Skip to main content

Managing Partner

Michael Psaila

Michael Psaila

Michael Psaila is a Partner at Mamo TCV Advocates. He co-heads the firm’s Corporate and Banking practice groups.  He graduated Doctor of Laws from the University of Malta in 2004 after submitting a doctoral thesis titled ‘The Raising and Maintenance of Capital’. Michael furthered his studies at Kings College London, where he obtained an LL.M 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.

He regularly advises a range of clients that include public authorities, banks, fund managers, insurers, multinational companies and local businesses on corporate law, M&A transactions, banking and finance and insolvency.

Michael has been managing partner of the firm since November 2017 and also plays a key role in the firm’s business development activities.

He is a member of the Chamber of Advocates, the Institute of Financial Services Practitioners and the International Bar Association.

Dr Michael Psaila - Managing Partner

Education

  • B.A. Legal and Humanistic Studies (2001, University of Malta)
  • Doctor of Laws (2004, University of Malta)
  • LL.M. (2005, Kings College, University of London)

Representative Experience

  • Acted as local counsel in Malta for Doordash Inc. in connection with the acquisition of Wolt Enterprises OY, which included a subsidiary with operations in Malta
  • Acted as local counsel in Malta for Evos BV in connection with the acquisition of Oiltanking Malta Limited, a company that owns and operates an oil storage facility in Malta
  • Acted as local counsel in Malta for Bain Capital in connection with the acquisition of aero engine manufacturer ITP Aero
  • Acted as local counsel in Malta for Stonehage Fleming in connection with the acquisition of the private client and corporate services business of a Maitland, a privately owned global advisory, administration and family office firm having operations in a number of jurisdictions, including Malta
  • Acted for the ex-shareholders in a Maltese company that owns significant photovoltaic assets in Greece in high-value arbitration proceedings involving various claims in connection with a share purchase agreement
  • Acting for BCRS Malta Limited, a company incorporated by the major stakeholders in the Maltese beverage industry for the purpose of setting up and operating a beverage collection refund scheme in Malta
  • Acted for the minority shareholders of a company that was listed on the Malta Stock Exchange in unfair prejudice proceedings that resulted in the company being put into liquidation (Calamatta Cuschieri Investment Services Limited et vs Pefaco International plc.)
  • Acted as Maltese counsel for the acquirer of an integrated supplier of secure and highly engineered banknotes used by central banks over the world and having operations in a number of jurisdictions, including Malta
  • External counsel to a retail bank on a variety of matters including regulatory compliance, anti-money laundering, product structuring, credit facilities, security agreements and other day-to-day matters
  • Regularly acts lenders and borrowers in syndicated finance transactions involving Maltese companies
  • Maltese counsel to the acquirer of a company specialising in technically complex active pharmaceutical ingredients with an operation in Malta
  •  Advised on the Maltese law aspects of an initial public offering on the Toronto Stock Exchange of a company having a Maltese corporate holding structure
  • Acted for a public authority in connection with the procurement process for a major PPP project in the tourism sector
  • Acted for the vendors of a significant minority stake in a credit institution registered in Malta and listed on the Malta Stock Exchange

Memberships

  • Admitted to the Maltese Bar, Superior Courts of Malta (2005)
  • Malta Chamber of Advocates
  • Institute of Financial Services Practitioners
  • International Bar Association

Get In Touch

Address

MAMO TCV Advocates
Palazzo Pietro Stiges
103, Strait Street
Valletta, VLT 1436
Malta

Stay updated with our latest insights

Mamo TCV Advocates: The EU regime regulating Alternative Investment Funds (AIFs) has been updated through the publication of the AIFMD II which replaces the first AIFMD originally published more than ten years ago.
Investment Services & Funds

Maltese Implications from the EU’s AIFMD II Directive

The regulatory landscape for investment fund management within the EU underwent an evolution with the enactment of ‘Directive (EU) 2024/927 on Delegation Arrangements, Liquidity Risk Management, Supervisory Reporting, the Provision of Depositary and Custody Services and Loan Origination by Alternative Investment Funds’, commonly referred to as AIFMD II (or the “Directive”).  The legal regime regulates alternative investment funds (“AIFs”) and their fund managers. AIFMD II replaces the first AIFMD. The publication of the AIFMD II in the EU's Official Journal on the 26th of March 2024 marked the commencement of this new phase in European fund regulation, with the Directive…
Mamo TCV Advocates – Safeguarding under the Proposed PSD3
Banking & Finance

Payments Insights #1 –
Safeguarding under the Proposed PSD3

Introduction to the Payments Insights Series The European Commission is currently in the process of updating the EU’s legal framework for payment services. These proposals include: A proposed Third Payment Services Directive (the ‘PSD3’) which is a directive on payment services and electronic money services in the EU’s internal market which will repeal the Second Payment Services Directive (the ‘PSD2’) and the Second Electronic Money Directive (the 'EMD2’); and A proposed new Payment Services Regulation (the ‘PSR’). The proposed legal amendments aim to: Strengthen the protection of users and enhance confidence in payments and electronic money services; Improve the competitiveness…
News
Mamo TCV Advocates to Deliver Seminar on Employment-Related Cases
Insurance & Reinsurance
Regulatory Compliance Quarterly Update | Q1 2024
European Commissions Releases FAQs on Notification and Authorisation of Tanker Sales
Corporate and M&A
Sanctions 7: European Commission Releases FAQs on Notification and Authorisation of Tanker Sales

Awards & recognitions

Mamo TCV Advocates is a popular choice for private and public companies, financial institutions, insurance companies, investment funds and public authorities. The group frequently acts on privatisations, M&A transactions, cross-border structured financings, syndicated loans and restructurings. The practice’s leadership is split between project and M&A financing expert Andrew Muscat and Michael Psaila, whose expertise spans capital markets products, insolvency law and M&A deals.

The Legal 100 - Commercial, Corporate and M&A (Tier 1)2022

Michael Psaila is highly praised by interviewees, who comment: "He is a joy to work with and an excellent lawyer," while one source highlights that "he is very thorough and provides very comprehensive advice." He advises clients on commercial agreements, as well as assisting public and private sector clients with regulatory changes.

The Legal 500 (Band 3)2021

Michael Psaila is highly praised by interviewees, who comment: "He is a joy to work with and an excellent lawyer," while one source highlights that "he is very thorough and provides very comprehensive advice." He advises clients on commercial agreements, as well as assisting public and private sector clients with regulatory changes.

Chambers Europe - Band 32021

Interviewees report that Michael Psaila is "very statesmanlike" and describe him as a "can-do person." Psaila assists clients with corporate restructuring and re-domiciling matters. Clients add that he is "extremely diligent and very knowledgeable of the law.

Chambers Europe - Eminent Practitioner2020