Energy
Hall of Fame
The lawyers at the very top of the profession, widely known and respected by peers and clients for their longstanding involvement in market-leading work.
Hall of fameWatson Farley & Williams LLP
Virginia specialises in acquisitions and financings in the Greek infrastructure and energy sectors, as well as real estate, corporate/M&A, insurance, mining and commodities transactions for both Greek and international investors and banks. Virginia graduated from Cambridge University in 1989 and practised as a barrister in London for five years before moving to Athens and qualifying as a Greek lawyer in 1998. She then spent ten years at a major Greek commercial law firm before joining WFW in 2007. Virginia is widely recognised for her energy, projects, finance and corporate/M&A expertise.
Hall of famePOTAMITISVEKRIS
Partner - Head of Structured Finance, Projects and Energy
Rising stars
Rising stars with regular involvement in their team's key work, and recognition from peers or clients as being ones to watch.
Watson Farley & Williams LLP
Maira specialises in project and structured finance, mergers and acquisitions and regulations within in the energy sector. She has extensive experience in the Greek energy market and related regulations, environmental law and land rights, as well as advising on corporate structures and corporate governance, employment law and insurance law. Since joining the firm in 2007, she has worked on numerous complex share sale and acquisition transactions in the Greek energy and infrastructure sectors, as well as in privatisations. Maira is recognised as a rising star in Energy by Legal 500 EMEA and is described as ‘insightful and meticulous’, with ‘a very good knowledge of the energy legislative and regulatory framework’ by one of the largest legal publications.
Zepos & Yannopoulos
Smaragda Spyrou is a senior associate of our energy and insurance practice groups. Smaragda focuses on corporate, commercial, M&As and energy law. Her regular practice covers advice to international and domestic clients on corporate matters, drafting and negotiation of commercial contracts and M&A transactional work. She is highly experienced in large-scale EU and international projects, involving the negotiation of complex commercial agreements between private entities and State agencies. She also has significant experience in the areas of electric power and natural gas production, and is a member of the energy practice of our firm. She was admitted to the Athens Bar in 2007 and joined us in 2018. Smaragda is admitted before the Court of Appeal.
Bernitsas Law
Counsel Eleni is a counsel at the Firm which she joined in 2017. She advises on project finance and energy related transactions, public procurement and public private partnerships. Eleni has experience in drafting and negotiating commercial and finance agreements and participating in due diligence reviews. She also advises on the legal and regulatory framework governing tender procedures, acquisition and development projects in the conventional and renewable energy sectors, and on licensing and permit requirements for all types of energy project. Eleni represents clients in filing tender bids and legal recourses, petitions and applications arising from their participation in tenders and other public procurement procedures. Prior to joining the Firm, Eleni worked as corporate counsel in the architectural and construction sectors in Greece and abroad.
POTAMITISVEKRIS
Next Generation Partners
Junior partners with significant recognition from clients and peers in the market and key roles on multiple matters.
Leading individuals
The strongest partners in their field, leading on market-leading deals and endorsed by peers and clients alike.
Fortsakis, Diakopoulos, Mylonogiannis & Associates Law Firm
He heads the Firm's Public Procurement practice
Fortsakis, Diakopoulos, Mylonogiannis & Associates Law Firm
He heads the Firm's Energy & Natural Resources and EU & Competition Practice.
Bernitsas Law
Partner Yannis has a wide-ranging transactional practice which encompasses significant experience in acting in complex privatisations, public and private projects and mergers and acquisitions. He has a particular expertise in the energy, infrastructure, utilities and transport sectors. Yannis' vast experience in privatisations reaches back to his time as Special Secretary for Privatisations at the Ministry of Finance, in which capacity he managed the sale of numerous State owned companies, notably public utilities. Since joining the Firm in 2004, he has been involved in high profile privatisations of grid operators, motorways, ports, airports and railways. Yannis is an expert in energy law, advising on the structuring, development, financing and implementation of transactions and projects in the conventional and renewable energy sectors. He advises extensively on legislative risk and compliance and counts leading energy companies, international investors, financiers and Government bodies among his clients. Yannis advises both privately and State owned entities and consortiums on project financings and public private partnerships, with a specialisation in documenting and negotiating concession contracts. He also advises on the regulatory framework for the assignment of public contracts by way of tenders and for developing projects and public private partnerships. Yannis advises public and private companies, investors and financial advisors in mergers, acquisitions, restructurings and divestments of primarily distressed assets. Much of his work in this area is cross-border and takes place in highly regulated sectors.
