Fenech & Fenech Advocates‘ offering covers the full spectrum of wet shipping matters, such as damage claims, and dry shipping matters, including shipping finance and the registration of vessels. Other areas of focus include maritime insurance matters, an area of strength for ‘experienced maritime lawyer‘ Ann Fenech, who leverages her role as president of Comité Maritime International to offer clients experience in marine insurance and cross-border maritime insolvency issues and is active in a full range of shipping disputes. Carl Grech stands out for large-scale contracts related to the maritime industry. Mark Fenech, Adrian Attard, Alison Vassallo and Lara Saguna Axiaq are also key team members.

Ganado Advocates is especially active in the shipping finance space in Malta and is ‘very knowledgeable and well-respected’ in this area, according to one client. The group also has a strong offering advising yacht owners and financial institutions as lenders on yachting registration matters. Karl Grech Orr and Jotham Scerri-Diacono are significant team members in this regard. Daniel Aquilina, Matthew Attard, Caroline Risiott and Matthew Xerri are strong in shipping finance, loan restructuring and mortgage enforcement matters, as well as shipbuilding contractual issues.

Camilleri Preziosi‘s shipping practice stands out for its maritime disputes work, particularly relating to large maritime projects and the enforcement of maritime claims and ship mortgages. Instructing the group are financiers, crew members and other claimants. Steve Decesare, group practice head, is well supported by Carla Barthet, who is key for the group’s regulatory work, assisting clients with ensuring requirements under local law related to vessels and yachts registration, as well as security enforcement assistance.

Chetcuti Cauchi Advocates‘ practice is closely linked with the group’s corporate and commercial practice, housing practitioners who are able to assist clients with setting up the corporate structures for yachts and other vessels. Susanna Grech Deguara, who is praised for her knowledge of the yachting industry and for her technical expertise, leads the group alongside Charlene Mifsud. The pair excels in group acquisitions and registration involving European jurisdictions.

At Mamo TCV Advocates, the group is heavily engaged in shipping finance and shipping infrastructure projects, often acting for vessels and superyachts. A key area of work is maritime law disputes, including international arbitration, with practice head Nicholas Valenzia displaying a strong focus on disputes relating to vessel arrests and repossession. Alexia Pollacco is also skilled in maritime litigation.

GTG Advocates is well established within shipping finance, regularly assisting financiers and ship owners with matters such as mortgage registrations. Practitioners demonstrate knowledge of Maltese law and EU maritime law, increasingly for matters in the yachting sector. The group is also often engaged in vehicle registration and acquisitions, an area of strength for practice head Robert Tufigno, who regularly handles transfers of vessel ownership matters.

Clients often seek out GVZH Advocates for the registration of luxury superyachts for yacht owners. Financing transactions and shipping M&A are other key areas of activity for the group. Michael Grech heads up the team with the support of Ann Bugeja, who was promoted to partner in July 2024 and is key for social issues for seafarers and vessel workers.