News

OHSA – A New Law on Safety & Security at the Workplace

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The Occupational Health & Safety Authority (OHSA) has recently issued a leaflet to outline the basic tenets of the new law. In case you missed it or are not in Malta, here are the key points. Every worker counts and every worker can contribute to the safety and security of the workplace. The main objectives of the new law are the following: Key responsibilities: The OHSA offers a helpline – 158 – for more information or any difficulties. If you … Continued

Travelling on Business

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Everyone who knows me, is familiar with my love of travel. This extends to the large number of business trips that I embark on as part of my career. Most of my trips surround the work in relation to superyachts and aircraft, although sometimes I need to travel for more generic conferences and meetings. The yacht and aircraft shows provide a joy of being present, even if the networking is gruelling and entails long days. Events, fairs, conferencies, parties – … Continued

Sanctioned Russian Oligarch wins right to use yacht on the French Riviera

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A sanctioned Russian oligarch has won the right to use his yacht on the French Riviera. Rather, he has successfully challenged French customs due to a number of errors made in the procedure when they boarded the yacht. The EU sanctions apply across EU member states. French customs authorities are reported to have failed to follow the correct procedures. The court ordered the release of the yacht. Read the article here. Legal professionals from different parts of the world have … Continued

Best in Yachting Awards – 2018

Best in Yachting Awards – 2018

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I recently had the pleasure of being nominated by the Malta Business Review to sit on a panel of judges during the Malta Best In Business Awards 2018, to be held at Castello Dei Baroni in Wardija, Malta. Besides myself, there were other reputable members of the adjudication panel, and the nominees varied.  The Awards were held as part of the Malta Best in Business Awards, an annual event hosted by Malta Business Review as part of its ongoing efforts … Continued

Companies Act – Register of Beneficial Owners

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  On the 1st January 2018, new regulations came into force, applicable to companies except where:   They are listed on a regulated market and disclosure is already required under the appropriate regulations; or Companies where shareholders are all natural persons disclosed to the companies registrar.   The First Schedule sets out a form which is to be delivered together with the M&As whenever a new company is being set up. Declarations must be submitted for each beneficial owner and … Continued

Disclosure of Information on Beneficial Ownership – Trusts and Trustees

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On the 1st January 2018, new regulations came into force concerning the operation of a Central Register of UBOs for trusts and trustees and for companies, for associations and for foundations.   Regarding trusts and trustees, the rules only apply to express trusts generating tax consequences.  Within 14 days from being appointed as a trustee of an express trust, authorused trustees must submit a declaration of ownership to MFSA where such trust has tax consequences.  The regulations list the information … Continued

Opinion: A Commercial Court for Malta ?

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Earlier in 2017, the Ministry for Justice, Culture and Local Government held a public consultation, titled “Setting up of the Civil Court, First Hall, Commercial Section“.  This was concluded in July 2017. While we have not been active in commercial litigation for a relatively long while, we still believe that this is the way forward.  Questions included whether there should be a commercial section within the civil arm of the Maltese courts, and whether the remit should be wider than matters … Continued

FIAU Press Release on Penalties

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Following the coming into force of the Various Financial Services Laws (Amendment) Act, 2017 (Act XXVIII of 2017) on the  1st December 2017, publication of administrative penalties imposed by the Financial Intelligence Analysis Unit (“FIAU”) for one or more contraventions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (“PMLA”) and/or of the Prevention of Money Laundering and Funding of Terrorism Regulations no longer falls under Article 13A of the PMLA but by the new Article 13C. Article 13C now provides for the … Continued