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Michael Psaila

Michael Psaila graduated Doctor of Laws from the University of Malta in 2004 after submitting a doctoral thesis entitled ‘The Raising and Maintenance of Capital’. He furthered his studies at Kings College London, where he obtained a Masters of Law degree in Corporate and Commercial Law.

Michael was called to the Bar in January, 2005 and was a partner at Simon Tortell & Associates since the firm was founded in May 2009 until it merged with Mamo TCV in July 2016.

Michael’s main areas of practice include banking and finance, capital markets, corporate and insolvency law.

He is a member of the Chamber of Advocates, the Institute of Financial Services Practitioners and the International Bar Association and is also recommended in most major legal directories.

No Appeal Unless the Law Says So
Court Reaffirms Limits on Appeals in Liquidation Proceedings Corporate and M&ALitigation & Dispute Resolution

Court Reaffirms Limits on Appeals in Liquidation Proceedings

In two recent partial judgments delivered on 22nd July 2025 in the liquidation proceedings in the names Genesis Global Limited vs X (127/2022 ISB), the Civil Court (Commercial Section) reaffirmed a key principle under Maltese company law: there is no right of appeal from decrees issued in the context of liquidations unless expressly provided for by law. The decrees arose from requests by two intervening parties seeking creditor recognition in the ongoing liquidation of a company regulated under the Companies Act (Chapter 386 of the Laws of Malta). Their applications to be included in the list of recognised creditors had…
Kristen Camilleri and Michael Psaila
31st July 2025
Cheques
Recent Amendments to CBM Directive 19 Corporate and M&A

Recent Amendments to CBM Directive 19

Introduction Directive No. 19 (the “Directive”), issued by the Central Bank of Malta (the “CBM” or the “Central Bank”) on the 7th July 2021 officially came into effect on 1st January 2022, with amendments issued in September 2024. It applies to all paper-based instruments issued, processed, or encashed within Malta’s jurisdiction, as long as these instruments are denominated in euros. The Directive sets the framework for the safe and effective use of cheques and bank drafts (collectively referred to as "paper-based instruments") where the payer, payee and the regulated institutions servicing the paper-based instruments are all located in Malta. It…
Michael Psaila
19th November 2024
Mamo TCV Advocates - Act No XVIII of 2024 seeks to address certain issues in the provisions of the Companies Act
An Overview of the Recent Amendments to the Companies Act Corporate and M&A

An Overview of the Recent Amendments to the Companies Act

On 15th April 2024, Bill No. 96 titled the ‘Companies (Amendment) Bill’ was presented to Parliament by the Minister for the Economy, Enterprise and Strategic Projects for its first reading. The Bill was subsequently passed as Act No. XVIII of 2024 (the ‘Act’) on the 17th May 2024. The Act specifically seeks to clarify certain provisions related to inter alia the reduction of companies’ issued share capital and share cancellation following a share buy-back, the requisition of general meetings by shareholders and to improve the quality of reporting standards to the Registrar of Companies (the ‘Registrar’). The aim of this…
Neeraj Bharwani, Nicole Portelli and Michael Psaila
30th May 2024
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The Central Bank of Malta Issues Directive 19 on the Use of Cheques and Bank Drafts Banking & Finance

The Central Bank of Malta Issues Directive 19 on the Use of Cheques and Bank Drafts

This article was written by​ Dr Michael Psaila and Mr Neeraj Bharwani.Directive No 19 on the Use of Cheques and Bank Drafts ('the Directive') was issued by the Central Bank of Malta on 7th July 2021 with the aim of promoting safe and effective use of cheques and bank drafts ('paper-based instruments') drawn on Maltese banks and financial institutions. Furthermore, institutions which exercise their passporting rights to provide their services in Malta, post office giro payment institutions and the Central Bank of Malta ('Bank') when acting as a payment service provider, and any natural or legal person making use of…
Michael Psaila
21st July 2021
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Are Foreign Subsidies Distorting the EU’s Single Market? Antitrust, Competition and Trade

Are Foreign Subsidies Distorting the EU’s Single Market?

This article was written by Dr Michael Psaila and Dr Laura SpiteriThe openness of the European Union (the 'EU') to foreign investment has been the subject of much recent debate. While this openness brought with it a myriad of opportunities, it also brought increased risks and in light of this, the European Commission (the 'Commission') published for consultation a White Paper on Foreign Subsidies in the Internal Market (the 'White Paper') on the 17 June 2020. Various EU instruments, including competition and public procurement rules, ensure fair conditions in the Single Market, with subsidies by Member States being subjected to…
Michael Psaila
13th July 2020
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Amendments to the Companies Act Corporate and M&A

Amendments to the Companies Act

This article was written by Dr Michael Psaila and Dr Joshua ChircopOverviewOn the 23rd June 2020, the President, on the advice and with the consent of the House of Representatives, enacted the Companies (Amendment) Act, Act number XXXI of 2020 (the "Amendment Act"), which introduces certain amendments to the Companies Act, Chapter 386 of the Laws of Malta (the "Act").The Companies (Amendment) Bill (the "Bill") was previously tabled before the House of Representatives by the Minister for the Economy, Investment and Small Businesses on the 13th May 2020. This Bill was reported in a previous article.The Act introduces:new grounds for…
Michael Psaila
5th July 2020