Competition
The antitrust and competition landscape has evolved significantly in the past decade, leading to a surge in competition disputes and private enforcement through follow-on civil claims for damages. As a member of the European Union, Cyprus has aligned its legal framework with EU standards by adopting “The Protection of Competition Law of 2021” (Law 13(I)/2022), which transposes Directive (EU) 2019/1 into Cyprus law. This legislation replaces the previous competition law framework, strengthens the powers of the Cyprus Commission for the Protection of Competition, and provides clarity on procedural matters.
In this complex legal environment, it is crucial for clients to have the support of highly skilled advocates with a deep understanding of the competition market and legal framework. Recognised by Legal 500 as a top-tier practice in Cyprus, our Competition team is lauded for its creativity, communication, judgement, and analytical skills. We advise on all aspects of national and European competition law, helping clients ensure compliance with antitrust rules and defending them against allegations of anti-competitive behaviour.
Our services in competition law include merger clearances, joint ventures, licensing and distribution agreements, restrictive practices, abuse of dominance cases, cartel investigations, concerted practices, and compliance programmes. We also represent clients in contentious proceedings, such as civil claims for competition law infringements, challenges to decisions by the Cyprus Commission for the Protection of Competition, and complaints against third parties.
We have successfully represented clients across various sectors, including energy, infrastructure, transport, and technology. Notably, our team secured a landmark victory for a Cyprus company in the first civil damages claim for competition breaches in Cyprus. The District Court of Larnaka awarded damages to our client in a claim against the Cyprus Grain Commission, creating a significant judicial precedent recognising the right to compensation for competition law infringements.