WDM International provides consultancy in the following lines of expertise:

  • Local and International Tax Consultancy
  • Malta Citizenship – The Malta Individual Investor Programme (IIP)
  • Residence Planning and Relocation
  • Corporate and Commercial Law
  • Financial services including pre and post licensing assistance with: funds, investment services, credit institutions, financial institutions and pensions
  • Shipping and Aviation
  • Gaming

 

Unregulated Business

The Legal practice within WDM International assists clients with the incorporation of Malta companies as well as ensuring that the company is fully compliant with its obligations under Maltese company law. Our clients range from local businesses to foreign investors interested in conducting business in Malta.

We can offer all the required legal advice with respect to all aspects of Maltese corporate legislation. To this end our extensive experience in the provision of corporate law consultancy and assistance, has proved essential in advising on matters pertinent to company incorporation and re-domiciliation of corporate entities as well as corporate re-organizations, cross border mergers, and liquidation proceedings, amongst others.

At WDM International we also provide consultancy to companies and their directors and officers regarding the entire range of corporate governance, fiduciary duties, compliance, director and officer liability issues. Likewise, we advise creditors and financially troubled entities in relation to insolvency, bankruptcy and forced re-organisation proceedings. We are increasingly involved in advising licensable and licensed entities such as funds and credit institutions as to their obligations under Maltese company law and other more specific financial services legislation.

Aside from the setting up of any structure we seek to assist clients in the annual maintenance of the structure through the necessary back office and administrative support. Clients are advised on international corporate and tax structures on the basis of a joint approach and in close collaboration with our international tax practice.

Regulated Business

Financial Services Companies

The Financial Services Department at WDM International comprises a multi-disciplinary team of lawyers and accountants, providing tailor-made advice to international clients wishing to operate within the financial services sector in Malta. We offer our advice to clients who wish to operate in the field of Funds, Investment Services, Banking, Insurance and Captives, and Capital Markets. To this end in our daily work, we advise financial services operators in respect of setting up and complying with the ongoing aspects of their operation from a Maltese regulatory, legal and tax perspective. We work hand in hand with Malta financial services operators in the establishment and maintenance of their licensed activity whilst providing the most appropriate and tax-efficient structure for that particular case. We broadly categorise our services licensing related services and post-licensing regulatory compliance.

Set up & Pre-Licensing

As the financial services sector meets the challenges of the current economic landscape, regulation has never been so hotly debated. It therefore becomes all the more important to receive specialist advice. Our track record includes helping clients avoid the pitfalls when dealing with the MFSA, including providing the necessary advice in all regulatory due diligence requirements. At WDM International we assist our clients at every stage of the licensing process, including representation during preliminary and subsequent meetings with the local authorities and completion of the documentation required for licensing purposes, including the drafting of business plans, the completion of the various official documents required and the drafting of prospectuses and offering documents where required.

Post-Licensing Services

All Malta financial services operators are required to comply, on an on-going basis, with the various regulatory requirements established by the relevant EU directives. At WDM International we provide a thorough compliance service, advising clients with respect to compliance with the various licence requirements imposed by regulators. We espouse this with a rigorous anti-money laundering regulation analysis and compliance with such a regime.

WDM International is the natural choice for the detail oriented operator, seeking a real full service firm in Malta.

Gaming Companies

Malta has a dynamic economy based on international trade and international business. The remote gaming sector is the most dynamic and the fastest growing gaming sector in Malta. In 2004, Malta lead the way in Remote Gaming regulation, by being the first European Union Member State to regulate remote gaming, by issuing sophisticated and robust technology neutral regulations. Moreover, Malta’s regulatory approach favours innovation and business development while ensuring that player protection is at the centre of the regulatory framework.

While the European gaming market continues to be challenged by national regulatory regimes each requiring a national licence, i-gaming operators are facing a plethora of legal issues running along the lines of geographical national boundaries. Malta’s position has always strived to ensure that operators retain their right to provide services directly from Malta without the requirement of obtaining burdensome licences from other jurisdictions. The island’s data storage and more importantly its data transmission infrastructure is providing a viable solution in accommodating gaming operators holding various jurisdictional gaming licences who choose to centralise their systems in Malta. Thus Malta being highly secure, cost effective and synonymous with a mark of high quality is one of the major hubs for the licensing and setting up of online gaming and betting companies.

At WDM International we regularly assist operators in obtaining remote gaming licenses across all classes. The firm offers a full spectrum of services including company registration, preparation and co-ordination of all aspects of the application process with the Lotteries and Gaming Authority and on-going support for operators establishing their operations in Malta.

WDM International has gained extensive experience and expertise in assisting a considerable number of gaming operators. Its multidisciplinary team has an in-depth understanding of the challenges surrounding the I-gaming business and can assist you in finding commercially driven legal solutions suited to your needs. To this end our Gaming Law Department offers expert guidance and legal assistance in various areas including regulatory assistance, all aspects of technology contracting, affiliate and white label agreements, platform agreements and licensing.