InariLaw

InariLaw is a law firm based in Birkirkara, in the heart of Malta, that advises both overseas and Maltese clients. Its working motto is to bridge local insight with global reach, which in practice means a Maltese practice used to acting for foreign companies, investors and families who need advice that fits Maltese law as well as their home jurisdiction. Matters range from everyday operational questions to cross-border deals and contested proceedings.

VisitMalta.co.uk lists the firm among the lawyers in Malta, where you can compare it with other practices. The firm is a sensible place to start for UK businesses and individuals who want Maltese counsel across several fields without instructing a different firm for each one.

Practice areas at a glance

The firm organises its work into a long list of practice areas. On the financial side these are funds and investment services, insurance and reinsurance, banking, capital markets, and fintech and blockchain. On the commercial side they are corporate and commercial work, gaming, real estate and construction, public procurement and privatisation, and debt recovery and enforcement.

Disputes are handled under litigation and dispute resolution and international arbitration. Transport and travel clients are served through shipping and maritime, aviation and yachting teams. The remaining areas are compliance and regulatory, ESG, employment and industrial relations, and private clients and immigration. That breadth suits clients whose needs cross several fields.

Funds, investment services and the regulator

Funds are one of the areas where InariLaw publishes the most detail. Malta licenses and supervises collective investment schemes and investment service providers under the Investment Services Act, with the Malta Financial Services Authority acting as regulator. As a general rule, funds and the firms that manage or advise them must be licensed to operate in or from Malta, while lighter notification routes exist for some alternative funds aimed at professional investors.

The firm's funds lawyers help with licence and recognition applications, prepare or review documents such as prospectuses, offering memoranda and management, custody and administration agreements, and act as the point of contact with the regulator during applications and afterwards. They also advise on moving an existing fund to Malta and on corporate and regulatory compliance once a licence has been granted. For wider context on the sector, see our guide to financial services in Malta, and for administration and advisory support, a firm such as Apex Group in Malta is listed separately in our directory.

Gaming, corporate work and tax context

Malta is a long-standing base for online operators, and InariLaw includes gaming among its practice areas alongside fintech and blockchain. Operators weighing a move can read our iGaming in Malta guide for the background before speaking to a lawyer about licensing and structure.

Corporate and commercial instructions cover the day-to-day running of companies and local and cross-border transactions. A tax adviser and a finance manager are part of the in-house team, and the firm works on matters where legal structure and tax meet. UK readers comparing structures may find our overview of the Malta corporate tax structure and our Malta tax guide for UK nationals useful preparation. For accounting, audit and company formation support alongside legal work, CLA Malta is our featured partner.

Private clients, residence and moving to Malta

Individuals are looked after through the private clients and immigration practice, supported by a lead adviser for residency and citizenship planning. This is relevant to UK families and retirees considering a move, as well as professionals planning a relocation for work. Our relocation guide for UK movers explains the practical side, and remote workers can start with the digital nomad guide for Malta.

Insurance work is part of the firm's offer on the legal side, covering insurers and reinsurers. If you need an insurance policy rather than legal advice, an independent broker such as AIB Insurance Brokers is listed separately in our directory.

The people and how to start

The firm is led by senior partners Jonathan Thompson, whose areas include litigation, procurement, real estate and employment, and Maria Paloma Deguara, whose areas include procurement, compliance and private clients. Partners include Marlon Borg, Alejandro Borg, Andrew Massa (shipping and maritime) and Richard Deschrijver, with Edward Saliba as of counsel, a team of associates and a head of business development.

The office is at 239 Psaila Street in Birkirkara. To begin, set out who you are, what you need and any deadlines, then use the VisitMalta.co.uk enquiry form on this page and we will pass your message to InariLaw.