Corporate Law

Commercial Law

Remote Gaming

Our services encompass licensing for both B2C and B2B gaming entities, as well as obtaining Recognition Notices from the Malta Gaming Authority (MGA). Additionally, we provide comprehensive assistance for ongoing compliance with MGA regulations, including sourcing members of our team as MGA-approved key function personnel.

Financial Institutions

Regulatory Compliance

Anti-Money Laundering

Our AML services ensure your business adheres to stringent regulatory standards and mitigates money laundering risks. Our services include policy development, compliance program implementation, risk assessments, staff training, monitoring and reporting, regulatory filings, audits and reviews, and sourcing qualified and competent MLROs.

Dispute Resolution

Our lawyers adeptly manage negotiations and conflicts to safeguard your interests. We facilitate negotiations aimed at reaching mutually beneficial agreements. We specialize in advising on strategies to prevent disputes related to contractual obligations. Our lawyers provide client representation in court, tribunal, and arbitration proceedings in civil and commercial matters.

Funds & Investments Services Law

We advise on the establishment and structuring of various types of investment funds, including UCITS, AIFs, NPIFs and private equity funds. We ensure funds comply with local and EU regulations, including filings with the MFSA. We also support fund managers with operational, governance, and compliance issues.

Insurance Law

Fortis Legal provides legal and regulatory support for insurers, brokers, and policyholders. We assist with the application and renewal of insurance licenses and authorizations with the MFSA. We develop insurance policies to ensure clarity and compliance. Our team offers claims management support, including dispute resolution and litigation involving insurance claims.

Fintech & Virtual Financial Assets

Our specialized team navigates fintech and VFA sectors, offering regulatory guidance and compliance, including MFSA filings. We assist in ICOs and STOs, smart contract drafting, and advise on cryptocurrency regulations. Fortis Legal also handles technology agreements, ensuring legal soundness in software licensing and development.

Maritime Law

We handle ship and yacht registrations under the Malta flag, ensuring ongoing compliance. Our services encompass maritime litigation, admiralty law, charter party agreements, marine insurance, ship finance, port operations, and environmental compliance, offering comprehensive legal support for maritime activities.

Employment Law

We handle drafting, reviewing, and negotiating employment contracts and related documents, ensuring legal compliance. We advise on HR policies, termination, discrimination, work permits, and benefits. We also handle dispute resolution, health and safety compliance, and representation before the Employment Tribunal, providing support in all aspects of employment law.

Data Protection & Privacy

We specialize in GDPR compliance, data breach response, data transfer agreements, employee data protection, and Data Protection Officer services. Our support includes data processing agreements, privacy policies, notification procedures, drafting agreements for data transfer outside the EEA, and advising on employee privacy rights and consent mechanisms.

Intellectual Property

We offer comprehensive intellectual property services, including trademark registration and protection, patent applications, design rights protection, and IP litigation. We also handle IP licensing, audits, and domain name protection. Our expert team ensures the effective safeguarding and commercialization of your intellectual property assets in Malta and worldwide.

Immigration Law

We provide expert immigration services, assisting with work permits, residency, and citizenship applications. We advise on investor and entrepreneur visas, ensure compliance with immigration laws, and assist students with visa applications. We also help clients under the Individual Investor Programme and other residence programs in Malta through our authorized partner.

Assurance

Our team provides assurance services to ensure confidence and security in business operations. We conduct compliance audits, due diligence for mergers and acquisitions, and advise on risk management. We also enhance internal controls and advise on corporate governance, as well as offer assurance services for ISO27001, DORA, and PCI DSS compliance.

Key Functions

Fortis Legal provides specialized key functions services to support businesses in Malta, including compliance and risk management, AML/CTF (MLRO), and DPO services. We conduct internal audits, assist with regulatory reporting, and support board and committee functions. Our team includes individuals approved by the MFSA and MGA as key functionaries.

Training

We offer comprehensive training services for legal and compliance knowledge and skills enhancement. Our programs cover regulatory compliance, AML/CFT, data protection, employment law, and corporate governance, fostering professional development and ensuring regulatory adherence and ethical conduct.

Christina Sillato Warrington

Lawyer

Starting out her career in court litigation, Christina represented clients before the inferior and superior Courts of Malta, and Maltese tribunals. Today, Christina has gained considerable experience in transactional work, and specializes in corporate laws, gaming laws, financial services laws and anti-financial crime laws, with a special focus on establishing local and international tax-efficient corporate structures joint ventures, mergers and acquisitions, restructurings, regulatory compliance, general corporate and commercial advisory work, for gaming companies and fintech institutions.

Since 2018, Christina has been approved by the Malta Gaming Authority as a key legal officer, occupying this role on several regulated gaming companies.

Christina's academic background includes the completion of a Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of Malta in 2009, followed by a Diploma in Notary in 2011. She further earned her Doctor of Laws degree in 2012 and obtained the Diploma in Fund Administration from the University of Manchester Business School. Admitted to the Bar in 2013, Christina is authorized to practice as an advocate before the Maltese Superior Courts and is a member of the Malta Chamber of Advocates.

Practice Areas: Commercial Law, Corporate Law, Financial Services, Gaming, Fintech, Anti-Financial Crime

Qualifications: LL.B., Dip. Not. Pub., LL.D. (Melit.), Dip. Fund Admin (MBS)

Languages: Maltese, English and Italian

Admissions: Maltese Bar, Superior Courts of Malta; Malta Chamber of Advocates

Nicola Lapira

Lawyer

Nicola’s areas of expertise include corporate and commercial law, employment law, property law, and intellectual property law. Bringing more than a decade of experience to her practice, she is dedicated to delivering comprehensive legal guidance and representation to her clientele.

Throughout her professional journey, Nicola has counselled businesses across various industries, engaging in both local and international contracts. Her clientele includes publicly traded companies as well as privately held entities, for whom she addresses a spectrum of matters. Her expertise spans advising on shareholders’ agreements, commercial contracts, and corporate governance. Nicola's proficiency extends to managing cross-border transactions, often collaborating with foreign legal counterparts. She also possesses a robust background in property law, assisting individuals with legal complexities surrounding real estate matters. Renowned for her prowess in negotiating commercial lease agreements, Nicola frequently navigates clients through corporate restructurings, due diligence processes, mergers, acquisitions, and shareholder affairs. Her involvement in significant corporate transactions has solidified her reputation as a trusted legal advisor in the industry.

Having been admitted to the Bar of Malta in 2013, Nicola has concentrated her practice primarily on corporate law, commercial law, property law, employment law, and intellectual property law. Her professional journey includes a partnership role in a boutique law firm for over four years, followed by establishing herself as a legal practitioner focusing on her areas of expertise. Nicola is particularly skilled in contract drafting and is known for her keen eye for detail. She approaches negotiations, contract drafting, and review processes with a personalised touch, ensuring tailored legal solutions for her clients while maintaining an unwavering commitment to delivering exceptional legal services.

Practice Areas: Commercial Law, Corporate Law, Property Law, Employment Law, Intellectual Property Law

Qualifications: LL.B., Dip. Not. Pub., LL.D. (Melit.)

Languages: Maltese, English and Italian

Admissions: Maltese Bar, Superior Courts of Malta; Malta Chamber of Advocates

Kurt Caruana

CFO & Fund Structuring Consultant

After accumulating over a decade of experience in the fund administration sector, Kurt Caruana transitioned to prominent roles within two of Malta's foremost hedge funds, assuming responsibilities as a financial analyst, equities trader, and fund accountant.

Commencing his career in corporate accounting, Kurt laid the groundwork for his progression into fund accounting. His tenure in fund accounting enriched his proficiency in assessing the valuation of investor assets. With an extensive track record spanning more than 14 years in the funds and investments domain, Kurt's expertise predominantly centres on the technical intricacies of the field. While he remains deeply engaged in fund accounting, Kurt also contributes to various other facets of the sector, encompassing compliance filings and monitoring, investor relations, equities execution trading, and the ongoing oversight of daily hedge fund operations. A crucial figure in portfolio management, Kurt provides invaluable insights through performance analysis and regularly participates in the hedge fund's investment committee meetings.

Kurt holds the distinction of being an ACCA qualified accountant, having attained his Master’s degree in 2019. Kurt also obtained a Diploma in Fund Administration from the University of Manchester.

Practice Areas: Funds, Investments Services Law, Regulatory Compliance, Bookkeeping

Qualifications: ACCA, Dip. Fund Admin (MBS)

Languages: Maltese, English and Italian

Admissions: Malta Institute of Accountants

Bjorn Grech

Consultant - Funds & Risk Management

Bjorn Grech is actively engaged in the investment services sector, providing his expertise to a diverse clientele while assuming multiple regulated roles. Bjorn boasts a wealth of experience spanning over a decade in the industry, having undertaken various roles across its diverse segments. Over the years, Bjorn has honed his expertise in advisory and structuring, risk management, fund administration and valuation, compliance, AML/CFT, and governance. Bjorn’s professional competence has been acknowledged by the Malta Financial Services Authority (MFSA), which has granted him approval to hold key positions within investment firms and regulated funds.

Bjorn is a certified accountant holding a Bachelor of Commerce in Accountancy from the University of Malta and a Diploma in Fund Administration from the University of Manchester.

He is an active member of the Malta Accountancy Board and the Global Association of Risk Professionals.

Practice Areas: Investment Services, Funds, Financial Institutions, Virtual Financial Assets

Qualifications: B.Accty (Hons) (Melit.), CPA, Dip. Fund Admin (MBS)

Languages: Maltese, English and Italian

Admissions: Malta Institute of Accountants; Global Association of Risk Professionals

Andrew Sillato Warrington

Consultant - Insurance & Regulatory Compliance

Andrew is well known within Malta's insurance industry, boasting over a decade of extensive experience as both an underwriter and broker with some of the country’s leading insurance companies and brokers. His multifaceted expertise spans across underwriting, brokerage, and the critical area of regulatory compliance. Andrew’s experience involves business insurance, liability insurance, marine insurance, motor insurance and more.

Andrew's journey in the insurance sector is marked by a deep passion for ensuring robust and compliant business practices. His dedication to compliance has been pivotal in ensuring that the companies he collaborates with meet and exceed their regulatory obligations, thereby fostering a culture of integrity and reliability within the industry.

Driven by a commitment to excellence and a vision for the future, Andrew is determined to see the insurance sector in Malta not only grow but thrive. His blend of technical knowledge, practical experience, and a fervent dedication to regulatory standards makes him a vital contributor to the industry's ongoing success and development.

Practice Areas: Insurance, Regulatory Compliance

Qualifications: ICA Certificate in Compliance

Languages: Maltese, English and Italian

Brian Attard

IT Auditor

Brian's auditing career spans over two decades, beginning as the internal auditor for a multinational company's Malta plant. This role followed ​intensive training and certification by LRQA (UK). Brian's initial focus was on implementing ISO 9001 requirements across the group, where he played a ​crucial role in achieving certification. During this time, he gained extensive knowledge in management methodologies, including Lean, Kanban, and ​other industry-standard practices.

With a background in IT dating back to the days of BASIC, MS-DOS, and Microsoft Windows 3.0, Brian expanded his expertise to information security ​audits. He employed BS7799 and COBIT as audit criteria, enhancing the ISO 9000 Quality Management System. In 2009, Brian obtained his CISA ​certification and became an active member of the ISACA Malta Chapter. He also holds the credential of Certified ISO 27001 Lead Auditor from Bureau ​Veritas.

Brian's professional journey includes numerous System and Compliance audits for the Malta Gaming Authority (MGA). He has successfully assisted ​many clients with their MGA licence applications and in obtaining their Maltese igaming licenses. His consultancy services are distinguished by an ​impeccable track record in both the gaming sector and ISO certifications. Remarkably, Brian has consistently achieved certifications for companies ​without a single failure throughout his extensive career.

Practice Areas: Information Security, IT Audit

Qualifications: CISA (ISACA), ISO27001 LA (Bureau Veritas)

Languages: Maltese, English and Italian

Admissions: ISACA Malta Chapter

Michael Sillato

Consultant - Maritime

Michael is a prominent figure in Malta's maritime sector, particularly known for his significant contributions to the development of the Malta Ship Register. As the former Registrar of Shipping and Seamen, Michael played a key role in transforming Malta into a highly reputable and internationally recognized ship registry.

The inception of the Malta Ship Register began in the 1970s. Michael was instrumental during this period, particularly in the drafting and implementation of the Malta Merchant Shipping Act of 1973. Despite early challenges, including limited technology and international visibility, Michael worked diligently to attract foreign ship owners to register their vessels under the Malta flag. Their efforts led to a significant increase in registrations, especially during the late 1980s and mid-1990s​.

Michael’s tenure also witnessed Malta's accession to the European Union in 2004, which introduced stricter safety and compliance standards. This period was crucial for enhancing Malta's maritime regulations, thereby bolstering the register's reputation globally​.

Michael's dedication to providing efficient services and accommodating clients' requests helped Malta's Ship Register grow, eventually registering entire fleets and significantly increasing ship registrations​.

Practice Areas: Ship and Yacht Registrations, Ship Management, Crewing, Maritime-Commercial

Languages: Maltese, English and Italian

Raissa Azzopardi

Certified Public Accountant

Raissa Azzopardi is a seasoned accountant with a solid academic foundation, holding a Bachelor's degree in Accountancy and Management (2012) ​and a Master's degree in Accountancy (2014) from the University of Malta. As a member of the Malta Institute of Accountants, Raissa actively ​enhances her knowledge in the ever-evolving field of accountancy.

Raissa began her career at a renowned international firm, where she quickly gained valuable experience. She later transitioned to a distinguished ​international Corporate Service Provider, managing a diverse portfolio of foreign clients. She notably contributed to various entities within the gaming ​industry, including casinos, betting shops, and online gaming platforms. More recently, Raissa has been pivotal in private equity funds management, ​showcasing her versatility across different sectors.

Raissa's comprehensive skill set includes expertise in management accounting, VAT regulations and compliance, payroll management, and a thorough ​understanding of accounting principles and financial reporting standards.

Practice Areas: Bookkeeping, Accounting, VAT compliance, Payroll Management

Qualifications: CPA, MIA, B. Acc., M. Acc.

Languages: Maltese, English and French

Admissions: Malta Institute of Accountants, Accountancy Board Member

12th June 2024

Industry: Financial Institutions

The MFSA issues a Consultation Document on Financial Institutions’ Prudential Requirements

Link: www.mfsa.mt/publication/consultation-document-on-financial-institutions-prudential-requirements/

5th June 2024

Industry: Banking

Banks’ Adherence to New EU Requirements is Crucial to Maintain Sector Safe and Robust.

Link: www.mfsa.mt/news-item/banks-adherence-to-new-eu-requirements-is-crucial-to-maintain-sector-safe-and-robust/

21st May 2024

Industry: Financial Institutions

MFSA Recommends that Financial Institutions Clearly List their Payment Accounts Services, Terms and Fees

Link: www.mfsa.mt/news-item/mfsa-recommends-that-financial-institutions-clearly-list-their-payment-accounts-services-terms-and-fees/

12th June 2024

Industry: Funds

The MFSA issues a Consultation Document Consultation Document on Extending the NPIF Framework to include Self-Managed NPIFs

Link: www.mfsa.mt/publication/consultation-document-on-extending-the-npif-framework-to-include-self-managed-npifs/

24th May 2024

Industry: Payments - AML/CFT

The EBA finds divergences in the issuance and regulation of ‘virtual IBANs’ across the EU, identifies issues, and provides recommendations on how to address them

Link: www.eba.europa.eu/publications-and-media/press-releases/eba-finds-divergences-issuance-and-regulation-virtual-ibans-across-eu-identifies-issues-and-provides

18th March 2024

Industry: Remote Gaming

MGA and FIAU collaborate on thematic review of remote gaming sector.

Link: www.mga.org.mt/mga-and-fiau-collaborate-on-thematic-review-of-remote-gaming-sector/

5th June 2024

Industry: AML/CFT

The FIAU publishes the outcomes of the thematic review on notaries and real estate agents.

Link: fiaumalta.org/news/the-application-of-the-risk-based-approach-in-the-real-estate-sector-thematic-review-2023/

22nd May 2024

Industry: AML/CFT

The FIAU issues its Human Trafficking & Modern Slavery Guidance and Typology Report for Malta

Link: fiaumalta.org/news/human-trafficking-modern-slavery-guidance-and-typology-report-for-malta/

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Fortis Legal

Tower Business Centre,

2nd floor,

Tower Street,

Swatar BKR4013

Malta

office@fortislegal.eu