EU & Competition Law, Telecommunications & Regulation

Cyprus is a member of the European Union since 1st May 2004 and a member of the Eurozone since 1st January 2008. This clear European direction that the island has taken demonstrates the huge opportunities that one can take advantage of. Our law firm took up the challenge and was one of the few law firms that assisted the government of Cyprus in the vast work of harmonising Cyprus Laws with the acquis communautaire. Our co-operation with the Attorney-General’s Office was extensive and rewarding, as we were entrusted with the drafting of a significant number of Cypriot national laws with a view to introducing EU Directives in them. 

Over the years we have provided our legal support to a number of firms that operate in the telecommunications sector in Cyprus which was one of the first areas where competition law found its application. For many years we represented before the Cyprus Commission for the Protection of Competition and the Supreme Court the 2nd mobile telecommunications operator in Cyprus and thereafter many other companies that have had competition law issues come their way

Our specialised team is there to undertake any legal question that relates to EU and Competition Law and to provide legal representation in the Cypriot Courts, before the Cypriot Competition Commission, the European Commission and before the Court of Justice of the European Union and the General Court of the European Union in Luxembourg. Our team is well positioned to undertake any reference for a preliminary ruling before the Court of Justice of the European Union. Its experience and diligence provides any client with the assurance that any complex competition and EU law issue will be identified, followed through and handled with the utmost professional attention.

Our law firm is in a position to provide its legal expertise in public procurement projects, as well as compliance with regulatory matters in a series of markets, such as electricity and telecommunications. We also advise clients on the applicability of State Aid rules and the various remedies that can be obtained in such instances.

Below we set out an indication of the work undertaken by our team:

• Legal Representation before the Cyprus Commission for the Protection of Competition  and the Supreme Court of Cyprus in relation to anti-competitive behaviour such as abuse of dominant position and restrictive practices
• Notifications of Proposed Mergers with the Cyprus Commission for the Protection of Competition
• Merger Notifications to & representation before the European Commission
• Competition Litigation in the District Courts of Cyprus in legal actions for the recovery of damages caused by anti-competitive behaviour
• Legal Assistance in cartel investigations, competition audits, “dawn raids” & witness summons procedures
• Negotiation & Drafting of horizontal and vertical commercial agreements
• Implementation of EU into national law
• Legal Assistance to applicants of EU funds and participants in EU programmes and initiatives-Compliance with EU regulatory framework
• Legal Assistance & Representation before the Electronic Communications Commissioner of Cyprus
• Compliance with State Aid rules
• Competition & EU law litigation before the Court of Justice of the European Union and the General Court of the European Union in Luxembourg
• Passing-off actions
• Public procurement projects