Harris Kyriakides

Corporate, M&A, and Commercial Litigation and Arbitration

Partner

Michael Kyriakides heads the Commercial, Corporate Litigation & Advisory practice at Harris Kyriakides.

Michael’s practice covers the full range of company and commercial litigation, arbitration and advisory work. He specialises in complex corporate and commercial litigation and has extensive experience in pursuing and defending injunction litigation, including freezing orders, third party disclosure orders, search and seizure orders, tracing orders and other injunctions. He has acted in some of the largest claims and disputes brought before the Cyprus courts in recent years. His commercial, solutions-based approach is sought out by clients around the world to resolve their most composite and sensitive matters in domestic and international litigation. Michael has particular expertise in complex fraud and asset recovery litigation. He also accumulated extensive experience in cases involving international litigation or arbitration on corporate matters, investments, commercial issues arising in the banking and financial services, company and insolvency sectors and shareholders disputes.

Michael also leads the teams providing commercial and corporate advisory on cross border mergers and acquisitions, corporate restructuring and large asset finance transactions in Europe and has successfully negotiated and completed a range of domestic and cross-border transactions. He also advises on regulatory, compliance and sanctions matters. Michael is consistently recommended by legal editorials, such as Legal 500, Who ‘s Who Legal and Chambers & Partners. In 2023, he has been ranked by Legal500 as a leading professional in Dispute resolution, Commercial, corporate and M&A, EU and competition, Intellectual property and Maritime and admiralty. Frequently, he is instructed by “magic circle” and other leading international firms. Michael is a regular speaker in international conferences and serves as outside counsel and non-executive director in a number of companies.

Michael holds a law degree from the National Kapodistrian University of Athens, has completed a Master of Laws programme at University College London and was awarded an MPhil at the University of Oxford, where he authored a thesis on summary adjudication in civil litigation. He also acted as the leader of the EU Commission legal research project in “Documentary disclosure in cross border litigation”, conducted by Oxford University in collaboration with Vienna University and Ludwig Maximilians University Munich. In addition, he has lectured in universities and international conferences and has published articles in legal journals and is a member of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (CIArb) and a licensed insolvency practitioner.

Recent Practice

Represented a Cyprus company in conspiracy claims exceeding 820m USD and ancillary freezing injunction proceedings against Ukrainian based SCM Group. Instructed by HFC, a subsidiary of the Qatar Investment Authority, in relation to the enforcement of English provisional orders in Cyprus. Represented Yucos Capital Limited in relation to asset disclosure and tracing proceedings and gagging orders. Represented a major Russian oil company in Cyprus proceedings related to recognition and enforcement of LCIA award, together with ancillary injunctions for freezing of assets and disclosure of financial information. Represented one of the leading Cyprus banks in proceedings related to recognition and enforcement of a foreign judgment. Acted as an expert witness on Cyprus Corporate Law matters in LCIA arbitration. Represented one of the largest Russian banks in worldwide freezing injunction proceedings and Cyprus pledge enforcement proceedings. Represented a major international cement and concrete conglomerate in Anton Piller/Norwhich Pharmacal proceedings in Cyprus. Represented automotive spare parts importers in anti-trust proceedings before the Cyprus Competition Commission, which led to conviction of Daimler AG on the basis of anti-competitive conduct. Advised ABB in international project procurement. Advised on software development agreements in cooperation with a major international maritime authority. Counselled United States Polo Association on intellectual property matters. Advised Burger King on Cyprus corporate law matters.

Recent Academic Work

Contributor in Cross-Border Mergers, EU Perspectives and National Experiences, 2019 (Springer) Contributory on Sovereign Immunity, 2019 (Lexology)

English, Greek

Member of the Cyprus Bar, 2004 Licensed Insolvency Practitioner

MSt, University of Oxford, 2003 LLM, University College London,2002 LLB, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 2001