Ganado Advocates maintains a strong presence across a wide range of financial and corporate matters, with notable activity in mergers, pensions law, and the structuring of public offerings. The practice is jointly led by five key individuals: Conrad Portanier, who advises on deal structuring; Matthew Bianchi, who focuses on the insurance sector, regularly acting for insurers and insurance managers; Matthew Brincat, whose expertise centres on employment and pensions law; Leonard Bonello, who advises credit institutions, payment service providers, and electronic money institutions; and Nicholas Curmi, who is well-regarded for his work on the establishment of securitisation structures. Catherine Formosa is another key figure, particularly noted for her work on corporate governance, regulatory compliance, and advisory support in retail banking and corporate law matters.

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Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

Knowledge, experience, and bandwidth in insurance regulation.
Attentive and knowledgeable about Malta's regulatory and legal issues, with a client service-based approach.
Stands out as a leading firm on regulatory and legal issues in Malta, good at working with us to provide solutions.
Very approachable, knowledgeable, and always has a pragmatic solution.
‘Partners and associates possess a thorough understanding of both local and international banking and finance regulations, enabling them to provide clear, actionable advice even in complex scenarios.’
‘This is a highly competent team built on a foundation of extensive experience, but also balanced with adaptability, innovation, and a strong understanding of evolving business needs.’

Key clients

APS Bank plc
Merkanti Bank plc
Merkanti Holding plc
Multitude SE
IIG Bank Limited
FIMBank plc
Bank of Valletta plc
BNF Bank plc
Catena Media plc
Dino Fino Finance plc
International Finance Corporation
Lidion Bank plc

Work highlights

Advised on the legal strategy for APS Bank plc’s bid to acquire HSBC UK’s shares in HSBC Malta Bank plc.

Provided Maltese law opinions to ISDA in relation to international master agreements, ensuring compliance with jurisdictional requirements and regulatory standards.

Advised QLZH Group as issuer counsel on the launch of its €12 million Bond Programme, including the successful first tranche issuance of €6.8 million 5.5% Bonds maturing in 2035.