Fenech & Fenech

Fenech & Fenech Advocates is the kind of firm you find when a matter in Malta is large, cross-border or both. Founded in 1891, it has grown from a traditional practice into a multi-disciplinary firm of more than forty lawyers and other legal professionals, working across over fifteen specialised departments from an office in Valletta. Its client base spans Maltese families and businesses as well as international groups.

UK readers tend to come to a firm like this for one of several reasons: setting up or buying a company, structuring investments or a fund, registering a ship or yacht, financing an aircraft, buying property, or dealing with a dispute that must be settled under Maltese law. The firm is listed in our directory of lawyers in Malta, and this page explains the main areas so you can send a well-aimed enquiry.

A firm with a long history

The foundation of Fenech & Fenech goes back to 1891, which makes it the longest-standing law practice in Malta. That heritage gives it deep experience in traditional fields, and the firm also follows new legislation closely so that its advice reflects current rules. Its working approach is personalised and hands-on, with specialist departments that clients can reach directly.

A group of service companies, known as the Fenlex Group, sits beside the law firm and supports clients who need corporate and administrative services as well as legal advice.

Corporate, commercial and finance work

The core of the practice is business law. Partners handle commercial and corporate law, mergers and acquisitions, competition law, insolvency advice and restructuring, and banking and finance. If you are comparing Maltese company structures, our guides to Malta's corporate tax structure and Malta tax for UK nationals explain the tax backdrop, and our featured partner CLA Malta offers accounting and company services if you also need those.

The financial services department serves international clients who want to operate in a sector regulated by the Malta Financial Services Authority. It acts for promoters through licensing, advises licensed entities on a continuing basis, supports clients during regulatory investigations and appears before the Arbiter for Financial Services. Areas covered include investment funds, investment services, banking, payment services, insurance and captives, anti-money laundering, capital markets and fintech. The firm has acted for buyers and sellers in major transactions in the regulated space. Our overview of the financial services sector in Malta gives the wider context.

On funds, the team works with the Fenlex Group to set up corporate vehicles, prepare prospectuses and offering documents, draft and negotiate agreements with the fund's service providers, manage licensing steps and arrange any listing on the local stock exchange.

Ships, yachts and aircraft

Transport is one of the firm's distinctive strengths. It has a dedicated ship registration department, led by a director, and its lawyers advise on ship finance, yacht leasing, yachting and specialised marine litigation, as well as energy law. Aviation law and aircraft finance form a further practice, with partners and associates who specialise in them.

Owners buying a vessel in Malta usually combine legal advice with a broker, and our directory lists 73 Marine, a yacht broker for that side of the purchase.

Private clients, property and everyday disputes

Private wealth, trusts and foundations, tax and immigration are grouped together under partners who also handle corporate work, which suits people relocating from the UK with assets to organise. Our Malta relocation guide covers the practical steps of a move, and ACC Malta Immigration Advisors is another listed business in Valletta for paperwork.

Property buyers can use the conveyancing and leasing team, which works with real estate litigation, and the firm also handles development and planning permissions, construction and infrastructure projects, procurement and tendering, personal injury claims, employment, intellectual property, technology and telecoms, privacy and data protection, environmental law and ESG.

The team

Nicolai Vella Falzon is managing partner, with a practice that includes commercial and corporate law, M&A, commercial litigation and aviation. Other partners include Rosanne Bonnici, who works on tax, immigration, corporate law, trusts and private wealth, and Antonio Ghio, who focuses on technology, intellectual property and data privacy. Adrian Attard and Alison Vassallo cover marine litigation and yachting, while Carl Grech covers litigation, construction, procurement and project development.

The team also includes consultants, senior associates, associates, directors and legal procurators. Anyone interested in joining the firm can look at its vacancies and paid internships, and recruiters may want to see Accelerate Finance and Legal Recruitment too.

Finding the office in Valletta

The registered address is 198 Old Bakery Street, with the entrance from Triq San Gwann, which is the street number 85 on our directory record. Valletta is small enough to cover on foot, and our Valletta guide suggests how to spend time before or after a meeting. If you are comparing firms in the capital, Advocates Primei is also listed.

How to start

Say which area your question falls under, whether you are acting personally or for a company, and any deadline. The firm does not publish fees, so ask how it will charge. Use the VisitMalta.co.uk enquiry form on this page and we will pass your message to Fenech & Fenech Advocates.