Patrikios Pavlou & Co is a multi award-winning international law firm based in Cyprus. The firm’s highly trained legal team specialises in specific practice areas and with their combined skills and knowledge can provide expert comprehensive legal solutions according to the client’s particular needs and requirements. Founded in 1963 by Patrikios Pavlou, a barrister from Limassol, Cyprus, the firm is now one of the most successful in Cyprus and was recently named the Best M&A Team in Cyprus for 2010 by World Finance.

Combined with a multi-disciplinary approach to service delivery and through their associated offices worldwide, Patrikios Pavlou & Co’s experienced lawyers are able to provide clients with distinctive advice on national and international law.

Patrikios Pavlou & Co is one of the leading law firms in the corporate and commercial sector. Senior and Managing Partner, Stavros Pavlou and his team of twelve lawyers handle complicated corporate and commercial matters including large international cross-border as well as domestic transactions involving international private and public companies listed on the Cyprus Stock Exchange and other recognised exchanges like the LSE, AIM, the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, etc. During the current year the department handled complicated matters involving acquisitions of Cypriot and other companies and assisted prestigious international law firms on Cyprus Law issues.

The banking and finance department has been expanded and strengthened in the last year and now ranks in the first tier of prestigious legal international directories, along with the tax, corporate and commercial, mergers and acquisitions and litigation and arbitration departments. Patrikios Pavlou & Co offer expert in-depth legal advice to banks, industrial organisations, multinationals, financial institutions and other companies in the financial services sector. The impressive recovery section of the firm’s banking practice regularly coordinates inquiries from various local and international banks on complicated recovery cases. Indeed last year, Patrikios Pavlou & Co was involved in projects and disputes totaling in excess of USD 14bn.

Global reach

Patrikios Pavlou & Co has close links with reputable law firms worldwide and particularly strong associations in Europe, Middle East, and Asia. The firm has an esteemed network of associates including international law firms such as Freshfields, White & Case, Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher, MacLeod Dixon and many others. Furthermore, the firm is a member of various worldwide associations and in 2007, Patrikios Pavlou & Co became a member of Euroadvocaten, an association of law firms in the EU comprising of offices in 19 countries with 450 lawyers.

The favourable investment and tax environment of Cyprus has led to an increase in international interest in the business services industry and has attracted multinational clients seeking legal and financial services from the Cyprus market. Over the years, Patrikios Pavlou & Co has carefully expanded their client base to allow them to meet the varied demands of today’s cross-border legal market. The firm’s clients include public and private companies, multi-nationals that have their regional hub in Cyprus, institutions, entrepreneurs as well as a host of individual clients from Cyprus and abroad. In the banking and finance sector, the firm represents a number of local and international banks and financial institutions. The aim of Patrikios Pavlou & Co is to provide their clients with high-quality professional legal advice and practical guidance covering the full range of their business activities, in respect of both domestic and international transactions.

Corporate & commercial
– Acting as Escrow Agents for share pledges given as security for two facilities worth in total USD 3.2bn.
– Handling on behalf of a large Russian energy company the preparation of all the documentation for obtaining the necessary permit from the Republic of Cyprus for the construction and operation of an energy plant of value in excess of EUR 250m as well as all legal matters concerning the set up of the project the acquisition of the land and other legal preparatory matters.
– Assisting with Cypriot legal documents in setting up a joint venture for the building and commercial operation of the Pulkovo Airport in St Petersburg.

Banking & finance
– Due diligence work and issuing of a legal opinion to Gazprombank with respect to the provision of facilities to a Cyprus company secured by a share pledge agreement for a total amount of EUR 1.1bn.
– Acting for Gazprombank with respect to the provision of mezzanine facilities to a Cypriot company secured by multiple corporate guarantees and related also to a share acquisition by the lenders with a resultant shareholder agreement and put options.
– Advising an Austrian bank with respect to a loan to the sum of USD 76m to a Cypriot company for the purpose of real estate finance; drafting of Cyprus security documents; seeing to the registration of pledges with the Cyprus Registrar of Companies. Issuing legal opinion.
– Acting for the Cypriot buyers of shares in a Russian steel pipes giant worth USD 1.3bn. Assisting Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher in the structuring of the syndicated loan for the financing of such acquisition of USD 470m, probably the largest shareholder loan granted for the acquisition of shares in a Russian private company; assisting in the process of flotation of the shares in the London & Russian stock markets.

Mergers & acquisitions

– Opining and assisting on the acquisition of two Cypriot companies, drafting of shareholder agreements and other related contracts and assisting in the structuring of the project, offering tax advice on the resulting structure etc – amount involved USD 300m.
– Advising the Purchaser together with MacLeod Dixon in relation to a 75 percent acquisition of two Cyprus companies, including carrying out of legal due diligence, advising on transaction structuring, commenting and/or drafting of SPA, JV agreements, share pledges, call and put options; seeing to and attending closing. The joint venture concerned the construction of a five star Hotel in Minsk and the amount involved USD 60m.
– Advised a Cyprus company in the process of acquiring a Moldavian hotel worth EUR 10m drafted Share Purchase Agreements, conducted due diligence on the target company and provided escrow services (completed).
– Assisting Freshfields of Moscow as Cyprus Counsel for a multimillion (USD 835m) acquisition of shares in the Russian markets dealing in exploration and development of oil fields. Advising on joint venture issues, share purchase agreements, Cyprus pledges and securitisation issues. Due diligence and other legal opinions.
– Acting on behalf of LSR Group in relation to the acquisition of a Cyprus company holding the shares of a Russian subsidiary engaged in construction material production (amount involved EUR 200m).

Future

Patrikios Pavlou & Co invests continually in developing their expertise and high quality legal services in order to further expand the firm both locally and internationally. Today, the firm continues the significant expansion it has enjoyed since 1963 and has a team of 24 advocates and legal consultants assisted by a team of 25 paralegal and administrative staff. The aim is to further grow their portfolio of associates through strengthening current collaborations and creating new ones. The participation of the firm in international professional bodies as well as the prominent relationships with international law firms seeking a reliable Cypriot partner in their multinational projects, are the cornerstones of the firm’s future plans and strategies.

Patrikios Pavlou & Co will always strive to provide high quality legal services with diligence, integrity and professionalism. The firm is looking forward to the future and the challenges it will bring, confident that with team spirit and commitment, they can continue along the course set by the founder, Patrikios Pavlou, 45 years ago.

For further information +357 2587 1599; spavlou@pavlaw.com; www.pavlaw.com