Part of the team currently representing a group of companies in a highly publicized dispute concerning its former chief representative in Greece. Substantive proceedings have been filed in Cyprus against this person and several other defendants. The defendants are accused of having siphoned off hundreds of millions EUR in funds through dozens of fraudulent transactions that were committed via a complex web of companies.
People
Contact Details
- T: +357 22 447777
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P.O. Box 21150
1502 Nicosia, Cyprus17 Stasinou Avenue
1060 Nicosia
Cyprus
Languages Spoken
English, Greek
Yiannis Zavros
Associate
Yiannis Zavros joined the firm in 2021 and has since been part of the firm’s Litigation department.
His practice focuses on complex commercial litigation, shareholder disputes, fraud-related claims and cross-border enforcement proceedings. Yiannis regularly represents corporate clients and high-net-worth individuals in proceedings before the Cypriot courts and has experience in matters involving international elements and multi-jurisdictional disputes.
Yiannis is involved in cases concerning the recognition and enforcement of foreign judgments and arbitral awards in Cyprus, as well as disputes arising from corporate structures, shareholder relationships and commercial transactions. He has also assisted in matters involving allegations of fraud, asset-tracing and interim relief, including freezing and disclosure orders.
In addition, Yiannis has experience advising clients in the online gaming sector and has been involved in litigation and regulatory matters concerning major international operators.
Clients have commented that Yiannis is “…excellent” … “knowledgeable and used to working in fast-paced environments” (The Legal 500 EMEA 2025) and that he is “available, maintain[s] continuous communication and provide[s] strategic guidance throughout proceedings, ensuring clients remain fully informed.” (The Legal 500 EMEA 2026)
Practice Area Specialization
Credentials
Education
LLB, Queen Mary University of London, UK (2015-2018)
LLM, London School of Economics and Political Science, UK (2018-2019)
PhD University of Cyprus (2021 – ongoing)
Professional Memberships
Cyprus Bar Association
Nicosia Bar Association
Accolades
Yiannis was recognised by Legal 500 as a Recommended Lawyer in Dispute Resolution in 2025 and has since progressed to being ranked as a Leading Associate in 2026.
Specialization
Commercial litigation
Debt collection
Recourse to the administrative court – Recovery of Frozen or Seized Assets
Issuance and Enforcement of EU judgments, European Payment Orders, European Account Preservation Orders, European Enforcement Orders
Liquidation Proceedings
Gaming and Gambling Law
Career progression
Associate, Michael Kyprianou & Co LLC (2021)
Experience
He was part of the team representing a renowned businessman in the diamond industry and has successfully registered on his behalf in Cyprus an ICC Award of circa USD $7 million that was issued against a former business partner of his. An injunction was secured preventing the respondent from dealing with his assets pending judgment on the relevant registration application. Upon registration of the ICC Award, the said injunction was amended to cover the period until full satisfaction of the ICC Award.
He was part of the team that successfully represented a Greek family seeking compensation from Bank of Cyprus Public Company Limited for its failure to execute instructions that they had given for the transfer of their deposits to a separate account in Greece. The failure of the bank to execute the instructions on the same day resulted in the deposits in question being subjected to the bail-in resolution measures (‘haircut on deposits’) that were adopted shortly thereafter, in 2013. Following a lengthy trial, the Court ordered the bank to pay the clients damages for the full amount of the losses sustained on their deposits.
He was part of the team that successfully represented a Greek family seeking compensation from Bank of Cyprus Public Company Limited for its failure to execute instructions that they had given for the transfer of their deposits to a separate account in Greece. The failure of the bank to execute the instructions on the same day resulted in the deposits in question being subjected to the bail-in resolution measures (‘haircut on deposits’) that were adopted shortly thereafter, in 2013. Following a lengthy trial, the Court ordered the bank to pay the clients damages for the full amount of the losses sustained on their deposits.
Successfully represented a publicly listed Greek company in a claim against a Cypriot company and one individual for amounts due under a share purchase agreement. Following a lengthy trial, the Court dismissed the defendants’ arguments in relation to breach of certain terms of the share purchase agreement relating to anti-competitive activities and ordered the defendants to pay the remaining amounts of the purchase price of the said shares.
Yiannis is involved in the representation of a group of companies accused of being controlled by sanctioned individuals. Judicial proceedings have been brought against the authorities and third parties in relation to disclosure requests that the clients have received and to safeguard their frozen assets.
Acted on behalf of a German company in enforcement proceedings of a German authentic instrument for the satisfaction of a debt of more than 1.5 million EUR.
Provided legal advice to a national lottery in an EU state as well as to entities operating casinos in Hong Kong, Macau and Las Vegas.
Managed the removal of a company from the National Betting Authority’s blocking list of illegal websites.
Successfully obtained a liquidation order against an online casino and is currently representing approximately 400 private clients with total claims of around €5 million in the context of the liquidation.
Yiannis is representing one of the one of the largest companies in the global gaming/gambling industry in various Court proceedings before Cypriot Courts involving matters of gaming law as well as recognition and enforcement of foreign judgments in Cyprus.
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