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The comprehensive guide to the world's leading tax firms

Deloitte is undoubtedly one of the strongest tax practices in Malta. With more than 60 tax professionals the practice is the largest of the big-four in Malta. The group is led by Andrew Manduca. A number of their practitioners are singled out as leaders ... [more]

Deloitte is undoubtedly one of the strongest tax practices in Malta. With more than 60 tax professionals the practice is the largest of the big-four in Malta. The group is led by Andrew Manduca. A number of their practitioners are singled out as leaders and advise regularly on policy. For example, Chris Curmi advises the Maltese government on the negotiation of double tax treaties.

The group has an impressive breadth of experience. It has perhaps the strongest indirect tax team of the big-four with a dedicated VAT team led by Sarah Aquilina. The biggest source of work for the practice is transactions.

The group typically advises on inbound work. Last year Malcolm Booker advised on one of the largest real estate acquisitions in Malta by a non-resident for some time. This was an complex transaction since it involved the balancing of different shareholder interests and also had to consider a viable exit route for the investors. Conrad Cassar Torregiani and Marc Alden oversaw the establishment in Malta of a significant private equity fund.

Other work this year includes advice to a multinational group wanting to use Malta as a holding jurisdiction for its intangible assets and the first significant aircraft leasing since the Aircraft Registration Act came into force in October 2010.

KPMG's tax practice is described by one partner as a "a growing tax practice" and "very active", especially in the fields of international and corporate tax generally. The practice is headed by the well-respected André Zarb, who is one of four partners ... [more]

KPMG's tax practice is described by one partner as a "a growing tax practice" and "very active", especially in the fields of international and corporate tax generally. The practice is headed by the well-respected André Zarb, who is one of four partners and leads a team of about 65 professionals.

International tax is the largest part of the practice, counting for about 60% of all work. Both Zarb and Juanita Brockdorff, who is highly regarded for international and corporate work, specialise in this area. . Brockdorff has been active over the last year advising financial service companies on regulatory issues. The practice has advised all of the banks in Malta over the last year.

Anthony Pace and Doreen Fenech split their time between local client matters, which makes up a substantial part of the practice's day-to-day work, and advising on VAT matters. The team advised the Maltese government on VAT issues, particularly checking their internal control procedures.

Other work this year includes advising a number of multinationals on tax-efficient supply chain management. This involved in one instance making the principal training company of a group in Malta. The practice is also active in policy. They advised the Maltese government on the Code of Conduct for Business Taxation among other projects.

PwC's tax practice is headed by Neville Gatt who is viewed by his peers as a leading figure in the market. The team is large, consisting of about 75 tax professionals in total. Bernard Attard became a partner in July, the only such promotion this year. ... [more]

PwC's tax practice is headed by Neville Gatt who is viewed by his peers as a leading figure in the market. The team is large, consisting of about 75 tax professionals in total. Bernard Attard became a partner in July, the only such promotion this year. David Ferry is cited in the market as a key practitioner in indirect tax.

The practice provides a good mix of compliance and advisory services. Around 15% of the fee earners in the practice are lawyers; the rest are accountants. A number of their professionals have specialities in particular areas though the team is fairly fluid with professionals often contributing in other areas when necessary.

Nearly all areas of tax have grown this year with a particular increase in VAT work, which can be attributed to the relatively recent introduction of the tax in Malta, but also the investment the firm has placed in this area over the last few years, which one partner describes as "now bearing its fruits". Litigation work has increased this year too and the practice has recently carried out a number of international tax structurings.

Clients of the practice come from a broad area, though they are mostly from the EU. Financial services, in particular fund work, has grown this year. A number of their practitioners regularly lecture at the University of Malta and contribute to policy through the Institute of Financial Services Practitioners and other similar bodies.

Avanzia Taxand is led by Walter Cutajar. He is one of three partners after the promotion of James Scerri Worley this year. He leads a team of seven fee earners.The practice specialises in international tax matters only. The practice did provide advisory ... [more]

Avanzia Taxand is led by Walter Cutajar. He is one of three partners after the promotion of James Scerri Worley this year. He leads a team of seven fee earners.

The practice specialises in international tax matters only. The practice did provide advisory and compliance services for local companies but stopped doing in the last few years. The group advises clients in different jurisdictions though most work comes from the EMEA region and the US. The group has advised more clients from the Nordic countries recently.

Cutajar and Mary Anne Inguanez helped a Swedish real estate company transfer its investments without triggering any tax leakage. They both advised a multinational diamond abrasives company on the restructuring of their intellectual property in several jurisdictions including Luxembourg and Malta without any tax implications.

The practice advises clients across a broad range of industries including real estate, commodities, energy, shipping and commodities. Several Fortune 500 companies form part of their client base.

The tax team at Ernst & Young in Malta is headed by Christopher Naudi. He leads a team of about 15 tax professionals. Sandro Grech and Amanda Scicluna have both joined this year to bolster the firm's assurance and air finance practices respectively. ... [more]

The tax team at Ernst & Young in Malta is headed by Christopher Naudi. He leads a team of about 15 tax professionals. Sandro Grech and Amanda Scicluna have both joined this year to bolster the firm's assurance and air finance practices respectively. Robert Attard is cited by his peers as one of the strongest professionals in controversy work in Malta.

Despite their relatively small size, at least in relation to some of the other big-four, the tax practice is strong across all areas of tax. The group is structured along four service lines: business tax, human capital, indirect tax, and international tax and transaction tax. The group advises mostly on cross-border issues, particularly within the EU, though they also have a number of clients in the US and Asia.

After changes in Malta's economy there has been an increase in financial services work this year. The group has advised clients on setting up banking or fund operations in Malta on several occasions over the last year.

There has also been some interesting indirect tax work this year. The group advised a client on the VAT implications of yacht leasing when the yacht was mostly used in international waters.

Fenech & Fenech is possibly the most established tax law firm in Malta. The tax practice headed by tax partner Rosanne Bonnici, has three fee earners. The corporate services arm also complements the tax team where eight practitioners specialise in ... [more]

Fenech & Fenech is possibly the most established tax law firm in Malta. The tax practice headed by tax partner Rosanne Bonnici, has three fee earners. The corporate services arm also complements the tax team where eight practitioners specialise in tax compliance, led by Stephanie Aquilina.

The tax practice is focused mostly on cross-border work transactions, especially inbound. This year they advised an international group on the $500 million+ sale of their telecommunications operator . The group also advised a large energy company on the restructuring of their groups through Malta. This included advice about venture capital and profit participating arrangements.

Indirect tax work has also increased this year after the changes to the rules in January 2010. This year the group advised an international asset leasing operator on VAT.

The group has seen a particular increase in work in the aviation industry this year as well as financial services. They also have experience in industries where other law firms do not specialise such as IT and art & heritage.

Camilleri Preziosi's tax practice continues to be headed by Louis de Gabriele and comprises four practitioners. De Gabriele is highly regarded for his capital markets and financial products work.The main focus is on corporate taxation and tax structuring, ... [more]

Camilleri Preziosi's tax practice continues to be headed by Louis de Gabriele and comprises four practitioners. De Gabriele is highly regarded for his capital markets and financial products work.

The main focus is on corporate taxation and tax structuring, especially cross-border matters, though sometimes the practice advises in other areas such as VAT and tax litigation. This year de Gabriele, Andrei Vella and Donald Vella advised on a group restructuring of a company operating in Europe, which included interposing a double tier structure involving two Maltese companies.

Other work this year includes the setting-up of a trust structure to hold shares and securities in foreign assets, and the redomiciliation to Malta of a number of companies to benefit from the country's full imputation and tax refund system.

Chetcuti Cauchi, a new entry this year, is led by Jean-Philippe Chetcuti. The group has a multi-disciplinary character, employing lawyers, accountants and tax advisers, which means that it is able to provide a breadth of expertise. The practice mainly ... [more]

Chetcuti Cauchi, a new entry this year, is led by Jean-Philippe Chetcuti. The group has a multi-disciplinary character, employing lawyers, accountants and tax advisers, which means that it is able to provide a breadth of expertise. The practice mainly focuses on international tax planning.

This year Chetcuti, Kenneth Camilleri and Priscilla Mifsud Parker advised on the setting up of a tax unit trust to act as the tax transparent collective investment vehicle for European investors and with underlying investments in insurance products in the US. This was the first such unit trust set up in Malta.The firm's research actually led to a change to the taxation of sub-funds in unit trusts.

Other work this year includes advising a steel trading company on setting up an international trading operation with branches as far away as Italy and the Ukraine as part of their eventual aim of a listing. The practice is particularly strong in the energy, shipping and aviation industries.

Ganado & Associates's tax practice comprises five fee earners and is led by Stephen Attard, who is a highly regarded as a M&A adviser. Andre Zefara is also singled out by a number of his competitors for his capital markets and financial products work.The ... [more]

Ganado & Associates's tax practice comprises five fee earners and is led by Stephen Attard, who is a highly regarded as a M&A adviser. Andre Zefara is also singled out by a number of his competitors for his capital markets and financial products work.

The tax practice is particularly strong in advising on cross-border tax-driven structures and also on the tax implications of yacht leasing activities through Malta. This year the group advised on a group restructuring, which involved the incorporation of a Maltese company to act as a holding company. The eventual structure was organised in a tax neutral way.

Other work this year includes advising an Australian fund investing in European real estate on the setting up of a holding company structure in Malta. Clients they have represented this year include private equity funds, yacht owners, financial services firms and EU multinationals.

Grant Thornton's tax practice is headed by Austin Demajo and comprises six practitioners. The practice offers a broad range of tax services, with particular expertise in international and corporate tax services.The practice has carried out a lot of cross-border ... [more]

Grant Thornton's tax practice is headed by Austin Demajo and comprises six practitioners. The practice offers a broad range of tax services, with particular expertise in international and corporate tax services.

The practice has carried out a lot of cross-border projects this year. They assisted an international pharmaceutical company on the restructuring of their intellectual property. The group also advised a construction project management company on shifting the tax residence of one of the holding divisions of various global subsidiaries to Malta to reduce the operational costs.

Other work included advising on the cross-border merger of a licensed gaming operator. This year the team has assisted clients in a number of industries including aviation and hospitality.