Stephen Attard, Corporate Finance and Tax Partner at Ganado Advocates, participated in a panel discussion during a Workshop entitled "Abuse of Legal Persons – Challenges in the Digital Age" which was organised by the Malta Business Registry on 11 November, 2025.
The Workshop discussions focused on the misuse of legal persons for illicit activities and the tools used to combat such abuse. Participants were mainly from the Maltese regulatory authorities and corporate service providers.
During the panel discussion, Stephen Attard addressed reputational concerns of practitioners, the difficulties faced by the industry as a result of de-risking measures by the local banks, the opportunities arising from AI and technology tools for practitioners to combat abuse by clients through corporate entities, and the benefits of having greater links with Malta through Maltese bank accounts and Maltese resident directors.
The panel was moderated by Dr Geraldine Spiteri Lucas (CEO & Registrar at the Malta Business Registry) and also included Dr Jonathan Phyall (Head of Legal Affairs, Financial Intelligence Analysis Unit) and Ms Cynthia Borg (Chair, Financial and Cyber Crime, & Fraud, Malta Bankers' Association).