A.G. Erotocritou LLC

Number of partners: 8

Number of lawyers: 20

Languages:

Chinese, English, French, Greek, Russian, Spanish, Swedish, Ukrainian

The firm is a “top tier” multi-awarded firm for consecutive years by all leading international directories, characterised as “an exception to the market where everyone does everything”, offering advice and representation to all business areas in a large variety of industries.

Characteristics

The firm does not “deal with every case”; hence, only a limited number of engagements are accepted, to ensure that clients enjoy responsiveness/service which are consistent with the leading international firms. This in turn ensures timely turnaround/delivery times, cost-effective strategies, reliability – key factors which contribute and are crucial to the firm’s overall operational efficiency.

In an effort to remain conflict-free at all times and be able to act in complex commercial disputes, the firm does not act as a trustee company by way of provision of corporate administration services, neither it acts on behalf of local banks on fixed retainers, thus focusing on 100% legal work.

Recognition

The firm/team members have been recognised as Top Tier firm for several years by Chambers HNW and Legal500 but also, by other leading directories such as IFLR, WhosWhoLegal, BestLawyers, ThoughtLeaders and Client Choice/ILO.

Model - team

The firm has rigorously implemented a business model similar to that of leading U.S. and U.K. law firms; hence, it allocated significant resources in recruiting and maintaining talented lawyers (with prior experience in leading London law firms). All team members are US or UK graduates, have outstanding academic credentials and possess exceptional research, communication, negotiation and interpersonal skills.

Practice areas

They comprise dispute resolution, financial services and products, corporate and M&A, private equity, banking and finance, corporate restructurings and insolvency, real estate, data protection, tax planning, shipping and private client professional services.

Memberships

Members of the team are part of the most reputable international legal associations; examples include the “The International Academy of Financial Crime Litigators” and the IBA, where Andreas Erotocritou was appointed as an officer at the newly established Asset Recovery Committee, as representative of Mediterranean/Leviathan region.

In addition to the above, other lawyers from the firm are members and regular speakers in other prominent associations such as AIJA, INSOL, etc.

Clientele

As a result of the firm’s reputation and expertise, A.G. Erotocritou LLC is proud to count some of the largest international law firms (including several magic circle firms), governments, international banking institutions and conglomerates amongst our clients.

Recent work handled

Arbitration & Litigation:

Constantly ranked by leading international directories, the firm has particular expertise in handling high-value complex cross-border disputes and regularly represents multinational corporations, financial and banking institutions and individuals in a wide range of cross border commercial and corporate litigation.

Recent deals:

• Acting in one of the biggest disputes currently litigated in Europe and represent the heirs of one of Poland’s richest men and prominent businessmen for an amount in excess of 3billion EURO. Proceedings have been raised in the various jurisdictions through which the business tycoon holds his assets, including Cyprus and Liechtenstein, with numerous injunctions issued between them. Our firm has been instructed to advise and act on the ongoing proceedings and future strategy in handling the overall dispute.
• Advising in a cross-border probate case of value exceeding $4 billion, which has given rise to proceedings across various jurisdictions by several persons claiming to be beneficiaries of the deceased, in an attempt to claim substantial assets.
• Acting for the oil conglomerate, ConocoPhillips, in recognising and enforcing in Cyprus an arbitral award exceeding 10 billion issued by the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID) against the state of Venezuela for the expropriation of 3 major oil assets.

Banking & Finance:

The firm has considerable expertise in the banking and finance field.

Recent deals:

• Acted recently for the lenders’ on the refinancing of a secured facility exceeding $1b to one of the largest international agricultural companies.
• Acted for one of the leading hospitality brands across Europe, the UK and Israel in their financing arrangements with several international banking institutions for value in excess of $2billion.
• Acted for the Independent Expert who provided a fairness opinion as part of the tender offer processes run by Eurobank S.A. for the acquisition of the remaining Hellenic Bank PLC’s shares, on Cyprus law matters.

Corporate/M&A:

The firm provides comprehensive advice on all aspects of domestic and international business. The firm is proud to count as clients some of the largest multinational organisations/financial institutions.

Recent deals:

• Acted for a major multinational corporation in relation to the largest-in-size debt restructuring which took place in Cyprus, in excess of $700 million.
• Advised a listed company on high level complex legal aspects in relation to the Great Sea Interconnector Project (worth €2 billion).

Advises major international groups with a presence in Cyprus, including JD Sports and Kuehne + Nagel Financial Services & Products:

The team can assist with all stages of setting up and operating a regulated vehicle in Cyprus, whether that be for an investment firm, payment services provider, fund or otherwise. Capital markets is also a field the firm assists clients with.

■ Regularly advising the largest players (banks, financial institutions and crypto platforms) on their financial services/regulatory affairs.

Private Client:

The firm is highly regarded as one of the market leaders in the private client sector and is well placed to assist with all types of private client services such the acquisition of residency permits, tax planning, trusts set up, banking, estate planning, real estate, wills/probate, family law, etc.

Recent deals:

■ The firm is handling the set up of a Cyprus international trust on behalf of an UHNWI, with assets in 13 jurisdictions, with a total value in excess of €3billion.

■ Acted for a person listed in Forbes in relation to the establishment of tax residency in Cyprus and advised in all corporate, real estate, tax and immigration aspects.

■ Successfully involved in the high-profile, multijurisdictional and widely publicised inheritance dispute concerning an estate valued at over US$4 billion, which included the largest sailing yacht in the world.

Real Estate:

The Firm has been involved in the largest real estate projects in the island and actively deals with all matters relating to immovable property such as, advice on acquisitions, on financing matters, undertaking due diligence exercises on real estate structures, etc.

Recent deals:

■ Acted on the acquisition and development of 5-star hotels in Cyprus.

■ Acted on the construction of the largest master-planned residential golf and spa resort in Limassol, a major private medical clinic, a shopping mall.