Event information
The Legal 500 is proud to return to Nicosia with an exciting new edition of the GC Summit: Cyprus, designed exclusively for the country’s in-house legal community. This premier event will bring together leading law firms renowned for their national and international achievements, alongside top in-house counsel, to explore the most pressing and relevant topics shaping the legal landscape in Cyprus today.
The conference will delve into a diverse array of critical topics, including Competition Law from both Cypriot and international perspectives, Employment Law with a focus on the recent Pay Transparency Directive and its implications within the European legal framework, and much more. Through engaging panel discussions and interactive sessions, attendees will gain actionable insights into the evolving legal challenges and opportunities impacting businesses in Cyprus and beyond.
In addition to thought-provoking contributions from our partners, the summit will feature the invaluable perspectives of in-house counsel, ensuring well-rounded and practical discussions tailored to the needs of the corporate legal sector. The day will conclude with ample networking opportunities, creating the perfect environment for building meaningful connections within the legal community.
The Legal 500 extends a warm invitation to the nation’s most respected in-house legal professionals and top practitioners. Together, we will discuss the evolving role of in-house counsel and the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead in 2025 and beyond. For legal professionals seeking both insight and connection, this event is an unmissable opportunity.
Agenda
8.30am – 9.30am Arrival and Registration
9.30am – 9.40am Opening Remarks
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- Francisco Castro, research editor, Legal 500
9.40am – 10.30am Competition Law in Action: Cyprus and International Perspectives
This panel will provide practical insights into competition law with a primary focus on Cyprus, offering valuable guidance for companies navigating regulatory challenges. The discussion will examine recent mergers and acquisitions within Cyprus, highlighting key transactions that have shaped the competitive landscape and their implications for businesses. Drawing on examples from Greece, the EU, and the UK, the panel will also explore relevant legislative updates, enforcement priorities, and important recent cases to provide context and comparative perspectives. With a focus on actionable strategies, the session will help companies to understand the local application of competition law, anticipate potential risks and adapt to evolving regulatory requirements in key industries.
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- Michael Kyriakides, partner, Harris Kyriakides (moderator)
- Hara Nikolopoulou, lawyer and vice-president, Hellenic Competition Commission
- Angelos Stenimachitis, senior economist, Compass Lexecon
- Victoria Mertikopoulou, partner, Kyriakides Georgopoulos
- Eleni Neoptolemou, partner, Harris Kyriakides
10.30am – 11.20am DORA Beyond Compliance: Leveraging Regulation for Competitive Advantage
The Digital Operational Resilience Act (DORA) aims to streamline the fragmented regulatory landscape by harmonizing cybersecurity and resilience requirements across the financial sector. By aligning with international security standards, DORA seeks to enhance compliance while fostering a fair and competitive market for firms of all sizes. However, as financial institutions navigate new obligations, the regulation raises a critical question: Does DORA truly create a more resilient and competitive financial ecosystem, or does it add an undue compliance burden? This panel will explore how firms can turn regulatory requirements into strategic advantages, balancing compliance with innovation and growth.
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- Michael Ioannou, chief information officer, Elias Neocleous & Co LLC
- Emilios Charalambous, associate, Elias Neocleous & Co LLC
- Andrea Kallis Parparinou, partner, Elias Neocleous & Co LLC
- Sofia Savva, head of legal and corporate governance and secretary of the board of director, Societe Generale Bank Cyprus
11.20am – 11.35am Coffee Break
11.35am – 12.25pm Building Fair Workspaces: Legal Insights and Strategic Responses to the Pay Transparency Directive
The EU Pay Transparency Directive (Directive) seeks to establish minimum requirements to strengthen the application of the principles of equal pay and the prohibition of discrimination. It seeks to do so through introducing pay transparency and reinforced enforcement mechanisms. This panel discussion will bring together legal professionals, in-house legal counsel, and a representative from the Cyprus Employers & Industrialists Federation, to discuss how the Directive requires a holistic re-evaluation of internal practices relating to candidates and employees.
The conversation will provide an overview of the Directive’s main provisions, the scope for localisation during transposition, and steps already taken by industry leaders in anticipation of its implementation. The panellists will also look at less apparent consequences of non-compliance with the Directive and the added business value of integrating equality into an organization’s core values rather than treating it as another compliance requirement.
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- Calliopi Nicolaidou, partner, regulatory and compliance Hadjianastassiou, Ioannides LLC (member of the Deloitte Legal network)
- Michalis Georgiou, senior managing associate, employment law & benefits Hadjianastassiou, Ioannides LLC (member of the Deloitte Legal network)
- Lena Panayiotou, assistant director general, Cyprus Employers & Industrialists Federation (OEB)
- Angeliki Fotopoulou, legal director, Coca-Cola HBC Greece & Cyprus
12.25pm – 1.15pm The Impact of AI in the Evolving Role of General Counsel
As Artificial Intelligence (AI) continues to reshape the legal landscape, general counsel must adapt to new challenges and opportunities. This panel discussion, moderated by The Legal 500, will bring together experienced in-house lawyers to explore how AI is redefining the role of legal departments and what this means for corporate counsel.
The conversation will explore the evolving skillsets required to navigate an AI-driven legal landscape, the ethical and regulatory complexities of AI adoption, and how in-house teams can proactively manage risks. Panelists will also discuss strategies for leveraging AI to enhance legal and business value, ensuring that legal departments remain not only efficient but also strategic business partners.
This session is designed to provide practical takeaways for in-house lawyers at any stage of their AI journey, offering a roadmap for adapting to the future of legal practice while maintaining compliance, oversight, and professional integrity.
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- Margarita Malai, head of legal, GlobalDots
- Evgenia Smirnova, general counsel, TAPCLAP
- Stepan Chplakhyan, head of legal, Smartcat
- Moderated by Francisco Castro, research editor, Legal 500
1.15pm – 1.30pm Closing Remarks
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- Francisco Castro, research editor, Legal 500
1.30pm – 3pm Lunch
Speakers
Michael Kyriakides, partner, corporate and commercial, Harris Kyriakides
Michael Kyriakides leads the Corporate and Commercial practice at Harris Kyriakides. With over 20 years of experience practising law in Cyprus, he specialises in complex corporate and commercial matters, including mergers and acquisitions, corporate restructurings, corporate governance, asset recovery, and competition law. His work includes advocacy in multi-jurisdictional disputes and arbitration and he is an accredited arbitrator of the Cyprus Arbitration and Mediation Centre.
In the field of competition law, he has been involved in some of the most significant cases in Cyprus, including the oil companies cartel cases, the telecommunications abuse of dominance cases (Primetel v CYTA), the Mercedes-Benz case, and the Grain Commission case.
Michael is regularly recognised by leading legal directories, including Legal 500, Chambers & Partners, and Who’s Who Legal, and is consistently ranked as a leading professional across multiple practice areas. He holds an MPhil from Oxford University.
Angelos Stenimachitis, senior economist, Compass Lexecon
Angelos Stenimachitis is a Senior Economist at Compass Lexecon, based in London. Angelos specialises in the application of economic and quantitative techniques to competition and antitrust issues with a focus on merger control and abuse of dominant position matters. He has advised clients in several high-profile competition and antitrust cases before the European Commission, the CMA and the Hellenic Competition Commission, alongside other national competition authorities. Additionally, he has advised in market investigation cases, such as the CMA’s investigation into the energy sector, as well as private litigation in front of national courts. Beyond recent work on digital markets and multi-sided platforms, his industry experience includes telecommunications, retail, manufacturing, aviation, betting, banking, and payment systems.
Eleni Neoptolemou, partner, Harris Kyriakides
Eleni Neoptolemou is a Partner at Harris Kyriakides, where she specialises in competition law, complex commercial matters, administrative law, and data protection. She has extensive experience advising clients across key sectors such as energy, aviation, intellectual property and public procurement, providing strategic counsel on regulatory compliance, transactional matters, and high-stakes litigation.
Eleni has a proven track record in competition law, having advised on major procurement cases, dawn raids, and merger control notifications, including the notification of one of the largest energy transactions in Cyprus this year. She advises and assists clients in proceedings before the Cyprus Commission for the Protection of Competition, as well as in EU competition law matters involving cross-border implications.<
Her practice also includes guiding clients through complex M&A transactions, with a focus on antitrust considerations and regulatory approvals. Eleni has successfully acted in administrative law cases before the Administrative Court and the Tenders Review Authority, often securing favourable outcomes in intricate public procurement disputes.
Victoria Mertikopoulou, partner, Kyriakides Georgopoulos
Victoria Mertikopoulou, LL.M. (U.C.L.), Ph.D., is an EU and competition law partner at Kyriakides Georgopoulos Law Firm, Athens. From 2012 to 2019, she served as Commissioner and Board Member of the Hellenic Competition Commission and previously as a member of the Directorate General of Competition thereof.
With over 20 years of experience, Victoria represents and advises international and Greek clients in antitrust investigations (cartels, abuse of dominance, vertical restrictions, distribution) and dawn-raids of Competition Authorities and before other Administrative Authorities (including EETT and DIMEA) and Courts, merger control, state aid, regulatory compliance and investigations across various sectors, including pharmaceuticals, medical devices, consumer goods and retail, energy and infrastructure, financial services, electronic communications and digital markets.
A member of the Council of Europe’s Working Group on Judicial Systems, she actively participates in international competition networks, is a member of the Board of Women@Competition Greece and is consistently ranked in all major legal directories.
Hara Nikolopoulou, lawyer and vice-president, Hellenic Competition Commission
Hara Nikolopoulou is a lawyer and Vice President of the Hellenic Competition Commission. She has handled numerous cartels, abuse of dominance and merger cases in a wide range of industries. She has served the HCC since 2011 in various positions of trust, having served as Director, Head of Units in the Legal Services Directorate and responsible for the International Relations of the HCC. Prior to joining the HCC Hara worked as a competition lawyer at the Hellenic Telecommunications and Post Commission, in the competition practice group of law firms in Athens and Brussels and as a trainee at the European Commission. Hara graduated from the School of Law of the University of Athens in 2000 and was admitted to the Athens Bar in 2002. She holds an LL.M in Corporate and Commercial Law from University College London and a Master of Science in Economics (Economic Regulation and Competition) from the Department of Economics of City University in London. She speaks English and French.
Michael Ioannou, chief information officer, Elias Neocleous & Co LLC
Michael is the Chief Information Officer of Elias Neocleous & Co LLC, managing the firm’s Information Technology, Privacy and Cybersecurity Departments as well as providing innovative solutions for the legal operations. He holds a MSc in Cybersecurity and several professional certifications in Information Security, ISO27001, GDPR Lead Implementer and Instructor under PECB, Certified Ethical Hacker, and Digital Forensics Analyst. With his extensive experience and background in Cybersecurity and Data Protection.
Throughout the past years Michael has assisted into forming the Data, Privacy and Cybersecurity Department for Elias Neocleous & Co LLC and been managing a team of legal and security consultants. Together with the Legal Tech team Michael has assisted many organizations of different size and nature in complying with the GDPR, understand and mitigate cyber risks and advise businesses on the full range of IT legal topics and privacy issues that underpin them.
Emilios Charalambous, associate, Elias Neocleous & Co LLC
Emilios is an Associate Lawyer at the Corporate & Commercial and Technology Departments of Elias Neocleous & Co LLC, certified with the Cyprus Exchange and Securities Commission (CySEC) Advanced Certificate and Google’s Project Management Professional Certificate.
He is actively working on commercial transactions, administration of companies and liquidation of various entities, supporting clients with their regulatory compliance while advising on corporate matters. Additionally, as part of the firm’s Legal Tech team, he is guiding clients through their compliance in the newly established Digital Operational Resilience Act (DORA).
Andrea Kallis Parparinou, partner, Elias Neocleous & Co LLC
Andrea is a partner of the firm in the Corporate and Commercial and Banking and Finance departments of Elias Neocleous & Co LLC, dealing mostly with international clients and transactions involving entities with foreign interest. Andrea advises on matters relating to commercial laws, employment policies restructurings and reorganisations, corporate governance and structures, global insurance matrixes and contract drafting. Andrea has worked closely with international law firms in order to advise and guide clients on regulatory and technical matters under Cyprus law whilst coordinating various teams around the world to achieve structured and full compliance with the relevant laws relating to transactions. Andrea has been involved in the due diligence of high-profile acquisitions as well as acting as counsel for bidding teams in procurement ventures. Andrea is also the primary representative of the Employment Law Alliance in Cyprus and is a member of the Technology Committee of the Cyprus Bar Association.
Margarita Malai, head of legal, GlobalDots
Margarita is the Head of Legal at GlobalDots Group, a company specialising in web and cloud security and performance. She oversees all legal aspects of the Group’s business, handling a wide range of matters including commercial transactions negotiations, compliance, risk management, and dispute resolution. Margarita collaborates closely with all departments to understand their needs and provide tailored legal advice. She is a trusted advisor who contributes to strategic decision-making, acting as a problem solver, negotiator, and key player in maintaining the company’s legal health and integrity.
Margarita holds a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) from the University of Surrey (UK) and is qualified as an advocate by the Cyprus Bar Association. She also holds a MSc in Financial Services from the Cyprus International Institute of Management (CIIM). Margarita previously worked as part of the in-house legal team of a Cyprus-based airline and served as a corporate lawyer for an international firm, focusing on the incorporation and administration of investment funds.
Evgenia Smirnova, general counsel, TAPCLAP
Evgenia Smirnova is the General Counsel at TAPCLAP, a Cyprus-based mobile games developer. With over 20 years of experience, she is a solutions-driven legal expert specializing in IP, digital law, data protection, commercial transactions, licensing, and M&A. She has a strong track record of providing legal support to top media and digital companies.
Stepan Chplakhyan, head of legal, Smartcat
Stepan Chplakhyan is a legal professional specializing in the IT and SaaS industry. As Head of Legal at Smartcat, he provides legal support for commercial deals, focusing on SaaS products and high-profile enterprise-level customers. His role includes advising on regulatory compliance, intellectual property, data privacy, and security, as well as supporting investment deals to drive the company’s growth. Before joining Smartcat, Stepan worked with family offices, providing legal advisory and wealth planning services to high-net-worth individuals. His experience includes managing high-value international transactions, corporate structuring, and estate planning as well as legal support for clients’ businesses and personal assets, such as real estate and luxury assets.
Calliopi Nicolaidou, partner, regulatory and compliance, Hadjianastassiou, Ioannides LLC (member of the Deloitte Legal network)
Calliopi Nicolaidou is a Partner at Hadjianastassiou, Ioannides LLC (member of the Deloitte Legal network), and is focusing on the Financial Services Industry.
Calliopi has over 15 years of experience advising on public and private mergers and acquisitions, banking regulatory and corporate law issues, as well as financings and capital market transactions.
Before joining Deloitte Legal, Calliopi was the Chief Legal Officer of Hellenic Bank, for approximately six years. She commenced her career in London, where she worked for the international law firm Allen & Overy LLP for just over six years. She then moved to Aspect Capital Limited, an investment management company based in London, as a Senior Legal Officer for four years, before relocating to Cyprus.
Calliopi holds an LLB in Law from the London School of Economics and Political Science and is a practising Solicitor in England and Wales. Calliopi has been recognised by Legal 500 as a Next Generation Partner in the area of banking and finance.
Michalis Georgiou, senior managing associate, employment law & benefits, Hadjianastassiou, Ioannides LLC (member of the Deloitte Legal network)
Michalis Georgiou is a Senior Managing Associate at the Employment Law & Benefits practice of Hadjianastassiou, Ioannides LLC (member of the Deloitte Legal network). His main areas of practice include employment law media law, data protection and general commercial law.
Michalis regularly deals with employment related issues, including the drafting of employment contracts, drafting and reviewing of HR policies, advising in relation to disciplinary actions and representing clients before the Industrial Disputes Tribunal in relation to claims of unfair dismissal, both on behalf of employers and employees. He has delivered interactive workshops with respect to the protection against harassment and sexual harassment in the workplace and has co-authored a number of articles with respect to Cyprus employment law. He has been recognised as a leading individual in the area of employment by Legal 500.
Michalis holds an LL.B (Hons) from Queen Mary University London with an LL.B (Hons) degree and has completed the Legal Practice Course at BPP University in London with Distinction. He is also a member of the First Tier Control Board of the Cyprus Advertising Regulation Organisation (ΦΕΔ).
Lena Panayiotou, assistant director general, Cyprus Employers & Industrialists Federation (OEB)
Lena Panayiotou is the Assistant Director General of the Cyprus Employers & Industrialists Federation (OEB) as of January 2024. She initially joined OEB’s Industrial Relations & Social Policy Department in 2004, of which she is also currently Director since 2017. Ms Panayiotou graduated from the English School, Nicosia and holds a degree in Law and an MA in International Relations, both from the University of Leeds. She has extensive training experience and participates in several international and national bodies including, amongst others, the Administrative Board of the European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions, the Labour Advisory Body, the Cyprus Social Insurance Council and the Industrial Disputes Tribunal. She is currently an Executive Committee member of the Cyprus Football Association.
Angeliki Fotopoulou, legal director, Coca-Cola HBC Greece & Cyprus
Angeliki Fotopoulou is Legal and Security Director of Coca-Cola Hellenic Greece and Cyprus since 2021 and within CCH organization since 2016.
Before joining CCH, Angeliki was Senior Legal Counsel of Nestle Greece and Nestle UK in London for approximately seven years. She commenced her career in Rome, where she worked as a research associate in Lelio Basso Fondazione Internationale, focusing on the right to food and right to water and then moved to Athens where she worked as an associate in Achilleas Bitsaxis and Partners Law Firm for seven years, dealing with banking and corporate law issues. Only recently, Angeliki had the honour to teach for three consecutive years the course of Corporate Legal Counselling in MSs Program for Lawyers of Alba Graduate Business School.
Angeliki holds a Law Degree from University of Athens and an LLM in Law in Development from Warwick University, UK.
Sofia Savva, head of legal and corporate governance and secretary of the board of director, Societe Generale Bank Cyprus
Sofia Savva is the Head of Legal & Corporate Governance and the Secretary of the Board of Directors of SGBCy. She has accumulated many years of practice as an in-house lawyer in SGBCy, gaining experience in a wide range of areas of law. Following the completion of her undergraduate and postgraduate studies at the University of Leicester, Sofia was admitted to the Cyprus Bar Association in 2013 and worked as a litigation lawyer from October 2013 – September 2016. From September 2016 until today she is working at SGBCy and she has been assigned with the roles of the Data Protection Officer and ESG Officer as well.
Francisco Castro, research editor, Legal 500
Francisco joined Legal 500 in August 2022, where he is part of the GC Powerlist series editorial team. His work focuses on researching, editing, and interviewing some of the most prominent and exceptional in-house counsel from the world’s largest companies. Francisco’s role also includes hosting a variety of in-person events, such as conferences, publication launches, roundtables, and one-on-one interviews, across multiple regions, all tailored specifically for the in-house legal community. He has also contributed to the Legal 500 webinar series, which delivers market-leading expertise through an engaging digital platform.
Beyond his work with Legal 500, Francisco has extensive research experience in Public Policy, Higher Education, and International Law. His additional academic interests include International Relations, Geopolitics, and International Humanitarian Law. Francisco is fluent in English, Portuguese, and Spanish.
In association with...
Hadjianastassiou, Ioannides LLC, established in 2003, is a Legal500 top-tier firm and the sole Cyprus member of the Deloitte Legal network.
Our team of 30+ legal professionals provides a full range of legal services to national and international companies and groups, and practical and pragmatic advice ranging from complex advisory services related to major business events to general legal entity management matters.
Blending business experience and legal excellence, we deliver comprehensive solutions designed to address the evolving needs of the Chief Legal Officer.
Elias Neocleous & Co LLC is an internationally recognised top tier law firm merging law and technology to solve complex legal and business challenges faced by clients operating in key industries worldwide. The firm is a leading choice for Cypriot and foreign banks, multinational corporations, global technology firms, private equity funds, asset managers, credit agencies, and international law firms.
Established in 1976, Harris Kyriakides has grown over the years into one of the largest law firms in Cyprus. The development of the firm has always been founded on principles of integrity, professionalism and adopting standard of excellence, yet at the same time the firm is dynamic and consistently becomes adaptive and responsive to evolving clients’ needs, by introducing technology and modern practices.
The firm maintains over 30 lawyers and over 60 professionals in total. It is structured in separate departments, namely administrative and public law, banking and finance, competition, procurement and regulatory, corporate and commercial advisory, corporate dispute resolution, data protection and cyber law, debt collection, intellectual property, insurance and personal injury, private client (trusts, funds, estate, matrimonial), private client (citizenship and residence), real estate, employment, sanctions, anticorruption and AML, shipping and Admiralty and tax. Each team of lawyers and paralegals specialises on a specific area of law and, where necessary, co-operate in matters which require a multi-discipline focus.