Legal Articles

The turbulent banking crisis in the Republic of Cyprus triggered disputes among the EU with regard to whether depositors should be protected from bail-ins or whether only deposit holders with accounts exceeding €100,000 should be subjected to losses through such resolution. Bail-in relates to a situation where the creditors of an institution facing bankruptcy are forced to bear some of the...

The Council of Ministers updated the conditions for naturalisation of investors in Cyprus by exception, on the basis of subsection (2) of section 111A of the Civil Registry Laws of 2002-2013. According to the verdict laid out on May 24, 2013, a non-Cypriot citizen may apply for the attainment of Cypriot citizenship, if he or she has made mixed investments and a donation to a state fund, has...

Investors and companies around the world have been benefiting from advantageous corporate structures and favorable tax regimes for years in order to increase profitability. With the economic turmoil pushing countries to impose tax reforms, numerous companies are looking to benefit from the best possible tax planning solutions through company set up in offshore jurisdictions. In general, an...

Admiralty litigation in Cyprus has increased significantly, as a consequence of the distinctive status of Cyprus as a leading worldwide maritime hub. Admiralty law refers to the jurisdiction of a distinct body of law to hear certain types of cases, arising from maritime activities occurring in international waters. The principal matters governed by admiralty law concern shipping and boating,...

Criminal law is a set of legal regulations that determine the actions that society condemns. A criminal wrong describes an action that inexcusably and unacceptably threatens or causes considerable damage to individuals or the general public. Criminal law aims at protecting society and to dishearten such acts, by imposing punishments on individuals conducting those actions. The criminal legal...

Investors and companies around the world have been benefiting from advantageous corporate structures and favorable tax regimes for years in order to increase profitability. With the economic turmoil pushing countries to impose tax reforms, numerous companies are looking to benefit from the best possible tax planning solutions through company set up in offshore jurisdictions. In general, an...

The turbulent banking crisis in the Republic of Cyprus triggered disputes among the EU with regard to whether depositors should be protected from bail-ins or whether only deposit holders with accounts exceeding €100,000 should be subjected to losses through such resolution. Bail-in relates to a situation where the creditors of an institution facing bankruptcy are forced to bear some of the...

The Supreme Court on Friday, 7 of March, delivered its long-awaited decision with regard to the appeals lodged by Laiki’s and BoC’s depositors who lost part of their money in the €10 billion bail-in plan for Cyprus. More than 3.000 appeals of uninsured depositors were filed before the Supreme Court requesting the decision to be revoked. The applicants appealed the decree R.A.D. 104/2013...

The judicial proceedings against the haircut on Laiki and Bank of Cyprus’ depositors are ongoing. The objective of the applications filed for judicial review is to annul the governmental decrees by which deposits in excess of €100.000 in Laiki and BoC were subjected to massive reductions. There have been six consecutive sittings at the Supreme Court. The hearings for the preliminary objections...

Supreme Court of Cyprus – Update on legal actions against Bank of Cyprus & Laiki Bank,“haircut” The Cyprus’ Supreme Court on April 23, 2013 began reviewing appeals filed against the March 29, 2013 Eurogroup’s decision to wind down Laiki bank and impose massive losses on all deposits in excess of €100.000 at both Laiki and the BoC (Bank of Cyprus). The appeals were submitted by local and...