Kypros Chrysostomides was born in Kathikas, Paphos in 1942 and studied law at the University of Athens. He continued his studies at the Luxembourg Law School, where he read Comparative Law.
Dr Kypros Chrysostomides - Legal Services Nicosia
With a scholarship from the German government, Kypros pursued postgraduate studies at the University of Bonn, where he earned a Doctorate in Law (Ph.D.) with a specialization in Business Law. He later became a research fellow in Private International Law at the same university and worked at the European Commission of Human Rights in Strasbourg.
In 1981, Kypros and his wife Eleni co-founded Dr. K. Chrysostomides & Co LLC (now Chrysostomides Advocates & Legal Consultants). Renowned as one of Cyprus' leading corporate and tax lawyers, he specialized in business law, human rights law, international law, and constitutional law.
Kypros was an active member of various professional organizations, including the Cyprus Bar Association, the Greek Institute of International Law, the International Law Association, the International Bar Association, and the European Law Institute. He was also a founding member of the Consumers’ Association and participated in numerous scholarly and cultural groups, such as the Association of Sciences and the Historic Studies Association. He served as president of the Cyprus Institute of Political Research and European Affairs, fostering collaboration with scientific institutions across Greece and beyond.
As a member of the ICC International Court of Arbitration, Kypros served two consecutive terms until June 2018. Beyond his legal career, he held significant public roles, including Government Spokesman for the Republic of Cyprus from 2003 to 2005. In May 2006, he was elected to the House of Representatives, where he served as deputy chairman of the Home Affairs Committee. In February 2008, he was appointed Minister of Justice and Public Order but later returned to full-time legal practice in December of the same year.
Kypros received several prestigious honors throughout his life. In 1991, under the presidency of François Mitterrand, he was awarded the French “Chevalier de l’Ordre National du Mérite,” and in 2004, during Jacques Chirac’s presidency, he was promoted to “Officier de l’Ordre National du Mérite.” Additionally, he received the “Grand Cross of the Order of Phoenix” from Greek President Kostis Stephanopoulos in 2004. In 2020, he was recognized with the Cyprus Business Leader Award by the Cyprus Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
A prolific author, Kypros published extensively on international and constitutional law and human rights, earning widespread recognition for his analytical depth. In the introduction to his book The Republic of Cyprus: A Study in International Law, Professor Christopher Greenwood praised his work as a “careful and timely analysis of key legal issues.” He also wrote two children’s books in Greek, published in 2013 and 2021, both of which were critically acclaimed and incorporated into Cyprus’ educational curriculum by the Ministry of Education and Culture.
In 2022, Kypros received the “Lifetime Achievement Award” at the Cyprus Review Annual Book Awards (CRABA 2022) from the University of Nicosia. This honor recognized his extensive body of published work, particularly on the international dimensions of the Cyprus Question.