Globalaw in the news. 

Globalaw is kicking off its member spotlight series for its 30th Anniversary celebration. The first member firm, EMD, is from Malta. Recently, I had the pleasure of catching up with EMD's Pierre Mifsud and Lisa Vassallo. From the beginning, you could tell that EMD is a special place, with the kind of lawyers with whom we would all like to work. These are problem solvers committed to relationships, diversity, history and creativity.

As Lisa started talking, I could see the beautiful white tiled vault structure of their offices behind her - an office built into a historical building and located in Valletta, both the capital and one of the historical centres. Lisa's first words were about the clients who had just left - headed to a nearby restaurant to celebrate the project's successful conclusion, with which EMD was helping. EMD's pride in the relationships they build with clients was quickly apparent, as Lisa apologized for being a few minutes late as she'd had to beg off repeated lunch invitations and lots of hugs from that client to be able to make our meeting. As she spoke, the importance of EMD in their relationships with clients -their partnerships with those clients- was striking.

That focus on relationships goes beyond clients. EMD employs lawyers and staff from around the world and celebrates that diversity routinely. Whether through various lunches, where employees cook food to share from their native countries, or planned social events, the group is clearly based on relationships - relationships that allow firm members to work strategically across teams and provide the type of integration that makes legal advice seamless. EMD's substantive prowess is equally impressive. A recent example? Setting up a Ritz Carlton cruise line from scratch. Essentially, EMD has helped launch this entire operation: establishing physical offices for infrastructure support, financing and registering the vessels, providing corporate advice and assistance, drafting contracts, and developing key employment strategies, including work and residential permits. It is a multi-phased project; the first ship sailed last summer, with the next set to deliver in June of 2024 and with more ships to follow.

And they do so not just in Malta. Given Malta's strategic location between Africa and Europe, it should be no surprise that EMD's lawyers have strong ties in both locations. Recognized by many as an ideal entry point to the European Union, companies from Africa and the Americas find strategic value in locating here. And the opposite is equally true, with EU firms using Malta to be closer to North Africa. EMD is well positioned to assist these companies as they use Malta's strategic location to better connect with both jurisdictions.

While I'm on the call, I'm already considering when I could visit - both to see this incredible island and its history and also to connect with EMD. But Malta is much more than a tourist destination. Malta has a strong local industry that focuses on financial services, shipping, aircraft maintenance, aircraft registration, and pharma manufacturing. I asked Pierre, one of the founding members of the firm (which will celebrate its 25th anniversary in 2025), why pharma? When registering their patents, he explained that the major drug companies often skipped Malta as "unimportant." But that meant that Malta became quite significant - essentially the land of opportunities for the generic drug companies to come in, stockpile and manufacture. It became a key entry point for pharma manufacturing in the rest of the world and underscores how a small jurisdiction can become a critical opportunity.

As we neared the end of our time, I asked Pierre if he had any last words of advice for the business person who had not worked in Malta recently. Pierre quickly responded, tying together both the legal and practical advice for which EMD is recognized and pointing to Malta's increased focus on the substance of companies trying to claim Malta as their home. With tax, anti-money laundering, and increased expectations of substantial involvement, things like physical presence, employees, and local board involvement have become increasingly important. And EMD can help sort through all of those issues.

In fact, EMD's creativity has gone beyond just legal services in supporting its clients. It formed a technology company to assist with the implementation, configuration, and maintenance of enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems. The company also developed its own software suite dealing with payroll and procurement, particularly for Libya (including the deductions and taxes that are required there).

Visit www.emd.com.mt/ to learn more.

The Portuguese Victim Support Association, APAV, received a donation of €8,000 from the Globalaw Foundation at the Globalaw Annual Meeting on October 27th, 2023. The Globalaw foundation gives back to communities and organizations in need, with a focus on legal education and access to justice.

Read the full press release here

Globalaw, an international network of independent law firms, that provides its members with a global platform to serve their clients’ legal needs, is pleased to congratulate Peter J. Brown as its new President following Globalaw’s Annual Members Meeting in Lisbon, Portugal on the 27th October 2023.

Read the full press release here.

The Decree of September 29, 2023 of the Ministry of Enterprises and Made in Italy concludes the long and troubled regulatory process for the establishment of the Register of Beneficial Owners introduced by Legislative Decree no. 90 of May 25, 2017, implementing Directive (EU) 2015/849 on the prevention of the use of the financial system for the purposes of money laundering or terrorist financing.

Read the full article here

Our member firm Mc Innes Wilson Lawyers has shared a testimonial on why being part of the Globalaw Community has enriched their network.

Click here to download and watch the video.

With 10 members operating across 19 jurisdictions, Globalaw’s growing network in Africa provides an effective platform to meet global client needs.

Check the 2023 Globalaw Africa Directory at this link.

The New York City charity Minds Matter received a donation of $ 7,000 from the Globalaw Foundation at the Globalaw Americas Regional Meeting on June 3rd, 2023. The Globalaw foundation gives back to communities and organizations in need, with a focus on legal education and access to justice.  

The donation was presented to Erika Halstead and Colin Delaney, directors at Minds Matter during the Globalaw Americas Regional Meeting at the prestigious Harvard Club in New York City hosted by Globalaw Member firm Olshan Frome Wolosky LLP.   

Read the press release here.

The Globalaw Foundation showed the #Globalaw community’s support to the Moroccan charities A Better Tomorrow and Association Morocco Foundation with a $6,000 donation presented at the #GLEMEA2023 in the prestigious Palace Soleiman in Marrakech. Read more here.

Boston, MA — Southeast New Hampshire Habitat for Humanity (SENH Habitat) was excited to be presented with a $10,000 donation by the Globalaw Foundation at the GLAMM gala on September 23, 2022. The gala was held at the John J. Moakley Court House during the conclusion of the Globalaw Annual Meeting in Boston which was hosted by Hinckley Allen.

Read the full press release Globalaw Foundation Press Release

Following a conference organised by Globalaw at the end of May 2022 in Luxembourg, SOS VILLAGES D’ENFANTS MONDE received a significant donation to support their colleagues in West Africa in their daily efforts to protect children exposed to violence, abuse, exploitation and neglect. The Globalaw Foundation strives to create a better and fairer world by contributing to the legal training of SOS VILLAGES D’ENFANTS MONDE’s teams that will then pass on their knowledge to the community.

Read the full story here.