail’ and 'a strong client focus’, clients noted Ganado Advocates as the ‘go-to firm’ for all legal matters across the financial services industry. The ‘top-class’ Dr Conrad Portanier heads up the banking and finance team, advising local and international financial institutions on deal structuring and general financial law mandates. The ‘very approachable’ Dr Max Ganado is known for his expertise in drafting industry-specific legislation, particularly concerning the development of Malta’s financial services sector. The insurance and pensions team, which is led by Dr Matthew Bianchi, ‘offers an excellent service’, according to clients. Dr Matthew Brincat is also ‘a true professional’ in this field. Dr Leonard Bonello heads up the fintech group and James Farrugia leads on licensing and regulatory activities. Dr Simon Schembri, who deals with fintech and blockchain, and senior associate Dr Nicholas Curmi, who works in capital markets, are ‘highly skilled and professional’.

Rosanne Bonnici and Joseph Ghio jointly lead the 'client-oriented, efficient and precise' banking and finance practice at Fenech & Fenech Advocates. The team provides a full range of services for gaming and virtual currency companies, and also international banks. Its work includes regulatory advice on share purchase transactions, know-your-client matters and banking licence issues. Josianne Brimmer is a name to note.

Managing partner Andrew Zammit leads GVZH Advocates' banking and finance practice. The firm recently assisted Bortex Group Finance with its circa €12.7m bond issuance programme, which was intended to fund a number of hotel and retail development projects across Malta. The team, including senior associates Luca Vella and Kurt Hyzler, also advised on capital markets and corporate finance transactions for domestic and international companies.

Highlights for Mamo TCV Advocates included being instructed by the Malta Stock Exchange to assist with the establishment of the Institutional Financial Securities Market for the listing of wholesale securities upwards of €100,000. Led by Andrew Muscat, the team regularly acts for listed companies on debt and equity issuance programmes. Recent work includes handling a €2m bond issuance for food and beverage conglomerate Simonds Farsons Cisk and a share listing for property investment company Trident Estates. Managing partner Michael Psaila is noted for his work on syndicated loan transactions, securitisations and other capital markets matters.

The ‘very knowledgeable’ team at Chetcuti Cauchi Advocates has ‘really deep knowledge’ of traditional banking matters, and also in the fast-growing fintech space. Founding partner Maria Chetcuti Cauchi advised a foreign bank on compliance issues concerning obtaining a Maltese banking licence. Chetcuti Cauchi also assisted other clients with initial coin offerings (ICOs) and electronic money licensing issues. Key contacts Steve Muscat Azzopardi and Priscilla Mifsud Parker are recommended for their crowdfunding and fintech experience.

The team at WH Partners is particularly well-known for handling landmark transactions in the gaming sector, which included advising The Stars Group on the Maltese law aspects of the financing of its acquisition of Sky Betting & Gaming from CVC Capital Partners and Sky plc. Led by Ruth Galea, the team stands out for its ‘deep technical expertise’ and ‘strong legal knowledge’ of ICO compliance matters for online gaming platforms, including corporate structuring and tax planning projects. James Scicluna specialises in corporate finance, debt finance raising and capital markets transactions. Another notable matter included assisting Aspire Global plc with its IPO listing on the Swedish exchange Nasdaq First North.