The Notary AML Forum 2026: Sanctions, new regulatory updates, tax benefits

The Notary AML Forum, organised by Forvis Mazars in collaboration with Inscope-AML, was held on Wednesday, April 8, 2026 and was designed very much with notaries at the centre. The aim was to create an open forum for discussion, bringing together the full notarial ecosystem in one room. The event successfully brought together notaries and regulatory decision-makers including Heads of Sections from the FIAU and the Sanctions Monitoring Board, together with recognised AML, sanctions and tax experts from Forvis Mazars and Inscope AML.

Paul Giglio

Importantly, the session welcomed the President of the Maltese Notarial Council, ensuring that the voice of the profession – ultimately the audience – was clearly represented throughout the discussions.

This half-day event provided notaries with the opportunity to hear directly from regulators, engage in open dialogue, and raise practical concerns affecting their day-to-day work, while gaining insight and practical guidance on the evolving AML and sanctions landscape.

Ruth Farrugia

The forum opened with welcome remarks before moving into a series of expert-led panel discussions. Speakers explored the upcoming AML 2026 package and the EU Single Rulebook, highlighting what is set to change for notaries in practice, what requirements will be tightened, and the key obligations notaries should be preparing for. A second panel delved into sanctions frameworks, associated risks, and emerging evasion techniques, offering attendees a clearer understanding of how to navigate increasingly complex compliance expectations.

Alan Craig

A dedicated session on taxation by Tax and Assurance Partner Paul Giglio and Tax Director Ruth Farrugia outlined practical tax benefits available to notaries, emphasising smarter structuring and compliance efficiency. The afternoon concluded with closing remarks followed by networking and refreshments, giving participants the opportunity to exchange views, discuss real issues encountered in their daily practice, and reflect on the discussions.

Alicia Vella

The two panels were moderated by Dr Sarah Attard Cassar, Advisory Manager at Forvis Mazars. The first panel featured Elena Tabone, Head – Enforcement at FIAU, Dr Graziella Agius Farrugia, president of the Maltese Notarial Council, and Alicia Vella, Advisory Director at Forvis Mazars. The second panel featured Dr Jonathan Phyall, Head – Legal Affairs at FIAU, Gabrielle Caligari Conti, Assistant Director of the Sanctions Monitoring Board, Simon Azzopardi, Partner at Inscope AML, and Alan Craig, Advisory Partner at Forvis Mazars.

From left: Dr Sarah Attard Cassar, Gabrielle Caligari Conti, Dr Jonathan Phyall, Alan Craig, and Simon Azzopardi.

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