Our Practice Areas
We practice in most areas of the law with particular expertise in tax, corporate and litigation. Our goal is to achieve our client objectives in an efficient and cost effective manner, with continuity and excellence.
Banking and Finance
We have considerable experience in banking, bank regulatory matters, acquisition finance, commercial finance, project finance and general secured lending. We assist clients in drafting and reviewing of credit agreements, pledge agreements, bond financing and corporate and public finance transactions. Our clients include major banks and one of the largest pension fund in Cyprus.
Capital Markets
We have years of experience in advising companies on matters related to listing on capital markets, with a particular reference to Multilateral Trading Facilities such as the Emerging Companies Market of the Cyprus Stock Exchange, having assisted entities on listing and de-listing of both stocks and bonds.
Our expertise extends to capital markets regulatory compliance and financial institutions regulatory compliance, with a special focus on alternative investment funds.
Andreas Th. Sofokleous LLC is in the list of Nominated Advisors for the Emerging Companies Market of the Cyprus Stock Exchange.
Corporate/Commercial
Our lawyers advise clients in formulating the most advantageous structure for their Cyprus ventures, taking into consideration tax, managerial, risk and market factors. ANDREAS TH. SOFOKLEOUS LLC assists in the formation of corporations, partnerships and trusts as well as of branches or representative offices, advises on the regulatory and registration requirements and handles all legal aspects of setting up the appropriate infrastructure. The firm provides an ongoing advisory service to both shareholders and management, covering legal, financial and corporate governance aspects of the day-to-day operation of the company. Our clients include companies operating in the insurance, energy and oil sectors and a considerable part of our work in this department relates to incorporation and administration of international Cyprus companies.
Energy (Oil and Gas)
The discovery of reserves of natural gas in the Exclusive Economic Zone of Cyprus is rather recent. Therefore, a practice on Oil and Gas is almost absent on the island.
However, the lawyers of ANDREAS TH. SOFOKLEOUS LLC, in addition to an in-depth knowledge of the local legislation enacted to date, in the last months have established non-exclusive relations with professionals of top tier law firms specialized in Oil and Gas in countries like United States, Norway and United Arab Emirates, in order to be able to provide a qualified support to local and international clients.
In particular, our professionals are capable of providing assistance for the drafting and negotiation of, among others:
- Exploration and production sharing contracts
- Pre-unitization and unitization agreements
- Oil and gas lifting agreements
- Sleeping Partner agreements
- Decommissioning agreements
- Production platform and FPSO (Floating Production Storage and Offloading) construction agreements
- Production platform and FPSO operating agreements
- Platform ancillary services agreements
- Commingling, allocation and attribution agreements
- Gas balancing agreements
- Oil and gas processing agreements
- Gas transportation agreements
- Pipeline tie-in agreements
- Pipeline crossing agreements
- Proximity agreements
Energy (Renewable Energy)
ANDREAS TH. SOFOKLEOUS LLC has significant experience in the financing, contracts, including turn-key contracts for the construction of photovoltaic parks, and regulation of the energy sector. The firm provides highly specialized and comprehensive advice to energy and financing companies in this sector, with particular reference to the area of renewable energy. Our clients include one of the biggest manufacturers in the photovoltaic sector in Europe.
Insurance
The firm has expertise in insurance law and regulation since it advices on a regular basis one of the leading insurance companies as well as insurance agents in Cyprus. Also it has assisted a Cyprus insurance company to secure its license to perform activities in another European country through a branch. An important part of our insurance practice also involves claims handling. Additionally, our lawyers negotiate and draft reinsurance agreements.
Intellectual Property / Information Technology
The firm has expertise in patent, trademark and copyright law and regulation, and unfair competition practices. We draft and negotiate a wide variety of agreements involving technology, related intellectual property rights and complex commercial matters, including trademark licensing agreements, master service agreements and outsourcing agreements. Assistance is given also for the protection of patents, trademarks, copyrights and other intellectual property rights and for the interaction with competent agencies or authorities.
Litigation and Dispute Resolution
The work of the litigation department counts for a considerable part of the overall activity of the firm. Our lawyers regularly deal with many types of civil and administrative cases. We advise our clients on the likely outcome of a lawsuit and inform them about the options for a settlement or alternative dispute resolution mechanisms. The main fields of activity of this department are corporate and commercial litigation, litigation involving banks and financial institutions.
Mergers and Acquisitions
ANDREAS TH. SOFOKLEOUS LLC handles mergers and acquisitions transactions, including sales of holdings in companies, transfers of businesses or branches of business. Our clients are public and private corporations and wealthy individuals, both on buy and sell side. Our assistance range from the preliminary activities to the completion of the transaction and include legal due diligence of the target, regulatory approvals and negotiation of related agreements.
Real Estate and Estate Planning
Our lawyers provide assistance on commercial, industrial and residential real estate matters. We regularly provide assistance to our foreign clients for acquisition of property in Cyprus. We negotiate and draft agreements relating to real estate, including building and construction contracts and lease agreements. The firm has also expertise in advising on wills and inheritance laws, as well as estate planning and administration.
Shipping and Admiralty Law
We advise on the drafting and negotiation of a wide range of commercial shipping contracts, including:
- Sale and purchase contracts for new build vessels;
- Bare boat charter agreements, crew management agreements, ship management agreements and services agreements;
- Joint venture and shareholders’ agreements between relevant parties where a vessel is to be owned and operated as part of a joint venture.
We are also experienced in advising on all aspects of a vessel’s registration and ship finance matters.
Our expertise extends to:
- Claims for loss or damage to cargo;
- Personal injury claims.
Tax and International Tax Planning
The firm has expertise in all areas of tax law, including tax advice in connection with international tax planning, corporate restructuring, mergers, acquisitions and reorganization. Our clients are involved in cross-border transactions and are coming from a wide range of business activities including the financial, trading, industrial and property sectors in Cyprus and abroad.