Alexis Erotocritou

Practice Areas

Alexis' is a leading authority in Cyprus on transactional but also private client matters and is consistently ranked as a “Band 1” lawyer by all leading international directories such as Chambers, Legal500, WWL, LexologyIndex, IFLR, Best Lawyers in different fields. His practice primarily focuses on transactional matters (corporate, banking & finance), private client and real estate.

Main expertise

Alexis frequently acts across a broad spectrum of high value corporate, banking/finance and real estate transactions, as well as rendering advice on the mechanics of various security structures. He also advised a plethora of conglomerates, development companies, HNW and UHWNI in relation to their real estate projects and investments in and out of Cyprus, some of which constitute the largest related transactions which have ever taken place in Cyprus but also on probate matters, trusts, and immigration.

Moreover, he is highly regarded as one of the leading lawyers in Cyprus in the private client sector / immigration in Cyprus and is well placed to assist with all types of private client services such the acquisition of residency permits, tax planning, trusts set up, family disputes, banking, estate planning, real estate, wills/probate, family law, etc.

Examples of work in the private client / real estate spheres

He has extensive experience acting on private client matters and advising entrepreneurs, international families but also trust companies and family offices. His work often relates to their estate planning, structures and personal affairs and this frequently involves complex corporate, banking, real estate, international tax and estate planning. Alexis also regularly advises foreign residents on immigration matters, including on the most tax efficient way to structure Cypriot investments or a move to the island.

As regards the private client and real estate sectors, Alexis acted for and advised on the set up of 5* hotels in Ayia Napa and Limassol but also on the construction and development of some of the largest ever real estate projects. In 2019, Alexis (advising on selected private client matters) was part of the local team acting as Cypriot counsel in relation to global litigation proceedings between UHNWI (the value of dispute exceeded $2b) before the Supreme Court of NY.

Recent deals:

■ Leading 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.

■ Handling the largest ever local divorce dispute (with the couple being permanent residents in Cyprus) for assets in dispute of hundreds of millions.

■ Advises on probate matters one of the wealthiest persons globally and listed in Forbes Europe.

Real Estate:

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 for the largest hospitality groups (Fattal, Marriott) and currently acting for an UHNWI in relation to the establishment of a 5* star hotel.

■ Assisted hundreds of investors in acquiring real estate assets in Cyprus.

■ Engaged to advise and assist with regards to the set up of a shopping mall.

Examples of work in transactional sphere

■ Acted for the lenders’ on the refinancing of a $600 million secured facility to one of the largest agricultural companies of Eastern Europe;

■ Acted on a regular basis for large scaled financing and refinancing transactions for and on behalf of some of the leading global bank institutions;

■ Part of the deal where Halliburton established presence in Cyprus.

■ Advised and represented a listed company in the Greek Stock Exchange, IKTINOS HELLAS S.A in relation to the acquisition of a multimillion asset from a UK company listed in the AIM.

■ Advised Nikon Holdings Europe B.V, General Electric, Roche and JP Morgan on various corporate and commercial matters in relation to Cyprus law.

Alexis has authored various publications, mainly in the areas of corporate governance, securities, banking, immigration, tax and real estate. Among others, he was the co-author of the Cyprus Annual Report on Shareholding Disclosure and Short Selling, and the author of the Pre-Insolvency Enforceability of Derivative Transactions under Cyprus Laws. Alexis has also contributed the Cyprus Annual Chapter on various topics for various directories/guides, such as the Legal500, Getting the Deal Through, Lexology, ILO, etc. Alexis has also lectured at the European University of Cyprus.

Awards

Alexis is regularly featured in leading legal directories which, in recognition of his achievements, have independently elicited selected clients’ comments which recognise his “very strong work ethic and entrepreneurial attitude” (Chambers and Partners) and have referred to him as “an extremely knowledgeable strategic thinker”, (IFLR 1000), “dynamic and methodical” (Who’s Who Legal).

Chambers and Partners (HNW) (including 2025) (for several years) recognised Alexis as a “Band 1” lawyer in Cyprus, who, according to the directory, wins high praise for his combination of technical skill and an approachable manner. Chambers recognised that Alexis maintains a strong reputation for international work and especially with regards to HNWI. Chambers also ranked Alexis as one of the leading lawyers in Cyprus in the General Business Law (relating mostly to transactional matters).

Alexis has been also listed for many consecutive years by Legal 500 (including 2025) as a (Tier1) leading individual in Real Estate and Banking/Finance and Corporate and M&A.

Moreover, he has been recognised consistently as a leading figure by IFLR in corporate/financial matters.

WhosWhoLegal and Bestlawyers also declared Alexis as a recognised figure in the European banking space, highlighted for his first-class corporate finance and banking practice, in assisting HNW and UHNWI individuals with their personal affairs. It is worth mentioning that the directory praised Alexis and the firm, for offering “’an all-embracing range of services to HNW and UNHW individuals, encompassing a broad cross-section of contentious and non-contentious matters, which may require the intervention and involvement of several legal disciplines”.

Alexis has also lectured at the European University of Cyprus.

Professional Memberships

Alexis is a member of the:

- Cyprus Bar Association

-IBA

-AIJA

Publications

Alexis has authored various publications, mainly in the areas of real estate, immigration, tax, corporate governance, securities, banking and tax . Among others, he was the co-author of the Cyprus Annual Report on Shareholding Disclosure and Short Selling, and the author of the Pre-Insolvency Enforceability of Derivative Transactions under Cyprus Laws. Alexis has also contributed the Cyprus Annual Chapter on various topics for various directories/guides, such as the Legal500, Getting the Deal Through, Lexology, ILO, etc.

Work Highlights

■ Part of the team which led and handled one of the largest (in terms of value) restructurings (value was around 1billion EURO) in terms of value in Cyprus (by promoting a scheme of arrangement) and at the same time defending 14 actions by aggrieved creditors.

■ Leading 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.

■ Handling the largest ever local divorce dispute (with the couple being permanent residents in Cyprus) for assets in dispute of hundreds of millions.

■ Advises on probate matters one of the wealthiest persons globally and listed in Forbes Europe.

Real Estate:

■ Acted for the largest hospitality groups (Fattal, Marriott) and currently acting for an UHNWI in relation to the establishment of a 5* star hotel.

■ Engaged to advise and assist with regards to the set up of a shopping mall.

■ Acted for the lenders’ on the refinancing of a $600 million secured facility to one of the largest agricultural companies of Eastern Europe;

■ Acted on a regular basis for large scaled financing and refinancing transactions for and on behalf of some of the leading global bank institutions;

■ Part of the deal where Halliburton established presence in Cyprus.

■ Advised and represented a listed company in the Greek Stock Exchange, IKTINOS HELLAS S.A in relation to the acquisition of a multimillion asset from a UK company listed in the AIM.

■ Advised Nikon Holdings Europe B.V, General Electric, Roche and JP Morgan on various corporate and commercial matters in relation to Cyprus law.

Awards