Interview with: Angelos G. Paphitis, Managing Partner

1) What do you see as the main points that differentiate [AGPLAW] from your competitors?

AGPLAW differentiates itself through its specialized legal departments, ensuring that clients receive highly focused, industry-specific expertise rather than generic legal support. Our structured approach covers Dispute Resolution, Transactions and Advisory, Shipping, FS Regulatory, Tax, and Business/Corporate Advisory Services, allowing us to deliver strategic, commercially driven solutions. Additionally, our Private Clients Team, integrated within our Corporate Services division, offers bespoke legal support for high-net-worth individuals, including trusts and estate planning, family office structuring, and wealth management—a level of personalized service that sets us apart.

Furthermore, our global reach, with offices in Cyprus, London, and Dubai, enables us to provide seamless cross-border legal support, particularly in international arbitration and corporate structuring and support. Our London-based disputes team further strengthens our capability in global arbitration and high-stakes litigation, making AGPLAW a trusted legal partner for multinational clients. By combining technical legal expertise with a commercially driven approach, we ensure that our clients receive not only legal protection but also strategic legal solutions that drive their success.

2) Which practices do you see growing in the next 12 months? What are the drivers behind that?

I believe financial services regulation, particularly around fintech and investment funds, will see significant growth over the next 12 months. With the expansion of digital finance and regulatory changes in markets like the UAE and Europe, businesses are increasingly seeking legal guidance to follow this rapidly evolving space. Additionally, our corporate restructuring and immigration services will grow as companies continue to expand globally, looking to set up new operations in various key market jurisdictions. Our ability to provide tax-efficient solutions and navigate the complex regulatory frameworks in all regions positions us well for future growth. We further anticipate growth in Dispute Resolution and Private Client Services. The increasing complexity of cross-border disputes and international arbitration, particularly in financial, corporate, and shareholder conflicts, is driving demand for our arbitration teams and global litigation services. Private Client Services are also set to grow, driven by rising global mobility, wealth structuring needs, and asset protection strategies. High-net-worth individuals are increasingly seeking trust and estate planning, family office solutions, and immigration advisory, particularly in Cyprus, Dubai, and the UK. These trends, combined with a surge in corporate relocations, tax efficiency planning, and luxury asset structuring (yachts, real estate, and IP portfolios), will position AGPLAW as a key player in these expanding practice areas

3) What’s the main change you’ve made in the firm that will benefit clients?

One of the most significant changes we’ve made at AGPLAW is the introduction of new partnership opportunities, which is transforming the way we work with clients and collaborate within our firm. We have taken a strategic step to form innovative partnerships, offering clients access to an even broader range of expertise. Through new partners joining AGPLAW we aim introducing senior lawyers who are leaders in their respective fields, each with significant numbers of years of practice experience. By bringing in top-tier legal minds from diverse practice areas, we ensure that our clients benefit from a holistic, multi-disciplinary approach to their legal needs.

Beyond our expanded Partners onboarding, we have also enhanced our internal structure to improve efficiency and client responsiveness. Key investments in technology and workflow optimization have strengthened our ability to handle complex, multi-jurisdictional cases with greater speed and precision. Additionally, our growing presence in London and Dubai allows us to offer smooth cross-border support, ensuring that clients receive top-tier legal solutions, no matter where they operate. These advancements position AGPLAW as an even more dynamic and client-focused law firm, committed to delivering high-quality, strategic legal counsel in an ever-evolving global landscape.

4) Is technology changing the way you interact with your clients, and the services you can provide them?

Absolutely! Technology has already had a profound impact on how we interact with our clients. We’ve integrated advanced legal tech tools that allow us to streamline workflows, provide real-time updates, and automate time-consuming tasks, freeing up resources to focus on more strategic aspects of client cases. This has been especially beneficial in cross-border disputes where we needed to ensure that legal actions were coordinated efficiently across multiple jurisdictions.

5) Can you give us a practical example of how you have helped a client to add value to their business?

At AGPLAW, we specialize in delivering strategic legal solutions that add significant value to our clients’ businesses. A prime example is our landmark victory before the London Court of International Arbitration (LCIA), where we successfully defended majority shareholders in a Cyprus-based company against minority oppression claims. The tribunal upheld our argument that Cyprus law does not support forced buyouts by minority shareholders, securing our clients’ control and reinforcing shareholder protection principles. Additionally, we successfully defended a client accused of intellectual property infringement, preventing an unjust injunction that could have halted their business operations. Our client, engaged in innovative plasma technology, was accused of passing off and fraud by a research center. Our litigation team successfully opposed an ex-parte application for an interim injunction, demonstrating that the requirements set by law were missing and that third parties also claimed intellectual property rights in the disputed work. The court dismissed the application, allowing our client to continue developing their technology without legal hindrance, thereby safeguarding their business interests and potential market position. In another high-profile case, we obtained a rare Anton Piller order, allowing our client to conduct a court-ordered search and seizure of crucial

evidence in a corporate fraud dispute—an aggressive legal tool that safeguarded their interests and strengthened their case. These cases highlight our expertise in high-stakes litigation and arbitration, ensuring that our clients not only protect their assets but also leverage legal strategy to strengthen their business position. From a regulatory perspective, a prime example has been our appointment as an independent advisor to CySEC to evaluate and assess regulatory misfunctions within a financial services firm. Our team conducted a comprehensive review of compliance gaps, operational deficiencies, and regulatory violations, providing the client with tailored recommendations on necessary corrections, amendments, and risk mitigation measures. While our report to CySEC remained fully independent, our guidance enabled the client to implement the required changes efficiently, leading to CySEC’s decision to allow continued operations without disruption, safeguarding the business and its market position.

Are clients looking for stability and strategic direction from their law firms – where do you see the firm in three years’ time?

Clients today are looking for a law firm that not only offers stability but also provides strategic direction. The legal landscape is changing rapidly, and businesses need legal partners who can adapt to these changes and offer proactive solutions. In three years, I see AGPLAW as an industry leader in providing comprehensive legal and business / corporate services with an emphasis on regulatory compliance, cross-border transactions, and technology-driven solutions. Our vision is to continue evolving in response to the needs of our clients, ensuring we remain at the forefront of industry trends while offering unmatched client service and expertise.