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Employment

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Bernitsas Law

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Leveraging the cross-departmental expertise of the data privacy, tax and corporate teams, Bernitsas Law adopts a ‘professional approach’ based on ’collaboration’ to assist clients with whistleblowing policies and employment contract issues. The practice regularly handles employment-related due diligence aspects of M&A transactions and restructuring procedures. Operating out of Athens, Maria Kloni leads the team, primarily focusing on voluntary exit schemes and redundancy issues since her promotion to counsel in March 2024. Niki Nisotaki is knowledgeable in regulatory compliance matters.

Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

  • ‘I have been in direct contact with Maria Kloni, mainly for labour related issues. She is always to the point and giving you a clear perspective and solution to your problem. Her approach is to protect and safeguard your company's best interest but always keeping in mind ethical values and being totally transparent.’

  • ‘The team at Bernitsas has a very quick response to our requests. They are knowledgeable, they provide clear and complete advice, and they are not afraid to suggest the best options in writing.'

  • ‘Maria Cloni is great, we do like working with them and always recommend them.’

  • ‘Τhe team is possessed by immediacy, courtesy and very good know-how. Ιt always responds very quickly to the requests and manages to cover completely each time any topic that is assigned to her. ’

  • ‘All the individuals that I have collaborated with have expertise, are willing to help, are very polite and always able to meet the deadlines, even when I have requested something last minute. Athanasia Tsene, Maria Cheimona, Evi Kitsou, Martha Ntounou, Maria Kloni, Fotodotis Malamas, Tania Patasalia, Valia Papatheodorou are my main team and the only thing that I can say is that are so professional and expert at what they do. You can trust them in all aspects by all means and be sure that you will get the highest-level service from them.’

  • ‘I believe that what makes a team strong is people and collaboration. Bernitsas Law firm is excelling in both. Everyone is willing to help and provide their professional approach always on time. There is no room to wonder whether the provided advice is right or wrong. You are confident to move on with it or explore the alternatives that have been clearly stated.’

  • ‘The team we work with, work under a very collaborative spirit, available to reply to our requests, even the urgent ones, in a very professional, solid way. They always ask specific, targeted questions supported by evidence, which will facilitate their understanding and reply. They specify any concern or risk which is very helpful for us in order to make a decision. The communication is made in a simple way so we can understand the essence without using legal terminology.’

  • ‘Maria Kloni is the partner with whom we have often communication. She has proved to be an excellent professional, with deep knowledge of current labour legislation. She is able to provide her expertise, stressing risks and proposing viable solutions.’

Key clients

  • BMW Hellas SA
  • Bristol Myers Greece
  • CNP Zois
  • CVC Capital Partners
  • Hoist Hellas and Hoist Finance AB
  • Liknoss SA
  • Saint Gobain Group (Saint Gobain, Maris Polymers and Autover)
  • Olympia Odos Concession Company
  • Vinci Energies

Work highlights

  • Provided employment law advice to GIC, a global institutional investor, on the Greek leg of its entry as a new capital partner in Hotel Investment Partners (HIP).
  • Carried out an in-depth due diligence exercise in terms of the employment aspects, on behalf of Accenture in the context of its acquisition of Arηs Group.
  • Conducted a complex due diligence exercise on behalf of Guala Closures in the context of its acquisition of 100% of Astir Vitogiannis from Ideal Holdings.

Lawyers

Leading associates
Leading associates with regular involvement in their team's key work, and recognition from peers or clients as being ones to watch.

Practice head

The lawyer(s) leading their teams.

Maria Kloni

Other key lawyers

Niki Nisotaki