Managing Partner

Contact details:

E: nkouvara@aptuslegal.com

T: 00357 22 499122

LinkedIn profile

Nicoletta Kouvara is a distinguished multi-disciplinary lawyer with a substantial track record of providing expert counsel to multinational corporations and start-ups spanning various industries, financial institutions, investment firms, asset managers, high-net-worth individuals, and creative entrepreneurs.

Nicoletta's expertise is exemplified by her leadership in complex domestic and cross-border private and public mergers and acquisitions, high-value joint ventures, a diverse range of financing and fundraising transactions, takeover bids, and multi-jurisdictional corporate restructurings. Her notable strengths particularly shine in the fields of financial services and the technology industry.

With a strong focus on transactional excellence, Nicoletta's proficiency extends to regulatory intricacies pertaining to public companies. She offers guidance on initial and secondary public offerings of securities for Cypriot issuers, both in regulated and unregulated markets within the EU and beyond.

Her specialties include providing comprehensive and pragmatic regulatory advice, with a keen emphasis on domestic and EU legal frameworks, covering licensing, reporting, cross-border offerings, and ongoing compliance. Her focus areas encompass the financial services, technology, e-commerce, securities, investment and asset management.

Nicoletta has extensive experience advising on various commercial and hi-tech transactions, having successfully negotiated and concluded high-value agreements with industry-leading "Big Tech" corporations. She regularly advises technology companies on how to structure, protect, and scale their businesses.

Her experience in dealing with commercially suitable structures, assisting with the global scaling of businesses, and understanding the key aspects that drive those decisions is critical in the overall strategic planning of clients' affairs. She consistently provides crucial strategic insights and comprehensive, concise advice, making her a sought-after partner for strategic negotiations.

Areas of Practice:

\\ Banking & Finance

\\ Capital Markets & Securitisation

\\ Commercial

\\ Corporate and M&A

\\ Financial Services

\\ Intellectual Property

\\ Investment Funds & Asset Management

\\ Tax

\\ Technology & Innovation

With more than two decades of legal experience, Nicoletta embarked on her journey to establish Aptus Legal \\ Nicoletta Kouvara & Partners LLC in 2021. Her vision was to create a legal practice that departs from conventional law firms, prioritizing legal technology investment and the upskilling, and career development of its legal professionals. The central objective is to establish a strong nexus between the success of the firm's lawyers and the success of its clients' endeavors.

Acknowledging that law firms rely heavily on the capabilities, skills, and competencies of lawyers, Nicoletta aimed to provide experienced legal professionals with the platform to flourish and pioneer innovative approaches in legal practice. She recognizes that the practice of law must continue to evolve to address increasing regulatory and transactional complexities, the requirements of the evolving digital ecosystem, and, most crucially, the ever-changing needs of clients. With a vision to offer dynamic, modern, and adaptable legal services, she is committed that the Firm will always be prepared and adaptable to provide seamless solutions and tailored legal services to its valued clients.

Prior to founding the Firm she held the position of Global General Counsel and a member of the C-suite at YNV Group, an international technology conglomerate specialising in IT development, support, education, and real estate. Her responsibilities included overseeing the legal aspects of the Group's business, which encompassed Tek Experts, Wize, Elev8, and Everty. With over 6,000 employees and offices spanning the EU, USA, Central America, Africa, the Middle East, and Asia, this experience granted Nicoletta an in-depth understanding of the technology industry and the dynamics of a rapidly growing international organization. During her tenure, she successfully concluded high-value contracts with major technology companies, facilitated the expansion of operations in Africa and the Middle East, and played a pivotal role in the global expansion of the Group's business.

In the period between 2009 and 2019, she held a prominent position within the Corporate and Commercial department of the top-tier law firm Dr. K. Chrysostomides & Co LLC, where she ascended to the position of Partner in 2015. Her tenure was marked by her role in assisting international private and public corporations in diverse industries, majority of which were in technology, financial services, energy and trading industries, providing comprehensive support across various aspects of their corporate legal practice. She was at the helm of several high-value transactions, spanning from M&A, joint ventures, restructurings, and intricate cross-border financings. Her clients included also Cypriot issuers, and she offered guidance on their initial public offerings on the main and secondary markets across Cyprus, London, Hong Kong, and New York. Nicoletta successfully concluded high-profile public takeover bids and provided ongoing advice on securities laws governing the EU capital markets. Additionally, she led the regulatory practice of the firm, advising financial institutions, investment firms, funds, and fund managers on all aspects of regulatory compliance.

Between 2005 and 2009, she served as a Senior Associate at Papadopoulos & Lycourgos LLC, focusing on corporate and commercial law matters and adjudication of complex commercial disputes. Her emphasis during this period was corporate law, where she advised private and public companies on acquisitions, joint ventures, restructurings, and project financings. Notably, she played a pivotal role in the initial public offering of shares of Cypriot issuers.

Early on in her career, Nicoletta trained at Lellos P. Demetriades & Co LLC and qualified as a lawyer in 2003. After qualification, she worked as an associate at the same firm, where she dealt with general commercial law, focusing on intellectual property right protection, infringement and enforcement of IP rights, particularly in relation to software rights, music, films and literature. During her LL.M studies at the University of London, Queen Mary, she was working in the Technology Regulatory and Policy department of the US law firm Covington & Burling LLP, London office, dealing with copyright law related matters, with emphasis on IP protection for software and video games

Education:

\\ Certificate in Business Sustainability Strategy: Technology and Management at MIT SLOAN SCHOOL OF MANAGEMENT

\\ LL.M. in Commercial and Corporate Law, QUEEN MARY UNIVERSITY OF LONDON, UK

\\ LL.B. (Hons) in European Legal Studies, UNIVERSITY OF KENT AT CANTERBURY, UK

\\ Certificate in International Law, UNIVERSITY OF AMSTERDAM (UVA)

Professional Qualification:

Admitted to the Cyprus Bar Association (2003)

Memberships:

\\ American Chamber of Commerce in Cyprus

\\ European Women Payments Network (EWPN)

\\ Technology Committee of the Cyprus Bar Association

\\ Recognised and highly recommended for her corporate and mergers and acquisition experience by Chambers & Partners, Legal 500, European Legal Experts and IFLR1000

\\ Recognised and highly recommended for her experience in banking and financing transactions by Legal500, Chambers & Partners 

\\ Named as a “Rising Star” by Chambers & Partners

\\ Named as the “Next Generation Partner” by Legal500

\\ Named as a Leading Lawyer by IFLR 1000 in Banking, Capital Markets, M&A and Investment Funds