Maria is an experienced and highly regarded litigator specializing in commercial and corporate litigation, civil fraud, and arbitration. She has over 27 years of active practicing experience, in litigation and dispute resolution, having worked with two highly notable Cyprus law firms as Partner in their litigation practices.
Maria regularly appears before all courts all over Cyprus (District and Family Courts and Courts of Specialized Jurisdiction) and the supreme court, as well as international arbitrations. She has a reputation as a very strong trial lawyer. Whilst her practice covered all areas of the law, Maria has worked extensively with cases involving commercial and corporate disputes, banking and construction disputes, including contract disputes and commercial fraud. Her practice is broadly based with considerable experience of both oral and written advocacy.
Through her long practicing experience Maria can develop strong legal arguments and can work effortlessly in a team environment while guiding and supporting team members. Due to Cyprus being a common law jurisdiction Maria has considerable experience in advising on English and Common case law and is well familiar with decisions on banking, commercial and company law of the English Courts.
Maria was called to the Bar of England and Wales in February of 1994 (member of Lincolns Inn) and to the Cyprus Bar Association in 1996.
She is fluent in English and Greek.
Dispute Resolution and Commercial, Corporate and M&A
- Barrister at Law (1994), Lincoln’s Inn, England & Wales
- Called to the Cyprus Bar (1996), Cyprus Bar Association
- LL.B (Hons) Law, London South Bank University
- BVC (Barrister), Bar Vocational Course, City University, London – Inns of Court School of Law
- 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.
- 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.
