Gonzi & Associates, Advocates

Gonzi & Associates, Advocates is a business law firm in Valletta, Malta. Aviation and shipping law are two of its main areas of work. Its aviation team helps clients register aircraft in Malta and set up and run aviation businesses on the island.

The firm's other main fields are financial services, company law and tax, gaming and telecoms, and intellectual property. Its team includes lawyers, a legal procurator and associate notaries. It works with GA Corporate Limited for company and back office services.

Aviation services

• Registering aircraft in Malta
• Getting an Air Operator Certificate (AOC) and an Air Operator Licence (AOL)
• Advice on aircraft finance, insurance and leasing
• Registering security interests over aircraft
• Tax planning for aviation companies
• Sale and purchase of aircraft
• Aircraft disputes before the Maltese courts and in arbitration

Why the Malta register

The Aircraft Registration Act (Chapter 503 of the Laws of Malta) is the main law for registering aircraft and aircraft mortgages in Malta. Malta was the first EU member to accede to the Cape Town Convention and its Aircraft Protocol, in 2009. Aviation in Malta is regulated by the Civil Aviation Directorate within Transport Malta, and Malta follows EASA standards. Operators based in Malta also get EU access to air traffic rights.

How the firm works

• A first meeting to explain the rules and the next steps
• Onboarding, with a client portal to follow the work
• Review of the client's documents and data
• Delivery within agreed time frames, with updates through the portal

Other aviation and maritime work

The same team handles ship registration, yacht registration and international trade by sea, so owners of both aircraft and vessels can use one firm.

Contact

115B Old Mint Street, Valletta VLT 1515, Malta. Phone +356 2015 7000.