Managing Director
Dr. Omar Zerafa
Dr. Zerafa has obtained the degree of Doctor of Laws from the University of Malta, following which he has also graduated from the University of Leicester with a Masters in European Union Law specialising in Commercial Law.
Prior to establishing Zerafa Advocates, Dr. Zerafa has worked as an associate with one of the leading financial services law firms in Malta where he was also admitted to partnership, responsible for the structuring and licensing of collective investment schemes, investment vehicles, investment services licence holders including asset management companies and financial institutions. Specialist areas of practice include UCITS, non-UCITS retail funds, AIFs, professional investor funds, corporate finance, investment products, listing of collective investment schemes, online forex trading companies, competition law and cross-border mergers. He was instrumental in redomiciling a number of funds into Malta and has successfully licensed several funds, fund managers and a Forex trading platform. He has also handled the application process of one of the first Binary Options trading platforms in Malta and has served as a Director, Compliance Officer and MLRO on a local Investment Management company.
Dr. Zerafa has a Foundation Certificate in Trust Law and Management awarded by the Institute of Financial Services Practitioners and is a member of the Chamber of Advocates, the International Bar Association, the Institute of Financial Services Practitioners and the Financial Services Lawyers Association (UK).
Director and MLRO
Dr. Emerson Bonello
Dr. Emerson Bonello obtained a Bachelor of Law (Honours) degree before obtaining a Master in Advocacy degree in 2017 from the University of Malta. He has also obtained a Foundation Certificate in Trust Law and Management awarded by the Institute of Financial Services Practitioners, has successfully completed the “Introduction to the Virtual Financial Assets Act” course organised by Institute of Financial Services Practitioners by achieving a pass on the 29th September 2018, and is also a member of the Chamber of Advocates.
Dr. Bonello is currently an Associate within Zerafa Advocates and dedicates a considerable amount of his time researching and providing legal opinions in the field of cryptocurrenices, virtual financial assets, blockchain, and distributed ledger technologies.
He also advises collective investment schemes and investment services licence holders and has been involved in the submission of application for a licence to several collective investment schemes.
Dr. Bonello is also a Director, MLRO and Designated Person to perform the activities of a VFA Agent for Zerafa.io Ltd, an associated company of Zerafa Advocates, which provides the services of a VFA Agent in terms of article 14 of the VFA Act.
Dr. Bonello is also approved by the MFSA to act as Compliance Officer for trustees and company service providers, and is a Compliance Officer for several licensed Company Service Providers in Malta.
Director
Dr. Malvina Mulliri
Dr. Malvina Mulliri obtained a master’s degree from University of Bari, Italy (Laurea Magistrale in Giurisprudenza – Ciclo Unico) in 2013. Dr. Mulliri completed the course of Master of Arts in Financial Service at the University of Malta in 2020 and is awaiting the award of the Diploma in Financial Services. She has also has successfully completed the “Introduction to the Virtual Financial Assets Act” course organised by Institute of Financial Services Practitioners by achieving a pass on September 2018, and has been awarded a certificate in Introduction to Blockchain by the University of Malta. She is a member of Chamber of Advocates of Tirana, Albania.
Dr. Mulliri is currently an Associate with Zerafa Advocates and dedicates her time providing legal and regulatory advice in the field of cryptocurrencies, virtual financial assets, blockchain and distributed ledger technologies. She is also involved in assisting with the licensing and compliance of investment service providers, payment service providers and collective investment schemes.
Dr. Mulliri acts as Director and Designated Person to perform the activities of a VFA Agent for Zerafa.io Ltd.
Prior to joining Zerafa Advocates, Dr. Mulliri has worked with other local VFA Agents, Trustees, Company Service Providers and law firms where she has gained valuable experience in assisting clients on their ongoing businesses, handling of company and trusts incorporation, drafting and reviewing of policies, procedures and agreements as well as providing legal and regulatory advice.