Head of Yachting
Vistra · United States
It’s never been a more exciting time to join Vistra.
At Vistra our purpose is progress. We believe that our clients have the power to change the world and to do great things for global progress, and we exist to remove the friction that comes from the complexity of global business – to help our clients achieve progress without friction.
But progress only happens when people come together and take action. And we’re absolutely committed to building a culture where our people can do just that.
We have an exciting opportunity for you to join our team as a Head of Yachting. This full-time and permanent position is based in Malta.
The Head of Yachting will be responsible for leading, developing and managing the firm’s yachting practice within a regulated Maltese corporate services environment. The role requires a senior legal professional with substantial experience in the yachting and maritime sector, capable of providing high-level technical advice to clients while ensuring that all yachting-related services are delivered efficiently, commercially, and in full compliance with applicable legal and regulatory requirements.
The successful candidate will act as the firm’s expert on yacht ownership and holding structures, yacht registration and renewals, ongoing vessel administration, compliance matters and related legal and operational issues. In addition, the individual will be expected to contribute to the strategic development of the firm’s aviation offering, identifying opportunities to expand services in this sector and supporting the establishment of a broader asset structuring practice. The role will combine technical legal expertise, client relationship management and team leadership.
Responsibilities:
1. Leadership of the Yachting Practice
- Lead and manage the firm’s yachting division as a distinct business line within the broader CSP offering.
- Develop and implement the strategic direction of the yachting function, including growth plans, service offering development, operational processes and market positioning.
- Continue building the firm’s standing in the yachting sector by establishing a strong reputation for technical quality, responsiveness, commercial understanding and regulatory robustness.
- Support the development of the firm’s aviation business, including helping to identify service opportunities, relevant client demand, suitable structuring solutions and the operational framework required to build and expand this offering within the business.
- Work closely with the board of directors to align the yachting and aviation practice with the firm’s broader commercial and operational objectives.
2. Technical Advisory
- Serve as the principal internal and external legal expert on yacht-related matters.
- Advise clients, intermediaries, brokers, family offices and internal stakeholders on all legal, corporate and administrative aspects of yacht ownership, management and operation.
- Advise on acquisition and sale transactions involving yachts, including title review, ownership structuring, registration implications and transaction support
- Provide advice on financing arrangements, security interests, mortgages, and lender-related requirements in connection with yacht acquisitions and ownership structures.
- Review, draft and negotiate yachting-related legal documentation where required.
- Collate the necessary source of funds documentation that would be required to support transactions
- Oversee all matters relating to yacht registration and renewals, whether private or commercial.
- Manage de-registration, transfer of flag, or closure of ownership structures where required.
- Ensure all files are maintained to a high standard, with complete and defensible records of legal and administrative actions taken.
3. Regulatory, Risk and Compliance Oversight
- Ensure that yachting-related business is undertaken in line with all applicable Maltese laws, maritime requirements, internal procedures and the compliance obligations applicable to a regulated company service provider.
- Oversee the client onboarding and related due diligence processes for yacht-owning companies, UBOs, connected parties, source of wealth/source of funds, and associated counterparties, as relevant.
- Ensure that the yachting practice operates within the firm’s AML/CFT framework and any relevant sanctions, reputational risk and client acceptance parameters.
- Ensure all client legal documentation and transactional records are maintained in a manner that is clear, complete and defensible from a legal, tax, regulatory and audit perspective.
- Monitor changes to relevant legal and regulatory frameworks affecting yachts, yacht-owning entities, leasing arrangements, beneficial ownership, income tax, VAT treatment and corporate service provision and ensure internal processes are updated accordingly.
- Report suspicious transactions to the Money Laundering Reporting Officer.\
- Attend all mandatory AML/CFT/Sanctions training that may be required from time-to-time.\Uphold the firm’s values by promoting a culture of compliance, professionalism, teamwork and equality at all times.
4. Client Relationship Management
- Act as the senior relationship lead for yachting clients and related intermediaries.
- Build trusted and long-term relationships with high-net-worth individuals, family offices, legal advisors, tax advisors, brokers, financiers, captains, and yacht managers.
- Deliver advice and solutions that are technically sound, commercially practical, and tailored to the client’s needs and risk profile.
- Respond to client queries promptly and professionally, always ensuring a high standard of client service.
- Coordinate with other internal service lines to deliver integrated solutions involving corporate, tax, and governance matters.
- Support client retention through excellent service delivery, sound judgement and proactive management of client needs.
5. Team Management and Internal Coordination
- Lead and mentor the legal and yachting operations team, ensuring appropriate allocation of work, quality control and staff development.\
- Provide technical guidance and supervision to all colleagues involved in yachting matters.
Technical Skills:
- The successful candidate should demonstrate strong technical knowledge and practical experience in most or all the following areas:
- Maltese and international structures for the ownership and operation of private and commercial yachts.
- Acquisition, sale and disposal of yachts, including legal structuring and transactional support.
- Yacht financing, mortgages and security arrangements, including lender requirements and related registrations.
- Leasing and chartering structures and the legal, tax, regulatory and operational issues arising therefrom.
- Yacht registration, renewals and registry formalities, particularly under the Maltese flag but not only.
- Ongoing yacht and vessel administration, including post-registration requirements, renewals, crewing, certifications and corporate maintenance.
- Income tax, VAT and structuring considerations relevant to yacht ownership, operation, leasing and chartering, with the ability to assess and support tax-efficient arrangements within the applicable legal and regulatory framework.
- A sound appreciation of the legal, regulatory and structuring considerations relevant to aviation assets and aircraft holding structures would be considered an asset, particularly in the context of developing the firm’s broader aviation service offering.
Requirements:
- A minimum of ten years working experience in the yachting sector.
- Demonstrable experience advising on yacht ownership structures, sales and purchase transactions, yacht registrations and renewals, crew employment and tax implications.
- Strong practical understanding of the legal, tax and operational aspects of private and commercial yacht ownership.
- Experience working with high-net-worth individuals, family offices, private clients, brokers, or international intermediaries.
- Qualified lawyer with an admission to practise in Malta
- Additional maritime law, shipping law, tax, or trust/corporate structuring exposure would be considered an asset.
- Strong professional judgement and discretion.
- Ability to work under pressure and independently while coordinating effectively with multiple stakeholders.
- High level of integrity and professionalism.
We are offering:
- With your convenience and time saving in mind, our modern office is located at Quad Central
- Bonus Plan, based on Group performance and individual performance
- Learning and training, i.e., via our digital learning environment Skills Platform’
- Well-being program (up to 12 free professional therapy sessions per calendar year with Richmond)
- Employee discounts at Mondo, and Fort fitness
- Free coffee, tea and fresh fruits in our office
- Private Medical Insurance upon probation
- Summer Office Hours
- Opportunity for career development
- Hybrid working arrangement
- Annual Eye Examination
- Study leave and professional membership coverage
- Regular social events