New Collective Volume on Cypriot Civil Procedure Unveiled: Advancing Cypriot Civil Justice
On the 7th of October 2025, the Cyprus Bar Association, the Procedural Law Unit of the University of Nicosia, and Nomiki Vivliothiki hosted a gathering at the Cleopatra Hotel to present the collective volume Cypriot Civil Procedure. Coordinated by Nicolas Kyriakides, and Iphigenia Fisentzou, the event brought together leading legal minds to explore the evolution and future of civil procedure in Cyprus.
Dr Nicolas Kyriakides opened the event offering context on the origins and goals of the book, with remarks highlighting the collaborative effort and vision behind the publication. He mentioned that “From the outset, we were fortunate to work with a team of outstanding scientists and professionals, each of whom played a crucial role not only in drafting the content but also in forming a shared, coherent understanding of the new procedural framework. Their insight, expertise, and commitment have been invaluable, and we extend our deepest thanks to them.
This work aims to serve judges, lawyers, and students alike as a practical resource, a catalyst for scientific dialogue, and a reference point for procedural thinking in Cyprus. As the legal landscape continues to evolve, our team is dedicated to a systematic revision of this publication with Cypriot case law and other procedural developments, ensuring a modern, effective, and humane justice.”
Judge Yasemis then described the September 2023 implementation of the new Civil Procedure Regulations as a landmark moment for Cyprus’s justice system, the product of years of collaboration between judges and lawyers under the Dyson Committee. He explained that the reforms aim to deliver fair, efficient, and cost-effective justice through stronger case management, clearer procedures, and pre-trial protocols promoting early resolution. Guided by the “overriding objective” of fairness and proportionality, the new system marks a modern era of civil justice focused on efficiency and judicial effectiveness through improved methods rather than increased judicial numbers.
Following that, President of the Cyprus Bar Association, Michalis Vorkas, highlighted that the introduction of the 2023 Civil Procedure Regulations marks a historic transformation for Cyprus’s legal system, replacing the Civil Procedure Code for the first time. While acknowledging the initial challenges for lawyers, he stressed the need for a thorough understanding of the new rules to ensure effective advocacy and client service. He noted the CBA’s efforts to support the transition through training, seminars, and collaboration with the Supreme Court, reaffirming its commitment to modernising justice through cooperation, adaptability, and continuous professional development to achieve a fairer and more efficient judicial system.
Thereafter, Professor Adrian Zuckerman reflected on the transformative effect of the Civil Procedure Rules (CPR) 1998 in England and Wales, which modernised litigation by shifting the court’s role from merely delivering legally correct judgments to providing justice that is both timely and affordable. He explained that before 1998, courts focused solely on legal accuracy, ignoring delay and cost. The CPR introduced an “overriding objective” that made efficiency and proportionality essential to justice, giving courts the tools to manage cases actively through timetables, deadlines, and streamlined procedures to ensure disputes were resolved promptly and effectively.
However, Professor Zuckerman lamented that, despite the CPR’s sound design, the system’s promise remains largely unfulfilled due to “inadequate court management.” He attributed this failure to two main causes: the reluctance of higher courts to support strict enforcement of deadlines, and the legal profession’s lack of economic incentive to pursue efficiency. Lawyers, he noted, are often driven by the hourly fee system and cost-shifting rules that encourage delay rather than resolution. Turning to Cyprus, he commended the modernisation of its civil procedure rules but cautioned that real success would depend on overcoming these same entrenched obstacles. He concluded that this book offers a “detailed and persuasive explanation” of how this can be effectively accomplished.
A point echoed by the next speaker, Jonathan Adamopoulos, reflecting on Australia’s experience, noted that the country’s federal system means pre-litigation protocols are not uniformly required, with most jurisdictions abandoning them due to limited impact. Only two still retain them, as resistance, largely from lawyers, stemmed from low awareness and engagement. He stressed that reform succeeds only with early and ongoing practitioner involvement.
He further examined judicial case management, highlighting the Supreme Court of New South Wales’ Commercial Division, where judges efficiently handle numerous procedural matters weekly. Judges, he explained, combine flexibility with procedural clarity, expecting lawyers to resolve minor interlocutory issues independently, preserving court time for substantive matters. Adamopoulos’ insights highlight how efficient, purpose-driven case management can reduce delays without compromising fairness, a key takeaway for Cyprus as it advances its own procedural reforms.
This was the focus of the next and final address, by Agis Georgiades, emphasising the expert group led by Lord Dyson aimed to design Cyprus’s new Civil Procedure Rules to function effectively in practice. He stressed two main points: the importance of tailoring the rules to local realities and recognising that procedural reform alone cannot resolve deep-rooted systemic issues. Georgiades identified entrenched habits within the Cypriot justice system, such as frequent adjournments, unnecessary filings, missed deadlines, and excessive bureaucracy as major obstacles to reform.
He warned that without addressing these cultural and organisational shortcomings, the new rules will fall short of their potential. Effective reform, Georgiades emphasised, requires more than just new regulations; it demands investment in infrastructure, technology, human resources, and efficient court administration. Only through such a comprehensive approach can the civil justice system truly improve and meet the needs of all its users. Without this commitment, the cycle of inefficiency and frustration will persist. His message was clear: reform in Cyprus must go beyond the written rules, real progress depends on a collective shift in mentality, improved organisation, and the modernisation of court systems, a conclusion that ties together the common threads in all three speeches.
The event underscored a shared commitment to transforming Cyprus’s civil justice system into one that is efficient, fair, and accessible. Through collaboration between academia, the judiciary, and the legal profession, the discussions highlighted that meaningful reform requires not only new rules but also a sustained cultural and institutional shift toward modern, proactive justice.
