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Mario Zerafa

Mario Zerafa is a Senior Associate within Ganado Advocates’ investment services and funds team. Mario has a wide range of experience in setting up, structuring and licensing of PIFs, UCITS, AIFs and NAIFs as well as investment services licence holders such as AIFMs, UCITS management companies, and MIFID firms. On an ongoing basis, he advises clients on their ongoing obligations in terms of the applicable legal and regulatory framework. As part of the ongoing support to clients, Mario also assists with various corporate matters including the re-domiciliation of companies into or out of Malta, drafting of shareholders agreements and corporate governance matters. Mario also specialises in anti-financial crime-related matters within the financial services sector, concentrating particularly on anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing, anti-bribery and corruption, and whistleblowing laws. On an ongoing basis, he advises clients on governance issues as well as on the establishment of an anti-financial crime framework in line with Maltese laws and regulations. Mario regularly represents clients before the Maltese authorities responsible for countering money laundering and funding of terrorism in Malta. Mario acts as examiner and lecturer at the University of Malta. He also lectures at a number of academic institutions on investment services and anti-financial crime related subjects. · Ganado Advocates

MaltaInvestment Funds, Financial Services RegulationEnglish, Italian, Maltese

About

Senior Associate in Ganado Advocates’ investment services and funds team, experienced in setting up, structuring and licensing PIFs, UCITS, AIFs and NAIFs and advising investment services licence holders (AIFMs, UCITS management companies, MiFID firms) on ongoing regulatory obligations. Specialises in anti-financial crime matters (AML, CTF, anti-bribery and corruption, whistleblowing), represents clients before Maltese AML authorities, and acts as an examiner and lecturer at the University of Malta.

Practice areas

Investment FundsFinancial Services RegulationAnti-Financial CrimeCorporate / M&A

Office

Expertise

PIFsUCITSAIFsNAIFsAIFMsMiFID firmsRe-domiciliation of companiesShareholders agreementsCorporate governanceAnti-money laundering (AML)Counter-terrorist financing (CTF)WhistleblowingAnti-bribery & corruption

Education

  • International Diploma in Anti Money Laundering (Int. Dip AML), 2020 (Manchester)
  • Master of Laws (LL.M) (International Commercial Law), 2012 (London)
  • Doctor of Laws (LL.D), 2011 (Malta)
  • Bachelor of Laws with European Studies (LL.B), 2008 (Malta)
  • IFSP in Trust Law and Administration, 2011 (Malta)

Admissions

  • Admitted to the Maltese Bar, Superior Courts of Malta
  • Member of the Chamber of Advocates
  • Member of the Institute of Financial Services Practitioners

Languages

EnglishItalianMaltese