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DF is my go to firm for legal advice.
They have assisted me on a broad array of projects including a MFSA regulated bank, a MSE listed fund and family tax planning. They are knowledgeable and business oriented at the same time, which is rare.
Frank Sekula
Owner
AgriBank plc
Sturgeon Ventures the Pioneer of Regulatory Incubation in the UK, has successfully worked and launched funds in Malta since 2012 with the assistance DF Advocates. We love working with this team because they are not only extremely knowledgeable about local regulations but their turnaround is exemplary and this is key in the timing of all fund launches. We were very excited when Robert Higgins joined the team from the MFSA, the Maltese Regulator as he too had worked with Sturgeon since 2011, bringing his deep expertise into an already vibrant team.
Seonaid Mackenzie
Founder and CEO
Sturgeon Ventures LLP
DF advocates is a tightly woven network of highly skilled lawyers and staff professionals who continue to help Exante grow our business through proactive representation. The Lawyers and their teams have taken time to understand our business and our culture so they can help us efficiently and effectively achieve our goals. Because of their experience, they arrive at solutions quickly. We value our partnership with DF.
Patrick J O Brien
Director of Communications
Exante
The Malta Financial Services Authority (‘MFSA’) has, on the 18 September 2023, issued a draft version of the updated Chapter 3 of the Virtual Financial Assets Rulebook for consultation (the ‘Consultation Document’). The Consultation Document aims to align the VFA Framework following the entry into force of the Markets in Crypto- Assets Regulation (‘MiCAR’) in…
READ MORE +The Minister for the Environment together with the Malta Enterprise CEO have announced a new ESG Grant intended to help support small and medium sized businesses (SMEs) in enhancing their sustainability and further push them to be more environmentally conscious. The Grant aims at providing financial assistance to an extensive list of businesses which will…
READ MORE +L-Avukat Dr. Marlon Borg bħala mandatarju speċjali tal-assenti Michael Debono Mrden vs. Direttur tar-Reġistru Pubbliku (452/21/1 JVC) Court of Appeal (Superior Jurisdiction) 12th July 2023 Overview On the 12th of July 2023, the Court of Appeal in its Superior Jurisdiction (“COA”) overturned a judgment delivered from the First Hall Civil Court (“FHCC”) whereby the COA…
READ MORE +On the 25th July 2023, the FIAU published its supervisory priorities for the year 2023-2024. In determining the said plan, the FIAU has adopted a risk-based approached which was based on the information submitted annually by subject persons through the submission of an “Annual Risk Evaluation Questionnaire” along with data obtained from other sources such…
READ MORE +In December 2021, the European Maritime Safety Agency carried out a detailed assessment of the training and certification system in place in the Philippines for seafarers whereby a number of shortcomings were identified. The European Commission informed the Philippines that unless serious measures are taken and International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping…
READ MORE +The Malta Financial Services Authority (‘MFSA’) has published a set of draft Investment Services Rules and draft amendments to existing rulebooks for the proposed framework of ‘Notified Professional Investor Funds’ (Notified PIFs). The MFSA also intends to issue a dedicated application form, appendices, checklists and guidance notes on the new regime. In drafting the new…
READ MORE +On the 23rd December, the Sanctions Monitoring Board (‘SMB’) issued two guidance notes on the applicability of screening obligations against sanctions and adverse media. The National Interest (Enabling Powers) Act imposes certain obligations on screening against sanctions lists or restrictive measures imposed by the European Union and the United Nations. The Act further specifies that…
READ MORE +On the 15th December 2022, the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) published the Final Report comprising of guidelines on standard templates, forms and formats to be used by market participants when applying for permission to operate any type of Distributed Ledger Technology (‘DLT’) based market infrastructure under the DLT Regulation (‘DLTR’). The Report also…
READ MORE +The European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) has launched a consultation to develop guidelines on funds’ names with ESG or sustainability-related terms. In terms of the proposed guidelines, ESMA aims to address risks of ‘greenwashing’ where funds are named as green or socially sustainable despite failing to meet sufficient sustainability standards commensurate with that name….
READ MORE +On the 6th of October, the Malta Financial Services Authority (‘MFSA’) gave an overview of the anticipated impact of the provisional agreement reached by the Council presidency and the European Parliament on the MiCA proposal. Such development is regarded as significant since it aims at creating a harmonised regulatory framework for crypto assets at EU…
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