Our Team

COSTAS VELARIS

Costas Velaris studied Law in the U.K. and he has been called to the English Bar in 1967. He practised in London for a short while before joining and subsequently undertaking Velaris & Velaris LLC, which was established by his father in 1929. 

He is one of the most senior counsel in Cyprus with more than 50 years’ experience. He has personally handled serious and high profile cases representing local and foreign clients including the State, foreign governments, public authorities, local and foreign banking institutions, Ecclesiastical Authorities and persons and entities in Cyprus or overseas.

He wrote the chapter on Cyprus in Company Law in Europe, edited by LexisNexis and he is a member of the Hon. Society of the Middle Temple and the Cyprus Bar since 1970.

He mainly deals with civil and commercial disputes, trusts and cases involving the principles of equity.

He speaks fluent Greek and English.

CHARILAOS C. VELARIS

Charilaos Velaris holds a degree (Licence) in Law and European Studies from the Université Robert Schuman – Strasbourg III and a Master’s degree in European and International Law from the same university. Charilaos subsequently completed an internship at the European Court of Justice in Luxembourg.

He was admitted to the Cyprus Bar in 2010 and has since been a practising litigation lawyer at Velaris & Velaris LLC, where he represented a large number of foreign and Cypriot clients in cases relating to various aspects of the law, particularly in international commercial litigation, property disputes and corporate and banking secrecy. As from 2015, he is an associate lecturer at the Law Department of the University of Central Lancashire (UCLAN Cyprus).

In 2020 he was elected as a member of the council of Nicosia Bar Association, and he was re – elected in 2023.

Furthermore, he is one of the authors of the book “The Law of Leasing in Cyprus”.

In addition to Greek, Charilaos speaks fluent English, French, and Russian and has a very good command of German, Turkish, Spanish, Italian and Portuguese.

STELLA DAMIANOU

Stella Damianou graduated with a Law degree (LL.B) in 2010 from the University of Kent and, in 2011 acquired a master’s degree in International Human Rights Law (LL.M) from the University of Nottingham.

She was admitted to the Cyprus Bar in 2012 and joined our firm in 2013, where she has had the opportunity to collaborate closely with experienced lawyers on complex legal cases before all Courts.

From July 2020 to September 2021, she worked at the Law Office of the Republic of Cyprus in the field of civil law, handling a wide range of cases related to public procurement, compensation for human rights violations, medical negligence, accidents, malicious prosecution and more. 

Since November 2021, she has returned to our firm as a partner and has since been mostly involved in civil, commercial and administrative litigation before all Courts, including courts of specialized jurisdiction.  She also handles arbitration cases and cases before Tenders Review Authority. 

Furthermore, she is one of the authors of the book “The Law of Leasing in Cyprus”.

She speaks fluent Greek and English.

CHRISTIA MICHAEL

Christia Michael graduated from Birmingham City University with an undergraduate degree in LL. B Law before going on to successfully complete the Legal Practice Course with Masters in Law, Business and Management (LPC/ MSc Law, Business and Management) at the University of Law in Birmingham, United Kingdom.

Since 2017, Christia is a member of the Cyprus Bar Association and in 2020 joined our firm. 

In 2023 she successfully completed the examination of the Cyprus Bar Association in relation to anti – money laundering.  Furthermore, she was a member of the team who wrote the chapter of Cyprus on the text Company Law in Europe edited by LexisNexis.

In addition, in October 2024 she was appointed as a member of the Dispute Resolution Committee of the Cyprus Basketball Federation.

Her main areas of practice are in the fields of Commercial Law, Corporate Law, Banking and Finance and Litigation, including fields covered by special jurisdiction Courts. 

She speaks fluent Greek and English.

LOUCIA PATSALIDOU

Loucia Patsalidou graduated from the University of Sunderland with an undergraduate degree in LL.B Law before earning an LL.M in Human Rights from the University of Strathclyde in Glasgow.

Before returning to Cyprus to pursue her legal career, Loucia worked with various NGOs abroad, gaining invaluable experience in the field of human rights and humanitarian law.  

Since 2011, Loucia has been dedicated member of the Cyprus Bar Association and joined our firm in 2024 primarily handling cases involving Human Rights Law, Commercial Law, Corporate Law, Tort Law, Privacy Law and Litigation. 

She speaks fluent Greek and English.

PETROS PAYIASIS

Petros Payiasis graduated from the University of Manchester with an undergraduate degree in LLB Law before going on to successfully complete the Bar Vocational course at BPP University in Manchester and receive the professional title of Barrister – at – Law. 

He is a member of Lincoln’s Inn and was called to the Bar in October 2023.

Since 2024, after successfully completing his internship at our law firm, Petros is a member of the Cyprus Bar Association and has joined our firm on the same year as a lawyer.

His main areas of practice are in the fields of Civil Law, Commercial Law, Family Law and Litigation.

He speaks fluent Greek and English.

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