Michael Kyriakides
Attorney at Law /  Partner

Michael Kyriakides heads the Commercial, Corporate Litigation & Advisory practice at Harris Kyriakides.

Michael’s practice covers the full range of company and commercial litigation, arbitration and advisory work. He specialises in complex corporate and commercial litigation and has extensive experience in pursuing and defending injunction litigation, including freezing orders, third party disclosure orders, search and seizure orders, tracing orders and other injunctions. He has acted in some of the largest claims and disputes brought before the Cyprus courts in recent years. His commercial, solutions-based approach is sought out by clients around the world to resolve their most composite and sensitive matters in domestic and international litigation. Michael has particular expertise in complex fraud and asset recovery litigation. He also accumulated extensive experience in cases involving international litigation or arbitration on corporate matters, investments, commercial issues arising in the banking and financial services, company and insolvency sectors and shareholders disputes.

Michael also leads the teams providing commercial and corporate advisory on cross border mergers and acquisitions, corporate restructuring and large asset finance transactions in Europe and has successfully negotiated and completed a range of domestic and cross-border transactions. He also advises on regulatory, compliance and sanctions matters.
Michael is consistently recommended by legal editorials, such as Legal 500, Who ‘s Who Legal and Chambers & Partners. In 2023, he has been ranked by Legal500 as a leading professional in Dispute resolution, Commercial, corporate and M&A, EU and competition, Intellectual property and Maritime and admiralty. Frequently, he is instructed by “magic circle” and other leading international firms. Michael is a regular speaker in international conferences and serves as outside counsel and non-executive director in a number of companies.

Michael holds a law degree from the National Kapodistrian University of Athens, has completed a Master of Laws programme at University College London and was awarded an MPhil at the University of Oxford, where he authored a thesis on summary adjudication in civil litigation. He also acted as the leader of the EU Commission legal research project in “Documentary disclosure in cross border litigation”, conducted by Oxford University in collaboration with Vienna University and Ludwig Maximilians University Munich. In addition, he has lectured in universities and international conferences and has published articles in legal journals and is a member of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (CIArb) and a licensed insolvency practitioner.

Eleni Neoptolemou
Attorney at Law / Partner

Eleni Neoptolemou is a Partner in the Commercial Team at Harris Kyriakides, specialising in complex commercial, administrative, and data protection law. With a strong track record in sectors such as maritime, aviation, energy, and public procurement, Eleni provides strategic legal guidance across a broad spectrum of cases. Her recent work includes advising on mergers and acquisitions, overseeing GDPR compliance for high-profile entities, navigating challenging competition law matters, and representing clients in intricate IP and trademark disputes. She also plays a key role in public procurement cases, frequently appearing before the Administrative Court and Tenders Review Authority. Eleni’s expertise extends to guiding organizations through complex transactions in renewable energy, handling high-stakes competition inquiries, and advising on regulatory frameworks for emerging technologies in the oil and gas industry. Her work is distinguished by a meticulous approach to due diligence, a deep understanding of compliance and regulatory standards, and a commitment to protecting her clients’ interests in high-stakes litigation and strategic negotiations. 

Recent Practice

• Prepared recourses to the Administrative Court and Tenders Review Authority, appeals to Court of Appeal covering among others planning permits, public tenders, and environmental compliance. 
• Successfully argued for the right of contractor to be heard in administrative proceedings before the Tender Review Authority in case of an application to declare a contract inactive (recourse 274/22and others). 
• Advised public and private entities on regulatory matters, including public sector appointments and environmental law, with a focus on harmonization with the Offshore Safety Directive. 
• Developed GDPR frameworks, documentation, and training for banks, hotels, municiapilities and other public and private entities, and served as Data Protection Officer for several organizations. 
• Drafted and negotiated contracts in the aviation, oil and gas, and technology sectors, including supply agreements, software licenses, and service agreements. 
• Provided extensive IP counsel on trademark registration, brand protection, and franchise disputes, including representation in EUIPO proceedings and securing interim orders to prevent IP misuse. 
• Defended clients in investigations by the Competition Authority and Consumer Protection Agency, and advised on state aid applications and compliance issues. 
• Led the merger of two leading non-profits in the marine sector, overseeing compliance, due diligence, and integration for effective cross-sector collaboration. 
• Provided comprehensive legal support for acquisitions across various sectors, from initial due diligence to negotiation and structuring, ensuring compliance and protecting clients’ interests throughout the transaction process. 
• Advised on acquisitions and development of photovoltaic parks, handling due diligence, regulatory compliance, and financing negotiations. 
• Provided counsel on complex energy transactions and compliance for oil and gas industry clients, including contract review and regulatory navigation. 
• Advised on import agreements, aviation fueling regulations, online gambling compliance, and AML requirements for payment processing, safeguarding compliance in diverse regulatory landscapes.  
• Presented as a speaker on topics such as public procurement, GDPR compliance, and interim judicial protection at conferences, and presented on high-profile EU events on data protection and AML strategies.