LexBlog (LexBlog Cyprus)

Cyprus Trust Transparency Reforms 2026 | What Trustees, Protectors and Family Offices Need to Know The regulatory landscape for trusts continues to evolve across Europe as legislators seek to strike a delicate balance between transparency, anti-money laundering compliance, and the legitimate privacy expectations of families and wealth structures. In Cyprus, the latest development comes in...

The Cases which Changed Trust and Corporate Transparency Across Europe In November 2022, the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) delivered one of the most important judgments in the history of European anti-money laundering legislation. In the joined cases C-37/20 and C-601/20, the Court considered whether granting unrestricted public access to beneficial ownership...

AGPLAW Proudly Sponsored the Successfully Concluded First Poker Run Cyprus Cyprus Yacht Owners Club launches a new flagship yachting event, bringing together RIBs, motorboats, powerboats and superyachts for an unforgettable three-day maritime experience! 29 – 31 May 2026 The 1st Poker Run Cyprus, the ultimate Yachting Event was concluded successfully on 31st May 2026, following...

AGPLAW Powers Cyprus’ Ultimate Yachting Experience as Gold Sponsor of Poker Run Cyprus Discover Poker Run Cyprus 2026 A New Luxury Yachting Experience Arrives in Cyprus The arrival of Poker Run Cyprus marks something truly new for the island: the ultimate yachting event, designed exclusively for the boating community and inspired by one of the...

Alternatively, you may read the Full Articles here: SOLAS Amendments Effective 1 January 2026. What Shipowners, Operators and Managers Must Prepare SOLAS Amendments on Container Loss Reporting. New Mandatory Requirements from 1 January 2026 For more information on this subject Contact Us The information provided by AGPLAW | A.G. Paphitis & Co. LLC is for...

Alternatively, you may read the Full Articles here: Lending & Taking Security in Cyprus. Part 1 Tangible Movable Property as Security under Cyprus Law | Lending & Taking Security in Cyprus. Part 2 For more information on this subject Contact Us The information provided by AGPLAW | A.G. Paphitis & Co. LLC is for general...

Why Late Annual Returns in Cyprus are Often a Systemic Issue, not Negligence. One of the most common questions we receive from clients of Corporate Services is: “Why has my company been charged a penalty for late filing, and whose fault is it?” It is a fair question. And, in many cases, it is asked...

Choosing the Right Flag is a Strategic Decision, not an Administrative One Introduction – The Misconception that Costs Millions For many shipowners, vessel registration is treated as a procedural step, a box to be ticked once a deal is concluded. The flag is often selected based on speed, cost, or familiarity, with limited consideration of...

In the email signature of a former United Nations Special Rapporteur was a sentence that has stayed with me: “I do not join manels.” A “manel”, now widely defined as an all-male panel, is not simply descriptive. It reflects structural patterns in who is recognised as an expert and who is not. On 31 March...

AGPLAW Celebrates Continued Recognition in Legal 500 EMEA 2026 with Five Practice Area Rankings and Individual Distinctions. AGPLAW keeps on building on its established presence in the Cyprus legal market, with continued recognition in the Legal500 EMEA 2026 guide. This achievement marks another year of consistent excellence for our firm, highlighting our continued commitment to...

SOLAS Amendments on Container Loss Reporting. New Mandatory Requirements from 1 January 2026 From 1 January 2026, important amendments to the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) will introduce mandatory reporting obligations for the loss of freight containers at sea. These changes, adopted by the IMO Maritime Safety Committee through Resolution...

SOLAS Amendments Effective 1 January 2026. What Shipowners, Operators and Managers Must Prepare On 1 January 2026, a new package of amendments to the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) will enter into force, introducing material changes in three critical areas of ship safety and compliance: Fire safety systems, particularly in...

Geopolitical Tensions and Maritime Risk  | Why Strategic Ship Registration Matters More Than Ever The recent escalation of tensions in the Middle East and the disruption of maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz have once again highlighted how vulnerable global shipping routes can be to geopolitical developments. For shipowners, operators and maritime investors, these...

We are thrilled to announce that Mihaela Neagu has rejoined AGPLAW as Partner in the Financial Services Regulatory & Advisory practice. Mihaela returns to the firm bringing over 12 years of experience in legal, regulatory, and compliance roles within the financial services, fintech, and digital assets sectors. Having previously been part of the AGPLAW team,...

Regulatory & Enforcement Exposure for Cyprus Investment Firms | 2026 Outlook The regulatory landscape for Cyprus Investment Firms is becoming increasingly demanding, with regulators placing greater emphasis on effective governance, robust compliance frameworks, and operational resilience. As supervisory expectations across the EU continue to evolve, firms operating through Cyprus may face...

The European Council has agreed on a proposal to streamline AI Act rules as part of the “Omnibus VII” legislative package aimed at simplifying the EU’s digital legislative framework and harmonizing AI regulations. Marilena Raouna, Deputy Minister for European Affairs of Cyprus, emphasized the urgency of this proposal to enhance the EU’s digital sovereignty, providing...

Passive income taxation – An update With the comprehensive tax reform enacted at the end of 2025, the taxation of passive income in Cyprus has been reshaped in a much more structural way than in previous years. The reform decouples the treatment of individuals from that of companies, abolishes deemed dividend distribution on new profits,...

Restitution and Unjust Enrichment under Cyprus Law Failed commercial transactions often raise a deceptively simple question: can money already paid be recovered? Cyprus law answers this question through the doctrines of restitution, unjust enrichment, and failure of consideration, areas of law that have been refined by Supreme Court jurisprudence. Two decisions stand out as particularly...

Can Anyone Add Assets to a Trust? The Legal Reality One of the most frequently misunderstood aspects of trust structuring concerns the contribution of assets. Clients, advisors, and sometimes even professionals assume that once a trust exists, assets can be “placed into it” relatively freely, by anyone, at any time, and often without close attention...

The European Artificial Intelligence Act in 2026 In June 2024 the European Parliament and European Council have adopted the Regulation (EU) 2024/1689, which will come in force in August 2nd, 2026. Introduction In light of the rapid technological developments and the increased dependence on tools such as artificial intelligence, there was also a constant need...

Rescission under Cyprus Law. When a Contract Is Treated as at an End. In complex commercial disputes, failed transactions, aborted investments and non-satisfied conditions precedent are increasingly common. Yet one concept remains persistently misunderstood in practice: rescission. What does it actually mean when a contract is treated as “at an end”? What are the consequences...

EU Sanctions Advisory in Cyprus for Cross-Border Structures Sanctions compliance is no longer a technical back-office function. It is a board-level risk, a reputational issue, and in many cases, a criminal exposure. In recent years, European Union restrictive measures, particularly those adopted under Regulation (EU) No 269/2014 and Regulation (EU) No 833/2014, have evolved into...

AGPLAW Successfully Completes Tree Planting Initiative in Ayios Therapon Last Sunday, February 8, AGPLAW successfully held its Tree Planting Day in Ayios Therapon, Limassol, a day that proved to be much more than an environmental action. It was a powerful day of hope, unity, and collective responsibility. AGPLAW would like to sincerely thank everyone who...

We Invest in People At AGPLAW, we don’t just hire. We Invest in People. Our commitment to our team is the foundation of everything we do. We believe that sustainable success is built on long-term relationships, continuous professional development, and an environment that respects the individual as much as the professional. This philosophy explains why...

Keeping Personal Data Safe: A Legal Overview The protection of personal data constitutes an important legal milestone aimed at safeguarding a fundamental yet often overlooked human right, an effort reflected in European Data Protection Day, observed annually on 28 January   The first binding legal act recognizing individuals’ rights to protection of their personal data...

Lessons for EMIs and Regulated Entities from Administrative Court Judgment No. 975/2020 — The Courts Confirm the Supervisory Approach in Cyprus Regulatory Non-Compliance as a Ground for Licence Cancellation Cyprus regulatory law is clear in principle but often underestimated in practice: a regulated licence is not a vested right but a conditional administrative authorisation, subject...

Immigration Pathways for Foreign Investment Structures Entering Cyprus Immigration Pathways for Foreign Investment Structures Entering Cyprus Cyprus has long been recognised as a strategic jurisdiction for international investors seeking a stable legal system, access to EU markets, and an efficient corporate and tax framework. For many foreign investors, Cyprus is not merely a place of...

Yesterday, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) elected two new judges to the ECtHR, who will serve a nine-year term (Article 23(1) ECHR): Nicholas Emiliou in respect of Cyprus and Corinna Wissels in respect of the Netherlands.  Nicholas Emiliou, as any judge, was elected from a list of three candidates nominated by the...

Selling Immovable Property in Cyprus Without Title Deeds Legal Reality, Protection Mechanisms and Why Experience Matters Due to the rapid expansion of the building industry in Cyprus and the current pressing need for additional housing, selling property before the issuance of separate title deeds has become a common occurrence and a structural feature of the...

Cyprus Tax Reform 2026 A Comprehensive Legal Analysis of the New Tax Framework in Force from 1 January 2026 As of 1 January 2026, Cyprus has implemented one of the most extensive tax reforms of recent decades. The reform was enacted through a package of amending laws published in the Official Gazette of the Republic...