Alexis Erotocritou

Practice Areas

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

Nature of work handled in general and other information

He has extensive experience acting on private client matters and is trusted by the world’s most prominent and renowned entrepreneurs, international families but also trust companies and family offices, assisting them with related matters. 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.

Moreover, 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.

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) (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.

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

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”.

Practice areas

Our private client "top tier" department offers 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.

A.G. Erotocritou LLC is regarded as one of the market leaders in the private client sector. Our firm has been recognised for the excellent client relations built on trust and understanding, which it cultivates in providing its tailored services.

Examples of work in the private client sphere

Administrative appeals against decisions of public authorities

Artwork and related advice

Banking

Consumer law issues

Employment

Estate planning

Immigration

Inheritance / tax matters

Real estate

Trusts

Tax Planning

Wills and probate

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.

Professional Memberships

Alexis is a member of the:

- Cyprus Bar Association

-IBA

-AIJA

It is worth noting that:

In 2022, Andreas Erotocritou had the honour to be appointed as the country’s fellow representative at “The International Academy of Financial Crime Litigators”. https://www.financialcrimelitigators.org

In 2023, Andreas has been also appointed as an officer at the International Bar Association (IBA) newly established Asset Recovery Committee, as a representative of Mediterranean / Leviathan area. https://www.ibanet.org/officer/officerList/3462

Personal

Alexis is a football and tennis fan.

He represented the Limassol Bar Association in international football and basketball events.

Alexis has lectured at the European University of Cyprus.

Clients

Plethora of UHNWI

Republic of Cyprus

Marsh

Amazon

Google

Estee Lauder

Samsung

AWS

Cyprus Shipping Association

Work Highlights

Recent work in private client sector

Alexis has also advised a plethora of HNW and UHNWI on estate planning, tax, immigration and other related issues.

Alexis assisted and advised successfully tens of HNWI to acquire Cypriot citizenship pursuant to the Cyprus Investment Programme. Moreover, he represents several clients whose citizenship has been renounced before the Cyprus Courts.

Alexis has been previously involved in the team advising on the high profile divorce of two UHNWIs, before London Courts, whereby the award issued is considered as one of the largest ever in history, exceeding €500m.

He has also been involved in the team advising the heirs of an UHNW in probate proceedings, exceeding $4b billion.

In 2022, Alexis was instructed by an UHNWI listed in Forbes to set up a trust which shall comprise billions of assets in several jurisdictions.

Recently, Alexis (advising on selected private client matters) was part of the local team acting as Cypriot counsel in relation to global litigation proceedings between Russian oligarchs (the value of dispute exceeded $2b) before the Supreme Court of NY. The case was at the time one of the most high-profile cases pending in the global litigation sphere and has been described as ‘the biggest oligarch battle in the US’.

Recently, advised the owner of the 2nd largest mobile phone manufacturer in the world on personal (tax, and other) related matters.

Part of a team which advised certain successors of an UHNWI who passed away, and following the death, a multijurisdictional dispute over his estate commenced for value over $4 billion. One of the assets of the estate controlled through Cyprus is one of the largest yachts in the world.

Other experience on real estate matters

Alexis acted for and advised on the set up of several 5* hotels in Cyprus but also on the construction, development and acquisition of some of the largest ever real estate projects in Cyprus.

Recently, represented Fattal Group on the purchase of one of the largest hotels in Cyprus (representing one of the largest sales ever in the local market).

Assisted local developers in the set up of high rise residential towers.

Represented hundreds of HNWI in relation to their investment in the Cyprus real estate market.

Other experience on related fields, such as corporate, commercial and finance

Other related experience includes acting for a major multinational corporation in relation to the largest-in-size debt restructuring which took place in Cyprus, in excess of $700m and acting for the lenders’ on the refinancing of a secured facility exceeding $350m to one of the largest international agricultural companies.

In the past, Alexis has also advised a major international telecommunication corporation, in relation to the sale of its stake for a total contract value of €208 million. Moreover, he recently acted for the lenders on the refinancing of a $600 million secured facility whilst he has also advised a leading Eastern European group on a US$180 million tender offer and US$400 million new note issue.

Instructed by the largest and fastest growing Italian Ship-owner operating globally in the Offshore Oil & Gas industry in relation a joint venture with a prominent local group with regards to one of the largest ever local infrastructure projects in the energy sector.

Represented a leading CIS Bank, Alexis and the firm handled the largest ever local restructuring (scheme of arrangement) (assets at stake exceeded €750m). The firm has been entrusted with the primary role in advising, structuring and undertaking and implementing the restructuring process which embraced the entire group and involved the lodging of the necessary application with the competent court, conducting the meeting of the company creditors, etc, whilst at the same defending 14 applications on behalf of the applicant company within the group.

Education

Languages Spoken

Greek, English

Awards