Zena Spanou Verified Lawyer

Experience

Zena Spanou is a Partner in the Commercial Department at Markos P. Spanos & Co LLC in Nicosia, Cyprus. She was admitted to the Cyprus Bar Association in 2018, having completed her training at the firm, and as of September 2025 she serves as a Partner in the Commercial Department while also supporting the Corporate and Immigration Departments and acting as the firm’s certified MLCO (Money Laundering Compliance Officer). This combination of roles reflects a cross-functional practice within the firm, aligning commercial strategy with regulatory compliance. ([mpspanoslaw.com](https://mpspanoslaw.com/the-team/zena-spanou-2/)) Earlier in her career, Spanou spent time in London with Practical Law Corporate, Thomson Reuters (2015–2017), where she tracked UK and EU proposals on corporate law reform and contributed to drafting content and agreements on corporate law matters. This experience provided exposure to cross-border corporate matters and regulatory developments that inform her later practice in Cyprus. ([mpspanoslaw.com](https://mpspanoslaw.com/the-team/zena-spanou-2/)) After joining Markos P. Spanos & Co LLC, Spanou held the position of Associate from 2018 to 2021, working primarily within the Litigation Department and handling civil, commercial and employment law matters with clients in mind. Her trajectory within the firm culminated in her appointment as Partner in the Commercial Department, reflecting a deepening focus on advising local and international clients on commercial agreements and related matters. ([mpspanoslaw.com](https://mpspanoslaw.com/the-team/zena-spanou-2/)) Spanou’s in-house experience spans prominent international technology companies, with initial work in the gambling sector followed by roles in cybersecurity, AI and other tech-related professional services such as employer of record (EOR) and skilling services. This background has shaped her understanding of the regulatory and commercial dynamics shaping the gambling industry in particular, as well as broader tech-enabled businesses operating across multiple jurisdictions. ([mpspanoslaw.com](https://mpspanoslaw.com/the-team/zena-spanou-2/)) In addition to her client-facing duties, Spanou’s profile highlights her leadership within the firm’s commercial and related departments, including her role as MLCO, which involves oversight of anti-money-laundering controls and related compliance requirements across the firm’s activities. Her work demonstrates a blend of transactional acumen, regulatory insight and cross-border advisory capabilities. ([mpspanoslaw.com](https://mpspanoslaw.com/the-team/zena-spanou-2/))

Specialty

• Commercial law and corporate advisory for local and international clients, with a focus on strategic advice and negotiation of complex commercial agreements. Spanou provides guidance on a broad range of commercial matters and agreements within the Cyprus market and across cross-border transactions. ([mpspanoslaw.com](https://mpspanoslaw.com/the-team/zena-spanou-2/))
• Gambling industry experience and tech-sector exposure, including in-house roles in gambling and later cybersecurity, AI and related professional services. This background informs her approach to regulatory and contractual matters affecting gaming and related technology providers. ([mpspanoslaw.com](https://mpspanoslaw.com/the-team/zena-spanou-2/))
• Software licensing and game provider agreements, as well as global-network telecom services, marketing, affiliation programs, tender evaluations and employer of record services. Spanou’s practice covers the negotiation and drafting of technology and licensing arrangements critical to multinational tech and gaming clients. ([mpspanoslaw.com](https://mpspanoslaw.com/the-team/zena-spanou-2/))
• Litigation and dispute resolution experience accrued during her early tenure with the Firm, handling civil, commercial and employment matters; this background supports her ability to align transactional work with practical dispute-avoidance strategies. ([mpspanoslaw.com](https://mpspanoslaw.com/the-team/zena-spanou-2/))

Education

• Legal Practice Course, University of Law Bloomsbury (2015). ([mpspanoslaw.com](https://mpspanoslaw.com/the-team/zena-spanou-2/))
• LL.B (Honours) with Legal Studies in Europe, University of Reading (2014). ([mpspanoslaw.com](https://mpspanoslaw.com/the-team/zena-spanou-2/))
• Diplôme d’Etudes Juridiques Françaises, Université Paris Ouest Nanterre La Défense (2013). ([mpspanoslaw.com](https://mpspanoslaw.com/the-team/zena-spanou-2/))

Education