Malta > Intellectual property > Law firm and leading lawyer rankings

Antonio Ghio leads on the full range of IP matters for Fenech & Fenech Advocates with ‘a knowledgeable, clear and concise approach'. On the TMT side, the firm's recent work has included multiple copyright infringement disputes, as well as advice to clients on licensing and distribution agreements, and GDPR strategies; Gaming Innovation Group is a key client concerning the latter. Senior associate Jeanine Rizzo has earned a name for herself in the field as a ‘highly knowledgeable lawyer', who 'is proficient at what she does’. She assists with both prosecution and litigation matters.

Ganado Advocates' Dr Paul Micallef Grimaud is a key contact for all types of IP matters, including patent, trade mark and design registration, contract drafting, licensing agreements and IP litigation. The firm provides ‘wide-ranging, comprehensive legal advice and assistance' with copyright infringements, antitrust investigations and patent law advice. It also advises on GDPR implementation. Clients include companies active in sectors such as automotive, publishing and TMT.

The team at Mamo TCV Advocates excels in major trade mark enforcement actions, and has successfully handled anti-counterfeiting matters for multinational brands. Led by practice head Antoine Camilleri, it also leads on prosecution matters, agreement drafting, licensing and encryption issues. Key clients include multinational FMCG, computing, publishing and entertainment brands. Richard Camilleri is also a noted contact.

Henri Mizzi, who leads Camilleri Preziosi’s IP department, has ‘extensive knowledge and a sharp understanding of commercial matters’. IP disputes are a strong point of the practice; Mizzi is representing an investment services firm before the European Intellectual Property Office in opposition proceedings against an international bank over conflicting European trade marks. The firm also represented claimant AWS Malta in a domain name and trade mark dispute involving a former employee of the company, and is defending DMD Autoparts against a claim that it breached trade mark rights in relation to Hyundai and Kia spare parts. The ‘meticulous and articulate’ Sharon Xuereb is recommended for privacy-related matters. The group also advises on licensing, contract negotiation and royalty securitisation.

Michael Grech heads GVZH Advocates’ practice, which generates work from major international clients, including Unilever, L'Oréal and General Electric. The team handles the full spectrum of IP services including trade mark filing, copyright and patenting, competition and infringement actions and larger enforcement instructions. Grech advised IMG on copyright-related matters concerning its Malta-based operations.

Highlights for the team at Chetcuti Cauchi Advocates included guiding a university through numerous patent applications, including for a speech therapy device. Practice head Maria Chetcuti Cauchi also represents clients in trade mark, copyright, patent and domain name dispute resolution matters. The group is ‘highly knowledgeable and experienced’, and has ‘an ability to provide insight that can make an important difference at every stage of the process’.

WH Partners has a particular strength handling intellectual property matters with a nexus to Malta’s 'new economy' industries, namely gaming and gambling, e-payments, e-money and blockchain. The scope of its work includes assisting clients with trade mark applications, GDPR matters, software licence agreements and domain name acquisitions. James Scicluna and Olga Finkel are key contacts.