Michalis Anastasiou

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Leaders in Law endorses Michalis Anastasiou as our exclusively recommended Company Law expert in Cyprus. If you wish to get in touch with Michalis, please use the contact information provided above.

Michalis graduated from the Law School of the University of Sussex in Brighton, UK in 2012. He was called to the English Bar at Gray’s Inn in 2013. He obtained in 2014 his LLM on International Business Law at BPP Law School in London, UK.

He was admitted in the Cyprus Bar Association in 2015. Michalis speaks fluently Greek and English.

Michali’s specialises in business and corporate law, company registration and administration, investment firms and forex brokers cases, forex scam litigation, civil and criminal litigation, personal injury and insurance cases. He appears before the Courts of Cyprus, and he is involved with judicial matters and the drafting of legal documents.

Practice Areas

  • Business and Corporate Law
  • Immigration Law
  • Litigation
  • Contract Law
  • Personal Injury
  • Criminal Law

Education & Bar Admissions

  • University of Sussex; 2012. Brighton, UK
  • The University of Law, 2013. London, UK
  • Admitted to the English Bar at Gray’s Inn, 2013
  • BPP Law School, 2014. London, UK
  • Admitted to the Cyprus Bar Association, 2015

Firm Overview:

Evagoras Anastasiou & Associates LLC is considered an experienced law firm in different areas of law, and it provides a range of specialised legal services to its current, future, local and foreign clients.

Our firm’s specialised lawyers are equipped with the relevant professional knowledge and abilities that put them in position to provide to each client efficient legal advice concerning their needs.

  • To practice our profession with integrity.
  • To acknowledge that each client’s case is unique, and it has its own speciality.
  • To protect our customer’s interests
  • To satisfy the client’s goal and protect his interests.
  • The client’s goal will be achieved with quick, practical, cost-effective, up-to-date and modern methods.

 

K. Kelly Nottage

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Leaders in Law endorses K. Kelly Nottage as our exclusively recommended Company Law expert in the Bahamas. If you wish to get in touch with K. Kelly, please use the contact information provided above.

Mr. Nottage is a Barrister-at-law and a founding Partner of Sovereign Advisors Bahamas. Prior to forming Sovereign Advisors, Mr. Nottage was manager and head of the LATAM Desk at one of the oldest trust companies in The Bahamas. During his six years as a trust officer and manager, Mr. Nottage was responsible for the structuring and administration of trusts, foundations, funds and other fiduciary products primarily for Latin American clients. Drawing from his legal training and practical experiences applying the law to real life situations, Mr. Nottage is well versed in financial and corporate services law. He advises Family Offices, Trustees, Broker Dealers, Developers and Others on licensing, tax, operational substance and structuring matters within The Bahamas. 

Mr. Nottage currently serves as a Director of the Central Bank of the Bahamas and he is a former Director of Bahamasair Holdings Ltd., the national airline of The Bahamas. He also serves as the CEO and Director of Sovereign Advisors & Partners Limited, a regulated and licensed multi family office and financial services firm.  

 A graduate of the University of Western Ontario, Canada and Worcester College, University of Oxford, Mr. Nottage began his legal career as a pupil and Associate at a top tier Bahamian law firm where he practiced in its Litigation, Banking and Trust practice groups. He is admitted to the Bars of England and Wales and The Bahamas and he is a member of the Honourable Society of the Inner Temple. 

Education

  • Lakefield College School; Ontario, Canada, 2000
  • University of Western Ontario, (BA Hons. Political Science & Philosophy) 2004
  • Worcester College, University of Oxford (BA Theology) 2006
  • Oxford Brookes University (PGDip Law) 2007
  • BPP Law School, (Bar Vocational Course – Very Competent) 2008
  • Worcester College, University of Oxford (MA Theology) 2017

Admissions

  • The Bahamas, 2008
  • England and Wales, 2008

Memberships

  • Honourable Society of the Inner Temple
  • The Bahamas Bar Association
  • International Bar Association

Firm Description:

Mission Statement

At Sovereign Advisors we are dedicated to providing you, the Client, with incomparable service aimed at directly meeting your needs and helping you to achieve your ultimate goal(s). In this way we are “Service Driven”.

What does it mean to be ‘Service Driven’?

Our service driven approach means that we put a premium on understanding the Client’s end goals and offer the best solutions tailored to each Client’s specific needs. We do not believe that ours is a “one size fits all” business and eschew cookie cutter solutions to problems. While the root of a problem may be common to many Clients, our experience has taught us that its effects on each are almost never exactly the same. Our small size, experience, and network of service partners allow us the flexibility and agility to offer high value tailored solutions in a timely and cost effective manner. This is the essence of being “Service Driven”.

How are we different?

We value being a consistent and reliable source of advice and service to our Clients. We will never take on a project we are ill equipped to handle. Our size allows for us to be nimble and flexible in service and our relationships allow us to tap into high quality professional expertise in areas that we may not have specific competency. We do not claim to have a monopoly on solutions but we do have the relationships, experience and competency to create and implement the best ones for you. If ever there were a matter that was outside of the scope of our particular expertise we are happy to refer you to and/or assemble and work with the best team possible to meet your goals and needs. This is how being service driven differentiates us.

History

Sovereign Advisors was founded to provide families, small businesses and individuals with the hands on, time valued services and assistance that larger, less nimble and volume driven service providers are unable to provide. With combined experience in excess of 20 years in legal practice, financial services and corporate structuring, we found that there was an appetite for an egoless, service driven, and solution focused approach to legal advice and financial and corporate services in The Bahamas. Our clients are individuals, family offices, financial service providers, and small businesses that place a premium on relationships, integrity and quality solutions. 

In a short period of time we have partnered and established relationships with like-minded service providers to provide a broad spectrum of services to our clientele. Through Twenty One  Corporate Management, an independent and licensed corporate service provider, we cater to clients who require personalized asset and corporate structuring services.  As we grow and develop, we will seek to add further strategic partnerships and relationships in order to ensure that the best products and services are available to our clients. 

Trusts & Foundations

Planning to pass on wealth to the next generation can be a very personal and intimate process. It is imperative that your advisors have a firm understanding of your needs and goals in this regard. At Sovereign we know this process well and appreciate its intricacies. We advise local and international clients on this process and have extensive experience working across borders and jurisdictions with other client advisors to obtain the best solutions available.

Our team have the unique advantage of having both legal and practical experience in the formation and administration of trusts and other fiduciary products such as foundations, private trust companies, Bahamas Executive Entities and others. Having spent years administering these products, we understand the many dynamics at play and as a result we are better placed than most to advise Trustees, Settlors, Beneficiaries and Protectors on all aspects of the creation and administration of trusts, including:

  • Asset Protection
  • Distributions & Accounting
  • Investment powers & oversight
  • Exercise of powers
  • Drafting of Deeds of Release & Indemnity
  • Drafting of Trustee Resolutions & Minutes
  • Deeds of Amendment & Variation

Protector Advice & Services

A Protector of a Trust plays a unique role in the trust’s administration in that they are often a trusted party whose advice is relied upon by the Settlor, Beneficiary and Trustee alike. As such, it’s important that Protectors have solid independent legal advice in the exercise of their duties under the trust. Our team’s experience with administering trusts holds us in good stead when we advise Protectors on the exercise of their powers under a Trust. We advise Protectors on matters including:

  • Powers of Distribution
  • Powers of Investment
  • Powers to add/remove Beneficiaries
  • Powers to loan proceeds from Trust

Additionally, we provide a select few clients with professional services for those looking for an experienced and independent Protector with integrity.

 

Ryan John Wrobel

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Leaders in Law endorses Ryan John Wrobel as our exclusively recommended Public and Company Law expert in Belize. If you wish to get in touch with Ryan, please use the contact information provided above.

Our Managing Partner Ryan John Wrobel was born in Buffalo, New York, U.S.A. Spending his formative years in Western New York, Mr. Wrobel often travelled over the international border to nearby Ontario, Canada and took an early interest in International travel, culture and affairs.

After completing high school, he began the pursuit of a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science and Pre-Law at the State University of New York at Buffalo (SUNY-Buffalo). During his time in University, Mr. Wrobel was nominated for the 1999 Robert H. Stern Award for Outstanding Undergraduate Paper in Political Science relating to a research paper he wrote entitled “Human Rights Conditions in Jamaica.”

Upon graduation from University, Mr. Wrobel immediately entered the Law School at SUNY-Buffalo where he concentrated on international law. He enriched his law school experience by taking part in two international study abroad programs during the summers, first in Barbados with the Faculty of Law at the University of the West Indies, and later at University College London in the United Kingdom.

While at the University of the West Indies-Cave Hill in Barbados, our Managing Partner was introduced to foreign investment and international financial services law in the Commonwealth Caribbean. The introduction to West Indian culture proved to have a lasting effect on Mr. Wrobel and from that point forward he became interested in the opportunity to someday live and practice in the region.

Rather than immediately entering the practice of law upon graduation from law school, Mr. Wrobel instead decided to continue his legal education at an institution that he had been introduced to earlier, University College London. The pursuit of a Master of Laws at UCL was an enriching experience for him. He not only was able to gain knowledge of the law from an English perspective at a distinguished institution with graduates such as Mahatma Gandhi, but he was also able to interact with colleagues from around the world. Spending over a year in educationally and culturally enhancing environment of cosmopolitan London, Mr. Wrobel was also availed the opportunity visit numerous countries in Continental Europe.

The time in London solidified Mr. Wrobel’s resolve to pursue a career outside of his birth nation and persevere to follow the path to achieve his global goals and interests. During his time at University College London, he was a recipient of the UCL Faculty’s Bentham Award for exceptionally well qualified overseas graduates, and also had an article on the Belize-Guatemala territorial dispute published in the American Bar Association’s International Law News journal.

After returning to the United States with a Master’s Degree in Law from UCL, Mr. Wrobel sat for and passed the New York State Bar Exam and was called to the New York State Bar in 2004. He started his career as a sole practitioner in Buffalo, New York. In order to serve his clients, Mr. Wrobel was called to the United States District Court and the United States Bankruptcy Court, both for the Western District of New York State. Although the practice of law in New York proved to be a good experience, it did not satisfy Mr. Wrobel’s desire to work within the realm of international law, thus in 2005 he made the decision to migrate to Belize. Belize is a country that he had visited numerous times since 1999 and had a great interest and involvement in since 1996.

Upon moving to Belize, our Managing Partner enrolled in the Belize Tourism Board’s Tour Guide Training Course in order to learn more about his new home. Mr. Wrobel also began consulting for the Big Four professional services firm of Deloitte & Touche Belize in Belize City, where he began to manage Deloitte’s Corporate & Legal Department. Over the years Mr. Wrobel has gained a wealth of experience relating to the legal system in Belize, with a special focus on real estate transactions and company law. He has travelled throughout the nation and has developed a strong bond with its culture, people and way of life. Mr. Wrobel sits on the Board of Trustees of the Scouts Endowment Fund, a trust fund which raises money to support the Scout Association of Belize and was elected as the Treasurer of the American Chamber of Commerce of Belize (AMCHAM-Belize). He is also a member of the Association of Real Estate Brokers of Belize (AREBB), Belize International Financial Services Association (BISFA), and the Belize Museum of History. Mr. Wrobel is also a Welfare Committee Member of the Royal British Legion – Belize Branch. Recently Mr. Wrobel was also elected as Director and Committee Member of the Belize Rifle Club. He was appointed as a Notary Public in New York State in 2004, as well as being appointed by the Attorney General of Belize as a Justice of the Peace in 2008.

In order to further his dream to practice law and further his career in Belize, Mr. Wrobel entered Norman Manley Law School’s Six Month Programme in Kingston, Jamaica. The time spent at Norman Manley Law School was extremely beneficial to him, as he was not only able to learn more about the practise of law in the Commonwealth Caribbean, but also able to establish solid contacts with legal practitioners from across the region. Ryan J. Wrobel was called to the Belize Bar in September 2009 and opened the law firm of Wrobel & Co., as well as the corporate service firm of British Honduras Professionals Ltd. shortly thereafter. He was subsequently called to the Jamaican Bar in 2010 and admitted to the United States District Courts for both the Eastern and Southern Districts of New York in 2011.

Wrobel & Co., Attorneys-at-Law has quickly gained the trust and appreciation of numerous clients under the direction of Mr. Wrobel. The firm continues to provide services to an international client base from the main office in Belize City, as well as from affiliate offices in New York City and Kingston, Jamaica.

Firm Description:

Wrobel & Co., Attorneys-at-Law, began more than a decade ago as a boutique law firm focusing on real estate and business law in Belize.

During the past 12 years, as we’ve responded to additional clients’ needs, our competent, established team has branched out into other legal services, which include international financial services, retirement services, and intellectual property law, among others. Please visit our Legal Services page to explore everything we offer.

As we’ve grown from a small customer-focused firm to a larger customer-focused firm with an international reach, our focus has never wavered. We’ve always aimed to make Belize home for our clients and their investments.

Our office in Belize City (and in San Pedro) is part of the Belizean community. We are at home here, and we want to make you feel at home as well.

Wrobel & Co, Attorneys-at-Law, has quickly gained the trust and appreciation of numerous clients under the direction of Mr. Wrobel. But don’t take it from us. Visit our Client Testimonials page.

Lastly, we invite you to read a Letter from the Managing Partner about what Belize might mean for you.

Thank you for taking the time to learn about us. We’d love to learn more about you. Contact us today.

 

Christiana Petrou

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Leaders in Law endorses Christiana Petrou as our exclusively recommended Company Law expert in Cyprus. If you wish to get in touch with Christiana, please use the contact information provided above.

We, at Christiana Petrou MILIS LLC, are totally focused on building trusting relationships with you, by providing you with honest, achievable and profitable advises.

Since our inception, Christiana Petrou MILIS LLC has been developed rapidly. Our team consists of young and energetic teams of lawyers and company administration specialists. We aim to provide tailor made solutions in a speedy and confidential manner.

We built long-term relationships with our clients because we are offering quality legal support, profitable business solutions and an on-going contact and communication because we understand the needs of our clients.

Provision of legal advice and support in the following practice areas:

  • formation and buyouts of companies in Cyprus and abroad
  • shareholder agreements and corporate governance issues
  • regulatory compliance (banking and financial services regulation)
  • corporate finance transactions
  • public and private offerings of securities and securities law compliance
  • mergers and acquisitions
  • corporate management and domiciliation services
  • cross-border transactions and joint ventures
  • insolvency advice and restructurings
  • domestic and cross-border loan and security transactions
  • loan documentation for single-lender and syndicated loans
  • security documentation including charges over assets and undertakings of companies, debentures, pledges of share certificates, security assignments of rights
  • restructuring of existing loans and collateral
  • refinancing of existing debts
  • project finance and asset finance
  • construction and project financing
  • indemnities and guaranteescompliance with perfection requirements and registrations of charges
  • legal opinions and legal due diligence exercises

We undertake the incorporation of companies with standard as well as tailor made Objects and Articles in various jurisdictions all around the world utilising our network of legal and corporate service associates.

 

Vladimir Penkov

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Mr. Vladimir Penkov is Chairman and Senior Partner of Penkov, Markov & Partners – international law firm which has more than 20 years of experience in the field of Banking and Finance legal advices and consultations.

Mr. Penkov has extensive experience in negotiations, researches, drafting of legal documents and representing clients in various areas of commercial law, such as Banking and Finance, Corporate Law and Commercial Contracts, Competition, Privatization and Foreign Investments, Investment Management, Mergers and Acquisitions, Project Finance, Public Procurement, Licensing and Know-How Agreements, Tax Law, Telecommunications, Media & IT, Energy Law and Renewable Energy Sources.

As a leading banking law practitioner and as part of his track-record Vladimir Penkov has led negotiations, represented and provided legal advice to: EBRD in connection with debt financing of Cellhart AD, debt financing of Balkanpharma Holding AD, Astera Holding AD and Aroma AD, Crédit Suisse AG, Landesbank Baden-Württemberg, PAC Doverie, Bulstrad Life (Vienna Insurance Group), Innimmo Investments, Industrialen Holding – Doverie, HYPO NOE Gruppe Bank, International Finance Corporation, Industrial Capital Holding as well as the preparation of the business and legal scheme in connection with the extension of large credit amount to Domain Boyar AD by EBRD.

As a leader of PM&P’s team Mr.Penkov has personally showed resourcefulness and proactivity in the consulting of UBB by EBRD and Oppenheimer & Co and by National Bank of Greece, of Kardan by the acquisition of NLB Banka. He has also advised the Austrian banking consortia, led by Bank Austria, in the successful negotiation of the terms with the Minister of Finance, on the repayment of the extended credit for the modernization of Kremikovtzi.

The Chairman and Senior Partner of  PM&P is specialising in the area of Banking and Financial Law and Capital markets and has participated in the legal team providing  advice to Ferratum Group in terms of establishment and structuring of their business as the first company of in Bulgaria providing distant financial services, legal advice and consultation to Gumiz AD and Micro Credit regarding providing of micro credits and consumer credits; Preparation of legal analysis for Sofia municipality pursuant to the “Law of the public finances“ in relation to Contracts for financing contract concluded between the European Investment Bank and Sofia municipality for  financing of “The Project of Sofia municipality for treating of waste matter” etc.

Mr.Vladimir Penkov has given legal advices in the process of reorganization of the Bulgarian subsidiaries of Kardan N.V., Kardan Financial Services B.V, TBIH Financial Services Group N.V. and TBIF Financial Services B.V. being active in insurance, additional pension insurance, voluntarily health insurance, financial services such as investment intermediary and asset management company, leasing services and consumer financing.

The Chairman and Senior Partner of PM&P advise the full spectrum of bank related transactions and have advised the establishment of one of the first asset management companies in Bulgaria while currently the PM&P team provide regular services to some of the major non-banking financial institutions in Bulgaria and their branches.

Successfully assisted one of the largest non-banking financial institutions in Europe to set foot in Bulgaria, filling the niche on online consumer loans.

Constantly expanding including legal consulting for investment companies, mutual and pension funds, asset management companies, investment mediators and ventures.

Comprehensive consulting on the structuring, financing and applicable regulatory framework in that field. Of special value for clients is the possibility for PM&P to expand at a very short notice the designated team including experts from other fields to give a helping hand in this highly specific area, should the case so require.

Mr.Penkov assisted the first foreign bank branch to register in the country after the democratic changes (Landesbank) and the structuring of the first capital investment by a foreign bank (Raiffeisen Bank) in a local bank under the conditions of a missing detailed legal framework and practical experience in this sphere.

Under the conditions of a rigidly regulated market and a strictly limited number of banking licenses, the team of PM&P leaded by the Managing Partner Vladimir Penkov has consulted, over the years, the EBRD, Oppenheimer & Co., the National Bank of Greece, Alpha bank – Bulgarian Branch, United Bulgarian Bank, Piraeus Bank and Kardan in the acquisition of three of the largest Bulgarian banks, including the merger of a bank branch into a bank (Piraeus Bank).

Mr. Penkov and the team of PM&P are acting as legal counsel to the buyer with regard to the contemplated purchase of 99.53 % of the shares owned by International Hospital Service Co, Japan in Tokuda Bank. The project refers to the acquisition of a medium-sized commercial bank and has passed through legal, financial and tax due diligence, negotiations and signing of Share Purchase Agreement, Escrow Agreement and is now in the stage of obtaining the respective regulatory approvals from the Bulgarian National Bank and the Competition Protection Commission.

The Chairman and Senior Partner of PM&P represented UBB as bond emission trustee, providing the overall defence of creditors’ rights over the bond emission, incl. legal representation in the event of bankruptcy proceedings against Bross Holding, but also overall representation in all other enforcement proceedings initiated under the Registered Pledges Act and other legal issues related to the case.

Mr.Vladimir Penkov and PM&P’s team also were a consultant of Piraeus Bank Bulgaria AD as collateral agent to the bank syndicate including also United Bulgarian Bank, Unicredit Bulbank and Alpha Bank – Bulgaria Branch.

Another client of the law firm is HYPO NOE Gruppe Bank AG, Austria.  Mr.Penkov’s involvement has included among others: due diligence review of the two companies that operate the photovoltaic plants (Kompania za Energetika I Razvitie EOOD and Green Energy Park AD); preparation of preliminary legal opinions for the purpose of participation of the client as co-lender together with Société Générale Expressbank AD and PV Investments ЕAD; review and revision of the respective Club Loan Agreements and all securities agreements; review of the certificates issued by the Commercial Register, the Central Register of Special Pledges and the Property Register evidencing the granting of the securities by the borrowers, co-debtors and mortgage debtor; issuance of final legal opinions re legal compliance of the transaction

Career:

·         Penkov, Markov & Partners – Founder and Managing Partner 1990-2017; Chairman and Senior Partner since 2017;

·         Bulgarian Telecommunications Company AD – Member of the Managing Board, 2007-2008, Chairman of the Supevisory Board, 2008 – 2013 and reelected as Chairman since 2014-2017;

·         NIKAS Bulgaria AD – Member of the Board of Directors, 2009 – 2012;

·         Arbitration Court at the Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI)  – Arbitrator since 1999;

·         BCCI – Member of Managing Board since 1993 and Vice President, 1999 – 2006;

·         Zagorka AD – Member of the Board of Directors,1998 – 2006 and Executive Director, 2000 – 2002;

·         Ministry of Foreign Economic Relations – Head of Division „Austria and Switzerland“, 1989 – 1990;

·         Technica Foreign Trade Organization – Chief Legal Counsel, 1987 – 1989;

·         Sofia City Court – Intership as a judge, 1976 – 1977;

Education

·         Sofia University St. Kliment Ohridski – Master in Law, 1976

·         Economic University, Karlshorst, Germany 1970 – 1972

Languages:

·         Bulgarian, German, English