Director / Head of Ship Registration Department

Lara Saguna Axiaq heads the Ship Registration Department at Fenech & Fenech Marine Services Ltd. She has practiced in the area of ship finance, ship registration as well as ship sale and purchase since 2007.

Lara was awarded a Doctorate in Laws (LL.D.) conferred by the University of Malta in 2007. She was admitted to the Maltese bar in 2008 and subsequently read for a Master of Laws (LL.M.) in Maritime Law with Queen Mary University (University of London), graduating in 2011. She is a member of the Malta Chamber of Advocates and the Malta Maritime Law Association.

As a lawyer specialized in maritime law, Lara Saguna Axiaq is involved on a daily basis in various transactions relating to the registration of new-buildings and second hand vessels under the Malta flag, both Maltese and foreign owned. These include vessels ranging from large tanker vessels to yachts, both pleasure and commercially registered. She also advises clients on ship sales and acquisitions, transfer of ownership of vessels within the Malta flag, all matters relating to the continuance of vessel registration as well as their subsequent deletion from the Malta flag.

Furthermore, Lara has significant experience in ship finance having practiced as a lawyer within the firm’s Ship Finance Department for several years, advising clients – Maltese and non-Maltese, corporate and individual – in their capacity as borrowers, guarantors and mortgagors, as well as leading financial institutions and major international Banks, assisting the parties with the preparation of the relevant security documentation required for perfecting the registration of Maltese statutory mortgages and security interests. Her experience in ship finance enables her to provide clients with comprehensive guidance and advice on registration of vessels under the Malta flag.

Languages: Maltese, English, Italian