Practices

September 9 , 2026

The Evolution of AIFMD: Why AIFMD II Matters

Introduction Since the European Union introduced Directive 2011/61 on Alternative Investment Fund Managers (“AIFMD”) in 2011, the alternative investment fund industry has changed considerably. The Directive was introduced in the aftermath of Read more

September 2 , 2026

The Road to PSD3: Why Europe’s Payments Framework Needed Reform

Introduction The European Union (“EU”) is currently undergoing a significant reform within its payment services framework. This development is reflected in the proposed Third Payment Services Directive (“PSD3”) and the accompanying Payment Read more

August 19 , 2026

The MFSA Raises the Bar on Arranging Directorship and Company Secretarial Services: What Every Company Service Provider Needs to Know

The Malta Financial Services Authority (“MFSA“) has recently issued the findings of its 2025 Thematic Review on the oversight exercised by Company Service Providers (“CSPs“) when arranging for individuals to act as director Read more

August 12 , 2026

Decentralisation: The Legal Reality Behind Crypto’s Most Misunderstood Buzzword

For years, decentralisation has been heralded as the cornerstone of blockchain technology and one of the principal reasons why crypto-assets differ from traditional financial systems. It is a term frequently used in whitepapers, marketing material Read more

August 5 , 2026

Terrorist Financing in the Digital Space: Insights from the Financial Action Task Force (“FATF”) on social media, Instant Messaging Applications and Streaming Platforms (“SMSPs”)

The recent FATF report on Detecting and Disrupting Terrorist Financing Activity Through SMSPs highlights a structural shift in the way terrorist financing is facilitated in the digital age. Rather than relying primarily on traditional financial sy Read more

July 29 , 2026

FATF Launches Public Consultation on Recommendation 16 Guidance

The Financial Action Task Force (“FATF”) has launched a public consultation on its updated draft Guidance for implementing Recommendation 16. Regulators, financial institutions, virtual asset service providers (“VASPs”), and legal practiti Read more

July 22 , 2026

Organised Crime and Money Laundering in Malta: What the FIAU’s Latest Analysis Means in Practice

In June 2026, the Financial Intelligence Analysis Unit (“FIAU“) published an extensive strategic analysis examining the relationship between organised crime and the Maltese financial system. The report reviewed 540 suspicious transacti Read more

July 17 , 2026

Show Me the Money: Key Takeaways from the Mediterrane Film Festival’s Industry Conversation on Film Finance

On 24 June 2026, representatives from Zerafa Advocates attended one of the Mediterranean Film Festival’s most insightful industry sessions, “Industry Conversations – Show Me the Money: Understanding How Film Finance Works.” Mod Read more

July 15 , 2026

DeFi, MiCA and Malta’s Next Step in Digital Finance

The Malta Financial Services Authority’s recent consultation on Decentralised Finance comes at a time when the digital assets market is becoming more serious, more regulated and more connected to traditional finance. Crypto is no longer only a s Read more

July 8 , 2026

ESMA’s 2026 Priorities and the Shaping of the EU Regulatory Agenda

In June 2026, the European Securities and Markets Authority (“ESMA“) published a letter outlining its strategic priorities for the coming regulatory cycle. While the communication is primarily addressed to European Union institutions, Read more