1. Delivering
Clarity
Antoniou McCollum & Co.
is a top tier Cyprus law
firm advising on
commercial, corporate,
competition, digital &
data and dispute
resolution.
Firm Overview
2017
2. Commercial law
Your business goals drive our legal solutions. We carry out comprehensive corporate,
commercial and regulatory legal due diligence. We aim to understand your objectives and
design solutions to make them happen. We support you throughout your journey –
structuring the deal, drafting transaction documents and engaging in regulatory problem-
solving and implementation.
Mergers, Acquisitions and Joint Ventures
We routinely advise and support clients on mergers and acquisitions, takeovers, divestments,
joint ventures, private equity and financing transactions. Our specialist sector knowledge,
combined with our access to experts in key areas such as tax, employment, pensions and real
estate means we can deliver bespoke practical legal solutions.
Commercial contracts
We undertake the drafting of complex commercial agreements supporting clients on a broad
range of transactions. These include financing, loan and credit facilities; collateral, pledge and
guarantee agreements; asset sale and purchase agreements; joint ventures; asset leasing;
software and IP licenses; franchising and distribution agreements; electronic commerce and
online sales documentation; and consumer and retail sales contracts.
Intellectual property
We ensure your intellectual property is secured, protected and defended, and we provide
legal support to register and commercialise copyright, trademarks, patents, software and
databases, both in Cyprus and across the EU. When your rights are violated we undertake
enforcement and restitution, including through injunctive relief.
3. Corporate law
Whether you are active in the Cyprus market or exploring opportunities, we provide tailored
advice on Cyprus corporate law to help you develop your business. Our legal expertise spans
all sectors and we address industry-specific challenges to ensure seamless execution of your
business strategy. We are here to support you at every stage of your company’s growth.
Mergers, acquisitions and restructurings
Our core expertise is advising on the full range of corporate transactions, including domestic
and cross-border mergers and acquisitions, corporate reorganisations, amalgamations and
restructurings, private equity, strategic investments and joint ventures. We engage
throughout the transaction cycle, from planning and implementation through to post-
execution support.
Corporate law advisory
Legal compliance is non-negotiable for any business. We provide advice on all aspects of
Cyprus corporate law, including on issues relating to share capital and classes of shares,
dividends, financing, share transfers and directors’ fiduciary duties. And we advise on
charges and their enforcement, share pledges, financial collateral and statutory compliance.
Formations and governance
Our experience of the Cyprus market enables us to identify and tailor corporate vehicles
(public or private) to suit your commercial requirements and your regulatory, jurisdictional
and business challenges. We draft shareholders’ agreements and articles of association for
private and public Cyprus companies. We advise on all aspects of corporate administration
and governance, including implementation and filings with the Cyprus Registrar of
Companies and other public authorities.
4. Digital & Data
Data protection
The GDPR is a regulatory leap in the development of privacy as a concept in Cyprus. It
impacts a significant number of organisations in Cyprus, even those that do business in
Cyprus but are based abroad.
Antoniou McCollum & Co. delivers clarity in advising organisations on their data protection
compliance obligations, providing practical legal advice and ensuring conformity with the
GDPR's requirements.
Electronic Commerce
We offer practical and innovative advice on legal and commercial risk associated with
technology based activities in Cyprus. We advise on electronic commerce matters and assist
clients in navigating the complex regulatory framework governing online sale of goods and
services in Cyprus, from design to implementation.
We draft terms of use, terms of sale, privacy policies and other contractual documentation
relating to online commerce and we have extensive expertise in advising intermediary online
providers. We also undertake advisory and contentious work and enforcement where
necessary.
Digital Intellectual Property
Our intellectual property practice is experienced in protecting online brands, software
applications and know-how in a comprehensive manner and with a deep understanding of
the novel challenges faced in online branding and IP.
5. Competition law & Merger Control
Competition
We specialize in Cyprus and EU competition law and in advising on the related regulatory
framework. We ensure competition law compliance in your business operations and advise
on avoidance of anti-competitive behaviour, cartels, abuse of dominance and economic
dependence cases.
We develop strategies to enable our clients to compete efficiently in both domestic and
cross-border markets and ensure that their business operations are compliant with both the
Cyprus and the EU antitrust frameworks. We combine high-level expertise with practical
solutions that work for you.
Merger Control
We have a strong track record on filing and clearing mergers, acquisitions and joint ventures
with the Cypriot Competition Authority and the European Commission including foreign-to-
foreign transactions where Cyprus domestic turnover thresholds are met.
Foreign-to-foreign transactions are fully caught under the Cypriot merger control regime. A
concentration of undertakings must be notified in Cyprus where:
► the aggregate turnover achieved by at least two of the undertakings concerned exceeds,
in relation to each one of them, €3.5 million;
► at least two of the undertakings concerned achieve a turnover in Cyprus; and
► at least €3.5 million of the aggregate turnover of all undertakings concerned is achieved
in Cyprus.
6. Property & Trusts
Property
Clients trust our experience and know-how to identify issues and opportunities on all aspects
of immovable property.
We advise on and implement commercial and residential sales; commercial, industrial and
retail leasing; mortgages; property conveyance and registration; and we advise on probate,
succession and estate administration matters.
We also undertake enforcement of immovable property rights, including foreclosure.
International Trusts
Cyprus International Trusts can hold tangible and intangible assets anywhere in the world
under a tax-efficient, protected and confidential structure.
They are used routinely to hold investments on a worldwide basis, from listed securities to
real estate, and from venture capital to art.
We undertake the establishment of trusts, appoint trustees and provide the full range of
advisory services to settlors, trustees and beneficiaries.
7. Dispute Resolution
Our primary goal is to identify and avoid potential disputes. That said, where disputes do
arise we can help you solve them.
We have a proven track record of dispute management through early risk identification,
negotiation and alternative dispute resolution.
Litigation
When all else fails we have the expertise to undertake commercial and corporate litigation
before the courts of Cyprus and the EU, as well as commercial and investment arbitration.
We represent clients on a broad range of commercial and corporate matters including
shareholders disputes, contractual disputes, debt recovery and enforcement proceedings.
Where appropriate we support actions by pursuing injunctive relief, such as asset tracing
orders, discovery orders and freezing orders. We also act on the recognition and enforcement
of foreign judgments and arbitral awards.
Arbitration
We act as counsel in domestic and international commercial arbitration, in international
investment arbitration and energy charter disputes.
8. Banking & Finance
The banking sector has undergone a substantial regulatory overhaul. The legal challenges and
complexities faced by both the credit institutions themselves and parties transacting with
them have substantially increased.
We advise borrowers and lenders on corporate lending transactions; property development
finance; debt sales and distressed lending and trading; debt and equity restructuring;
receiverships and administrations; residual and other debt recovery and security enforcement.
We are highly versed in the regulatory framework governing credit institutions, investment
funds, financial services providers and credit-acquiring companies, advising our clients on all
aspects from authorisation and licensing to on-going compliance and operations. Our track
records includes advising on the establishment of the first NPL servicing platform in Cyprus.