In 2006 Olga Finkel started a law practice called WH Law. In 2012 WH Partners was created when James Scicluna and Olga Finkel formed a partnership based on a shared vision of a modern multidisciplinary practice, providing world-class advice, having best in class practice management, working for clients in areas in which its lawyers had deep expertise, diverse, open to the world and to training the next generation of lawyers to be even better than the ones before them.
Since 2012 WH Partners has gone from 6 lawyers and 2 support staff to over 80 staff, including over 20 lawyers, of whom 7 are partners, several tax accountants, professional corporate service staff and support staff, as well as an office move and three office extensions.
Practice areas
Business
Our corporate, M&A team has exceptional transactional skills. We routinely advise on cross-border matters, allowing us to have an international reach and work on complex deals. We played a major role in some of the biggest deals involving Maltese companies over the past years. Our experience in this area is recognised by the foremost legal directories, including Legal 500, IFLR1000, Chambers and Partners.
We are experienced in all aspects of M&A transactions and corporate work, including private and public acquisitions and disposals, joint ventures, private equity, exit structures, corporate restructuring, corporate governance, as well as general commercial matters.
We work together across practice areas within our firm, offering consistent and multidisciplinary support to our clients.
We have the ability to combine cross-border transactional experience with in-depth knowledge of regulated sectors which provides our firm’s clients with a leading edge around the negotiating table.
Our lawyers are individually known for their broad expertise and vast experience in the industries they service, being able to deliver sound and clear advice and undertake even the most demanding of assignments.
We are known by regulators and institutions for being meticulous and thorough, ensuring that our clients’ regulatory approvals are obtained smoothly and that good relations are kept at all times.
We assist clients in understanding multiple jurisdictions in relation to structuring/re-structuring, preparation for an exit in a business or sale and/or regulatory risk analysis. We do this through a combination of our experience in doing so and in reliance on our extensive international networks, both those built by our partners over time and through AllyLaw, the combination of which gives us a truly world-wide reach.
Here’s what the leading directories had to say about us:
IFLR1000: “WH Partners is best known for its expertise in blockchain technology and ICOs, corporate finance, digital industries, gaming & gambling, M&A and tax. Its lawyers played major roles in the largest transactions involving Maltese companies in recent years and their expertise is recognized by the foremost independent legal directories”.
Legal 500 2018: “WH Partners specialises in the gaming sector with a client roster that includes Betsson and Dumarca Holdings. Olga Finkel stands out for her gambling and technology expertise; Ruth Galea is a key name for corporate finance, governance and restructuring mandates; and Robert Skalina is experienced in cross-border transactions. Senior associate Graziella Grech is noted.”
Chambers & Partners 2018: “Highly regarded for its work in the gaming and gambling arena, handling mergers, sales and acquisitions that frequently have a cross-border element. Acts on behalf of a variety of European clients such as Swedish, Portuguese and German companies. Also advises clients on regulatory matters, payment service provisions and e-money issuances.”
Real Estate
We advise on a broad range of commercial contracts, ranging from joint-venture agreement, to distribution, franchising, marketing, sponsorship and advertising.
We advise on the supply of goods or services, whether online or in a bricks and mortar retail environment. Our technology & IP lawyers have world-class experience of outsourcing of key business functions, the acquisition of intellectual property and its exploitation.
Lawsuits & Disputes
Although as a rule we seek to keep our clients away from court and arbitral tribunals, we represent clients on disputes relating to intellectual property, shareholding, insolvency, breach of contract, employment, property and various other commercial matters.
Sometimes disputes can be resolved through mediation and well thought out negotiations. On other occasions, litigation might be the only option available.
On occasion, dispute also require the appropriate public relations and media approach. We have relationships with the leading reputation management consultants in Malta.
Employment & Labor
As an employer, we understand that human resources are not only essential to the smooth running of a successful business, but also that they are the most valuable asset that we have. We also know that a client’s team are essential to their business strategy and risk evaluation and that it is imperative to ensure harmony in the workplace at all times. This is why we strive to provide our clients with practical solutions to assist and support them in achieving their business targets.
We handle a whole range of employment issues and can offer advice on everything from day to day issues such as disputes, discrimination, employee codes of conduct, contracts and payroll. We also offer a more specialised approach when it comes to supporting major changes in our clients business such as recruitment drives due to growth and new changes put in place following a merger or acquisition.