The antitrust and competition landscape has developed significantly during the last decade, which undoubtedly gave rise to massive Competition disputes as well as private enforcement of competition law through follow-on civil claims for damages. Cyprus, as part of European Union, has recently adopted the “The Protection of Competition Law of 2021”, (Law 13(I)/2022), which aims to transpose Directive (EU) No. 2019/1 into Cyprus legal system. The Law 13(I)/2022, effectively, repeals and replaces the previous legal framework of competition law, reinforces the powers of Cyprus Commission for the Protection of Competition and gives guidance and clarity for several procedural issues.
In such an antitrust and competition landscape it is crucial for clients to be advised and represented by highly skilled and experienced advocates, who have a sound understanding of how the competition market and legal framework works. Ranked by Legal 500 as one of the top tier practices in Cyprus, the Competition team of Harris Kyriakides has been classified as “unique due to its creativeness, good communication skills, very good judgement, and excellent analytical and research skills.” We are experts in advising on all aspects of national and European competition law, working with our clients to ensure that any actions they take are compliant with antitrust rules, as well as supporting them when they are challenged by competition authorities with allegations of anticompetitive behaviour.
We offer a complete range of services regarding antitrust, regulatory and trade issues, including merger clearances, joint ventures, licensing and distribution, restrictive practices, abuse of dominance, cartel investigations, concerted practices for enterprises, compliance programmes, state aid, liberalisation and privatisation.
We represent clients in contentious proceedings, including civil claims for infringement of competition and state aid laws before national courts, proceedings initiated before the Cyprus Commission for the Protection of Competition, review proceedings against decisions of the Commission and prosecution of complaints against third parties for violations of competition and state aid laws.
Our clients include companies across various key industry sectors, in particular energy, infrastructure, transport, technology and innovation. We have successfully represented clients before the Cyprus Commission for the Protection of Competition, the Hellenic Competition Commission as well as in civil claims for infringement of competition and state aid laws.
Our Competition team has successfully represented a Cyprus company and won the first civil damages claim for Competition breaches. Particularly, our firm represented a Cyprus company, which was engaged in the business of imports, distribution and marketing, both in retail and wholesale, of raw cereals such as wheat and barley in a claim filed against Cyprus Grain Commission before the District Court of Larnaka. The District Court of Larnaka has issued in February 2022 the very first judgment in Cyprus awarding damages in favor of our client and against Cyprus Grain Commission for breach of competition laws. Indisputably, this decision creates an important judicial precedent in the Cyprus jurisprudence, recognising the right of individuals or entities to receive compensation for damages suffered as a result of infringement of competition and antitrust laws.
