Fund Services – Choosing the right jurisdiction – What to look for?

Anabel joined Fexserv Fund Services in 2008 and today occupies the position of Managing Director. She started her career in audit and assurance with PwC where she was involved within different industries and worked in offices including Malta and London. Subsequently she took up accountancy and finance positions with leading entities operating out of Malta including an appointment within the Finance Department of HSBC Securities Services (Malta) Limited. She holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree, an Honours degree in Accountancy and a Masters degree in Financial Services from the University of Malta. Anabel sits on the committee at the Malta Asset Servicing Association (MASA) and is a visiting lecturer at the University of Malta.

Kenneth Farrugia joined Bank of Valletta plc (BOV), Malta’s largest banking group, in 1985 and has since occupied various positions within the Bank. Kenneth currently holds the post of Chief Business Development Officer at Bank of Valletta plc and sits on the Group’s Management Board. Kenneth is, amongst others, responsible for the improvement of the Bank’s market position, as well as the achievement of financial growth and long-term strategic business goals. Kenneth is also a Governor of FinanceMalta, Malta’s national promotional body for financial services, and also serves as Chairman of the MASA. He is also the Chairman of Malita Investments plc which is listed on the Malta Stock Exchange. Kenneth is married to Kathleen and has two children.

Independent Director – MG Management Ltd

Victor Murray is a Director of MG Management Ltd in the Cayman Islands.   Mr. Murray currently acts as a director to a number of multi-manager funds, hedge funds, private equity funds and other investment structures.

He has held hedge fund board appointments since 2007 in the Cayman Islands at a large fiduciary firm and prior to that he was in house counsel at a large administrator in the Cayman Islands.

Mr. Murray has an LL.B (Bachelor of Laws Degree) and a Postgraduate Diploma in Legal Practice.  As part of his law degree, he studied Investor Protection. Mr. Murray’s professional designations include admission as a Solicitor and Notary Public, in Scotland and admission as an attorney-at-law in the Cayman Islands and in the states of New York and California.  Mr. Murray is a currently appointed as the Cayman Islands Directors Association vice president. He is an Accredited Director by the Chartered Secretaries of Canada.  Mr. Murray is a citizen of the Cayman Islands and has resided there since 2002.

Christian graduated in Economics from the University of Malta and started his career as a Merger and Acquisitions analyst at the Office of Competition. Later, he moved to the United Kingdom, reading a MSc at the University of York and acquiring the CFA Charterholder. After his studies, Christian joined APS Bank Limited in Malta as a fund manager. He then joined AQA Capital Ltd, setting up offices in Malta and networking connections throughout the country. He is also currently reading a PhD in Finance and is a visiting lecturer at the University of Malta.

Sean is a Partner in the London office of MJ Hudson, specialising in alternative investment funds. Sean has two decades experience advising the boards of funds, fund managers, investors and service providers across a wide range of asset classes, strategies, structures and jurisdictions. Sean brings a unique global insight to the practice, he is an English qualified solicitor as well as a Cayman Islands attorney and has practiced in Australia, the Channel Islands, the Cayman Islands and London.  In addition to fund formation expertise, Sean also has extensive experience of advising and crisis managing distressed funds. Sean has worked closely with boards of directors, managers, liquidators and disgruntled redeemers  in the winding up, restructure,  dissolution and liquidation of affected investment funds. This includes providing detailed advice on suspensions, compulsory redemptions and creditor litigation.

Sean has been recommended by Legal 500 as being “extremely well known and respected in the market for both his commercial and legal ability” and by Chambers and Partners for his deep industry knowledge and his ability to cut to the core of any issue with his astute and commercial approach. Sean was also previously listed for his expertise in fund formation in the Who’s Who of Private Funds Lawyers.

With well over 15 years of working experience, Michael is specialised in Investment Management Services working within Deloitte’s Financial Services Practice. During this time Michael worked for two years with Deloitte in London, managing a number of multi-national companies in the Insurance and Investments Management Practice prior to returning to Deloitte Malta in 2009.

Michael services a broad client base both locally and internationally and is responsible for the statutory and non-statutory audits of a number of clients, including Collective Investment Schemes, Investment Management Companies and Fund Administrators as well as other regulated and non-regulated entities.

Michael coordinates various international engagements where he has developed numerous connections within the Deloitte Network. Michael is also the Chairman of the FSI sub-Committee at the Malta Institute of Accountants.
Michael is conversant with the technical accounting and reporting requirements for a wide-range of financial instruments and derivative products under IFRS.
Michael is a driven individual who today have developed into a well-rounded individual combining solid technical skills with natural capabilities in networking, business development and overall management.

Michael has a good understanding and appreciation of Information Technology (IT).