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The Legal 500 EMEA published its 2020 edition and rankings on 15th April, 2020 and once again recognized Mamo TCV Advocates as one of the leading law firms in Malta. Apart from the top tier ranking for the firm in practically all its areas of practice, 3 of our partners were recognized as “Leading Lawyers” and another 14 partners and associates were singled out for their work. |
This is how the Legal 500 described our work and expertise:
AVIATION – TIER 1
Mamo TCV Advocates’ aviation practice specialises in asset finance, tax and corporate set-ups, aircraft ownership and leasing, and claims handling. Recently, the team has also advised on – and helped draft – national and European legislation. Nicholas Valenzia goes ‘the extra mile to understand and service client needs professionally’; he jointly heads the department with Joseph Camilleri.
Testimonials
‘Depth of legal expertise in commercial and aviation law.’
‘Dr Joe Borg Bartolo and Dr Nicholas Valenzia are always reachable and go the extra mile to understand and service client needs professionally.’
COMMERCIAL, CORPORATE AND M&A – TIER 1
Mamo TCV Advocates provides ‘clear, practical and pragmatic advice’, making the firm ‘second-to-none’ in Malta, according to one client. Team head Andrew Muscat provides ‘very logical and well-explained advice’ and is known for his ‘consistent professionalism’. Highlights included advising on a re-domiciliation for Caversham Insurance (Malta) Limited regarding a securities release, a corporate restructuring of companies within an electronics group’s existing framework, and a regulated entity’s capital restructuring following a cross-border mergerRichard Camilleri stands out for his ‘well-researched, solution-driven advice’ and the ‘diligent’ Michael Psaila ‘ensures all needs are met’. Other areas of activity include advising domestic and international clients on corporate governance matters, as well as on asset finance.
Leading individuals
Andrew Muscat – Mamo TCV Advocates
Testimonials
‘Mamo TCV Advocates is particularly strong in the commercial, corporate law and M&A field. Its key capability is giving clear, practical and pragmatic advice.’
‘Profs. Andrew Muscat is well known in Malta for his deep knowledge of Maltese corporate law, with his book on the subject being an authority in the field. This profound knowledge is translated into very logical and well-explained advice. Dr. Richard Camilleri is very well respected in the commercial law field. He is known for his well researched, solution driven and pragmatic advice.’
‘We enjoy working with Mamo TCV Advocates because the firm had a great capability of understanding our issues and ensuring that these move forward with the required urgency and commitment.’
‘In the last months we have worked with Michael Psaila, who is a Managing Partner and ensures all our needs are met by the right people within the firm.’
‘Results obtained. Long-standing relationship. Timely response/feedback whenever requested as well as solid inter personal relationships developed over the years based on trust.’
‘Profs Andrew Muscat – consistent professionalism ,Dr Stephen Muscat – consistent professionalism.’
‘Knowledge; commitment; dedication; energy.’
‘Approach issues with efficiency and flexibility.’
‘Edmond Zammit Laferla and Michael Psaila both diligent reachable and exactly understand what you need.’
‘To my view the strength in Mamo TCV Advocates resides with its partners and their professional attitude in all they do, each and every time.’
‘The legal expertise and the depth of experience enjoyed by the partners I work with makes them stand out. I find that Prof Andrew Muscat in particular and his team are second to none.’
DISPUTE RESOLUTION – TIER 1
The ‘timely and organised’ team at Mamo TCV Advocates handles high-value disputes relating to corporate law, often involving private international legal aspects or cross-border disputes, along with ship and aircraft arrests. Credit recovery proceedings also feature prominently in its caseload. Key names include the ‘efficient and effective’ Stephen Muscat, the ‘balanced and pragmatic’ Frank Testa, and Joseph Camilleri. The practice is representing a number of open-ended collective investment schemes based in Malta and Luxembourg in a claim for damages by the Vatican’s Istituto per le Opere di Religione.
Leading individuals
Joseph Camilleri – Mamo TCV Advocates
Testimonials
‘We have worked with Stephan Muscat for several years on various Maltese hospitality and corporate issues as well as arbitration, and he has been very efficient and effective.’
‘The individual we have worked with is Stephen Muscat and he has been very available, efficient and knowledgeable in his market.’
‘The personal touch without any embellishment.’
‘I refer to Dr. Frank Testa who is the partner I directly deal with; I would like to say that his advice is always measured, calmly delivered, balanced and pragmatic. He is highly professional and a real pleasure to work with.’
‘I have had a very good experience working with the team, who are timely, organised and honest.’
‘Many Maltese lawyers are all bark and no bite; the individuals at Mamo are honest and take a different approach in their dealings.’
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY – TIER 1
The team at Mamo TCV Advocates provides ‘knowledgeable and cost efficient’ advice and its ‘professionalism stands out’ when communicating with clients. Recent work includes handling various anti-counterfeiting and piracy cases for global brands in the sportswear, personal hygiene, tobacco, electronics and fashion industries. It also has expertise advising on pharmaceutical patents and copyright enforcement. David Tonna, Richard Camilleri and Antoine Camilleri, who is a ‘hands-on’ lawyer and an expert in IP-related litigation, licensing and encryption issues, jointly head the team. Jonathan Tonna and Claude Micallef Grimaud are other names to note.
Testimonials
‘The team is knowledgeable and cost-efficient.’
‘Antoine Camilleri is a hands-on and client-oriented lawyer.’
‘Their professionalism stands out; they communicate their legal expertise in a detailed yet simple and understandable way in order to give their client a clear picture of the situation.’
‘Frank Testa, Maria Lisa Buttigieg, Antoine Camilleri, Claude Micallef Grimaud – the above four lawyers are the ones that I communicate with. They have always shown great competence in their work, well versed, professional and friendly. They are all very knowledgeable in their specialised field; the detail in which they analyse each case is impeccable.’
INVESTMENT FUNDS – TIER 1
Led by Katya Tua, the team at Mamo TCV Advocates has the ‘practical experience and depth of knowledge’ to handle the full range of retail open-ended and closed-ended investments, as well as alternative and professional investor funds – mostly from a structuring and licensing perspective. Further work for clients including Futura Investment Management, The Macro Fund SIVAC plc and ACL Fund SICAV plc, includes advice on all Maltese regulatory matters. The set-up, restructuring and winding up of sub-funds are other areas of expertise.
Leading individuals
Katya Tua – Mamo TCV Advocates
Testimonials
‘Practical experience and legal knowledge depth.’
‘Quick turnaround time.’
REAL ESTATE – TIER 1
Mamo TCV Advocates provides ‘legal services of the highest standard’ on large-scale and mixed-use real estate developments. The group stands our for its ‘proactive’ and ‘informed’ approach, and its recent work includes advice on land transfer agreements, the review of high-value purchase contracts, and overseeing the acquisition of commercial property for inclusion in an investment portfolio. Immovable property transactions specialist Joseph Borg Bartolo and Frank B. Testa, a litigation expert, jointly head the practice.
Testimonials
‘This practice provides a one-stop area for legal services of the highest standard and quality with strong connectivity between one department or expert and another. Despite having to relate to different partners and associates on many levels I have always found them to have been duly informed when referred from one expert to another.’
‘My business has utilised the services of this practice for several years, and both have practically grown in parallel. We have found their partners (notably Joe Borg Bartolo) and associates (Veronica Grixti and Joshua Chircop) to retain knowledge about our business, to be proactive and be involved in providing the necessary support in a familiar fashion.’
SHIPPING – TIER 1
Mamo TCV Advocates is ‘a top-notch and leading firm’ in the shipping sector and can handle all aspects of maritime law. Nicholas Valenzia handles asset finance, corporate structuring and tax matters, as well as sale and purchase transactions for ships and yachts. There is ‘no questioning’ Joseph Camilleri’s ‘commitment or professionalism’, and he has ‘an innate ability to make a complex legal issue look simple’ and is also at the forefront of legal decisions concerning the Maltese ports.
Testimonials
‘I have been working closely with the firm since approximately 2008. The assessment of the firm is without any doubt an excellent one. Services given have been top-notch throughout, with professional, sound legal advice, strong litigation and one hundred per cent commitment towards the issues – especially when taking into account the workload of such firms and their other clients. With respect to the responsiveness, their services are always timely and consistent. There were instances where we required their professional services after office hours (weekends, holidays, late evenings); these related to the arrest of vessels. Regarding value-added services, I am of the opinion that these are made up of their commitment, perseverance, the professional and working relationship that has been established and ultimately, friendship. Without hesitation, I confirm that Mamo TCV is a top-notch and leading law firm and, as I regularly do, recommend such a firm in all the various civil, commercial and maritime related issues.’
‘My closest contact is with Dr Joseph Camilleri. Dr Camilleri is a down-to-earth person, intelligent, extremely capable and hardworking. He always seeks to solve an issue in a practical manner, with a view to limit expenses as well as to avoid unnecessary litigation. There is no question regarding his commitment or professionalism. Furthermore, he makes sure to explain all legal issues, especially complex ones, and including the legal action and perceived risks, in simple terms in order for there to be full understanding, clarity and certainty. He has an innate ability to make a complex legal issue look simple. I have also worked with Dr Matthew Cutajar and Dr Kirk Brincau. Both are young, emerging and promising lawyers; dynamic and very intelligent who have been assigned to assist Dr Joseph Camilleri. In the few cases where they have replaced Dr Camilleri, they were fully knowledgeable regarding the issue at hand and did an excellent job.’
BANKING, FINANCE AND CAPITAL MARKETS – TIER 2
Mamo TCV Advocates, which has ‘a commendable level of experience and knowledge’, advises on asset finance and management, restructuring and insolvency, and general payment services. Practice head Andrew Muscat has considerable experience in capital markets issues, as does Michael Psaila, who also handles securitisations. Recent highlights include acting as counsel to Securities Group (Kuwait) on a matter concerning land acquisition and building financing in Malta, as well as handling the initial public offering of a Go plc subsidiary on the Maltese Stock Exchange and working for international banks in various syndicated finance transactions.
Leading individuals
Andrew Muscat – Mamo TCV Advocates
Testimonials
‘The level of experience and knowledge in banking which is available within the firm is commendable. Opinions provided are always very well prepared with sufficient level of detail.’
‘Knowledge; commitment; dedication; energy.’
FINTECH – TIER 3
Mamo TCV Advocates provides regulatory assistance with the set-up and authorisation of crypto-exchanges and ICOs, including any relevant corporate and tax advice. Work typically involves contract drafting for the acquisition of virtual tokens, advising on both the set-up of bitcoin exchanges with a local Maltese regulator and the formation of limited liability private companies, and handling all appropriate filing and regulation with the MFSA. Practice head Katya Tua has considerable expertise in investment services. Michael Psaila is another name of note.
About Legal 500
For nearly three decades, The Legal 500 has been analyzing the capabilities of law firms across the world, with a comprehensive research program revised and updated every year to bring the most up-to-date vision of the global legal market. The Legal 500 assesses the strengths of law firms over 100 jurisdictions. Their research is based on feedback from 300,000 clients worldwide, submissions from law firms and interviews with leading private practice lawyers, and a team of researchers who have unrivalled experience in the legal market.
The Legal 500 Hall of Fame highlights individuals who have received constant praise by their clients for continued excellence. The Hall of Fame highlights law firm partners who are at the pinnacle of the profession. The criterion for entry is to have been recognized by The Legal 500 as one of the elite leading lawyers for six consecutive years.
The complete list of Mamo TCV Advocates lawyers and practices recognized by The Legal 500 can be viewed in our Awards and Recognition page.