Bernitsas Law
With a successful track record in advising on complex corporate transactions, ownership structures, developments and financings, the Athens-based Bernitsas Law real estate team shows ‘exceptional immediacy’ in responding to its international and domestic clients. The practice routinely acts in hospitality, residential and office space developments, with the leading duo of Panayotis Bernitsas and Lambros Belessis being experts in infrastructure projects and corporate restructuring. Eleni Gerasimidou focuses on construction and leasing issues, and Christina Zakopoulou acts for investors, private equity funds and developers.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
‘International profile, quality of service, knowledge of the real estate market.’
‘Eleni Gerasimidou has shown a very strong expertise and knowledge of the market, together with a great capability to understand the company's needs. Furthermore, her flexibility has been a success factor in order to deliver the service on time and when needed. Finally, the communication with an international company has always been very effective and fully aligned to the company's needs.’
‘There is exceptional immediacy in the response to any question, communicative, excellent knowledge of their subject. Reasonable in billing hours.’
Key clients
- Astir Group
- GIC Private Limited Sovereign Fund
- Intrum Hellas
- Percassi
- Red Circle Srl
- SMB Capital
Work highlights
- Advised GIC on its strategic partnership with Sani/Ikos Group, making GIC the leading shareholder alongside Sani/Ikos’ management team.
- Advised ASTIR, owner of the Astir Palace Vouliagmeni Hotel, with regards to the sale of premium vertical properties in the high-end area of Mikro Kavouri, Vouliagmeni, Attika, Greece.
- Advised Red Circle in relation to its long-term lease of a large office building in the centre of Athens to a Greek hotel group which plans to develop the property into a luxury hotel.
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Bernitsas Law
Senior Associate Christina is a senior associate 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.
Practice head
The lawyer(s) leading their teams.
Panayotis Bernitsas, Lambros Belessis