NEWS
Anti-Money Laundering & Register of Beneficial Owners
EU Court of Justice held that the EU’s anti-money laundering obligation on Member States giving public access to the beneficial ownership register is invalid and a serious breach of the fundamental right to privacy and data protection The EU’s 5th Anti-Money...
How does ESG (Environmental, Social and Corporate Governance) affect your Company?
In the year 2000, the UN Global Compact (UNGC) was launched with the aim of setting principles-based policy and a practical framework for companies committed to sustainability and responsible business practices. The principles covered human rights, labour, the...
Encouraging business to protect their intellectual property (IP) rights for critical growth
IURIS attended two webinars organized by the EUIPO and the IPRD within the Malta Commerce Department on the EUIPO’s SME programme and other IP initiatives. During Covid, the EU Commission set up an SME Fund as a grant scheme aimed to provide financial support to EU...
Sanctions Exposure & Compliance – Key Points for Gatekeepers & Business in general
On the 7th October 2022, the Sanctions Monitoring Board (the ‘SMB’) published a Guidance Note on the Imposition of EU Sanctions concerning Restrictive Measures in Respect of actions undermining or threatening the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of...
Court Grants Land Back to Emphyteuta After Successful Actio Publiciana
The First Hall of the Civil Court has recently delivered a judgment where it examined the actio publiciana and the standard of proof applicants must meet to win their lawsuit. The actio publiciana is not found in the law but is recognised by case-law as a derivative...
Damages Awarded to Owners of Leased Club in Constitutional Suit
Landlords receive close to €1M in compensation for violation of their right to property In a recent judgement concerning a property leased as a club to the Labour Party under old protective rent laws, a Maltese Court declared the lease to have infringed the landlords’...
Government Launches White Paper to Reform Agricultural Leases
The Maltese Government has recently published a white paper intended to lead to the reform of the law governing agricultural leases. In recent years the number of lawsuits filed by owners of farmland against famers leasing such land has increased, ever since the...
The SME Fund: Protect your Intellectual Property Rights and get Reimbursed
In today’s digital age, it is indispensable to protect one's intellectual property to legally safeguard unique ideas, products and services from being copied or utilised without permission. IP Protection safeguards various assets including trademarks, designs,...
The Right to be Forgotten and Court Judgements
Directive 95/46/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 24th October 1995, also referred to as the Data Protection Directive (DPD), was the first of its kind to regulate personal data and the free movement of such data within the European Union. The main...
Rights of Cohabitants in 2021
Chapter 614 of the Laws of Malta - The Cohabitation Act in further detail Pre 2020 Chapter 571 of the Laws of Malta was enacted in 2017 and provided for various forms of cohabitation in which unmarried individuals living together would have their relationship...
Constitutional Court Slams Abusive Rent Law Amendment
Band club lease laws again found in breach of landlords’ fundamental rights to fair hearing and enjoyment of property In a recent decision delivered by the Constitutional Court concerning the lease of De Paule Band Club in Paola, Parliament was taken to task for...
Malta Rent Laws Continue to Violate Human Rights
More constitutional judgements finding rent laws in breach of landlord’s right to property A recent judgement delivered by the Civil Court in its constitutional jurisdiction has declared once again the Maltese rent laws as anti-constitutional. In particular articles...
Recent Amendment allows for Rent Increase
Controlled Residential Leases Reform Act, 2021 (Act XXIV of 2021) has resulted in a great influx of cases being presented before the Rent Regulation Board seeking an increase in rent. The aim of this newly introduced rent law is another attempt to provide a solution...
IURIS Advocates is recruiting
Legal Secretary Iuris Advocates is issuing a call for an experienced Secretary to join and support a professional team within their growing Law Firm based in Valletta. Having a diverse portfolio of clients and excellent service delivery the Firm is going through a...
A Social Innovation Strategic Framework for a Small Island State: A Case Study of Malta
A strategic framework to enhance social innovation is key to enhancing social wellbeing and is not only about instilling a new cross-cutting method across trditional innovative economic and business fields, but it also needs to stimulate a culture of risk-taking and...
Amendments to the Prevention of Money Laundering and Funding of Terrorism Regulations (PMLFTRs)
The FIAU has issued a notice informing subject persons and interested parties of a series of amendments to the Prevention of Money Laundering and Funding of Terrorism Regulations, SL 373.01 of the Laws of Malta (hereinafter referred to as the PMLFTRs). These...
Land arbitration board awards landowners moral damages
Expropriation - Public purpose and public use Cases upholding a property right violation are certainly not novel in Malta. For many years, a great deal of applicants have instituted human rights proceedings before the First Hall and the Constitutional Court, with some...
Changes to WhatsApp Privacy Policy
Anti-Competitive measures and consumer rights questioned Messaging platform WhatsApp recently made headlines after it announced changes to its privacy policy. As of March of 2020, WhatsApp boasted circa two billion active users, arguably in part due to its end-to-end...