Europe - Greece

Bernitsas Law

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The ‘hardworking, dedicated, and responsive’ projects team at Bernitsas Law specialises in the financing aspects of privatisations, project structuring and implementation, and the regulations governing tender procedures. Demonstrating specific industry expertise across the finance, technology and energy spheres, the practice is frequently called upon to represent Greek and international entities. Panayotis Bernitsas is an expert in major renewable and infrastructure initiatives, while Nikos Papachristopoulos focuses on take-over bids, and Dimitris Roussis is knowledgeable in public tender proceedings. Yannis Seiradakis has vast experience in acting on behalf of clients in the utilities and transport sectors.

Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

  • ‘Immediate, deeply scientific response to all requests. Extremely high confidentiality standards.’

  • ‘Ethos, hard-working approach, profound industry knowledge and detailed background.’

  • ‘Hard-working, dedicated, and responsive. Efficient, business-oriented, value for money, keeping deadlines and motivated.’

  • ‘Hard-working, efficient, knowledge of the market and legislation.’

  • ‘This practice at Bernitsas law firm is exceptional. The team is very efficient, responsive and is capable of solving complex queries and concerns which are raised by the client. They have extended knowledge in the Greek concession market and are aware of standard practices, risks and difficulties which are inherent to these kind of projects.’

  • ‘The partners Yannis Seiradakis and Dimitris Roussis are always present in meetings and are always available to discuss urgent matters. Their skills and knowledge in the sector are key in decision making and their advice is accurate and informed.'

  • 'Stella Papakosta is excellent, skillful, resourceful and always delivers on time.’

Key clients

  • Avax
  • Credit Agricole
  • CVC
  • European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD)
  • Gastrade SA
  • Grant Thornton
  • Helleniq Energy
  • The Recovery and Resilience Facility Agency
  • ICGB AD
  • Masdar Abu Dhabi
  • Motor Oil Hellas
  • Mytilineos Group
  • National Bank of Greece SA
  • Olympia Odos SA
  • Pyletech
  • Piraeus Bank
  • Taaleri Energia
  • TIIC Infrastructure Fund
  • The Hellenic Republic
  • Vinci Group
  • Vodafone

Work highlights

  • Act for the European Bank of Reconstruction and Development in connection with the design, financing, construction and maintenance of the student accommodation facility of the University of Thessaly and the development of a Government Park.
  • Advising a consortium in their participation in the tender launched by the Hellenic Republic Asset Development Fund regarding the award of the concession agreement for the financing, operation, maintenance and exploitation of Attica Motorway.
  • Advise Vodafone in relation to the development of a fiber network as well as the development of a submarine cable system for the interconnection of several islands in Greece.

Lawyers

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.

Dimitris Roussis

Dimitris Roussis

Hall of fameBernitsas Law

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.

Rising stars

Stella Papakosta

Stella Papakosta

Bernitsas Law

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).

Leading individuals

Yannis Seiradakis

Yannis Seiradakis

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.

Practice head

The lawyer(s) leading their teams.

Panayotis Bernitsas, Dimitris Roussis, Yannis Seiradakis

Other key lawyers

Nikos Papachristopoulos, Eleni Stazilova, Stella Papakosta, Anna Meletiou