Special Teaching Staff in Shipping Law

Qualifications

Doctor of Law (University of Matej Bel, Slovakia, Commercial and International Law, 2005)

Master of Laws in Maritime Law (London Metropolitan University, 2014)

Postgraduate Diploma in Maritime Law (London Metropolitan University, 2014)

Master of Laws (University of Matej Bel, Slovakia, Four major subjects (criminal law, civil law, international law, and commercial law- with Excellent, 1999-2003)

Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers, Understanding Shipping Course (2007)

Cyprus registered Advocate (called to the Cyprus Bar Association in 2021)

Slovak registered Euro Advocate (registered in the Slovak Bar Association in 2022)

Specialization

Commercial Law; Contract law; Company Law; Shipping Law; Dispute Resolution

Employment Track

Special Teaching Staff in Shipping Law, UCLan Cyprus, 2016 -now

Non-Executive Director of a Cyprus holding company, 2025 to date.

Sonia Ajini & Co LLC (law firm)- Founder and owner, 2021 to date.

Ajilex Ltd (legal advisors and maritime consultants) – Founder and Managing Director, 2018 to date.

Freelance Legal Advisor to Several Companies, 2018 to date.

Board member of a Group of Companies involved with intellectual property, 2018-2021.

L. G. Zambartas LLC, Limassol Cyprus – Senior Legal Consultant, 2010 to 2018.

Elias Marine Consultants Ltd – Claims Executive, 2006-2008.

Interorient Marine Services Ltd – Legal Assistant, 2003-2006

Memberships (Academic/Professional)

• Board Member of Cyprus Association of European Law, branch of the International Federation of European Law (FIDE), 2025 to date.
• President of Cyprus-Slovakia Friendship Association, 2023 to date
• Member of the Slovak Bar Association, 2022- to date
• Member of the Cyprus Bar Association, 2021 to date
• Director and Vice-president of Cyprus-Slovak Business Association, 2019 to date
• Special Agent of the Liberian Maritime Registry in Cyprus, 2017 -2021.   
• Women’s International Shipping and Trading Association (WISTA Cyprus) – Founding Member, Director and Vice-President, 2012 – 2014     
• Cyprus Arbitration and Mediation Centre (CAMC)- Director and Secretary General and Company Secretary, 2011 – 2020           
• Cyprus Slovak Friendship Association- Member of the Executive Committee, 2011 – 2014

Research Interests

Commercial Law; Contract law; Company Law; Shipping Law; Dispute Resolution

Roles and Responsibilities (including past roles and responsibilities)

Teaching and Course Leadership 

• Commercial and Shipping Law

Selective Conference and Seminar Presentations 

2020 – Speaker at the Round Table on “Smart shipping: Challenge or opportunity? What sort of revolution will smart-shipping turn out to be?”, 3rd Shipping Symposium ‘The modern challenges of Shipping in Cyprus. Technical and legal trends in Smart Shipping’, organized by UCLan Cyprus School of Law, held under the auspices of the Deputy Ministry of Shipping, Republic of Cyprus, and sponsored by the Hellenic Bank, Limassol, 13 February 2020

2019 – Speaker at the 2^nd shipping symposium ‘The modern challenges of shipping in Cyprus. Focus on the legal and financial framework and structural reforms’, organised by the Law School, UCLan Cyprus, under the auspices of the Cyprus Shipping Deputy Minister, externally sponsored by the Hellenic Bank, Limassol, 31 January 2019

2017 – Speaker at the Symposium on “The modern challenges of shipping in Cyprus. Focus on the legal framework, financing and dispute resolution” organised by the Law School of UCLan Cyprus with the Cyprus Department of Merchant Shipping under the auspices of the Minister of Transport, Communications and Works of Cyprus, 7 December 2017. Sponsored by the Hellenic Bank Shipping.

2015 – Speaker at a number of conferences held in Cyprus regarding commercial, maritime and arbitration issues and interviews conducted with the Slovak Broadcasting Association of Slovakia regarding Cyprus and its laws and regulations

Consultancy and CPD Training

Legal advisor to the Czech Embassy in Cyprus

Ad hoc legal advisor to the Slovak Embassy in Cyprus

Scholarships/Awards

2026, Award Winner 2026 by Corporate INTL as maritime Law Expert of the Year

2021, Listed amongst 100 top women in shipping award for 2020, All about shipping.com

2020, Listed amongst 100 top women in shipping award for 2019, All about shipping.com

2019, Finalist in the Kivotos Golden Lady Business Award of Cyprus in the category of Corporate Entrepreneur

2016 and 2024,  Featured  in the book Nasi a svetovi  (translated  as Ours and the World) by Mrs Ľubica Hargašová. 1^st and 2^nd edition published in 2016 and 2024 (one of 18 Slovaks featured in the book). https://www.martinus.sk/772009-nasi-a-svetovi/kniha

Other Scholarly and Outreach Activities

2017    Contributor/writer on a study on Protection of Minority Shareholders Rights for the European Commission as a selected National Counsel for Cyprus

2015    Letter of appreciation from the Minister of Foreign and European Affairs of the Slovak Republic Mr. Miroslav Lajcak regarding Dr. Ajini’s legal assistance to the Slovaks in Cyprus 2015    Contributor/writer of an Article on Improving access to information in Cyprus in public institutions: recent initiatives and developments (EBRD: LAW IN TRANSITION ONLINE 2015) contributor and co-writer of the study on “Arbitration in Southern Europe”, covering Cyprus, Greece, Italy, Malta, Portugal and Spain’ for the European Parliament