Marina Christoforou
Brussels
Overview
3
3
years of professional experience
Work History
Legal Assistant, DG BUDG, UNIT D3.
European Commission - Brussels, Belgium
10.2023 - Current
- Providing guidance and legal support to Commission services regarding the implementation of sectoral spending programs and various legal instruments available for the implementation of the EU Budget.
- Contributing to interservice and ad hoc consultations on financial rules for EU programs.
- Drafting replies to the legal questions submitted to the Central Financial Helpdesk.
- Developing guidance and training in the field of indirect management for the Commission staff.
- Offering support to the operational DGs within the European Commission in the evaluation of the Pillar Assessment Audit Reports and application of supervisory measures, to ensure coordination and coherence in the pillar assessment process across the Commission services.
- Drafting legal advice on specific questions, drafting standard Financial Regulation provisions, and legal documents.
BLUE BOOK TRAINEE, DG BUDG, UNIT D1.
European Commission
Brussels
03.2023 - 07.2023
- Assisted with the enforcement of Union law by working on files for the protection of the EU's financial interests.
- Contributed to ongoing legal proceedings involving the Conditionality Regulation, focusing on the investigation and anti-corruption framework outlined in the Council Implementing Decision (EU) 2022/2506 of 15 December 2022.
- Evaluated information submitted by European Citizens regarding the possibility of triggering the Conditionality Regulation.
- Participated in high-level meetings with EU institutions, including EP Plenary sessions on the Rule of Law mechanism.
- Demonstrated attention to detail and proofreading skills by drafting flash reports, ensuring that critical information was effectively communicated to the team.
- Represented the Unit in the country visit teams regarding the Rule of Law mechanism
JUNIOR LAWYER
Elias Neocleous & Co LLC
Nicosia
09.2022 - 02.2023
- Assisted in the preparation of merger control notifications for submission to the Cyprus Competition Authority.
- Drafted and reviewed legal documents such as loan agreements and assignments of loans to facilitate successful financing transactions for clients.
- Conducted in-depth research and drafted legal opinions, including providing legal advice on the distribution and marketing of investment services and activities related to financial instruments (reverse solicitation, marketing communication) in the EEA by third-country banks/investment firms.
- Successfully led a project for the share premium reduction of a company.
- Gained experience in intellectual property law by registering proposed trademarks at a national and/or EU level.
Trainee Lawyer
Elias Neocleous & Co LLC
Nicosia
09.2021 - 09.2022
- Drafted comprehensive legal memorandums to further develop my expertise in legal research, including one addressing the contractual obligations between intermediaries, insurance companies, and clients in accordance with the Insurance Law of Cyprus.
- Assisted with the establishment of a multinational technology company in Cyprus by providing legal advice based on The Provision and Use of Payment Services and Access to Payment Systems Law of 2018.
- Completed a legal review of a client's transaction documents and subsequently assisted with the perfection of the security.
- Prepared a report regarding the possibility of the client to partially terminate a contract in respect of certain services while the agreement remained in force for other services.
Education
Cyprus Bar Association | 2021-2022
Bar Examination | Distinction
Nicosia, CyprusUniversity College London (UCL) | 2020-2021
LLM International Banking & Finance | Distinction
London, UKThe University of Manchester | 2017-2020
Bachelor of Laws | First Class Honors (76.3%)
Manchester, UKA-Levels: Mathematics(A), Economics(B)
Nicosia, CyprusLanguages
Greek (Native), English (Highly proficient)
Affiliations
Representative of DG BUDG. trainees | (2023) | Brussels, Belgium
- Developed strong communication and interpersonal skills by acting as a first point of contact for internal and external communications for BUDG trainees.
Career Subcommittee Member, European Commission Trainees Association | (2023) | Brussels, Belgium
- Assisted with the preparation of the Job Fair Day, visiting possible Job Fair venues, working on the invitations for employers, and coordinating with the Career Supervisor.
LLM Editor, UCL Journal of Law and Jurisprudence | (2021) | London, UK
- Performed routine editorial and legal tasks such as assisting authors with the clarity of their articles to ensure a polished final work, contributing to the enhancement of the quality of legal publications.
Contributing Writer at the Student Investor | (2020-2021) | London, UK
- Participated in meetings and authored articles on emerging areas of the financial industry, gaining valuable insights and strengthening communication skills in effectively presenting complex financial concepts.
Accomplishments
Faculty of Humanities Dean's Award | 2020 | University of Manchester
- Ranked among the top-performing undergraduate students in the Faculty of Humanities
39 Essex Chambers Prize & RG Lawson Prize | 2020| University of Manchester
- Achieved the best overall result in the Mental Health Law Examination.
Publications
- Cyprus Mail, Co-Author: "Important gaps in fertility treatment in Cyprus" (2023).
- Elias Neocleous & Co LLC, Co-Author: "In what context can a stand-alone license agreement trigger the need for a merger control filing" (2022).
- Elias Neocleous & Co LLC, Co-Author: "The Protection of Competition Law of 2022" (2022)
Timeline
Legal Assistant, DG BUDG, UNIT D3.
European Commission - Brussels, Belgium
10.2023 - Current
BLUE BOOK TRAINEE, DG BUDG, UNIT D1.
European Commission
03.2023 - 07.2023
JUNIOR LAWYER
Elias Neocleous & Co LLC
09.2022 - 02.2023
Trainee Lawyer
Elias Neocleous & Co LLC
09.2021 - 09.2022
Cyprus Bar Association | 2021-2022
Bar Examination | Distinction
University College London (UCL) | 2020-2021
LLM International Banking & Finance | Distinction
The University of Manchester | 2017-2020
Bachelor of Laws | First Class Honors (76.3%)
A-Levels: Mathematics(A), Economics(B)
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