Antoniou McCollum & Co. LLC

Antoniou McCollum & Co. is a top-tier Cyprus law firm advising on commercial, corporate, competition, digital & data and dispute resolution.

We deliver high-quality legal services across all major business sectors in Cyprus supporting domestic and international clients operating in or entering the Cyprus market.

We practice law creatively, ambitiously and pragmatically. We form strong client relationships premised on integrity and our commitment to deliver the highest quality legal services.

The Legal 500, consistently ranking us as top tier, have highlighted our 'expertise' and 'solid reputation', while they have recognised that the firm 'provides a service equal to that of an international law firm'.

Areas of practice

Corporate law

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 services

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.

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.

Commercial law

Transactions

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. We routinely advise and support clients on mergers and acquisitions, takeovers, divestments, joint ventures, private equity and financing transactions.

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.

Digital and Data

Data protection

With the coming into force of the General Data Protection Regulation, we ensure that your agreements and operations comply with EU and Cyprus data protection laws.

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.

Competition and 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.

Dispute Resolution

Litigation

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 foriegn judgments and arbitral awards.

Arbitration

We act as counsel in domestic and international commercial arbitration, in international investment arbitration and energy charter disputes.

Insolvency

We advise and act for clients on liquidations, examinerships, receiverships, debt restructuring and bankruptcies. Our team has the track record necessary to give you expert advice in this complex and dynamic landscape.

Our litigation practice supports debtors, creditors, liquidators, receivers, administrators, as well as bankruptcy trustees. We also act for creditors in actions brought against them for recovery of unfair preferences and other actions that may be taken as a result of insolvency.

Banking and Finance

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.

Property and 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.