Insights

Intellectual Property

“Who Owns my Wedding Photos?”

Picture this. You and your betrothed spend several months micro-managing every aspect of your impending wedding. You will probably agonise over your choice of venue, ceremonial garbs, wedding cake, guests, wedding invitations, souvenirs, band (or DJ if you are so inclined), flower arrangements, caterers and several other issues. It is likely that at some point you will also seek to engage someone to be your official photographer. With so much on your mind, the last thing you will probably think about is what legal rights are attributed to the wedding photos. You probably think that as long as you pay…

Claude Micallef Grimaud10th April 2017

Immigration

The Key Employee Initiative

This article was written by Dr. Christian Tonna and Dr. Stephanie Abela Medici.Identity Malta Agency has recently launched the Key Employee Initiative (KEI) offering a fast-tracked procedure for highly specialised non-EU nationals who intend to work in Malta. The KEI enables interested applicants to submit their application from abroad or while in Malta. The KEI affords successful applicants a joint residence and work permit within five (5) working days from the date of submission of the application.Eligible CriteriaThe initiative targets individuals who hold a managerial or highly-technical post having corresponding qualifications or relevant work experience. Individuals of start-up projects, endorsed…

MamoTCV3rd April 2017

Corporate and M&A

Malta Launches Formal Bid to Host European Medicines Agency (EMA) Post Brexit

Following Brexit, the European Medicines Agency (EMA) will be forced to relocate its headquarters out of London. Several EU Member States have already expressed an interest in hosting the EMA. Recently, Malta has also stepped forward and formally launched its bid to take on this role. The bid is being led by the Malta Medicines Authority and the launch thereof was formally announced on 20th March 2017 at an event held at the Grand Master's Palace in Valletta, Malta.Addressing the press conference, Minister for Social Dialogue, Consumer Affairs and Civil Liberties Helena Dalli, augured that "Malta's safe and social environment…

David Tonna27th March 2017

Shipping, Yachting and Transport

Chambers – Global Practice Guides for Shipping 2017

Nick Valenzia and Joseph Camilleri have contributed to this year's Chambers Law and Practice Guide – Shipping. This comprehensive guide covers all area of ship registration finance and provides interesting insight on traditional topics such as; various type of ship registrations (ownership, bareboat), ship mortgages and asset finance and liens. Valenzia and Camilleri further delve into and explore contemporaneous topics of interest such as access to capital markets and insolvency.Disclaimer This document does not purport to give legal, financial or tax advice. Should you require further information or legal assistance, please do not hesitate to contact Dr. Nicholas Valenzia and…

Nicholas Valenzia23rd March 2017

Investment Services & Funds

The Maltese Professional Investor Fund Regime

Under Maltese law, collective investment schemes that qualify as Professional Investor Funds ("PIFs") are subject to a significantly lighter and more flexible regime than retail funds. Hedge funds, funds of funds, private equity funds, and property funds, are typically set up as a PIF, in Malta. The Investment Services Rules for Professional Investor Funds, issued by the Malta Financial Services Authority ("MFSA") cater for a regulatory framework that is both robust and adaptable, allowing managers and promoters to innovate and to develop new products to meet the changing needs of the market. Changes to the Investor Base On 1 April…

Katya Tua21st March 2017

Trusts, Foundations and Wealth Management

Family Trusts

This article was written by Veronica Grixti and Joshua Chircop.The main Maltese legislation regulating trusts in Malta, namely the Trusts and Trustees Act, Chapter 331 of the Laws of Malta ('the Act'), provides that a trust may be created to hold property settled by a settlor or settlors for the present and future needs of family members or family dependants, as defined hereunder, who are definite and can be ascertained ('the Family Trust').Pursuant to the Act, the Malta Financial Services Authority ('the MFSA') has drawn up Rules for Trustees of Family Trusts ('the Rules'), which regulate those companies in formation…

Veronica Grixti17th March 2017