Europe - Greece
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Banking, finance and capital markets

Koutalidis Law Firm

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Now headed by Nikos Salakas, who re-joined the firm following a stint in-house at one of the country’s systemic banks, Koutalidis Law Firm provides a ‘cost-effective and business-oriented service’ to a lender-focused client base that includes domestic and international banks across a myriad of new money and refinancing transactions. Project finance is a core strength, where the firm has deep insight into the commercial drivers of transactions by dint of its varied client base, which includes lenders, sponsors and contractors. The ’analytical, creative and hardworking’ Ioannis Kaptanis is central to the firm’s success in the space, and has handled a number of recent mandates for lenders seeking to refinance debt in accordance with large domestic infrastructure projects. As well as her NPL-related work, Effie Papoutsi is noted for her prowess in relation to acquisition finance mandates, primarily for funders of both sponsor-backed and corporate-led deals. Nikos Koritsas‘ varied practice includes a considerable volume of debt capital markets work, which he combines with his duties as managing partner.

Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

  • 'The responsive team provides a cost-effective and business-oriented service.'
  • 'The depth and breadth of their knowledge ensures that they are able to support every client’s business needs successfully and provide high-quality, innovative legal solutions in the increasingly complex area of legislation and practice.'
  • 'Ioannis Kaptanis is analytical, creative and hardworking.'
  • 'The team are great and have deep knowledge on this subject - they are very effective and consistent.'

Key clients

  • Alpha Bank S.A.
  • Eurobank S.A.
  • National Bank of Greece S.A.
  • Piraeus Bank S.A.
  • GMR Airports Limited/GMR Airports Greece Single Member Societe Anonyme
  • Aktor Concessions S.A./Development of New Alimos Marina Concession Single Member S.A.
  • Hellas Gold S.A.
  • Aktor Concessions and Intrakat
  • Macquarie European Infrastructure Fund 6 SCSp (member of Macquarie Asset Management group)
  • Attica Bank S.A.
  • Optima Bank S.A.
  • HSBC Bank plc
  • Alpha Services and Holdings S.A.
  • Capital Product Partners L.P.
  • CPLP Shipping Holdings PLC
  • BofA Securities Europe SA
  • Citigroup Global Markets Europe AG
  • Commerzbank Aktiengesellschaft
  • Morgan Stanley Europe SE
  • Société Générale
  • BNP Paribas
  • Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft
  • Goldman Sachs Bank Europe SE
  • J.P. Morgan
  • Nomura Financial Products Europe GmbH
  • Hellenic Financial Stability Fund (HFSF)
  • Waterwheel Capital Management LLC

Work highlights

  • Advised a syndicate of the Greek systemic banks in connection with the refinancing of the existing indebtedness to such banks of Athens International Airport S.A. (AIA) through the issuance of an up to €1,007,843,966 bond loan and the borrowing of an additional amount of €28,700,000 under the existing bond loan provided to AIA for the financing of five construction projects.
  • Advising Waterwheel Capital Management LLP on its potential investment in Project Solar.
  • Advised National Bank of Greece S.A., in its capacity as listing advisor, in relation to a technical dual listing of the Austrian Company AUSTRIACARD HOLDINGS AG on the Athens Exchange and the Vienna Stock Exchange.

Lawyers

Leading partners
The strongest partners in their field, leading on market-leading deals and endorsed by peers and clients alike.
Nikos Koritsas
Koutalidis Law Firm
As the Managing Partner of Koutalidis Law Firm, Nikos leads our team with his in-depth legal knowledge and team spirit, holding the provision of excellence-driven solutions to our clients as his daily mission. At the same time, thanks to his extensive and internationally acclaimed experience in M&A, Banking, Finance & Restructuring, as well as Capital Markets he is particularly active in assuming challenging undertakings and complicated projects both in the Greek and the international corporate market. Recognised repeatedly by esteemed world class associations of the legal world, indicatively, as a top tier lawyer in IFLR and as an eminent practitioner in Chambers and Partners, Nikos combines his active approach with uncompromised professionalism.
Ioannis Kaptanis
Koutalidis Law Firm
Ioannis focuses on concession projects, project finance transactions, commercial arbitration and litigation, as well as contract negotiation. He regularly advises concessionaires and constructors on every aspect of concession and construction projects. Moreover, he advises banks and corporations on financing transactions, particularly asset backed lending transactions, derivatives and repo agreements. He is the Head of the Project Finance Department of our Firm and Co-Head of the Projects and Privatisation and Real Estate Departments of our Firm. Ioannis is ranked as a Leading Individual in the practice area of Projects and Privatisation in Greece and as a Next Generation Partner in the practice areas of Banking, Finance & Capital Markets and of Dispute Resolution in Greece by The Legal 500 EMEA 2020. He is also ranked as Rising Star Partner by the IFLR1000. Testimonials in The Legal 500 describe him as “very knowledgeable in the entire spectrum of Private Law, very methodical, tireless and an excellent negotiator.”
Next Generation Partners
Junior partners with significant recognition from clients and peers in the market and key roles on multiple matters.
Effie Papoutsi
Koutalidis Law Firm
Effie heads the Corporate Finance Department of our Firm, advising regularly foreign and domestic banks in a broad range of financing transactions, including syndicated bond loans and capital market issues such as Eurobonds or high yield, as well as issues of Greek Government Bonds. In recent years, she has also been advising Greek Banks and investors in relation to the sale and purchase of NPL portfolios, by way of securitisations or otherwise and the entry into servicing arrangements. Her practice also includes advising credit and financial institutions on debt and equity issues, as well as regulatory matters during their day to day operations or as part of M&A transactions.

Practice head

The lawyer(s) leading their teams.

Nikos Salakas

Other key lawyers

Nikos Koritsas, Ioannis Kaptanis, Effie Papoutsi, Chrysanthi Karlou, Dimitris Kalyvas, Georgia Koutsoukou

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