The Legal 500

Andreas Neocleous & Co LLC’s six-partner dispute resolution practice is a dominant force in the market, and is noted for its ‘effective court room tactics’ and ‘depth and breadth of expertise’. A first port of call for multi-jurisdictional cases, and able to draw on its resources in other jurisdictions, the team continues to act for Itera in an action involving concurrent proceedings in the US, Switzerland and Russia. The team has also seen an increase in arbitration and alternative dispute resolution work. Costas Stamatiou is singled out.

Chrysses Demetriades & Co Law Office remains a key player in the dispute resolution field. It has a strong focus on commercial litigation, and also represents clients in areas including competition, asset recovery, tax and construction. Head of the team George Christodoulou is a veteran of the major courts in Cyprus.

Patrikios Pavlou & Associates LLC has a well-established reputation, and has been handling several matters involving the protection of investor interests, dealing with investment values in excess of $200m. Notably, the firm represented a multinational group in an action against a hostile takeover. Stavros Pavlou is the pivotal figure.

The long-established Antis Triantafyllides & Sons provides an ‘excellent service’ in dispute resolution, having gained a sterling reputation over the years. The practice is bolstered by the expertise of Antis Triantafyllides (the Cyprus member of the Court of Arbitration of the ICC), and George Triantafyllides.

Chryssafinis & Polyviou LLC’s main strength lies in banking and finance litigation, counting the Bank of Cyprus among its longstanding clients, and it has a wealth of experience representing clients not only before the Supreme Court of Cyprus, but also before the ICJ and ECHR. Headed by Stella Polyviou, the team regularly receives mandates in relation to alleged infringements of state aid provisions.

George Z. Georgiou & Associates LLC has a presence in employment disputes, with recent mandates including representing a claimant in a breach of contract claim worth over €500,000. The firm is also heavily involved in arbitration thanks to George Georgiou, a member of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators.

Dr K Chrysostomides & Co has particular strength in commercial litigation, including shareholder disputes, and banking litigation, and counts Hellenic Finance and Marfin Popular Bank among its clients. Recently appointed partner George Mountis and team head Kypros Chrysostomides impress in the fields of litigation and arbitration, and are ‘high-calibre lawyers who undertake their work with integrity and commitment both professionally and personally’.

L. Papaphilippou & Co has a full spectrum of litigation expertise, from administrative and IP law to debt recovery, commercial litigation and white-collar fraud cases. Loukis Papaphilippou is the main contact.

Handling a variety of litigation work including breach of contract, IP infringement and passing off cases, Markides, Markides & Co has an acknowledged presence in the market. Alecos Markides is a sought-after name.

Noted for the quality of its work, Michael Kyprianou & Co. LLC has seen instructions from Norton Rose (Central Europe) LLP, Baker & McKenzie LLP and, recently, CMS Cameron McKenna LLC. The firm has seen a particular increase in breach of contract claims, some in excess of $50m. Menelaos Kyprianou is highly recommended.

Montanios & Montanios attracts widespread recognition in the market, and climbs in the ranking this year. Eric Montanios has niche expertise in admiralty claims, and is ‘a real leader in the area’.

Dimitris Papadopoulos heads the dispute resolution team at Papadopoulos, Lycourgos & Co LLC. Highlights included assisting one of the largest banks in France with interlocutory and freezing orders, and handling a major anti-money-laundering action against a Ukrainian bank. The firm also has a strong presence in family law and banking matters.

The Larnaca-based litigation practice of Andreas Coucounis & Co has seen recent successes in shareholder disputes and also in the property sector, obtaining a €100,000 damages award in an action against a Cypriot developer. Pancyprian Insurance and General Insurance (both subsidiaries of leading Cyprus banks) are among the firm’s clients.

Antonis Andreou & Co’s comprehensive dispute resolution team benefits from the wealth of experience of founding partner Antonis Andreou. The firm has capabilities in areas including commercial, financial, property and personal injury cases.

Headed by George Apostolou, Apostolou & Co. LLC’s dispute resolution team focuses its attention on corporate and commercial matters, and is noted for its strong negotiation skills.

Despite its compact size, C.D. Messios LLC receives praise as being ‘second to none’, particularly in terms of its professionalism. Constantinos Messios’ experience includes multi-jurisdictional shareholder matters.

The dispute resolution team at Christodoulos G. Vassiliades & Co LLC continues to act for the Attorney General’s office in various debt recovery actions. The firm also assisted in an arbitration procedure instituted in the London Court of International Arbitration (LCIA), in collaboration with CMS Cameron McKenna LLP.

Georgiades & Mylonas Advocates & Legal Consultants has a solid reputation in litigation, with core strength in the areas of medical negligence and personal injury. Yiannos Georgiades stands out, having successfully handled a number of high-profile cases.

Georgiades & Pelides has a ‘very solid’ team handling a broad cross-section of work including contractual claims and property and construction matters. Nicos Georgiades is recommended.

2010 saw the restructuring of Harris Kyriakides LLC’s litigation department, into teams handling general dispute resolution matters, motor and employment accidents, and banking and enforcement proceedings. Communication group DeLeMa, Petrolina Holdings and PPT Aviation Services are clients. Michalis Kyriakides is noted as one to watch.

Ioannides Demetriou LLC’s joins the ranking on the strength of the reputation of founding partner Andrew Demetriou, who has extensive international litigation experience. The practice includes commercial, corporate and construction law cases, and the firm has particular experience in arbitration matters.

Despo Andreou heads the dispute resolution team at Kinanis LLC, which has particular strength in banking litigation, regularly representing major banking institutions on the island such as Marfin Popular Bank, Hellenic Bank and the Bank of Cyprus. The firm also covers corporate litigation.

The litigation expertise of long-established firm Kyriacos Th Michaelides & Co Law Office lies particularly in the construction field. Kyriacos Michaelides is well respected throughout Cyprus.

N.Pirilides & Associates LLC receives mandates from the leisure and tourism industry, and has represented Creative Tours (part of the Olympic Holidays Group) in a breach of parallel agreement case.

Located in the business hub of Nicosia, the growing team at Papacharalambous & Angelides LLC has handled a range of commercial and corporate disputes. Pavlos Angelides is experienced in Supreme Court work, and is recommended.