The Legal 500

The firm

Stelios Americanos & Co is a full-service commercial law firm with its headquarters in Nicosia, Cyprus, specialising in corporate and commercial law, banking finance, litigation, tax and financial advisory.

Stelios Americanos, the founding partner of the firm is a lawyer of twenty years standing, and established an excellent reputation for his corporate and banking work while being the founder and head of the corporate and banking finance departments in his previous position.

Throughout his career, Mr Americanos has advised governmental and semi-governmental organisations, major financial banking institutions, public companies quoted in the Cyprus Stock Exchange and multinational corporations in high profile asset finance, project finance and securitisation and on complex cross-border transactions including mergers and acquisitions and restructuring.

The firm assembled a dynamic team working with cutting-edge technology and quickly established an enviable reputation for efficient and competent service. It has become a leading niche firm for corporate work. The firm’s clients are guaranteed continuous and tailored support combined with a positive and constructive approach, and the ability to solve complex legal and tax problems with a business-oriented mentality.

The firm has an impressive list of local and international clientele that includes major banking and finance institutions, investment firms, industrial organisations, major contractors, leading international law firms, multinational corporations and high-net-worth individuals.

The firm has worldwide contacts with reputable legal and advisory practices and is able to assist clients with all aspects of their cross-border transactions.

Members of the firm are very active in various professional associations and take part as speakers in international conferences and seminars while regularly publishing articles and contributions in a variety of matters related to Cyprus Law.

Areas of practice

Company law: formation, acquisition and dissolution of companies in Cyprus and abroad; corporate governance management and secretarial services; insolvency services; trustee fiduciary services; advising on shareholders issues, including advice on the drafting negotiation and implementation of subscription and shareholders’ agreements; capital increases, equity contribution and differentiation of class rights venture capital financing; and redomiciliation of companies.

Commercial law: cross-border transactions and joint ventures; agency, distributorship and franchise agreements; private and public offerings and takeovers; sophisticated structures involving Cyprus entities; securities law compliance; and all intellectual aspects of commercial transactions.

Mergers and acquisitions: structuring and tax optimisation of mergers, acquisitions and joint ventures; financial and tax due diligence in connection with acquisitions involving Cyprus companies; drafting and negotiation of subscription/share purchase agreements, shareholders and joint venture agreements; legal and tax advice on corporate, regulatory, securities, competition, labour and enforcement matters.

Banking and finance: reviewing or drafting of project finance and security documentation; advice on the priority, perfection and enforcement of different types of securities; advice on corporate and tax matters; advice on stamp duty and proper execution of documents; advice on conflict of law issues; issuance of the relevant legal opinions covering corporate power authority and the legality, validity and enforceability of the Cyprus law governed documents.

Litigation and arbitration: national and international arbitration; banking and financial; stock exchange and securities legislation; taxation; bankruptcy; enforcement of foreign judgments and arbitration awards; pursuing interim pre-emptive remedies.

Languages
English
French
Greek
Hebrew
Russian

International groupings
International Bar Association
Cyprus Bar Association
International Tax Planning Association
STEP

Number of lawyers 13