Logistics, Trade & Supply Chain

International Trade, Supply & Distribution

We advise on the purchase, sale, manufacture, supply and distribution of goods in domestic and international transactions.

Our work includes sale and purchase agreements, manufacturing and procurement arrangements, long-term supply agreements, distribution, agency, dealership and other commercial relationships.

We advise on product specifications, quality requirements, pricing, minimum purchase obligations, exclusivity, inspection and acceptance, delivery obligations, warranties, payment, termination and continuity of supply.

For businesses entering new markets, we also advise on distribution structures and the contractual framework through which products are introduced and sold.

Where transactions involve several jurisdictions, we coordinate with appropriately qualified foreign counsel where required.

Logistics, Freight & Warehousing

We advise on the contractual framework governing transportation, freight forwarding, logistics, storage, fulfilment and delivery.

Our work includes logistics services agreements, freight-forwarding arrangements, carriage contracts, warehousing agreements, fulfilment arrangements and relationships with terminals and other logistics providers.

Particular attention is given to responsibility while goods pass between different parties and locations, including subcontracting, custody, storage, handling, loss, damage, delay and misdelivery.

We also advise businesses outsourcing substantial logistics operations on the contractual controls required to manage dependency on third-party providers.

Risk Allocation

Risk allocation sits at the centre of our logistics and international trade practice.

A supply chain may involve numerous contracts, yet a single event can affect all of them. A delayed vessel may lead to port charges, missed delivery obligations, rejected goods, customer claims and an insurance dispute. Damaged cargo may create simultaneous claims involving the seller, carrier, freight forwarder, warehouse and insurer.

We structure and review commercial arrangements with particular attention to determining who bears each risk, when that risk transfers and what remedies are available when it materialises.

Our work includes:

Transfer of title and risk Incoterms and delivery obligations Loss and damage to goods Delay and non-delivery Port and terminal delays Demurrage and detention Storage and additional logistics costs Defective and non-conforming goods Product deterioration and contamination Perishable and temperature-sensitive cargo Inspection, acceptance and rejection rights Product warranties and specifications Product withdrawal and recall Rejected and abandoned cargo Force majeure and supply interruption Indemnities and limitations of liability Consequential and indirect loss Insurance obligations Mitigation and alternative performance Termination and suspension rights Claims and recovery mechanisms

The objective is not simply to determine liability after a loss has occurred. We seek to identify material exposures before the transaction or supply relationship begins and allocate those risks contractually to the party best placed to control or insure them.

Customs, Clearance & Cross-Border Movement

Customs forms an integral part of the commercial risk surrounding international movement of goods.

We advise on customs clearance, import and export documentation, classification, origin, valuation, supporting commercial records and other requirements affecting goods entering or leaving Cyprus.

For significant, unusual or high-value shipments, we can review the transaction and customs documentation before dispatch to identify discrepancies capable of delaying clearance or creating additional cost.

We also advise where goods are inspected, questioned, detained or prevented from clearing customs and where disputes arise concerning classification, valuation, origin, documentation or import and export restrictions.

Our work includes coordination with customs agents, freight forwarders, accountants and other specialist professionals responsible for the physical and documentary movement of the goods.

Ports, Delays & Disrupted Cargo

Delay can alter the economics of an international transaction very quickly.

We advise where cargo is delayed at ports or terminals, containers cannot be collected or returned, goods are detained, transportation is interrupted or additional charges begin accumulating.

Our work includes port and terminal delays, demurrage, detention, storage charges, carrier delays, customs-related delay, unavailable collection, inspection requirements and other interruptions affecting delivery.

We examine the contractual chain to determine which party assumed responsibility for the relevant event and the resulting costs.

Where disruption threatens the underlying commercial transaction, we also advise on notices, mitigation, alternative transportation or delivery, rejection, termination and recovery of losses.

Product & Cargo Problems

Problems with the physical goods frequently create legal issues across several parts of the supply chain simultaneously.

We advise where goods arrive damaged, defective, incomplete, contaminated, deteriorated, incorrectly packaged, incorrectly labelled or otherwise fail to comply with contractual specifications or applicable requirements.

Our work may involve inspection and acceptance, rejection rights, warranties, replacement obligations, price reductions, damages, indemnities, product withdrawal or recall and termination.

For perishable, temperature-controlled and sensitive cargo, we advise where refrigeration failure, temperature excursions, improper handling or delay affects the commercial condition or usability of the goods.

We coordinate with surveyors, laboratories, engineers, technical specialists and other experts where evidence concerning the condition, quality or cause of damage is required.

Insurance Architecture & Contract-to-Cover Review

Insurance should follow the contractual allocation of risk.

We review, negotiate and assist in developing insurance arrangements connected with logistics, international trade, transportation and storage, including cargo and goods-in-transit insurance, warehouse and logistics liability, commercial liability and bespoke cover for high-value or sensitive shipments.

Particular attention is given to insured risks, exclusions, deductibles, limits and sub-limits, valuation mechanisms, territorial scope, warranties, disclosure requirements, notification obligations and claims procedures.

A central part of our work is the **Contract-to-Cover Review**.

We examine the commercial contract and relevant insurance policy together to determine whether the liabilities assumed by the business are reflected in the insurance protection actually maintained.

This includes reviewing indemnities, limitations of liability, Incoterms, risk-transfer provisions, responsibility for loss or damage, insurance obligations, policy exclusions and coverage limits.

The objective is to identify situations in which a business has contractually assumed a risk that its insurance arrangements may not adequately cover before that risk materialises.

Claims, Recovery & Insurance

When a loss occurs, several potential routes of recovery may exist simultaneously.

We advise on claims arising from damaged, lost, stolen, delayed, deteriorated or misdelivered cargo and disputes involving suppliers, buyers, carriers, freight forwarders, terminals, warehouses, logistics providers and insurers.

Our work may include preservation of evidence, contractual notices, assessment of liability, insurance notifications, policy interpretation, rejected or disputed insurance claims, valuation disputes and recovery against responsible counterparties.

Rather than treating the insurance claim and commercial claims separately, we consider the recovery strategy across the contractual chain.

Where appropriate, we coordinate with insurers, brokers, surveyors, loss adjusters, laboratories, technical experts and foreign counsel.

Supply Chain Disruption

A significant supply-chain failure may affect much more than the shipment itself.

Businesses may face unavailable stock, interrupted production, contractual penalties, customer claims, port charges, deteriorating goods, payment disputes and loss of key commercial relationships at the same time.

We advise on the immediate legal response to significant disruption, including preservation of rights, contractual notices, mitigation, alternative sourcing, alternative transportation, insurance notifications, suspension, termination and recovery against responsible parties.

Our approach considers both the allocation of the existing loss and the steps required to protect continuity of the underlying business.

High-Value & Sensitive Cargo

Certain goods require a more closely controlled contractual, customs and insurance framework.

We advise on the movement of high-value, fragile, unusual, time-critical or commercially sensitive cargo, including transaction documentation, ownership, customs, transportation, storage, insurance and allocation of risk.

Where appropriate, we coordinate the legal arrangements with specialist logistics providers, customs professionals, brokers, insurers, valuers and other advisers before dispatch.

The objective is to consider the transaction as a whole before the asset enters transit.

Trade Finance & Payment Risk

The physical movement of goods and the movement of money are closely connected.

We advise on payment and security arrangements associated with international trade, including guarantees, receivables, retention of title and other contractual mechanisms intended to protect payment and performance.

We also advise where payment is withheld because goods are delayed, rejected, damaged or alleged not to meet contractual requirements.

Where financing arrangements involve financial institutions or several jurisdictions, we coordinate the relevant legal work with the parties and foreign counsel.

Sanctions, Export Controls & Restricted Trade

International supply chains increasingly require consideration of sanctions, export controls and restrictions affecting goods, counterparties and destinations.

We advise on the legal implications of sanctions and trade restrictions affecting transactions connected with Cyprus, including contractual protections, counterparty considerations and the consequences of restrictions arising after a transaction has commenced.

Where specialist foreign export-control advice is required, we coordinate with appropriately qualified counsel in the relevant jurisdiction.

Logistics Investments & Infrastructure

We advise investors and businesses on acquisitions, disposals and investments involving logistics companies, freight-forwarding businesses, warehouses, distribution centres and logistics infrastructure.

Our work includes legal due diligence, transaction documentation, financing, property interests, material customer and supplier contracts, customs exposure, insurance arrangements and regulatory matters.

Particular attention is given to historic and continuing risk, including claims history, contractual liabilities, insurance coverage, major customer dependencies, carrier relationships and responsibility for goods held or transported by the target business.

Cross-Border Logistics

International logistics rarely begins and ends within a single jurisdiction.

Goods may be manufactured in one country, sold through another, financed elsewhere, transported through several ports, enter the European Union through Cyprus and ultimately be delivered into another market.

We advise on the Cyprus elements of international logistics and trade arrangements and coordinate foreign counsel where local laws affect transportation, customs, products, distribution, ownership, insurance or enforcement.

Logistics, Product & Trade Disputes

We represent businesses in disputes arising throughout the supply chain.

These may concern failed or delayed deliveries, port and terminal delays, demurrage and detention, damaged cargo, defective or non-conforming products, rejected goods, contamination, customs intervention, unpaid goods, insurance coverage, warehousing, distribution relationships and significant supply interruptions.

The first question in these matters is often not simply whether a loss occurred, but **where within the contractual chain that loss legally belongs**.

We analyse the underlying contracts, transfer of risk, liability provisions, insurance arrangements and available recovery routes to develop a coordinated strategy.

Where disputes involve counterparties, goods or evidence situated internationally, we coordinate with appropriately qualified foreign counsel and specialist professionals.

Selected Areas of Advice

• International sale and purchase of goods Supply, manufacturing and procurement Distribution and market entry Logistics and freight-forwarding agreements Carriage, warehousing and fulfilment Contractual risk allocation Transfer of title and risk Incoterms and delivery obligations Indemnities and limitations of liability Port and terminal delays Demurrage and detention Storage and additional logistics costs Customs clearance Pre-arrival customs review Customs disputes and detained goods Defective and non-conforming products Damaged, contaminated and deteriorated cargo Perishable and temperature-sensitive goods Product rejection, withdrawal and recall Rejected and abandoned cargo Insurance contract building and review Contract-to-cover reviews Cargo and goods-in-transit insurance Warehouse and logistics liability Insurance claims and coverage disputes Cargo claims and recovery Supply-chain disruption High-value and sensitive cargo Trade finance and payment risk Sanctions and trade restrictions Logistics investments and infrastructure Cross-border logistics International trade and product disputes

Beyond Transportation

The central legal question in international logistics is not simply how goods move.

It is **who carries the risk while they move**.

A shipment may pass through numerous hands and contractual relationships before reaching its destination. Delay, damage, customs intervention, product failure or loss can therefore create exposure across the entire commercial chain.

Our role is to understand that chain before a problem occurs, allocate risk through the contractual framework, align that allocation with appropriate insurance arrangements and protect the client's position when the risk materialises.

From procurement and contracting through transportation, ports, customs, insurance, warehousing and distribution to claims and recovery, we approach the supply chain as one interconnected legal and commercial structure.

Because in international trade, moving the goods is only part of the transaction. **Knowing where the risk sits is what protects it.**