Administrative and Public Law

The department acts for a number of public authorities advising them on the extent of their powers and judicial review. Lawyers of the Litigation Department appear regularly before the Cyprus Supreme Court on behalf of applicants and respondents in judicial review actions.

Banking

The department handles a large proportion of the contentious work of the island’s major commercial banks and co-operative banks. This includes debt recovery, the realisation of securities, the enforcement of guarantees and insolvency and bankruptcy proceedings.

Corporate fraud, investigations and asset recovery

We can advise on all matters concerning a suspected or confirmed white collar crime. This includes complex financial investigations, emergency applications to identify, preserve and trace assets on both a national and international basis, the enforcement of recovery actions and trust law.

Private Client

The department advises individuals in the areas of law, which affect the affairs of individuals and their families. These areas of law include:

• Family Law:
  Deals with all legal matters relating to family affairs, including separation and divorce, financial disputes and settlements and custody and maintenance proceedings.
• Probate, Inheritance and Tax:
  Wills, the administration of estates, tax planning and probate work.
• Criminal Law:
  Representation of defendants in criminal cases, including for road traffic offences.

Admiralty & Maritime Law

The department has many years of experience of appearing before the Admiralty Courts. Its lawyers, with the support of the Shipping Department, are experienced and well suited for all aspects of admiralty litigation, including proceedings with respect to obtaining orders for the arrest or release of vessels plying their trade in Cypriot waters, or for the forced sale for execution purposes. The department routinely prosecutes, defends and advises upon every type of admiralty matter, including employment-related claims, claims for collision or salvage or on the basis of bills of lading or charterparties.

Over the years, the department has represented the interests of banks in mortgage enforcement actions, international and domestic vessel owners and operators, members of P&I clubs and insurers.

Company/Commercial

The department is often called upon to represent clients in a wide spectrum of commercial disputes. The department’s lawyers possess the experience to reach the most efficient resolution possible, whether through litigation, arbitration or mediation. The department has an extensive experience in enforcing foreign judgments and arbitration awards, and securing injunctions and other protective interim orders. It also handles disputes arising between shareholders or the directors of companies or in winding-up proceedings.

Employment

The department represents public and private employers in litigation arising from all aspects of the employer employee relationship. It has successfully defended employers and employees before the Industrial Disputes Tribunal in employment discrimination and labor matters involving claims for wrongful termination, contract disputes, restrictive covenants as well as discrimination claims. Its lawyers frequently counsel clients on how to avoid employment related litigation.

Professional Liability

The department defends and prosecutes an array of professional malpractice claimants and defendants including, doctors, accountants, architects and engineers.

Arbitration/Dispute Resolution

The department is experienced in providing expert advice in alternative dispute resolution and arbitration services. It regularly advises on arbitration resolutions such as mediation which result in reduced costs and trial time.

We advise on arbitrations to resolve disputes of any size in a wide range of industries. We have the expertise to work on ad hoc or administered arbitrations and proceedings under the UNCITRAL rules or the rules of institutions including the LCIA, ICC and ICSID. We can assist at every stage of the arbitration process, from drafting the arbitration agreement to the selection of appropriate arbitrators and the enforcement of arbitral awards in Cyprus and other jurisdictions.

Construction

The Firm has been acting and advising construction companies for a number of years, and the department has acquired valuable experience in construction claims.

EU & Competition

We have significant experience in dealing with contentious Competition & EU law matters including:

• Advice and advocacy in relation to investigations and hearings before the Cypriot Commission for the Protection of Competition (CPC) and European Competition authorities on all aspects of anti-competitive behavior
• Appearing as advocates in proceedings before Cypriot and EU courts in challenges of decisions of competition authorities
• Acting in actions for damages for competition violations before the Cyprus courts and arbitral tribunals
• Advice and advocacy in relation to investigations by the Cypriot Consumer, Financial and Data Protection Regulators
• Advocacy in proceedings before the Court of Justice of the European Union, such as in actions for damages against the EU Institutions pursuant to Article 340 TFEU
• Acting in court proceedings involving jurisdictional challenges and enforcement of judgments on the basis of the Brussels Regulation
• Dealing with contentious EU public procurement matters

Insurance and Personal Injury

The department acts and has successfully represented a large number of insurance companies in a wide variety of complex insurance matters. It provides opinions with respect to the nature and extent of insurance coverage available and counseling in settlement negotiations. The department’s experience in insurance coverage matters includes issues arising out of personal liability claims, arising from both road traffic and employer’s liability, of products liability claims and of professional liability claims, as well as interpretations of policies covering general liability and motor vehicle liability.

The Department draws expertise from the corporate and commercial department coupling legal skills with a detailed commercial understanding of the insurance market.

Restructuring and Insolvency Litigation

We have the expertise to achieve the efficient practical and commercial resolution of disputes arising from corporate failures. We have experience of working on behalf of a broad range of clients who are creditors, debtors and insolvency practitioners in Cyprus and other jurisdictions.