Cyprus > Banking and finance > Law firm and leading lawyer rankings

Antis Triantafyllides & Sons LLC ‘frequently acts in the most significant financing and international deals in the region’. The ‘readily accessible’ team acts for lenders, borrowers and security providers. Highlights included advising the Copelouzos Group on the local law issues relating to the financing of a number of project companies, which were involved in the privatisation of 14 regional airports in Greece. European Bank for Reconstruction and Development and JP Morgan are also clients. Stelios Triantafyllides and senior associate Marios Hadjigavriel are ‘concise and very experienced’.

Elias Neocleous & Co LLC regularly advises local and foreign banks on complex deals and receives referrals from international law firms. The ‘client-oriented and experienced’ team advised a consortium of banks from Austria, Croatia, Italy and Slovenia on the Cypriot law aspects of a €20m facility for the construction of a new hotel. Other key clients include Coutts and Bloomberg. Demetris Roti heads the team, which includes ‘precise and meticulous’ duo Elias Neocleous and Costas Stamatiou. The team is also ‘very experienced in asset recovery work’.

Harneys has ‘a significant banking and finance practice’ and frequently handles complex cross-border financings, capital market listings and restructurings. The group advised Songa Offshore SE on its acquisition by Transocean for approximately $3.4bn. The team ‘perfectly understands the banking and financial industry as well as complicated and structured investment products’. The ‘super responsive’ Pavlos Aristodemou heads the group. The ‘committed’ Nancy Erotocritou has ‘boundless energy’ and provides ‘tailored solutions to suit each client’s needs’.

Dr K Chrysostomides & Co LLC has an experienced team that advises multinational companies as well as foreign and local credit institutions. It advised Endo International on a major refinancing that involved the repayment of an existing credit facility with Deutsche Bank (New York branch). Other key clients include Hellenic Bank. Chryso Pitsilli-Dekatris heads the ‘hands on’ team that includes the ‘outstanding’ Pavlos Symeonides and senior associate Artemis Amalia Metaxa.

The team at Patrikios Pavlou & Associates LLC is adept at handling multi-jurisdictional projects. It is acting for a major Russian bank on the refinancing of a large international oilfield services group. Bank of America Merrill Lynch and UniCredit Bank are also clients. Stella Strati and Lia Iordanou Theodoulou are recommended along with Stavros Pavlou.

Chrysses Demetriades & Co Law Office is advising the sponsor, M.M. Makronisos Marina, on a large project financing deal. It is also acting as leading local counsel to a major bank on the restructuring of the €170m debt of E.C. Lanitis Group. Demosthenes Mavrellis heads the team, which also includes Christos Mavrellis.

George Y Yiangou LLC is often involved in high-value and complex cross-border deals with the 'intelligent and constructive' Chris Yiangou at the helm. Major clients include Nordea Bank, Romanian Commercial Bank and Hellenic Bank. International projects manager Lory Cirstea is ‘practical and smart’.

Michael Kyprianou & Co. LLC fields a large team that has wide-ranging experience in complex domestic and cross-border transactions. The group was appointed by Herbert Smith Freehills CIS LLP's Moscow office to act for VTB Bank on a large facility that was granted to Fesco, where a number of Cypriot entities were acting as guarantors and obligors. Tonia Antoniou and Lambros Soteriou are key contacts and senior associate Lorena Charalambous is also noted.

The ‘excellent’ team at Ioannides Demetriou LLC is well-equipped to handle complex banking mandates and syndicated financings for clients such as Commerzbank and Mercuria Energy Group. Pambos Ioannides and Christina Ioannidou are recommended.

Mouaimis & Mouaimis LLC has been extensively involved in a number of bond transactions and regularly acts for international banks and groups of investors. Panayotis Mouaimis and Michalis Mouaimis  are recommended. Clients include European Bank for Reconstruction and Development.

AGP Law Firm | A.G. Paphitis & Co. LLC often represents clients before the Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission and also advises foreign banks on large credit facilities. Clients include Forbes and Manhattan Ukraine LLC. Angelos Paphitis and George Paphitis are highly regarded.

Athos Demetriou Associates LLC receives a steady flow of instructions from international law firms such as Allen & Overy LLP.  Athos Demetriou  ‘combines deep technical skills with vast experience and a commercial awareness’. The team provides a ‘personalised service and practical and reliable solutions’.

Clerides, Anastassiou, Neophytou LLC has been involved in a number of major bi-currency financing transactions. It acts for high-net-worth individuals, financial institutions and corporate and institutional clients such as Crédit Agricole. Effie Anastassiou provides 'an exceptional service’ and Stavros Clerides is a key member of the ‘knowledgeable and experienced team’.

KINANIS LLC acts for borrowers and guarantors in addition to international lenders and major credit institutions. Christos P Kinanis is well regarded.

STELIOS AMERICANOS & CO LLC counts Alpha Bank Greece and Eurasian Development Bank as clients. Stelios Americanos and Despina Americanou are recommended.

A.G Erotocritou LLC’s clients include Rosbank and Samsung. Alexis Erotocritou heads a ‘competent’ team that is ‘dedicated to providing excellent legal services’.

Alexandros Economou LLC was recently instructed by an international law firm to advise on the loan restructuring of two foreign real estate companies. Alexandros Economou is recommended along with senior associate Maria Katsikidou.

Andreas Coucounis & Co LLC has been busy advising the Bank of Cyprus on the restructuring of various loans through debt to asset swaps. Dimitria Coucouni heads the group, which is praised for its ‘partner interaction on all matters’.

Chryssafinis & Polyviou LLC is skilled at advising on major restructurings. Polyvios Polyviou and George Middleton are recommended.

At COSTAS TSIRIDES & CO LLC, Alexandros Tsirides is a primary contact. Clients include Arab Jordan Investment Bank.

Kypros Ioannides is recommended at Deloitte Legal | Hadjianastassiou, Ioannides LLC. Clients include Alpha Television Cyprus and Bet365.

KOUSHOS KORFIOTIS PAPACHARALAMBOUS LLC has 'a solid banking and finance practice’. Loizos Papacharalambous is noted.

Michael Damianos & Co LLC frequently receives referrals from major international law firms such as Hogan Lovells International LLP and Watson Farley & Williams LLP. Michael Damianos is recommended.

Papadopoulos, Lycourgos & Co LLC acted for one of the main banks in Cyprus on the major debt restructuring of a large retail centre in Nicosia. Doros Lycourgos is recommended.

At PYRGOU VAKIS LAW FIRM, highlights included advising a bank on a major debt restructuring. Melina Pyrgou and Demetris Vakis are the names to note.

Tornaritis Law Firm is acting for Cyprus Popular Bank and its special administrator on a broad range of matters. Alexandros Alexandrou and Criton Tornaritis are the key contacts.