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When was your firm founded and what have been the key stages in its development?
GZG was founded in 2005 by George Z. Georgiou and is one of the few first-generation law firms in Cyprus to have achieved such expansion and growth in just 20 years.
The key stages in the firm’s development have been the quick establishment of our employment law department as a leader in the field locally, our exclusive membership in key associations and organizations, including Ius Laboris, GALA, and RICS, our stability during the COVID pandemic, and our key collaborations in the UK, while we are currently expanding our services in Greece and China.
Another important factor is our team’s loyalty and low turnover rates.
Are there particular areas in which George Z. Georgiou & Associates LLC is more active or specialized?
Our tailored one-stop-shop service combines legal advice, consultancy, land valuations, and strategic guidance. Our team works closely with leading international law firms and is a responsive partner for firms servicing clients with challenging and time-sensitive contentious cross-border matters.
These include advice on shareholder disputes, commercial fraud, administrative and constitutional matters, as well as banking disputes and enforcement, M&As, loan restructurings, redomiciliation, and company relocation services.
We have a demonstrated history of achieving successful outcomes for our clients in complex employment disputes, negotiations, and transactions. We advise a wide range of organizations in both the public and private spheres, locally and internationally, on all HR matters, from the process of recruitment through to the termination of employment relationships, disciplinary processes, collective bargaining and industrial disputes, employment policies, social insurance, pensions, provident funds, benefits schemes, and tax.
What’s more, our team assists clients on the complex laws and regulations surrounding the collection and disclosure of information and all aspects of data protection law, from audits to design, implementation, and compliance.
Our GZG Tech department places significant emphasis on its commercial offering, helping clients, including artists, TV celebrities, musicians, municipalities, banks, and international software companies, with complex issues and regulatory matters. Legal advice includes fintech, regtech, insurtech, healthtech, proptech, DLTs, the internet of things, e-commerce, crypto assets, blockchain, security, and artificial intelligence.
Finally, our dedicated property team handles all types and complexities of real estate transactions and is skilled in the settlement of claims and court actions. Our lawyers specialize in construction law, and they have contributed, among other things, to the writing, revision, and translation of standard construction contracts in Cyprus, including new and revised standard forms of MEDSK and ETEK contracts. For non-legal property and land advice, our internal consultant, Andreas Z. Georgiou, a former director of the Cyprus Land Registry, has extensive expertise in all land matters and government and public consulting. We also work closely with the recently established real estate consultancy firm, K.E. Makrides Property Consultants & Valuers LLC, on property valuations and financings.
We also read that you have a team of arbitrators and mediators. How often do companies turn to arbitration or mediation, and how effective and efficient is this approach for settling business disputes out of court?
We have a team of highly qualified and specialized arbitrators and mediators, who are extensively involved in complex commercial cross-border disputes and multi-jurisdictional projects and serve as expert witnesses on Cyprus law.
With the reforms to the Cyprus Civil Procedure Rules in 2023, which actively encourage Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) methods, we have witnessed a significant shift in the local legal landscape.
ADR, particularly in the context of small claims and construction-related disputes, is becoming an increasingly popular route for resolving disputes in Cyprus, offering a more streamlined, time-efficient, and cost-effective alternative to litigation, and particularly appealing for local businesses. Even though for international commercial disputes, the court system remains the preferred route for many parties, we anticipate that, following the proposed reforms to Cyprus’ arbitration laws and the recent reestablishment of ADR institutions on the island, we will witness a growing shift towards arbitration as a means of dispute resolution, particularly in cross-border matters.
Could you provide us with information about your firm’s international presence?
Over the years, we have developed a network of trusted collaborators and partners worldwide, through which we effectively manage and resolve complex international cases across multiple jurisdictions.
We frequently handle high-profile international disputes, spanning a wide range of areas, including international commercial litigation, corporate, employment, international family and probate actions, technology, cryptocurrencies, and aviation.
We have extensive experience in obtaining freezing injunctions and disclosure orders to secure assets before litigation/arbitration begins and initiate proceedings in aid of litigation/arbitration abroad. We also have extensive expertise in the enforcement of foreign judgments in Cyprus.
Our firm works closely with leading law firms abroad, leveraging their local expertise while providing our own specialized knowledge on Cyprus law. This collaborative approach ensures that our clients receive comprehensive legal solutions that are tailored to the specifics of each jurisdiction involved.
Most of our team members are UK graduates, while some have been called to the Bar of England & Wales. George Z. Georgiou, our managing partner, is an Associate Tenant of Littleton Chambers, London, UK, and he has most recently been elected as a delegate to the ICC Commission of Arbitration and ADR.
Our lawyers regularly attend and contribute to international legal seminars, conferences, and events, and are invited to speak at global forums, sharing insights on developments in Cyprus law. These include SIPAC’s annual conference in Shanghai, SEEA Vienna, the London International Disputes Week, and many more.
How important is it for your firm to be a member of Ius Laboris, GALA, and other associations?
Through our extensive global network and active participation in global legal forums, we enhance our commitment to provide expert advice in cross-border matters and to remain at the forefront of international legal developments.
Our memberships not only provide us with valuable networking opportunities but also allow us to participate in the shaping of international legal standards and best practices. When becoming a member of an association, we always aim to be the exclusive Cyprus member and make a choice that will have a positive impact on our work.
In addition, we recently became the exclusive member of the prestigious SIPAC association as part of our efforts to expand in the Chinese market, through which we have secured speaking opportunities at conferences in Shanghai and networking opportunities with leading Chinese firms.
Moreover, going beyond legal and regulatory work, dedicating time to raise awareness and discuss social and environmental issues are key components of our firm operations.
Through our association with Ius Laboris, we have recently participated in the 2nd ESG Impact Week, which includes a diverse set of activities educating and addressing a range of sustainability issues, including water scarcity, waste generation, fast fashion, and child labour.