Called to the Bar of England & Wales (2001), Gray’s Inn (NP), and the Cyprus Bar (2004), Angelos has extensive litigation and advisory experience primarily on complex corporate and commercial disputes and injunctions. From a business perspective, Angelos has structured and negotiated countless commercial transactions, and having been a true leader and a pioneer of the financial services and fintech industries in Cyprus, he epitomizes the perfect combination. Angelos is the Managing Partner of AGPLAW and a hugely passionate lawyer.
Angelos is a person of strong personality, a hard worker motivated for success, an effective team leader who is able to inspire, influential and highly knowledgeable of what he is dealing with. His work ethic, commitment, attention to detail and tenacious approach towards all of his clients has marked him out from his earliest years in practice.
He heads the firm’s Corporate and Commercial Practice; he has a wealth of specialist knowledge on corporate and commercial areas of the law, both in transactional projects as well as in litigation. He is recognized as a leading individual in the legal directories, Chambers Europe, Legal 500 and IFLR1000, for his expertise in commercial and corporate law, tax, banking & finance, and financial services regulatory.
In terms of litigation, Angelos appears in complex and high-profile disputes before all courts in Cyprus (District and Supreme Courts), as well as in international commercial arbitrations (including in the LCIA and ICC). He has a particular interest in cases involving ex-parte injunctions and injunctive reliefs, whether in support of domestic or foreign disputes.
Furthermore, Angelos is the joint head of the FS Regulatory & Fintech Practice of the Firm, representing local and international Tech companies, Investment Firms, e-banks, and FS Institutions. He is a full member of the International Compliance Association since 2024.
He is an authorized Insolvency Practitioner (Liquidator) and an active member of the Association of Insolvency Practitioners of Cyprus since 2015, with over 200 insolvency appointments. He is a professional Trustee, registered Trust and Estate Practitioner and a full member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners of the UK (STEP), a holder of the title TEP since 2005 (click here), with over 2 billion euro worth of assets held under trust and over 250 trustee appointments since 2005.
Angelos further advises on local and international tax and corporate structuring, on medium and large-scale real estate matters and, on foreign investments to Cyprus. He frequently acts for high-net-worth and ultra-high-net-worth individuals, entrepreneurs, and companies.
Angelos is fluent in English and Greek.
IFLR1000 Highly Regarded Lawyer 2024 | Financial & Corporate | Cyprus
Commercial, Corporate and M&A, Dispute Resolution, Banking & Finance, IP and Tax
Financial & Corporate
General Business Law: Dispute Resolution in Cyprus
Litigation Star ranked by Benchmark Litigation Europe 2022
IFLR1000 | Highly regarded in Financial and Corporate | Cyprus | 2021-22
Recognized by Best Lawyers 2021-22
Ranked in Chambers Europe 2018 on Dispute Resolution
Recommended by the Legal 500 EMEA 2012-2018
Leading Lawyer on Financial & Corporate Law by IFLR1000 | 2020 Rankings
Recognized by Best Lawyers since 2015
2018 Leading Complex Commercial and Corporate Law Adviser Awards - Angelos Paphitis
Listed in Top 100 Lawyers by LegalComprehensive.Com
ICA ASSOCIATE MEMBERSHIP
Certified Will Writing Practitioner by STEP
Ranked in Chambers Europe 2017 on Dispute Resolution
Listed in Top 25 Lawyers in Cyprus
- Barrister at Law (2001), Gray's Inn, London, UK
- Called to the Cyprus Bar (2004), Cyprus Bar Association
- Trust and Estate Practitioner (STEP), holder of TEP title (full STEP member since 2005)
- International Tax Planning Association (ITPA), certified member (since 2005)
- Insolvency Practitioner, member of the Cyprus Insolvency Practitioners Association (since 2015)
- ICA Associate, International Compliance Association, member since 2023.
- Legal Success on Achieving Major Victory with International Mareva Injunction Worth €50 Million: My client, a UAE entity, acquired loan facilities from a Cyprus company which, in 2019, engaged in a financing agreement with a Cayman Islands Fund to invest in a new blockchain Swiss venture. These loan facilities totaled just over €70 million. However, upon acquisition, my client discovered the investment had collapsed, the project had been cancelled, and fraudulent activities appeared to benefit the fund manager and majority shareholder. The ex-parte application for a Mareva injunction was granted, effectively freezing the funds and assets of the main defendants up to €50 million. This injunction is critical in ensuring that my client's can secure their financial interests while the case proceeds.
- SHARP International Representation: Actively representing electronics giant SHARP International, focusing on their EU structuring and operational strategies.
- Global Trademark Registration: Currently managing the registration of over 100 trademarks for a multi-national corporation across more than 20 countries worldwide. This task involves navigating through various international intellectual property frameworks, including the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO), and numerous local trademark registries.
- High-Profile Mergers & Acquisitions: Successfully handled a high-profile M&A transaction in Cyprus. My role involved representing a Joint Venture during the negotiations, conducting thorough legal and tax due diligence, and contributing to the overall evaluation for the acquisition of a major hospital in Cyprus. This project demanded an ability to efficiently manage complex, multi-faceted transactions.
- LCIA Arbitration Support Worth of $1.4 billion in Cyprus: Representing a major Russian logistic and transport public company in arbitration proceedings at the London Court of International Arbitration (LCIA). Successfully secured interim prohibitory orders against two Cypriot companies, safeguarding a $1.4 billion debt following a leveraged buyout agreement from 2012. For more information click here.
- Russian Production Group Representation: Actively defending a large Russian production group against multiple applications by a minority shareholder for the appointment of an interim receiver/manager, aiming to control or preserve the group's assets in Russia.
- Investor Action Against Banc de Binary: Representing 77 investors in a case of fraud and conspiracy against Banc de Binary investment group in Cyprus, focusing on financial misconduct and intentions to defraud.
- EMI Representation Against Central Bank of Cyprus: Advocating for an Electronic Money Institution in Cyprus in a case against the Central Bank of Cyprus for rights violations due to procedural delays, resulting in client damages.
- Private Hospital Acquisition Deal: Representing two investors in the potential $30 million acquisition of a majority stake in a private Cyprus hospital.
- High-Net-Worth Individual Dispute Resolution: Acting for a prominent Russian billionaire in disputes over matrimonial assets in Cyprus.
- BTC-E Scandal €38 million Legal Victory: Represented Sergey Mayzus and his companies in the BTC-E scandal, securing over €38 million in compensation for reputational damage and losses. For more information click here.
- Corporate Fraud of €25 million Defense: Defended 5 clients in a €25 million corporate fraud case, successfully opposing interim orders and achieving the cancellation of a court-issued interim order.
- Cyprus Holding Company €47 million Legal Challenge: Engaged by a Cyprus holding company in a €47 million claim, successfully objecting to an attempt to freeze client assets and leading to the withdrawal of the claim.
- Legal Success on Obtaining an Interim Receivership Court Order: Represented a Ukrainian businesswoman, obtaining an ex-parte appointment of an Interim Receiver/Manager over five Cyprus companies with significant agricultural assets in Ukraine.
- Successfully managing a complex Intellectual Property case and securing a favorable outcome for a key client. We navigated the intricacies of EUIPO protocols and EU Law to register multiple trademarks, including one with substantial global market value. Despite facing opposition from prominent international attorneys, we negotiated a settlement that protected the client’s interests, ensuring comprehensive trademark protection and safeguarding its market value.
- Secured a major litigation victory, preventing the unauthorized redomiciliation of a Cyprus company to Russia, in violation of Cyprus Companies Law CAP 113. Representing a foreign shareholder with significant interests in the company, successfully voided the attempted redomiciliation. The court deemed the new Russian entity separate from the original Cyprus company, and an ex-parte injunction was obtained, preventing the Russian entity from being recognized as a shareholder.
- Secured a significant litigation victory in a high-profile shareholders dispute involving a Cyprus company valued at over half a billion USD. Our clients, holding 58% of the company, challenged the illegal transfer of a 42% stake due to a deed of adherence’s non-compliance with statutory requirements under UK law. Despite the Shareholders Agreement's LCIA dispute resolution clause, successfully argued for the Cyprus court’s jurisdiction to rectify the company’s register. Also obtained an ex-parte interim injunction, preventing unauthorized changes to the shareholder structure.
- Achieved a significant litigation success for our client, a Chinese investor, in a commercial dispute involving the cancellation of a €2 million real estate Sale and Purchase Agreement (SPA) in Cyprus. The client, who had invested under the Cyprus Investment Program, opted to withdraw from the purchase after her application for naturalization was rejected. Successfully secured a judgment by consent from the District Court, compelling the Cypriot property development company to return the full amount paid. This was achieved through a strategic application for summary judgment, avoiding a full trial.
- Significant litigation achievement in the realm of Forex fraud. Secured a favorable judgment by consent for a group of 53 claimants against a Cypriot Investment Firm and its foreign shareholder, following a protracted nine-year legal battle. This case involved a Forex broker whose license was suspended and subsequently withdrawn by the Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC). Successfully obtained a freezing injunction in 2014, leading to the eventual recovery of funds after the Defendants brought in money from outside Cyprus to settle the claims. The case, which alleged fraud and breach of statutory duties against the broker's directors and compliance officer, concluded with the shareholder agreeing to compensate our clients for their losses.
- Achieved a notable victory by overturning a Norwich Pharmacal Order and securing a triumph at the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court reviewed appeals led by our expert Cyprus-based lawyers. The Court determined that the Family District Court of Limassol had improperly assessed the Norwich Pharmacal relief application and had failed to meet common law requirements. It ruled that all documents disclosed under the flawed orders should be returned, prohibiting their use. The case involved a claimant seeking disclosure of banking data against our client and related entities without proper notice or opportunity for defense. The Supreme Court agreed with our argument that this violated constitutional rights to a fair trial and natural justice. The Court not only reversed the District Court's decision but also mandated the return of all documents and data.
- Successfully defended our client, Ebro Foods S.A., in an opposition against the trademark "ORYZATEIN." Initially filed by Axiom Foods Inc. (USA) in Cyprus, this opposition was crucial given Euryza GmBH's established rights in Europe. After submitting a detailed opposition, supported by the EUIPO's prior rejection, we secured a favorable outcome. The applicant withdrew their trademark application in Cyprus, and our firm obtained compensation for legal fees under the new Trademarks Regulations, effectively safeguarding our client’s global interests.
- LL.B (Hons) Law, London South Bank University
- LL.M on Commercial & Corporate Law, UCL, University of London
- BVC (Barrister), Bar Vocational Course, City University, London – Inns of Court School of Law
- PgD on International Tax Law, Robert Kennedy College, Zurich, Switzerland.
- Cyprus Bar Association,
- Limassol Bar Association,
- Honorable Society of Gray’s Inn, London,
- Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP),
- Cyprus Insolvency Practitioners Association,
- International Compliance Association,
- International Bar Association,
- International Tax Planning Association,
- International Law Office,
- International Trademarks Association,
- Cyprus – Russia Business Association,
- Cyprus – China Business Association,
- Cyprus Chamber of Commerce and Industry,
- Limassol Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
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