Law Firms
LLPO Law Firm was established in 1999 as the result of two existing law firms merging together. As a result of this merger, LLPO was one of the first law firms in Cyprus to be founded on the equal partnership model.
At the beginning of 2006, LLPO initiated the formal internationalization of its services with the establishment of offices in Athens and Bucharest, focusing on the Greek and Balkan markets. Then at the beginning of 2011, the firm launched a representative office in London. At the core of the firm’s sustainable expansion model lies the client-centric approach and sectoral expertise of its lawyers, in tandem with the ongoing utilization of innovative technology.
Following the relevant amendment to the Advocate’s Law in 2010, thereby permitting the incorporation of Lawyers Limited Company (LLCs), LLPO Law Firm was duly incorporated as Angelides, Ioannides, Leonidou LLC, at the time. Today, the firm consists of three equity partners, twelve Associate Lawyers, two trainee lawyers, ten non-lawyer professionals and three additional administrative personnel.
LLPO Services
Through its dedicated legal team, LLPO provides services in all major areas of law with a particular focus on the following services:
► Corporate Services: Cyprus and International Company Formation and Administration, Cyprus International Trusts and Foundation Formation, both Cyprus and International Tax Planning, Headquartering and Substance Solutions, Fiduciary Services, Banking Facilitation, Tax Registration Services.
► Financial Services: Capital Markets Services, Emerging Companies Market (ECM) Listings and Compliance Services, Investment Companies and Funds Formation, Licensing and Passporting, Nominal Advisory Services (Nomad).
► Litigation and Advisory Services: Commercial and Corporate Law, Advisory and Litigation, Criminal Law, Public Law and Public Administrative Law, Medical Negligence and Personal Injuries, Class Actions, Banking Litigation, Employment Disputes and other.
+357 22 45 26 00
Christos O. Ioannides (LLB, LLM, ACSI) is an Advocate and Legal Consultant based in Nicosia, Cyprus, and he is the co-Managing Partner of LLPO Law Firm. He is a member of the Cyprus Bar Association, and a registered Mediator (Cyprus Ministry of Justice and Public Order). With over 17 years experience practicing law, representing clients in commercial, corporate, banking, administrative, civil, and criminal law cases. His expertise lies in both litigation and transactional work.
Litigation Expertise
He specializes in disputes involving shareholders’ rights, directors’ duties, minority protection claims, derivative actions and winding ups and compensations for regulated markets manipulation. He has also represented clients in criminal cases consisting of offenses related to financial crimes, anti-money laundering proceedings and preparing and circulating forged documents offenses.
Advisory Expertise
He specializes in negotiating and drafting agreements for mergers and acquisitions, shares purchase agreements, shareholders agreements and assisting clients in identifying and mitigating risks while closing deals. He is also an experienced in Trusts advisor. He has acted as the main consultant in the preparation of draft legislations, regulations and studies on behalf of national and international organizations such as the European Investment Bank, the European Commission, the Planning Bureau, the Ministry of Finance, the Privatisations Unit, and the Office of the Commissioner of Companies and the Official Receiver.
Compliance
He repeatedly undertook the duties of risk manager, AML officer and member of audit and risk committees in regulated entities and he is providing compliance advice to regulated entities such as banking institutions, investment firms, alternative investment funds and their managers, insurance companies, firms offering systems and payment services, universities and colleges, and betting companies.
Directorships and Corporate Administration Expertise
He has been involved in the structuring of many Cyprus Companies either as holding structures, trading vehicles, IP rights companies or as Tech development companies and He has undertaken the administration of many corporate structures. His extensive directorship experience extends also in regulated entities such as investment firms and credit acquiring companies.
Additional Experience
He has also worked as a special teaching associate at Frederick University and has authored several publications and articles.
Practice Areas:
● Commercial Litigation
● Criminal Law
● Class Actions
● Competition
● Financial Services
● Legislative and Compliance Services
● Lotteries, Gaming and Gambling Regulations
+357 22 45 26 00
Andreas Leonidou is a Partner and a Co-Founder at Angelides, Ioannides, Leonidou LLC – LLPO Law Firm in Nicosia, Cyprus.
Andreas acts as the leading counsel in major Commercial and Corporate transactions in Cyprus and abroad, more particularly in Greece and the UK, where the firm maintains further offices as LLPO Law Firm.
He advises individuals and corporations on structuring their investments through vehicles and also advises them on Tax Planning.
As a legal advisor on Capital Markets issues, Andreas has substantial experience in the preparation of Prospectuses for the listing and delisting of Companies and Bonds in the Regulated and Unregulated Market of the Cyprus Stock Exchange (CSE) and the acquisition of shares of Plc by Public Offer. He also deals with the registration and licensing of Alternative
Investment Funds regulated by the Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC).
Andreas has extensive experience in:
Commercial Law:
Drafting and reviewing contracts of various issues, including sales contracts, supply of goods, loan, rent, agency, distribution, warehousing, and commission agent agreements.
Corporate:
Drafting and reviewing of Sale of Shares Agreements of a Company with underlying assets, Mergers & Acquisitions, Joint Venture and Shareholder Agreements, the Registration of Corporate Documents, Bonds Agreements, and Licensing under the Cyprus Central Bank.
Property and Real Estate Law Issues:
Drafting of Sale of Property Agreements, Consulting on Property Issues, advising on Property Projects for retailers, developers, financial institutions and investors. Consulting in relation to acquisitions and disposals of commercial properties.
Some of Andreas’ recent highlights include:
● Advising an E-money Institution to acquire a License under the Cyprus Central Bank;
● Sales Purchase Agreement for the sale of shares of a company with the following underlying assets:
i) Renewable Energy Licenses;
ii) Hotel in Greece;
iii) Block of 30 Flats and 10 Houses in London;
● Acquisition of a listed company in the Regulated Market of the Cyprus Stock Exchange;
● Acquisition of a listed company in the Regulated Market of Cyprus Stock Exchange through a Public Offer bid;
● Approving the Prospectus of a Bond through CySEC;
● Advising a company on the terms and conditions of a Distribution Agreement of an international brand.
It is also worth noting that Andreas was a Member of the Board of the Cyprus Stock Exchange between 2005-2015.
Practice Areas:
● Head of the Real Estate Department
● Company Law
● Financial Services
● Corporate
● Commercial Law
● Stock Exchange
● Sports Law
+357 22 45 26 00
George is a partner at LLPO’s Cyprus office. He advises high profile clients, multinational firms, investment funds and asset managers on a wide range of commercial and corporate matters.
George represents clients in complex corporate and M&A transactions and has significant experience representing investors and lenders on the acquisition, financing and development of major projects around the world, as well as with respect to governance, workouts and disputes.
Clients rely on his experience in structuring and negotiating acquisitions, dispositions and joint ventures, and to his ability to provide practical advice.
Before joining LLPO, he has practised for 15 years with leading law firms in Cyprus including the legal practice of one of the BIG4.
Technology:
George is actively involved in the tech sector. He acts as mentor and assists startups to get organized and funded.
With LLPO’s expertise and its position as a major player across the fields of financial services, banking, investment funds, insurance and regulatory compliance, and together with cross-competency teams of the firm, George advises both growing and established technology companies for their licensing and on matters relating to their operations.
Clients include payment providers and other new tech players leveraging disruptive technology or business models.
Noteworthy experience:
● Represented a leading Russian tech services group on the financing and later acquisition of a major online fashion retailer selling high-street and luxury brands;
● Advised a foreign investment group on the acquisition of the largest online listing platform in Cyprus;
● Performed for a South African health company a buyer’s side legal due diligence on a major Cypriot pharmaceutical company with international operations;
● Advised major banks of top repute (including Deutsche Bank, VTB, Bank of Moscow and Sberbank) on financing transactions where Cypriot companies acted as obligors and where Cyprus owned assets was put as security. Worked in close collaboration with multinational law firms such as Clifford Chance, Allen & Overy, Baker & McKenzie, Squire Saunders & Dempsey, Dentons, CMS Cameron McKenna, DLA Piper, Hogan Lovells and other;
● Advised a Polish investor on a governance dispute of a leading international records management business group owned through Cypriot companies.
Practice Areas:
● Mergers & Acquisitions
● Private Equity
● Corporate Governance
● Corporate
● Financial Services
Contact
Head Office
15 Agion Omologiton Avenue
Nicosia, 1080
CYPRUS
Seefeldstrasse 123
P.O. Box 8008
Zurich, Switzerland
Executive Director
Rafael Truan Blanco
The Law Firm Network is a network of independent law firms originated in 1989. Our members are not affiliated in the joint practice of law; each member firm is an independent law firm and renders professional services on an individual and separate basis
The Law Firm Network is a network of independent law firms originated in 1989. Our members are not affiliated in the joint practice of law; each member firm is an independent law firm and renders professional services on an individual and separate basis
