Interview with: Alexis Erotocritou, Partner

Alexis Erotocritou, Partner of A.G. Erotocritou LLC outlines how the firm is adapting to the evolving international legal landscape while continuing to support clients in complex global disputes and transactions.

 

What do you see as the main points that differentiate A.G. Erotocritou LLC from your competitors?

A.G. Erotocritou LLC has been described as “an exception to the Cyprus market where everyone does everything” due to its niche practice and highly specialised team in both contentious and non-contentious matters, which is “always there for the client”.

A.G. Erotocritou LLC carefully selects its clients and the projects it takes on, in this way allowing it to ensure its exclusive clientele and maintain the highest quality of services. We do not try to handle every case that comes through the door; instead, we focus on a limited number of matters so that we can deliver the level of responsiveness, strategic planning and attention to detail that clients would normally expect from leading international law firms.

Our firm has allocated significant resources in recruiting and maintaining talented lawyers in order to secure its ability to deliver the same level of services in the long-term. A structured multi-stage selection process is undertaken for all candidates, evaluating merit and ethos as key criteria for recruitment.

Finally, as our firm does not provide corporate administration or nominee services and refrains from acting for and on behalf of local banking institutions on fixed-retainer agreement, it remains conflict-free at all times. This also allows us to remain fully focused on legal work and ensures we are able to act in complex disputes and transactions without conflicts.

 

Which practices do you see growing in the next 12 months? What are the drivers behind that?

We expect continued growth particularly in corporate and commercial litigation and arbitration, financial services regulatory work, corporate restructurings and insolvency, as well as private client advisory.

The main driver is the increasingly international nature of business conducted through Cyprus. As cross-border investments and corporate structures become more complex, disputes and regulatory issues inevitably follow. This leads to increased demand for sophisticated legal advice in areas such as regulatory compliance, asset tracing, restructuring and international arbitration.

We are also seeing increased activity in data protection and regulatory matters, driven by evolving compliance requirements and the growing importance of technology in business operations.

 

What’s the main change you’ve made in the firm that will benefit clients?

A.G. Erotocritou LLC has, through the years, been rigorously implementing a business model similar to that of some of the most prominent international law firms, focusing entirely on specialised legal services. By not engaging in corporate administration or trustee services, we can devote all of our resources to providing high-level legal advice and representation.

Another change applied and implemented is the investment into technology and AI (this is dealt with below).

Aside from the steady growth of our team over the past few years, our firm is constantly looking for ways to maintain the excellence in its specialist services whilst also remaining fully available to its clients. We have continued to invest heavily in talent, recruiting lawyers with outstanding academic credentials and international experience ensuring that that clients benefit from a highly capable and well-coordinated team that can handle complex matters across multiple jurisdictions. As also noted above, the firm has allocated significant resources in recruiting and maintaining talented lawyers in order to secure its ability to deliver the same level of services in the long-term. All members of the A.G. Erotocritou LLC legal team are US or UK graduates, have outstanding academic credentials and possess exceptional research, communication, negotiation, organisational and interpersonal skills which not only complement their in-depth knowledge of Cyprus law, but serve as indispensable resources in their ability to undertake complex international/cross-border legal issues.

 

Is technology changing the way you interact with your clients, and the services you can provide them?

Yes, technology has certainly changed the way law firms interact with clients, particularly when dealing with international and cross-border matters.

Much of our work involves coordination with international law firms, multinational corporations and legal teams across different jurisdictions. Technology allows us to communicate and collaborate much more efficiently, manage complex documentation and coordinate multi-jurisdictional matters in real time. Our team prides itself in always being available for our clients and willing to work around the clock, if necessary, to deliver and technology allows this.

However, while technology enhances efficiency, we believe that the core of legal practice remains the quality of legal advice and personal relationships with clients. We see technology as a tool that supports those relationships rather than replacing them.

 

Can you give us a practical example of how you have helped a client to add value to their business?

 Assisting clients and adding value to their business is inherent to our culture and business. We are not money driven firm and our clientele is not vast but our relationships are deep.

A recent example (non contentious work) is our full support (in all aspects) to a rapidly growing technology company entering the Cypriot market. Our work involved establishing the company’s local presence while at the same time putting in place intellectual property protections and immigration arrangements for essential members of the team. By handling corporate structuring, property matters, IP registrations, and employment and immigration processes simultaneously, we helped the client begin operations on schedule, protect its key intangible assets, and relocate its leadership smoothly. This coordinated legal support allowed the company to concentrate on expanding its business while we took care of the legal and regulatory requirements behind the scenes.

A good example in the disputes sector would be our work on a recent dispute concerning the publisher of a game app and the game’s developer. The dispute concerned, amongst others, the termination of a license agreement between the developer and the publisher for the distribution of a game. Simultaneously with issuing proceedings, we on behalf of the developer successfully secured an interim injunction on an ex-parte basis, ordering the publisher to take all necessary steps for transferring the game’s Bundle ID and User Database back to the developer. With a reasoned interim judgment, the Court upheld the original injunction ordering the return of the Bundle ID, by deciding that the game’s User Database under the game’s Bundle ID is inextricably linked to the operation of the game and it should therefore remain with the owner of the game. In another matter, we advised on the largest scheme of arrangement undertaken in Cyprus, involving debts exceeding USD 700 million. Through careful structuring and strategic legal advice, we were able to assist the company in restructuring its obligations and continuing its business operations. These types of matters illustrate how effective legal strategy can have a direct commercial impact for clients.

These types of matters illustrate how effective legal strategy can have a direct commercial impact for clients.

 

Are clients looking for stability and strategic direction from their law firms – where do you see the firm in three years’ time?

 Absolutely. Clients today are looking for law firms that can provide not just legal advice, but also long-term strategic guidance, particularly when dealing with complex cross-border matters.

A.G. Erotocritou LLC is treading its path confidently and steadily, something our team intends to continue to do as we maintain our ethos and value. Our firm is constantly looking for ways to expand but is aware it should do so steadily and only where necessary. While A.G. Erotocritou LLC is proud to already count some of the largest international law firms, banking institutions and multinational corporations among its clients, and intends to continue investing in the excellent relationships it as built along the way, we expect our business to grow naturally over the next few years, with an even more dominant presence in international markets.