Bernitsas Law

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Maria Sofia Sfika

Senior Associate Maria is a senior associate with the Firm and a member of the Corporate and M&A and Banking, Finance & Capital Markets teams. She is experienced in corporate and capital markets law, with a focus on ongoing obligations for listed and private companies. Maria advises on corporate transformations and commercial agreements across a range of sectors, in particular mergers and acquisitions in the telecommunications and technology sectors. Her practice also includes advising clients on regulatory compliance and corporate governance and she has extensive experience in the structuring and execution of complex cross-border and domestic transactions.

Associate Alexia advises on banking, finance and project finance matters and assists in acquisition and structured financings. Alexia also acts in due diligence exercises and advises in relation to compliance with regulatory obligations in the banking and financial services sector. Prior to joining the Firm, she spent several years at the Athens office of a leading international law firm.

Alexia Kefalogianni

Counsel Alexia is an expert in banking, finance and capital markets, with over 20 years’ experience in the financial services industry. She works on both advisory and transactional matters. Alexia has in-depth experience in all kinds of capital market transactions including securities offerings, debt programs establishment and liability management exercises. Her expertise extends to debt structuring and financing transactions including traditional and synthetic securitizations, outright loan sales, servicing agreements and similar arrangements. She advises on prudential, licensing and cross-border regulatory matters applicable to financial institutions, investment firms and asset managers. She has a broad skillset covering product launching, fund establishment and distribution through to downstream investment and disposal works, structured products and derivatives. Prior to joining the Firm, Alexia was Head of the Legal Services Division at a Greek systemic bank, overseeing global markets, wealth management, strategy and international activities.

Anastasia Mallerou

Counsel Anastasia is a leading banking and finance lawyer with over 20 years of experience in private practice and industry organisations. She is a recognised expert in payment systems and payment services law with extensive knowledge in the legal and regulatory frameworks governing technological innovation in the financial services industry. Anastasia brings a wealth of knowledge in the area of emerging technologies and the law, with a focus on blockchain, and in ESG. She is also highly experienced in advising on corporate and IT law and corporate governance matters and playing a key role in national and cross-border transactions. Anastasia has served as a Member of the Board of Directors and the General Counsel of the Greek retail payment system "DIAS" and has also worked as a payment expert with the Hellenic Bank Association. She was a Member of the Legal Support Group of the European Payments Council of the European Banking Federation in Brussels, set up to advise on the establishment of the Single Euro Payments Area (SEPA) and the introduction of uniform rules for Euro payment transactions throughout the Eurozone. Anastasia was a visiting lecturer at the European Law & Governance School of the European Public Law Organisation (EPLO).

Anastasia Kaiara

Senior Associate Anastasia is a senior associate at the Firm which she joined in 2017. She advises on corporate and commercial transactions including mergers, acquisitions and companies' restructurings as well as on the establishment of subsidiaries of international companies in Greece and the conduct of their day to day business. Anastasia drafts commercial agreements and corporate documentation, participates in due diligence reviews and advises on corporate governance and compliance issues in regulated industry sectors. Anastasia holds a certificate in Long-Term Tax Law Seminars for Lawyers issued from Athens University of Economics & Business (Aueb). Prior to joining the Firm, Anastasia worked with EY Law as an attorney.

Senior Associate Anna is a senior associate with the Firm and a member of the Litigation, Arbitration & Dispute Resolution team. Her practice is focused on administrative law and public procurement. Anna advises participants on the various stages of tendering procedures and negotiations. She is experienced in public private partnership projects and privatizations and regularly participates in due diligence exercises. Anna represents clients before administrative courts and in arbitration proceedings and is a certified mediator.

Athanasia Tsene

Partner Athanasia is a leading expert in banking & finance, with vast experience in structuring, drafting, negotiating and advising on the feasibility and implementation of international financial transactions, including on security and hedging arrangements. Athanasia has acted in innovative and groundbreaking deals which have paved the way for future transactions in the banking sector. Her broad practice encompasses secured and unsecured corporate, asset, acquisition and structured financings and an expertise in securitisations. She has also been involved in most transactions for the sale, transfer and servicing of non-performing loan portfolios of the Greek banks. She has extensively advised funds and credit and financial institutions on regulatory compliance in the context of all the above transactions, as well on financial restructurings and insolvency proceedings. She joined the Firm in 2001 and her clients include all the major banks and financial institutions that are active in the Greek market.

Christina Zakopoulou

Counsel Christina is a Counsel at the Firm which she joined in 2000. She specialises in retail and commercial real estate and significant land development projects. Christina's extensive real estate experience encompasses advice on the acquisition and sale of real estate including commercial, residential, hotel and leisure developments and construction contracts. In this context she has also advised on town planning and forestry issues. She acts for investors, private equity funds, developers and managers with respect to a variety of high end hotel projects and is active in teams working with real estate consultants, architects, engineers and other professionals. She handles both real estate asset transactions (asset deals) and corporate real estate transactions (share deals). She also advises high net worth individuals with respect to the sale and acquisition of real estate assets in Greece. Christina has specific expertise in real estate privatisation tenders and the development of real estate assets by the Hellenic Republic Asset Development Fund (HRADF) since it was established in 2011. Christina has experience of acting in public and private mergers and acquisitions, including due diligence and share capital increases. She undertakes company structuring and formation and ongoing corporate governance and advises on regulatory compliance. She also structures, drafts and negotiates commercial agency, commercial lease, share sale and purchase, share contribution and other commercial agreements.

Christos Paraskevopoulos

Partner Christos is a leading litigator with an expertise in contractual, commercial, fraud and white collar crime disputes. Christos has been with the Firm since 2000 and is experienced in advising on criminal and civil proceedings and investigations involving bribery, corruption and fraud, as well as assessing and managing the risk of failure to comply with the legislative and regulatory framework. He also advises companies across a range of industries on asset freezing, corporate misconduct, directors' and officers' liability and intra-company disputes. He is an expert in contractual and commercial agreement disputes, including commercial agency and distribution cases, advising clients on issues arising from termination of contractual relationships and representing them in negotiations, at court and in settlement proceedings. He has substantial experience in defamation claims and succession disputes, representing high net worth individuals in pursuing their rights under estates. He regularly represents clients in debt recovery and enforcement, with a specialisation in the area of hospital supply agreements, and the recognition and enforcement of foreign judgments and arbitral awards. Christos is experienced in medical liability and intellectual property disputes and is active in ADR, representing clients in the context of commercial arbitration proceedings and mediation.

Chryssa Andresaki

Associate Chryssa advises on civil and commercial disputes and acts in litigation, arbitration, debt recovery and enforcement proceedings arising from corporate transactions, commercial agreements and contractual relationships. Chryssa also drafts and advises on commercial agreements and contractual matters.

Constance McFadden

Senior Associate Constance is a senior associate with the Firm and a member of the Energy and Project Development, Finance & PPPs teams. Constance has significant experience in a wide range of transactions and commercial contracts in the energy sector. She has acted in corporate transformations including mergers and acquisitions and advised on corporate, debt and project financings. Constance has expertise in drafting and negotiating exploration and production contracts as well joint operating, supplier and EPC agreements. She is also experienced in advising on regulations governing all sectors of the energy market, with a focus on cross jurisdictional licensing, operational and other compliance issues. Prior to joining the Firm, Constance served as Corporate Finance Manager at an international energy company.

Dimitris Roussis

Partner Dimitris has been with the Firm since 1997 and has vast experience in the areas of public procurement, administrative litigation and privatisations. He advises both participants and strategic investors in their involvement in, and awarding authorities in their running of, tender proceedings, including concession and PPP projects. His substantial administrative litigation and dispute resolution practice involves representing his clients in claims arising from the award of public tenders, proceedings for the annulment of central and local government acts or decisions and retraction of fines and penalties imposed by public authorities. He also advises in competition disputes, including in the context of concerted practices and merger and acquisition clearances. Dimitris has acted in numerous privatisations, and has notable experience in the restructuring of state-owned companies with a view to their sale or listing on the Athens Exchange.

Domna Mirasyesi

Partner Domna is a senior member of the Firm's management team. Her broad remit covers responsibility for strategy in the areas of responsible business, practice management, people and finance. Domna is the Partner responsible for people engagement and continuing professional and career development. She leads the Firm's Pro Bono and Social Commitment Programmes. In this capacity she oversees the support of over 30 organisations involved in higher and lower education, culture and the arts and the support of children and vulnerable members of the community as well as initiatives to provide free legal representation to individuals, non-profits and NGOs. She has been with the Firm since 1986. Domna has vast experience in advising on EU, Competition & Antitrust and Human Rights law. She has successfully represented clients in several cases regarding the violation of Articles of the Convention before the European Court of Human Rights. Domna is a member of the board of directors of the Center for Asia Minor Studies, since 2021. From 2013 to 2020 Domna served as a non-executive member of the Board of Directors and a member of the Nomination and Corporate Governance Committee of the listed company Titan Cement SA. She was also a member of the Board of Directors and the Curriculum/Standards Committee of St Catherine’s British School and the Designated Governor responsible for Child Protection and e-Safety issues from 2009 to 2017.

Elena Chatziioannidou

Associate Elena advises on real estate matters, including drafting and reviewing of contracts, deeds and lease agreements. Elena has experience in negotiations related to property disputes and she participates in large scale due diligence processes, which involve conducting title searches, property assessments and regulatory compliance.

Eleni Stazilova

Counsel Eleni is a Counsel at the Firm which she joined in 2017. She is specialised in major project infrastructure development and energy law, including M&A transactions in these areas. Eleni has substantial expertise in the structuring, drafting and negotiation of commercial, agreements of any type with a focus on the infrastructure, energy, commodities, transport and telecoms industries. She assists clients across a wide range of sectors, including renewable energy, utilities, oil and gas, and transportation infrastructure. With expertise in both domestic and international transactions, Eleni specializes in drafting, negotiating, and structuring complex contracts related to acquisitions, project development, financing, construction and operational agreements. reporting and implementation of regulations and leading complex due diligence reviews. Her track record in commercial contracts includes drafting and negotiating construction, supply agreements, operation and maintenance contracts, and energy procurement in general. Eleni has acted on behalf of investors, developers, government entities, and financial institutions in the context of greenfield projects development and M&A transactions. She also advises on regulatory and compliance matters in the field of energy law, leveraging the client’s ability to implement their business models. Prior to joining the Firm, Eleni worked as corporate counsel in the architectural and construction sectors in Greece and abroad. Eleni holds a Degree in Law and an LLM in Civil Law from the National & Kapodistrian University of Athens and an MOOC (Coursera) Introduction to European Business Law from Lund University. She is admitted to the Piraeus Bar (2016).

Evangelos Mamalakis

Counsel Evangelos is a counsel at the Firm which he joined in 2017. His practice is focused on disputes arising from a range of commercial and financial contracts and relationships. Evangelos has considerable experience in advising corporations in disputes arising in all areas of corporate law, including agency, distribution, franchise, joint venture and commercial lease agreement disputes, medical liability as well as litigation arising from mergers and acquisitions. He also advises clients from the financial services sector in disputes relating to financial instruments, bancassurance agreements, directors’ liability, shareholders’ rights and lending activities. Evangelos advises companies on labour and benefits related litigation, as well as on Intellectual Property disputes including trademark infringement, licensing, design, copyright and passing off disputes. He also has experience in medical liability disputes, pre-litigation due diligence and defamation actions. He is an expert in litigation involving conflict of laws and complex jurisdictional issues.

Partner Evi is a specialist in advising on corporate and commercial transactions, company structuring and regulatory compliance across a wide range of industries with an expertise in the insurance, consumer goods, automobile and other highly regulated sectors. Evi has been with the Firm since 2000 and maintains long-standing ongoing relationships with many of her clients, who turn to her for assistance with issues arising in the conduct of their day-to-day business and the structuring and negotiation of a great variety of corporate and commercial contracts. Evi has considerable experience in share transfers, mergers and acquisitions, corporate transformations, business transfers and asset deals, establishment of subsidiaries or branches of international companies and internal restructurings.

Senior Associate Fotini is a senior associate with the Firm which she joined in 2018. She has extensive experience in the full range of civil and commercial disputes and arbitrations. Fotini’s practice is focused on advising and representing clients in litigation and arbitrations arising from corporate and commercial transactions, PPP and concession agreements, real estate development projects, mergers & acquisitions and shareholder, joint venture and distribution agreements. She also acts in competition disputes and advises on medical liability disputes and the infringement of intellectual property and data privacy rights. Fotini represents clients in enforcement and debt recovery proceedings and participates in pre-litigation due diligence reports. She is a Certified Mediation Advocate.

Fotodotis Malamas

Partner Fotodotis is an expert in business and personal tax and private wealth. He advises on tax efficient structures, liabilities, reporting, compliance and complex tax controversies as well as on lifetime and post death private and corporate wealth and tax planning. Fotodotis has extensive experience in advising on the tax considerations affecting corporate transactions and commercial agreements, with a focus on the distribution and capitalisation of reserves, the application of legislation offering tax incentives and complex due diligence reviews. He provides ongoing advice on compliance and reporting and tax structuring and represents clients before the Dispute Resolution Directorate and the administrative courts in high impact tax controversy cases. His private wealth practice encompasses advice to individuals, family offices, funds and foundations on the structuring, planning and management of lifetime and post-death wealth and tax. Fotodotis teaches a postgraduate course on Tax Law at the Athens University of Economics and Business. He has been extensively published in tax and financial journals and authors Digital Economy and Current Tax Practices, 1st edition (2019) and Taxation of Non-Profit Organisations, 1st (2012) and 2nd (2016) editions and is contributing author to Income Tax Code (2024), Code for Tax Procedures: Interpretation and Accounting Issues 1st (2016) and 2nd (2021) editions, all published by Nomiki Vivliothiki. Prior to joining the Firm in 2014, Fotodotis worked as a tax consultant with Arthur Andersen and Ernst & Young and was acting head of the Tax Department of a subsidiary of the Lafarge Group.

Senior Associate Ioanna is a senior associate with the Firm and a member of the Litigation, Arbitration & Dispute Resolution team. She advises on civil and commercial litigation and domestic and international arbitration, with a focus on corporate, financial, insolvency and tort disputes, as well as enforcement and debt recovery proceedings. Ioanna is experienced in representing clients before the Greek courts, as well as in arbitration proceedings in relation to disputes arising from complex cross border transactions and a variety of corporate and financial disputes.

Senior Associate Iris is a senior associate at the Firm which she joined in 2010. Her practice is focused on corporate and commercial law, in particular company formation, ongoing corporate governance, advising on issues arising in the conduct of the day to day business of companies and consumer protection law. She is experienced in acting in company restructurings and the establishment of subsidiaries of international companies in Greece. She regularly participates in due diligence reviews in the context of mergers and acquisitions and has worked for clients from a range of industries, including retail, clothing, energy, electronics, automobile, pharmaceuticals and insurance. Her tax practice includes advising on corporate, personal and family tax issues, as well as direct and indirect tax liabilities, reporting obligations and compliance. Iris is experienced in representing clients in civil and commercial contract litigation, debt recovery, settlement and enforcement proceedings and bankruptcy and restructuring litigation.

Katerina Fotopoulou

Associate Katerina advises on energy and environment regulatory issues in the renewable energy, electricity and oil and gas sectors. She assists in large scale transactions of energy projects and due diligence exercises.

Katerina Batsika

Associate Katerina provides advice on corporate, personal, and family tax matters, including both direct and indirect tax obligations. She assists clients during tax audits and advises on the tax implications of corporate and financial transactions, as well as restructurings.

Katia Zigoulianou

Associate Her practice focuses on the financial services sector and credit, private equity and venture capital funds. Katia assists clients with compliance with their regulatory obligations, including corporate governance, shareholders' information, and regulations from the Athens Exchange and the Hellenic Capital Market Commission and has experience in drafting documentation and participating in due diligence exercises. Prior to joining the Firm, Katia was an in-house lawyer at a venture capital participation company listed on the Athens Exchange.

Konstantina Karveli

Associate Konstantina is an associate with the Firm which she joined in 2020. Konstantina advises on energy related transactions, privatisations, project finance and public private partnerships. She advises clients on their participation in tenders and other public procurement procedures across a number of industry sectors. Konstantina has experience in regulatory requirements in the conventional and renewable energy sectors, in due diligence and in drafting and negotiating commercial agreements. Prior to joining the Firm, Konstantina represented clients before the Courts and regulatory authorities in relation to public and commercial energy related disputes.

Konstantinos Flampouris

Associate He advises on corporate and commercial law, including company establishment, corporate governance and ongoing compliance obligations, as well as issues arising in the course of everyday business. Konstantinos, who joined the Firm as a trainee, also assists in corporate and commercial transactions and participates in due diligence reviews.

Lambros Belessis

Partner Lambros is an expert in private sector mergers, acquisitions and corporate restructurings of international companies with a presence in Greece. He joined the Firm in 2000 and is specialised in structuring, documenting and negotiating commercial transactions, advising extensively on distribution networks, share-purchase agreements, joint venture partnerships and corporate structuring. Lambros has extensive experience in real estate development and acquisition projects, advising on commercial agreements and corporate transactions in the hospitality, commercial, industrial and high-end residential markets. He assists clients in the protection and exploitation of their intellectual and industrial property. He provides ongoing advice to companies from a highly diversified range of industries, including car manufacturing, private insurance, pharmaceuticals, software and IT, on the full range of issues arising in the course of their business operations, their entry into commercial agreements, company formation, corporate governance and risk management and compliance.

Lina Mastrogiannopoulou

Senior Associate Lina is a senior associate with the Firm and a member of the Public Procurement and Litigation, Arbitration & Dispute Resolution team. She advises on public and administrative law, with a focus on public procurement proceedings, administrative litigation arising from sanctions and fines and the recovery of community aid. Lina has significant experience representing clients before the administrative authorities and courts in disputes stemming from the award of public tenders and advising on pretrial appeals, pre-contractual negotiations, tender documents and contract performance. Prior to joining the firm, Lina participated as a lawyer in the Legislative Committee tasked with reforming the institutional framework governing public contracts for works, supplies and services, established by the Ministry of Development. She also acted as legal associate to the Tenders and Contracts Monitoring Unit at the Center of International and European Economic Law in Thessaloniki.

Counsel Linda has been with the Firm since 1984. She is an expert in mergers, acquisitions, spin-offs, splits, transfers of businesses and assets and restructurings of private companies and has acted in the local leg of some of the largest international transactions of this type to have taken place in Greece. Linda is specialised in a wide range of corporate transactions, with extensive experience in structuring, documenting and negotiating share purchase, sale of assets and business, joint venture, shareholder and distribution agreements. Linda also has a substantial practice in advising shareholders, directors and managers of companies in the pharmaceutical, retail, clothing and accessories, technology and food and beverages sectors on corporate structuring, formation, compliance, risk management and director and shareholder liability. She has established long-term relationships with many of her clients, for which she acts on an ongoing basis. Linda has advised on many of the largest intra group restructurings to have taken place in Greece, in most cases involving parallel transactions in the jurisdictions in which the groups are active. She is also skilled in the local implementation of global deals.

Associate She advises on civil and commercial disputes arising from corporate and commercial relationships and agreements. Maira originally joined the Firm as a trainee and assists in due diligence reviews for high profile disputes in the context of corporate acquisitions and fraud investigations.

Manto Karamanou

Associate Manto is an associate with the Firm which she joined in 2022. She focuses on energy and infrastructure projects and has experience in advising companies on corporate and business law matters and on corporate restructuring projects. She advises clients on project finance, large scale energy transactions and infrastructure concession projects. Prior to joining the Firm, Manto was an in-house lawyer at the Growthfund SA.

Senior Associate Mara is specialised in all aspects of administrative and public law and represents clients before the Courts and disciplinary bodies. She advises on disputes arising from regulatory and legislative compliance, challenges to acts and decisions of public bodies and public procurement processes and tenders. Mara assists clients in their participation in public procurement tenders and tendering authorities on the launching of public tenders. She also advises on administrative proceedings and investigations across a variety of industry sectors, including healthcare, real estate and education, as well as in relation to companies and commercial transactions. Mara is a certified mediator registered with the Ministry of Justice, trained by AKKED Prometheus, a non-profit organization set up by the Athens Bar Association and the Industrial Chamber of Athens.

Counsel Maria is a counsel at the Firm which she joined in 2020. She has substantial advisory, litigation and transactional experience in all aspects of individual and collective employment law. Maria advises on restructurings, voluntary exit schemes, TUPE, outsourcing, redundancies and company collective labour agreements. She also conducts due diligence in the context of mergers and acquisitions. Maria assists human resources, payroll and legal departments on the management of employment relationships, employment, secondment, services and senior executives’ agreements, termination and amicable separation agreements, internal work regulations and company policies. Maria also advises on disciplinary issues, equality, employee mobility including postings and secondments of EU/EEA and third country nationals, pensions, benefits and incentive schemes.

Maria Nefeli Bernitsa

Partner Maria Nefeli is specialised in financial services and ESG law, with a focus on high impact legislative changes, capital markets transactions and corporate transactions for listed companies. She acts on finance and capital markets transactions involving listed and private companies, in particular on large scale deals carried out in the context of regulatory changes. She is highly experienced in private placements and IPOs, mergers and acquisitions of listed companies and private equity transactions, advising international and Greek funds and financial institutions on the initial structuring and throughout the lifetime of their investment period. Maria Nefeli heads up the Firm’s Environmental, Social & Governance (ESG) department and advises extensively on ESG legislation with a focus on the laws affecting firms in the financial services sector. Her clients include leading funds, alternative investment managers, banks and a variety of entities from the broader financial services space. Maria Nefeli also has significant experience in leading on financial services matters arising from group restructures of global multi-strategy asset managers, new authorisations of regulated firms and regulatory issues in private placements and IPOs. Prior to joining the Firm, Maria Nefeli was a senior associate in a tier 1 financial services and markets team in London and was seconded to a global investment firm to implement European ESG legislation.

Marialena Mavrikaki

Associate Marialena is an associate with the Firm and a member of the Corporate and M&A and Intellectual Property teams. She advises on corporate law with a focus on intellectual property, data protection and privacy and new technologies. Marialena participates in mergers and acquisitions transactions and advises on the registration, protection and management of intellectual property rights. She has experience in trademark registrations and oppositions, as well as the drafting of intellectual property agreements and licences. Prior to joining the Firm Marialena was an attorney at a Collective Management Organization.

Marina Myzithra

Associate Marina is an associate with the Firm and a member of the EU, Competition & Antitrust team. Marina advises on competition and antitrust law, including distribution agreements and abuse of dominance practices. She has experience in cartel investigations and advises on merger control and competition compliance. Prior to joining the Firm, Marina worked as a trainee at the European Commission Directorate-General for Competition and as a trainee at the Hellenic Competition Commission-Directorate for Energy and Transport.

Marina Androulakakis

Partner Marina is an expert in EU, competition and antitrust law. She joined the Firm in 1997 and advises national and international clients on antitrust, merger control and State aid issues, with substantial experience in cross-border and cross-section transactions, risk and strategy assessment and regulatory compliance. Marina has extensive experience in successfully representing clients across various industries in alleged cartel and abuse of dominance cases before the Hellenic Competition Commission. She also has considerable expertise in merger cases and has effectively coordinated multi-jurisdictional filings and obtained clearance for high-profile M&A transactions from the Hellenic Competition Commission and the European Commission in a wide range of industry specialisations. Marina has an expertise in assessing commercial agreements and policies for their compliance with competition law and also provides on-site assistance and practical guidance in dealing with dawn raids. She advises on the national and EU legislation governing public procurement and has undertaken complaints to the European Commission concerning alleged violations of EU rules. Marina has significant experience in advising clients on emerging and existing data protection requirements, including identifying gaps and areas of potential infringement of data protection laws, designing, drafting, reviewing and updating data protection policies and privacy statements for online activities as well as advising on internal investigation procedures and data breach incidents. Marina represents clients in procedures before the Hellenic Data Protection Authority and actively advises on GDPR compliance. She is also experienced in advising on employment related privacy issues as well as on the application of data privacy rules in the context of electronic communications and the operation of CCTV networks. Marina also supports clients in relation to compliance with international sanctions regimes. Her work includes advising on sanctions monitoring and reporting requirements and the design and implementation of compliance programs, as well as assisting clients to obtain authorization from national authorities and liaising with the regulators.

Marinos Shiapanis

Associate Marinos is an associate with the Firm and a member of the Banking, Finance & Capital Markets and Corporate and M&A teams. He acts in mergers, acquisitions and restructurings and advises on corporate, commercial and financing related agreements. Marinos also assists on transactions in listed equity and debt securities.

Associate Martha is an associate with the Firm which she joined in 2022. She advises on various corporate and commercial law issues, including corporate transformations, mergers and acquisitions, demergers and spin-offs. Martha assists clients on their day to day business and drafts commercial agreements and corporate documents. She is experienced in advising clients on establishing corporate entities in Greece and has worked for clients from a range of industries, including energy, banking and real estate. Martha regularly participates in due diligence reviews. Prior to joining the Firm, Martha was a lawyer with EY Law.

Associate Niki is an associate with the Firm and a member of the Employment team. Niki advises on employment law matters, including employment contracts and outsourcing agreements and compliance with the legal and regulatory framework. She also advises on employment law issues that arise in the context of corporate transactions and commercial agreements. Niki has experience in advising on GDPR issues and compliance.

Nikoleta Markaki

Associate Nikoleta advises on banking and finance matters and acts in secured bond loan transactions, restructurings and refinancings.

Nikos Papachristopoulos

Partner Nikos is a leading practitioner in capital markets and corporate and M&A, with a specialisation in primary listings and secondary offerings of securities and acquisitions and takeovers of listed companies. He has been heavily involved in numerous privatizations of State-owned companies and the recapitalization of the Greek systemic banks since 2012. Nikos has vast experience advising on the structuring and financing of mergers and acquisitions, including take-over bids, corporate reorganisations and restructurings and equity and debt offerings.

Associate Odysseas is an associate with the Firm and a member of the Banking, Finance & Capital Markets team. He advises on banking and finance matters and acts in transactions for the sale and servicing of non-performing loans. Odysseas also advises on bond loan transactions, restructurings and refinancings as well as insolvency procedures.

Panayotis Bernitsas

Managing Partner Panayotis is the Managing Partner of the Firm and a leading legal practitioner, with an active, broad-based commercial practice incorporating more than 35 years of experience in transactional, advisory and litigation work. Panayotis is an authority in EU, competition and antitrust law and has represented clients in prominent cartel cases before the Hellenic Competition Commission. He is a senior litigator, with vast experience in all types of dispute resolution, and represents clients in complex, high stake civil and administrative actions before the high courts and arbitration boards. He has also acted as arbitrator at the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC). Panayotis is an expert in concession projects and privatisations, with an unsurpassed track record of playing a key role in many of the pioneering, ground breaking transactions to have taken place in Greece. He advises extensively on major renewable and conventional energy and infrastructure projects and investments in energy property development companies. His real estate practice is focused on large scale developments and real property asset portfolio investments. Within the framework of his private practice, Panayotis has acted on a number of occasions as advisor to the Government on European Union, State Aids and Privatisation issues. He also advises companies and individuals on complex tax structuring and wealth planning matters and has acted extensively in high stakes tax controversies. Panayotis has been widely published in legal journals, books and other publications in his areas of expertise and is a participant in the annual Forum on International Wealth Disputes. He held the position of Associate Professor in International Economic Law, Law of International Business Transactions, European Community Law at the University of Thrace from 1983-2007.

Pantazis Karamanolis

Of Counsel Pantazis is a senior practitioner with over 30 years of experience in banking, capital markets and corporate transactions. He has vast expertise advising Greek and foreign clients active in a variety of sectors including banking, real estate, industry, construction and services. Pantazis has led pioneering, market first transactions and has a recognised expertise in large scale merger and acquisition transactions, buy-outs, hostile take-overs and public tender offers. He specialises in structuring innovative and complex deals on a turnkey basis. Pantazis served in senior roles such as General Counsel of Alpha Bank, Country Legal Counsel of JP Morgan Chase, Country Legal Counsel of Arthur Andersen, of counsel to the Greek Minister of National Economy and the Governor of Emporiki Bank, and various corporates and state institutions. Pantazis held a Fulbright Scholarship, he taught at the Athens University of Economics and the Business School of the University of Piraeus. He has written “The Legal Implications of Sovereign Lending Through Syndicated Loan Agreements” (Oceana, New York, N.Y., London, Rome, 1992) and has contributed to collective works. He has been published on directors’ liability, ESOP’s, derivatives, taxation of M&A’s and other topics.

Pelina Leontiadou

Senior Associate Pelina is a senior associate with the Firm which she joined in 2007. Her practice is focused on litigation, in particular in the areas of employment, insurance and commercial law, and providing end-to-end legal advice to corporates in commercial law and corporate governance. Pelina has substantial experience representing clients in disputes arising from employment issues, commercial relationships, fraud and white collar crime, minority and majority shareholder disputes, medical liability and debt recovery. She also advises insurance companies on disputes relating to regulatory enforcement, contracts and claims and relationships with intermediaries. Pelina advises companies on an ongoing basis on a broad spectrum of issues related to the everyday running of a company. Her expertise lies in advising on group and company internal restructurings, the drafting and negotiation of commercial agreements, including distribution and lease agreements, corporate governance and the employment and dismissal of all levels of personnel. Pelina is a Certified Mediation Advocate.

Associate She advises clients on issues arising in their day-to-day business, corporate governance and compliance requirements. Penny assists in the establishment, structuring and dissolution of corporate entities and in drafting corporate and commercial agreements. She joined the Firm as a trainee and has experience working with the Litigation, Arbitration, and Dispute Resolution team.

Senior Associate Ria is a senior associate with the Firm which she joined in 2006. Her practice is focused on the area of Life Sciences, providing clients in highly regulated industries with support on varied and complex legal issues. Ria advises clients active in the pharmaceutical, biopharmaceutical, healthcare, medical devices and technologies and biotechnology sectors on issues such as product liability, clinical trials procedures, public procurement tenders, brand protection and regulatory risk, compliance and filings. She also advises on packaging, labelling, distribution and advertising. Ria advises on commercial agreements, including joint ventures, agency and distribution agreements and undertakes company formation and ongoing corporate governance. She contributes articles to legal periodicals on pharmaceutical related issues and in 2019 completed a course on Advanced Competitive Strategy authorized by Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München and offered through Coursera.

Sildia Fotopoulou

Senior Associate Sildia is a senior associate with the Firm which she joined in 2020. She is part of the Banking, Finance & Capital Markets team. Sildia advises domestic and international clients, including financial institutions, private equity investors and a wide range of corporate clients, on banking and finance law. She has experience in corporate financings, bond loan issues, leveraged buyouts and project finance. She has been involved in restructurings and rehabilitation financings. Sildia has repeatedly acted in securitisation transactions and transactions for the sale and servicing of non-performing loans, credits and corporate receivables. She also advises in the acquisition of qualifying holdings and on regulatory compliance in the financial sector and liaises with the supervisory authorities. Sildia participates in a broad spectrum of due diligence and risk assessments across a variety of industry sectors. Sildia holds a Degree in Law and an LLM in Corporate Law and Finance from the National & Kapodistrian University of Athens and is admitted to the Athens Bar (2019).

Stella Papakosta

Senior Associate Stella is a senior associate at the Firm which she joined in 2010. Her practice involves assisting both private and State owned entities and consortiums in project development, project financing and public private partnerships, with a specialization in the documentation and negotiation of concession contracts. Stella has substantial experience in privatisations and has been involved in a number of high profile projects across various industry sectors, representing clients in their participation in tenders for the acquisition of State-owned enterprises and advising on the regulatory framework for the award of public contracts. She also advises clients on disputes arising from public tenders and the performance of public contracts, and petitions the Court of Audits in relation to compliance with the prevailing legislative framework. Prior to joining the Firm, Stella worked as an attorney in the Litigation Department of the Hellenic Public Real Estate Corporation (KED SA).

Partner Tania is specialised in EU, competition and antitrust law, advising on all aspects of antitrust, merger control and State aid rules. She regularly assists clients with antitrust and competition law issues arising from their commercial arrangements and has been involved in high-profile cartel and merger control cases before the Hellenic Competition Commission. Tania provides clients with on-site assistance in dealing with dawn raids, including running workshops and mock exercises. Tania also advises on the application of EU law in Greece and the regulatory requirements applicable to the telecoms, media and technology sectors, regularly liaising with regulators such as the National Telecommunications and Post Commission, the National Council for Radio and Television, the Hellenic Data Protection Authority and the Hellenic Authority for Communication Security and Privacy. She has extensive experience in advising telecoms operators on licensing requirements, compliance with their annual reporting obligations and telecoms issues relating to the use of new technologies and the launch of new products and services. Tania also has an expertise in advising on all aspects of EU and Greek data privacy rules and she routinely advises clients on the proactive identification, assessment and management of risks associated with their privacy practices. She assists clients in GDPR compliance steps, and advises extensively on how to identify compliance gaps and draft privacy policies, consent forms and data processing agreements.

Vasiliki Fasfali

Associate Vasiliki is an associate with the Firm and a member of the Litigation, Arbitration & Dispute Resolution and Public Procurement teams. Vasiliki advises on administrative and public law with particular expertise in public procurement. She represents clients before the administrative courts and is experienced in representing clients before the Dispute Resolution Directorate in relation tax disputes. Vasiliki reviews and drafts public procurement agreements and assists clients in their participation in public procurement tenders. She also drafts appeals and submissions in proceedings before the administrative courts.

Yannis Chryssospathis

Partner Yannis has over 35 years of experience in advising on pharmaceutical products, medical devices, food and beverages and intellectual property law. He joined the Firm in 1983 and advises some of the largest manufacturers and distributors in Greece on parallel trade issues, clinical trial procedures, labelling and packaging and the market regulation of food and beverages. Yannis has extensive experience in advising on the protection and enforceability of intellectual and industrial property rights including copyright, licenses, trademarks and brands. From 1982 to 2015 he served as Legal Counsel to the Hellenic Association of Pharmaceutical Companies (SFEE), cooperating directly with the European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations (EFPIA). Yannis lectures at national and international conferences on a wide range of issues which arise in his area of practice, including experiences after the transposition of EU pharmaceutical law to Greek legislation.

Yannis Seiradakis

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.