Emma Portelli Bonnici

Dr Emma Portelli Bonnici graduated with a Doctorate of Laws from the University of Malta in 2017 and was subsequently called to the Maltese Bar. Her practice centres on civil law, human rights litigation, and medico-legal matters, with the latter closely intertwined with her distinguished specialisation in sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR). In this area, she advises on cases arising at the intersection of medical decision-making, regulatory obligations, clinical standards, and patient rights – particularly where reproductive autonomy, informed consent, and access to healthcare are at stake. Alongside her primary fields, she also represents clients in property and rental disputes, debt recovery, and libel and defamation, and serves as a Commissioner for Oaths.

Before embarking on her Master’s studies and later co-founding PB&C, Emma trained with two top-tier Maltese law firms, gaining exposure to media and technology law, contract law, civil and commercial disputes, and marine litigation. This early, diverse experience cultivated a broad analytical foundation and a cross-sector understanding of regulatory, commercial, and contentious legal environments – skills that now underpin the breadth of her practice.

Emma’s civil work is extensive and client-focused. She represents individuals, families, professionals, and businesses in property and rental disputes, including commercial leasing, eviction matters, boundary and title conflicts, and condominium governance issues. Her commercial practice includes contractual disputes, consumer protection cases, and professional negligence claims.

Emma also practices in libel and defamation law where she advises on reputational harm, media conduct, online harassment, digital expression, and complex disputes involving speech in the public sphere. She is frequently sought out for matters involving online abuse, misinformation, and digital privacy, reflecting her strong grounding in both legal doctrine and the realities of modern communication technologies.

In the criminal sphere, Emma regularly appears as parte civile on behalf of victims of domestic violence, coercive control, sexual offences, and gender-based violence, ensuring that survivors’ voices are heard and their rights protected throughout the criminal justice process.

Alongside her private practice, Emma is a prominent figure in reproductive rights and public-interest law. As President of Lawyers for Choice, she plays a leading role in advancing reproductive justice and legal reform in restrictive jurisdictions. Under her leadership, Lawyers for Choice has evolved into a recognised pan-European organisation engaged in high-level advocacy, comparative legal analysis, and strategic policymaking. She has contributed to shadow reports, parliamentary consultations, legislative submissions, and international research projects examining the compatibility of domestic laws with European and global human rights standards.

Emma also contributes to legal education and public discourse. She lectures in the University of Malta’s Faculty of Law, where she teaches Gender Equality: Regional and International Protection, and also delivers lectures on Maltese Civil Procedure at 21 Academy. She is regularly invited to speak on cybercrime, online abuse, gender-based violence, human rights protections, and SRHR. In her public-facing work and academic writing, she bridges legal doctrine with lived experience, centring the realities of those affected by criminalisation, inequality, and systemic gaps in protection.

Emma further serves as a Member of the Consultative Council for Women’s Rights within the Government of Malta, contributing to national policy development and legislative reform aimed at strengthening gender equality and institutional safeguards.