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The comprehensive guide to the world's leading tax firms

Deloitte is one of the leading tax practices on the island. The team is structured across four service lines: business, cross-border and indirect tax and global employer services. Among others, global business tax head Malcolm Booker and international ... [more]

Deloitte is one of the leading tax practices on the island. The team is structured across four service lines: business, cross-border and indirect tax and global employer services. Among others, global business tax head Malcolm Booker and international tax leader Conrad Cassar Torregiani are highly recommended. The team has been very active on corporate and indirect matters this year.

Chris Curmi and Andrew Manduca teamed up to advise a private-equity fund on a holding structure for Malta, which completed in December 2011. Torregiani also worked alongside Nick Captur to devise an IP holding and licensing structure for one client and put together an aviation leasing structure for another. The team was also involved in another IP-related case when it relocated the operating platform of a social networking site to the island, advising on both the income tax and VAT implications of this relocation, while Sarah Aquilina has been working on a merger involving a local online gaming group, too.

Manduca and Torregiani have also been consulting for the Maltese government on possible improvements to the country's direct and indirect tax systemsand Curmi has also been advising on developing Malta's double tax treaty network.

KPMG is another big hitter in the Maltese tax market. It has a team of four partners and 60 fee earners led by André Zarb. The firm prides itself on a multidisciplinary approach, and has been advising many clients in the financial sector over the past ... [more]

KPMG is another big hitter in the Maltese tax market. It has a team of four partners and 60 fee earners led by André Zarb. The firm prides itself on a multidisciplinary approach, and has been advising many clients in the financial sector over the past 12 months.

Anthony Pace teamed up with Zarb and Demanuele Bianco to advise on the restructuring a Malta-listed bank in line with the revised tax system brought in two years ago.

Pace was also active, alongside Chris Borg, acting for another Maltese bank as it sold off a non-core business to a multinational operator. John Ellul Sullivan is another experienced and recommended practitioner, and he teamed up with Zarb and Doreen Fenech in advising an investment fund on a special setup comprising the interposition of a Malta holding company into units of the fund.

Avanzia Taxand is a solid tax team that makes good use of its membership of the international Taxand network. It is led by Walter Cutajar, and numbers three partners and four fee earners that cover all areas bar disputes.Clients include big names such ... [more]

Avanzia Taxand is a solid tax team that makes good use of its membership of the international Taxand network. It is led by Walter Cutajar, and numbers three partners and four fee earners that cover all areas bar disputes.

Clients include big names such as Trafigura, Eastman Chemical, Nexen and Element Six.

Fenech & Fenech Advocates is a longstanding Maltese law firm with a sterling reputation. Its tax team is led by partner Rosanne Bonnici and works with both international and domestic clients.Clients report favourably on the firm too. "We are very pleased, ... [more]

Fenech & Fenech Advocates is a longstanding Maltese law firm with a sterling reputation. Its tax team is led by partner Rosanne Bonnici and works with both international and domestic clients.

Clients report favourably on the firm too. "We are very pleased, a very positive experience. Considering we are dealing with others [firms] in much larger jurisdictions they come out on top," said one.

"It was a simply excellent service. It was their knowledge of the product, their understanding of the law and the will to learn about our business and work for our aims that impressed," said another, while another added: "They were committed, efficient and direct. They were always the ones with their hands in the air asking the questions we were all thinking."

A highlight for the team this year saw Bonnici securing for a ruling for a financial group that allowed a participation exemption to be applied to its dealings in common contractual investment funds.

In indirect matters, Bonnici is working alongside Reuben Mifsud and Stephanie Aquilina in counselling a large international bank in relation to the tax implications of the acquisition financing and leasing of a group of aircraft, work which is expected to finish during 2012.

Ganado & Associates has a tax practice of five fee earners and is led by Stephen Attard, who has experience in M&A and asset finance work as well as in tax.The firm is also one that enjoys a growing reputation, as one partners comments: "Ganado is a ... [more]

Ganado & Associates has a tax practice of five fee earners and is led by Stephen Attard, who has experience in M&A and asset finance work as well as in tax.

The firm is also one that enjoys a growing reputation, as one partners comments: "Ganado is a little low down. They have elements that make them stand out."

The corporate finance and tax practice group has been particularly active over the past year in advising on cross-border tax-driven structures, giving tax advice in relation to financial services and shipping companies establishing themselves in Malta, and advising on the tax aspects of setting up yacht leasing structures through Malta.

This year, the group was also involved in the establishment in Malta of the first European Company (SE) by making use of the EU's SE Regulation.

And another highlight piece of work included advising a major North American entity which is making use of EU's Cross-Border Merger Directive for a cross-border merger between a Maltese and Hungarian company.

Grant Thornton is led by Austin Demajo, who oversees the tax team of five fee earners. The practice can handle transfer pricing and disputes work but focuses on corporate and indirect mandates from clients such as the Nordic Gaming Group, International ... [more]

Grant Thornton is led by Austin Demajo, who oversees the tax team of five fee earners. The practice can handle transfer pricing and disputes work but focuses on corporate and indirect mandates from clients such as the Nordic Gaming Group, International Hotel Investments and Creek Development.

"I am impressed with their quality of work. Their understanding of the client impressed me too," said a satisfied client.

High on the list of the firm's work this year was Demajo working with Wayne Pisani in advising Corinthia Group, which has a net asset value of $1 billion, on the tax implications of restructuring work which included the transfer of immoveable properties.

The firm also carried out due diligence exercises for the Maltese entities of Scandic and Centrebet, both of which are active in the online gaming industry.