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Joshua Chircop

Joshua Chircop is a Senior Associate in the transport and corporate practice groups of Mamo TCV Advocates.

Joshua advises lenders, lessors, owners, borrowers, and operators on a variety of domestic and international asset leasing and structured financing transactions involving aircraft and vessels. He also advises on a range of corporate and commercial matters, including mergers and acquisitions, corporate restructuring, and corporate governance.

A Year in Review: The Finance Charter Instrument Shipping, Yachting and Transport

A Year in Review: The Finance Charter Instrument

By virtue of Act I of 2025, significant amendments were introduced to Merchant Shipping Act (‘MSA’) Chapter 234 of the Laws of Malta (‘The Amendments’), reflecting Malta’s continued efforts to modernise its maritime legal framework and align itself with evolving international standards. As these amendments reach their first anniversary, this three-part series undertakes a review of the principal reforms introduced. The first part analyses the Finance Charter Instrument, the second part focuses on the Protection of Seafarers and the third part addresses the Merchant Shipping Act Amendments. To begin our year in review of the Amendments, Part I of this…
Joshua Chircop and Ella Vella Cardona
8th April 2026
Boeing 737 aircraft
Consultation on Aircraft Financial Leasing Aviation

Consultation on Aircraft Financial Leasing

The Malta Financial Services Authority (“MFSA”), in collaboration with the Malta Financial Services Advisory Council (“MFSAC”), has issued a Consultation on the Proposed Establishment of a Framework for Aircraft Financial Leasing Companies. Feedback should be submitted by not later than 9th February 2026. The MFSA is proposing to reduce the regulatory burden for aircraft financial leasing in Malta by means of a light touch statutory regime. Essentially, it is proposed that lessors or financiers of aircraft and aircraft engines that have more than EUR 100 million in assets will not require a banking or other financial services license to undertake…
Nicholas Valenzia and Joshua Chircop
6th January 2026
Aircraft Engine
Cape Town Convention Compliance Index Q1 2025: Malta Among Top Ranked Aviation

Cape Town Convention Compliance Index Q1 2025: Malta Among Top Ranked

In its first quarter 2025 report, Malta has once again achieved a high ranking, being placed first in Europe and second globally on the Cape Town Convention Compliance Index. With a score of 95 out of 100, Malta was rated in the “Very High” category, confirming its strong position within the global aviation sector. Background to the Cape Town Convention The Convention on International Interests in Mobile Equipment and the Protocol on Matters Specific to Aircraft Equipment (collectively known as the CTC), signed in 2001 and ratified by Malta in 2010, was created to facilitate aircraft financing and leasing by…
Martina Azzopardi and Joshua Chircop
3rd September 2025
Silouette of aircraft flying
The Impact of the EU’s 16th Sanctions Package on the Aviation Industry Aviation

The Impact of the EU’s 16th Sanctions Package on the Aviation Industry

On the 24th February 2025, the European Council introduced the 16th set of restrictive measures against Russia through Council Regulation 2025/495 (the “Regulation”), marking another step in the EU’s ongoing efforts to exert economic pressure on Russia and limit its capacity to finance the war in Ukraine. The latest sanctions package imposes stricter measures targeting key sectors of Russia’s economy, such as trade, energy, transport, and infrastructure. Background The EU has progressively imposed various restrictive measures against Russia since March 2014, initially in response to the illegal annexation of Crimea and Sevastopol, as well as the deliberate destabilisation of Ukraine.…
Joshua Chircop and Martina Azzopardi
11th March 2025
Parked private jet
New Requirements Under ODS Licensing Regime for Aircraft Imports and Exports Aviation

New Requirements Under ODS Licensing Regime for Aircraft Imports and Exports

New licensing requirements under Regulation (EU) 2024/590 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 7th of February 2024 on substances that deplete the ozone layer (the “Regulation”) will become applicable on the 3rd of March 2025. The Regulation provides for the licensing of the import and export of ozone-depleting substances (“Ozone-Depleting Substance/s” or “ODS”). Any aircraft that is imported to or exported from the EU is required to obtain an ODS license for customs purposes where such aircraft contains or relies on Ozone-Depleting Substances. Accordingly, with effect from the 3rd of March 2025, new ODS licenses issued under the Regulation must be used for…
Joshua Chircop
3rd March 2025
The Concept of a Share Buyback Under the Companies Act Corporate and M&A

The Concept of a Share Buyback Under the Companies Act

A share buyback essentially occurs when a company acquires some of its own shares through means other than by subscription. Such acquired shares are colloquially referred to as treasury shares and allow for flexibility with regards to the company’s capital structure since the sale thereof does not constitute an allotment or issue of shares and thus the restrictions imposed thereon do not apply.1 The procedure which a company must necessarily undertake in order to validly buy back its own shares is outlined in Articles 106 and 107 of the Companies Act (Chapter 386 of the Laws of Malta) (the “Companies…
Clarice Debono and Joshua Chircop
31st October 2023