CORPORATE LITIGATION

Due to the massive development and expansion of the incorporation of companies in the island for the past 15 years, inevitably, disputes between shareholders, directors and beneficiaries have frequently reached the courts. Corporate litigation requires in depth knowledge of a wide range of legislation and caselaw, Cypriot and European and additionally, quick reflexes to safeguard the rights of the client.

Our corporate litigation team has sufficient experience in this field, whilst routinely provide consultation on immediate interim measures, in order to safeguard our clients’ interests and rights pending litigation. Our firm has the experience in handling various interlocutory injunctions, inter alia, Mareva injunctions (freezing of assets), Norwich Pharmacal orders (disclosure of information by a third party), Anton Piller order (search of premises and seizure of evidence), etc.

Our team can also provide consultation and representation on the following procedures:

• Winding up proceedings, either on “just and equitable grounds” or “deadlock”
• Protection of Minority shareholders’ rights
• Corporate fraud/wrongdoings by the shareholders or the directors
• Breach of share purchase agreements
• Shareholders’ disputes
• Corporate governance violations
• Disputes over joint ventures
• Acquisition disputes
• Removal of board of directors by the shareholders

PUBLIC LAW

The department’s lawyers appear regularly before the Cyprus Administrative Court and the Supreme Court on behalf of applicants and respondents in judicial review actions. Apart from its profound academical foundation on the field, the team has advised for a number of public authorities on the extent of their powers, the interpretation of the applicable laws or regulations and the drafting of laws or regulations of such public bodies.

REAL ESTATE – PROPERTY LAW

Our firm advices and assists routinely, individual and corporate clients with acquisitions and disposals of both private and commercial properties. Our services include full due diligence on the project, real estate investments analysis and advice, landlord and tenant dispute resolution, building development agreements, construction contracts, assistance with finance options and more.

We pride on the fact that through a wide spectrum of associates, we have the means to support our clients throughout the transaction, from choosing the property, to the drafting of the contracts, facilitating the approval process with the local land registry and the competent authorities, advising on tax issues involved in any transaction, provide after-sale management services and make sure that everything goes as planned.

DEBT RECOVERY

Outstanding payments and invoices can be a heavy load on your business’ affairs. There is no point in pursuing a debtor who has not the means to repay you. Therefore, you need to know beforehand who is worth chasing.

Before pursuing a debtor, we have the means to evaluate his financial status, estimate the cost and the potential success, advice you, and then decide whether you are choosing to pursue or not.

Our services include:

• Company searches/individual search for insolvency
• Confirmation of company trading address
• Phone calls, warning letters/emails
• Issue of proceedings
• Discovery and Inspection of movable or immovable property of the debtor
• Enforcement of judgments
• Bankruptcy and winding up

CORPORATE & COMMERCIAL LAW

The team handles the incorporation/formation of companies both in Cyprus and foreign jurisdictions.  Also, we offer a comprehensive range of administrative services such as corporate management and administration services, nominee services, secretarial services, registered office services, etc. Additionally, we provide corporate support in general to any matter that may arise during the day-to-day management of companies. The team is composed by experienced lawyers, external auditing/accounting firms and professional support staff which enable every aspect of corporate management and administration to be handled with excellence.

Furthermore, we advise clients on several financial subjects for corporate lending, refinancing, guarantees and other general banking matters. The team can advise in insolvencies, liquidations and restructuring of businesses in co-operation with insolvency practices and accounting firms.

Our team of experts in Tax Law provides international tax planning advice, alternative tax structures, including the formation of a Cyprus Company or a Cyprus International Trust or Foundation, as well as advice on direct and indirect taxation.

Cyprus has an impressive network of more than 60 double taxation agreements with other countries and a very corporate friendly tax regime, which makes Cyprus an ideal base for international corporate investment. Therefore, we offer extensive advice in all subjects relating to corporate tax, income tax, property tax, trusts, public sector and charities, international tax, capital projects and finance.

BANKING

Our firm has extensive experience on consultation and representation of corporate and individual clients in matters of loan and financial facilities and on the restructuring of existing loans. Our contacts with most of the banking institutions and our wide knowledge of the field, allow us to negotiate with your bankers and accomplish viable, tailor-made and beneficial solutions on the restructuring of your loans.

In addition, our firm represents clients before Cypriot courts in banking cases, with outstanding results relating to the reduction of the interest rate, haircut of outstanding debts, write-off of illegal charges, achievement of favourable and viable repayment methods, etc. As our experience taught us, in banking cases, there is always something more to achieve for our clients.

INSURANCE – ACCIDENT & PERSONAL INJURY

If you have suffered a personal injury, then you already know that compensation is not sufficient itself to ease your pain. Nevertheless, money can provide you the comfort you deserve for the suffering you went through.

When handling personal injury cases, our primary goal is to achieve quick out of court settlements. However, there are cases that you need to address the court in order to be taken seriously and to claim the compensation you are entitled to.

The litigators of the firm can represent you in all kind of personal injury cases, such as road traffic accidents, accidents at work, medical negligence cases, product liability, etc.

CONTRACTS

Bearing in mind that, as a matter of principle, contracts’ purpose is to reflect the will of the contracting parties on paper, we believe that efficient negotiations results to fruitful and productive contractual relationships. Our team has the knowledge and the experience to assist you through every step of the negotiations towards the finalization of your business transaction and to draft or review any agreement or supporting document. With an eye for detail, irrespectively of the complexity of the matter, our firm will walk you through any contract related matter and advice you in the best possible way.

At the end of the day, if a party is in breach of a contract, it all comes to the difficult work of the interpretation of the contract, which is carried out by the court, after taking under consideration the arguments of the parties. Our litigators’ skills on the field is something on which we pride ourselves.

FAMILY LAW

Family law is a sector of law that needs more than a sufficient knowledge of the law, especially when the dispute involves children. Our team has the experience and the means to handle all family cases with a delicate, yet firm way. Our goal is to achieve practical solutions and in this kind of procedures, we aim to solve the disputes with negotiations and out of court settlements rather than confrontation in the courtroom, and always in a cost-effective way.

Our firm deals with the following family matters:

• Divorce
• Child support and custody
• Alimony
• Matrimonial property disputes/property division
• Adoption
• Settlement agreements

COPYRIGHT & INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY LAW

An innovative idea, should always be protected. If you have a ground-breaking idea, our firm will make sure that will be protected as your intellectual property (IP), before it goes public.

Gerolemou, Agathocleous & Associates LLC provides all services related to Intellectual Property rights, from the registration of your intellectual work with the competent authority, to legal assistance and representation in court.

IP box regime Cyprus

In June 2012 a new taxation scheme on Intellectual Property Rights has been introduced in Cyprus, introducing the lowest tax rate for Intellectual Property Rights in the European Union. The Cyprus IP Box Tax Regime provides the exemption from taxation of 80% of any income and/or profit derived from intellectual property profits. The significant tax exemptions of the IP Box in addition to the attractive 12,5% Cyprus company tax rate and the extensive network of double tax treaties that Cyprus has endorsed, confirms once again Cyprus’ establishment as a global business centre. Our firm can consult and assist you to seize this Intellectual Property tax opportunity.

EU LAW AND REGULATORY

Our EU Law and Regulatory team advises on issues arising from EU law, EU and national competition law, state aid/public procurement and EU sanctions/ restrictive measures. The team has extensive academic background on EU Law. Every member of the team is fully skilled and well connected to EU bodies, coming from diverse and varied legal backgrounds, which enables the practice group to use a range of resources and knowledge.

We use our extensive knowledge of EU Competition law to help companies looking to expand or in need to defend themselves against attacks from competitors and antitrust agencies.

Our dedicated EU Competition and antitrust lawyers provide solid advice and therefore our clients are able to navigate antitrust and competition regimes with confidence. Whether on complex litigation, investigations by competition authorities, merger control, competition compliance programs, or commercial arrangements, we deliver tailored, effective, industry-focused and timely advice and assistance.

TORT LAW

As a mater of law, Torts provide to the plaintiff the right to claim damages and remedies in general, for civil wrongs which do not arise from any contractual relationship, such as negligence, libel, slander, nuisance, trespass, malicious prosecution, passing off, nuisance, etc. A very competent team of litigators can represent you, either as a plaintiff or a defendant.

CONSTRUCTION

As construction lawyers we provide a wide range of services to anyone involved in any stage of a construction project. We have the ability to advice from planning to completion, by representing owners, designers, architects, material suppliers, contractors and subcontractors. Our job is to assist our clients with scheduling, budgeting, fulfilling regulatory guidelines, contracting, submitting claims, terminations, and much more. Our group of experts has substantial experience in dealing with all areas of construction law practice, both contentious and non-contentious and advises a large number of construction companies.

EMPLOYMENT LAW

Our firm can advice you in any employment matter that may arise, such as drafting and/or reviewing employment contracts, termination of employment, unfair dismissal, 13^th salary issues, redundancies, collective dismissals, social insurance issues, protection of maternity, discrimination at work, health and safety, providence fund registration, non-compete obligations, employer manuals, employment dispute resolution (mediation and litigation before the competent judicial body).

WILLS & PROBATE

When drafting a will, the only thing that counts is that our loved ones are being taken care of. However, succession and inheritance in Cyprus is regulated by numerus legislations, which may limit someone’s freedom to dispose his property. We can help. Our team is competent to provide you consultation in the following matters:

• Administration of Estate
• Advice on Contested Wills
• Resealing of Foreign grants
• Advice and Drafting of Wills
• Probate Litigation

SPORTS LAW

Our firm’s sports’ law team has wide experience in representing Football Clubs, Basketball Clubs, individual players, coaches and other employees of sports clubs before the Cyprus competent tribunals. Additionally, over the years, we gained experience in representing our clients before the competent judicial bodies of FIFA, BAT (Basketball Arbitral Tribunal), and CAS (Court of Arbitration for Sport). Furthermore, our continuous involvement with the field equipped us with the ability and the confidence to interpret and negotiate sports contracts with players, agents and football clubs.