George is a highly respected litigator, arbitrator and mediator in Cyprus, with a reputation as a first-class advocate. He is the managing partner of George Z. Georgiou & Associates LLC, a full-service law firm based in Cyprus. In addition, he is an associate tenant of Littleton Chambers, London. He was called to the Bar of England & Wales in 2000 and subsequently the Cyprus Bar in 2001. He specialises in complex commercial litigation and arbitration usually with international elements, such as cross-border disputes, obtaining and defending urgent interim relief such as freezing injunctions, discovery orders, search orders and banker’s trust orders. George is a member of CIArb, IBA, LCIA, RCIS, ICC, CCCI and the Honourable Society of the Inner Temple. He lectures on Cyprus law and contributes articles on multiple areas in international legal publications.

What inspired you to pursue a legal career?

I was always interested in law and after I began studying the subject at university, I knew it would be my chosen profession. Studying at the Bar of England & Wales confirmed my conviction, as the application of law to solve real-life problems has the greatest appeal for me.

What do you enjoy most about working on cases in the labour & employment field?

Labour and employment is not purely legal and carries with it a number of socio-economic considerations (especially in the field of industrial relations) that make it particularly appealing to me. There are many variables one has to consider before providing employment advice especially in times of crisis. This includes the general economic situation in the industry and the economy as a whole. How a decision will affect the whole of the workforce as well as possible political ramifications of an unpopular decision has to be considered. To do this, one has to work very closely with the employer, the HR department, as well as understand the employee position.

What are the most common causes of employment disputes and how can clients try and minimise the risks of them occurring?

The most common employment disputes are cases of unfair dismissal. These can be significantly mitigated by obtaining legal advice early and by having in place up-to-date policies and procedures which must be followed without exception.

Also common are industrial disputes stemming mainly from the renegotiation of collective agreements. These can be effectively managed with advance planning and having a pragmatic view of the strategic achievable goals the business wants to meet in the long term.

Has there been a change in the digitalisation of business and how has this affected your practice?

There has been a profound change in the digitalisation of business. The pandemic and the challenges it created (working from home, physical attendance, dress-codes, health and safety, data protection etc.) has brought to the fore a number of legal challenges that we have dealt with in the last few years. In addition, and as we work very closely with a number of financial institutions, it has expedited the need for their digital transformation – in most cases a reduction of their workforce, which has also required intensive legal advice. The digitalisation of businesses has greatly increased the number of requests for advice to both our employment and pensions department and our data protection and compliance department, which both have dedicated expert lawyers who advise clients.

How could a global recession affect the pensions and benefits market?

Global recession generally reduces the value of investments and by extension the accrued value stored in the provident fund accounts of the employees. Therefore, anyone retiring or receiving their entitlement will receive less. In addition, recession may place increased financial strains on companies with guaranteed pension funds who may then be unable to meet the ongoing obligations to the members. Further, undesirable economic conditions may dissuade businesses from considering such benefits for the first time.

We provide specialist pension and benefits advice to businesses who are finding the current economic environment challenging.

How can equality and fairness in the workplace be improved in Cyprus?

I believe greater understanding of the changing socio-economic conditions and attitudes of the workforce will improve employment relations in the market. The last few years have seen a significant change in the expectations of workers e.g. flexibility, work-life balance, remote working, parental leaves etc. which coupled with the changes in consumer expectations pose a challenge for most companies. Using old practices and inflexible methods will not solve the issues, only exacerbate them. What is needed is a fresher more flexible approach and the inventive use of technology, which is possible within the existing legal framework to overcome these problems.

What makes George Z Georgiou & Associates stand out from its competitors in the market?

Having the largest, dedicated employment and pensions team in Cyprus for the past ten years, together with our memberships of the renowned international employment and pensions alliance Ius Laboris and the European Employment Lawyers Association (EELA) has allowed us to remain at the forefront of employment and pensions developments not only in Cyprus but globally. That in turn offers us wider visibility on global trends and developments and helps us predict and expect what will happen in Cyprus.

In addition, our clients benefit from our expertise in related areas such as privacy/GDPR, corporate and commercial law and dispute resolution (for which we have separate dedicated departments), offering rounded service and advice.

What advice would you give to younger lawyers hoping to one day be in your position?

Be tenacious, inquisitive, always prepare and apply themselves fully to their chosen field. Expect long hours and setbacks and remember why they entered the profession when the going gets tough.