Norton Rose Fulbright > Athens, Greece > Firm Profile

Norton Rose Fulbright > The Legal 500 Rankings

Greece > Shipping finance Tier 1

Acting on its own, as well as often in collaboration with the firm’s London office, the ‘extremely knowledgeable’ team at Norton Rose Fulbright provides ‘accurate and solutions-oriented advice’ to a lender-focused client base. Team head Yianni Cheilas  is well-versed across a myriad finance techniques, to include syndicated loans, sale and leasebacks and ECA-backed facilities (including within the LNG sector) and has also recently been leading on a number of sustainability/green-linked financings. A ‘true problem-solver’, Evi Platsidaki is also an integral member of the team, providing UK law advice to clients (of particular importance given most shipping loans are governed by English law) including to facilitate newbuilds and in an acquisition finance perspective.

Greece > Banking, finance and capital markets Tier 2

Acting on its own as well as frequently alongside key offices within the network, including London, Norton Rose Fulbright excels in providing 'business-oriented' advice to lenders and borrowers seeking or providing finance, particularly in core areas of firmwide sector focus, including energy and transport. In the offshore/maritime sector, the team, led by Yianni Cheilas, has recently been particularly active working on ESG/sustainability-linked financings for banking syndicates. As well as advising commercial/investment banks, the team is also well-versed at advising development banks and is, for example, very adept at handling multi-sourced project finance mandates.

Greece > Commercial, corporate and M&A Tier 2

Spearheaded by the Athens-based duo of Elena Tsohou and Vassilis Koroxenidis, Norton Rose Fulbright specialises in all aspects of takeovers, capital markets deals and M&A transactions. Overseeing investments in certain sectors like hotels, real estate and renewable energy, Tsohou is highly regarded for her knowledge of high-value infrastructure projects and privatisations, while Koroxenidis is a banking and corporate law expert. Dimitris Rampos has vast insight into corporate restructurings, and Nikos Anagnostopoulos-Gioussas focuses on the energy and utilities fields. Sergios Karotsieris and Christina Korinthios are also key practitioners in the department.

Greece > Restructuring and insolvency Tier 2

Led by Greek and UK-qualified partner Yianni Cheilas, Norton Rose Fulbright is best-suited to handling cross-border restructuring mandates for a creditor-focused client base. Often working closely with the firm's London office, the team is particularly skilled at advising lending syndicates as creditors of shipping companies, where clients also benefit not only from the team's banking acumen but also its institutional maritime sectoral knowledge.

Greece > Energy Tier 3

Norton Rose Fulbright is noted for its ‘knowledge, devotion and availability’. It advises on the sale of offshore wind farms and photovoltaic parks, and often handles electricity-based domestic tender procedures. The firm has a strong corporate offering, predominantly advising on joint ventures. Elena Tsohou is a banking specialist and has additional expertise in the hospitality and real estate sectors. Vassilis Koroxenidis is a shipping and infrastructure expert, and Yianni Cheilas advises on finance transactions. Dimitris Rampos and Vicky Zampaza are also key contacts.

Greece > Real estate and construction Tier 3

Guiding multinational financial institutions, shipping companies, and insurance entities through the negotiation and drafting of hotel management agreements and cross-border acquisitions, Norton Rose Fulbright is particularly active in the banking and leisure sectors. Elena Tsohou leads the practice, being a specialist in the hospitality and infrastructure sectors predominantly, Vassilis Koroxenidis is a corporate specialist, while both Dimitris Rampos and Nikos Anagnostopoulos-Gioussas are highlighted as other key team players.

Greece > Shipping litigation Tier 3

While it remains better known for its shipping finance offering, Norton Rose Fulbright has some capacity on the litigation front, picking up work from shipowners/operators and banks across a range of disputes, including those involving shipbuilding contracts, ship sales and enforcement actions. Much of this work is handled in conjunction with the firm's London office, with UK-qualified special counsel Ieronymos Bikakis often taking the lead from Athens. Yianni Cheilas  heads up the overarching shipping group, and although he is primarily a transactional lawyer he does handle work for banks and funds, for example, on enforcement matters and vessel arrests.

Greece > Dispute resolution Tier 4

Frequently advising on shipping litigation and regulatory enforcement proceedings, Norton Rose Fulbright has notable experience in the energy, transport and life sciences sectors. Based out of Athens, team leader Vassilis Koroxenidis brings extensive expertise in all aspects of corporate finance and banking issues to the team. Dimitris Rampos is highly knowledgeable in commercial disputes, while Sergios Karotsieris is cited for his capital markets acumen.