Montanios & Montanios LLC > Nicosia, Cyprus > Firm Profile

Montanios & Montanios LLC
DIAGORAS HOUSE
16 PANTELIS CATELARIS STREET
1097 NICOSIA
Cyprus

Cyprus > Maritime and admiralty Tier 1

The ‘outstanding’ team at Montanios & Montanios LLC is well regarded for its 'extensive legal knowledge' across the spectrum of shipping and admiralty matters. The practice receives a steady flow of instructions from major Cypriot and international banks involving ship financing transactions, and is equally strong at handling contentious matters in the area, often including complex cross-border and multi-jurisdictional elements. Led by the quartet of Acis Montanios, Adam Montanios, Petros Iacovides and Yiannis Papapetrou, the group also acts for P&I clubs, ship owners and ship managers. Eric Montanios is also singled out for his contributions.

Practice head(s):

Acis Montanios; Adam Montanios; Petros Iacovides; Yiannis Papapetrou

Other key lawyers:

Nicolas Montanios; Maria Toumazi; Alki Montanios; Avra Arestis-Zachariade; Eric Montanios; Irene Kapiri

Testimonials

‘ Nicolas and Adamos Montanios provide the best blend of experience and speed in the field. They have always been fast to respond and provide solutions. Their combined knowledge would be difficult to find in any other firm in Cyprus in the maritime sector.’

‘Orientated towards clients’ needs.’

‘Very knowledgeable, responsive and client-oriented. Montanios are always quick to respond with thorough and knowledgeable advice properly tailored to what we are looking for.’

‘I mainly deal with Maria Toumazi who is always thoughtful and careful, and very practical with a real knowledge of the industry.’

‘Avra Arestis-Zachariades is our go to for all Cyprus law matters, in particular ship registration and company law matters. We have used her and her team for many years. Very competent, independent, attentive and friendly. High quality in all respects. ’

‘Exceptional knowledge of the shipping market, lawyers and partners are very reachable and helpful, excellent collaboration, reasonable billing.’

Key clients

Tsakos Shipping Group

Safe Bulkers Inc.

Olympia Ocean Carriers Ltd

Histria Shipmanagement Ltd

Santierul Naval Constanta S.A.

West of England P&I Club

NorthStandard P&I Club

Steamship Mutual P&I Club

Island Oil Limited

Stena International

Baleària Eurolineas Maritimas S.A.

P&O Ferries

Sirios Shipmanagement

Bank of Cyprus

Hellenic Bank

Eurobank Cyprus

Astrobank

Work highlights

  • Assisting with a time charter matter involving an alleged unlawful termination of a charter party agreement.
  • Advising a shipping fund on the purchase of two LNG carriers under a sale and leaseback transaction, and registering the vessels under the Cyprus flag.
  • Assisting a large ferry operator with the provisional and permanent registration of an LNG-powered ferry under the Cyprus flag, and a subsequent registration under another EU flag.

Cyprus > Banking and finance Tier 5

The ‘very knowledgeable’ and ‘responsive’ team at Montanios & Montanios LLC acts for some of the leading name in the financial services space. Under the leadership of Acis Montanios and Adam Montanios, the group advises on high-value transactions, often with cross-border elements, and is regularly instructed by international law firms to act as local counsel. The practice is noted for its particular expertise in transport asset finance work, and often works alongside the firm's shipping department.

Practice head(s):

Acis Montanios; Adam Montanios

Other key lawyers:

Maria Toumazi; Anna-Maria Leotsakou

Testimonials

‘Professionalism and efficiency, fast responses with immediate actions taken. Maria Toumazi is our main contact providing outstanding quality of service.’

‘The team includes real experts with significant experience on the subject. They are leaders rather than followers of the industry, rendering them a unique firm to do business with.’

‘Deep knowledge of the most complicated matters with a commercial approach that provides solutions in every problem. Instant responsiveness with a high degree of responsibility.’

‘It seems like they are well coordinated and can cooperate to give the best service to their clients. Great understanding of the shipping industry and what is required.’

‘Efficient and understands the task/request quickly. Provides spot on advice without lengthy explanations.’

‘Montanios & Montanios LLC is highly knowledgeable and has broad experience in banking and finance, in particular, in ship finance projects. The team is well-supported and highly responsive. They are always able to provide timely and concise advice which facilitates the progression of the projects.’

‘Anna-Maria Leotsakou is a pleasure to work with. She is proactive, knowledgeable and has good commercial sense. She provides clear and practical legal advice on shipping matters and is always our to-go Cypriot counsel. ’

‘The level of advice is consistently at a high quality. Expectations have always been met. It is a pleasure working with Maria Toumazi. Know-how, efficiency and availability stand-out. Highly recommended.’

Key clients

Abn Amro Bank N.V.

Aegean Baltic Bank S.A.

Astrobank Public Company Limited

Banco Santander, S.A.

Bank of Cyprus Public Company Limited

Credit Agricole Corporate and Investment Bank

Eurobank Cyprus Ltd

Hellenic Bank Public Company Ltd

National Bank Greece S.A.

Work highlights

  • Acting for a well-known bank on a $740m loan granted to foreign companies and secured by a Cypriot parent company guarantee and other security documents.
  • Advising a foreign bank on the amendment and restatement of a $375m loan, where an additional borrower was added and the ownership of a drilling rig was transferred in the name of the new borrower.
  • Advising a client on the purchase and financing of two liquified gas carriers under a sale and leaseback transaction.

Montanios & Montanios (“M&M”) is one of the oldest, continually operating, law firms in Cyprus with an international practice. For more than seven decades, it has acted on behalf of a wide spectrum of local (Cypriot and expatriate) and overseas clients, both corporate and private. Our firm has been involved in multiple local and international shipping, corporate, financing and commercial transactions. It has also represented international and local clients in litigation cases before the Cypriot Courts.

In the course of our legal practice, we have gained recognition as one of Cyprus’s leading shipping and admiralty law firms, practicing all matters and cases relating to merchant shipping, maritime transport, and ship finance and in both wet and dry cases at the Admiralty Court.

Over time, we have expanded our professional expertise, increasing our legal team to 22 today, covering all aspects of corporate work and commercial transactions.

In the ever-expanding world of legal services, the need for specialisation and expertise is evident, now more than ever. We therefore pride ourselves for having taken the conscious decision to focus our practice on a defined set of practice areas, in order to maintain consistently the high calibre of service that we are in a position to offer and provide with confidence.

The vast majority of our lawyers have been trained in universities and law schools in England, which we regard as the heart of the common law as practiced globally in the Commonwealth and beyond.

In Cyprus, as long ago as 1975, M&M helped pioneer the distinction between the professional discipline and work of an advocate (or court lawyer or litigator) and that of a legal consultant (or non-litigation lawyer) — approximating to the English distinction between barrister and solicitor.

All lawyers in our practice belong to either the litigation group or the legal consultancy group. In this way, our professionals are enabled to develop their particular skills, knowledge and expertise in their respective disciplines and fields of the law in order to excel.

Department Name Email Telephone
Shipping Adam Montanios
Shipping Avra Arestis-Zachariades
Shipping Helen Georgiades
Shipping Alki Montanios
Shipping George Toumazis
Shipping Nicolas Montanios
Shipping Marilena Hadjimichael
Shipping Irene Kapiri
Ship finance Acis Montanios
Ship finance Adam Montanios
Ship finance Maria Toumazi
Ship finance Avra Arestis-Zachariades
Ship finance Elvina Montanios
Ship finance Alki Montanios
Ship finance Anna-Maria Leotsakou
Ship finance George Toumazis
Ship finance Nicolas Montanios
Ship finance Marilena Hadjimichael
Admiralty litigation Eric Montanios
Admiralty litigation Petros Iacovides
Admiralty litigation Yiannis Papapetrou
P&I and defence Eric Montanios
P&I and defence Petros Iacovides
P&I and defence Yiannis Papapetrou
Banking and finance Maria Toumazi
Banking and finance Avra Arestis-Zachariades
Banking and finance Glafkos Mitsidis
Corporate and commercial Adam Montanios
Corporate and commercial Maria Toumazi
Corporate and commercial Elvina Montanios
Corporate and commercial Marina Kalli
Corporate and commercial Glafkos Mitsidis
Corporate and commercial Anna-Maria Leotsakou
Commercial litigation and arbitration Petros Iacovides
Commercial litigation and arbitration Yiannis Papapetrou
Commercial litigation and arbitration Cristian Louca
Commercial litigation and arbitration Eliza Olympiou
Aircraft and aviation Eric Montanios
Aircraft and aviation Elvina Montanios
Trusts and tax Acis Montanios
Trusts and tax Elvina Montanios
Trusts and tax George Toumazis
Trusts and tax Cristian Louca
Real estate Acis Montanios
Real estate Marina Kalli
Wills and succession Zoe Montanios
Wills and succession Christina Montanios
Number of lawyers : 22
English
French
Greek
Shiparrested
L2B Aviation
Other offices : Limassol