Bernitsas is ranked in the Top Bands by Chambers Europe in their 2018 Guide to Europe’s Leading Lawyers for Business. 'the in-depth understanding of both the legal and business particularities necessary for ... complex transactions’ 'when we have urgent matters they are there 24/7’ 'passionate about their work'
Banking & Finance
Sources praise the firm's 'fantastic practice in banking and finance' and commend the department for being 'well up to speed with developments in the market - their partners are available and on top of things.' Clients describe firm managing partner Panayotis Bernitsas as 'a very experienced individual who is extremely hard-working and very knowledgeable.' He enjoys an outstanding reputation for privatisation transactions and real estate portfolio investments. 'A true leader of the local practice,' Nikos Papachristopoulos is highlighted by sources for his work on capital markets transactions, including primary and secondary offerings. He also advises on acquisition financing, privatisation and restructuring mandates. One interviewee says: 'I love working with Nikos. He is a great guy who is very helpful, very easy-going and very knowledgeable.' Athanasia Tsene is a leader in the field of derivatives as well as non-performing loan transactions. Clients enthuse: 'She is a business lawyer who tries to understand where we are coming from and helps to find a solution.' She is also highly regarded for regulatory compliance and restructuring matters. Clients appreciate that associate Dionysis Flambouras is 'always very prompt to respond.' He advises on real estate, acquisition, asset and leveraged financing and assists with the sale of non-performing loans. Additionally, he acts for financial institutions on regulatory matters.
Competition/European Law
Market competitors note that it has a 'great clientele' and can ensure 'good quality.'
Panayotis Bernitsas is the firm's managing partner and gains recognition for his expertise in cartel cases and related litigation. Sources describe him as 'ambassadorial' and add that he 'has a lot of presence.'
Augustine Almyroudi heads the department and acts for a range of prestigious clients on antitrust issues, including merger control. Her practice also takes in state aid, regulatory compliance and dawn raid preparations.
Corporate/Commercial
Several clients highlight the firm's speed, saying that the team 'is very efficient and fast in their responses.' Clients also underline that the lawyers are 'very reliable - if they say they will deliver tomorrow they will do so – and of course they are an experienced team with strong knowledge of corporate law.' Eminent practitioner and managing partner Panayotis Bernitsas is a versatile practitioner who assists with most significant strategic matters concerning M&A, financing and competition matters. He has notable experience of advising on concession projects and privatisations, representing both the government and investors. Nikos Papachristopoulos is a top-ranked M&A and financing practitioner. He often advises financial sector clients, including Greek banks and foreign investment funds, on high-profile corporate and finance transactions. He also has a track record in acting on takeovers and privatisation deals. Associate Evi Kitsou advises on general corporate matters, including corporate structuring and regulatory mandates. Clients report that she is 'a very reliable person, who is committed and extremely quick to respond.'
Dispute Resolution
Clients admire the team's responsiveness: 'When we have urgent matters they are there 24/7.' This source goes on to praise the lawyers' dedication: 'They are passionate about their work and see the case as their own personal file.' In addition to the team's speed of response, other interviewees appreciate its business-oriented culture: 'They are very pragmatic and have a nice commercial approach, making the legal issues easier to digest.' Christos Paraskevopoulos receives several plaudits for his knowledge of commercial litigation and business disputes. Clients say he is 'very knowledgeable, strategic, smart and quick at grasping matters.' He handles cases in a range of sectors, with recent matters involving the automotive, technology and finance industries. He frequently advises clients on fraud allegations and directors' and officers' liability. Dimitris Roussis is renowned for handling civil, public and administrative law litigation, frequently acting in the Supreme Court. One client states: 'He was very much to the point, explained the complex legal aspects in understandable terms and was very quick in understanding the business implications.' This source goes on to report: 'I was very impressed with the very frequent follow-up.' According to clients, George Atie 'is a very responsive and hard-working person who always fights every case as if it were his own.' He deals with a wide variety of disputes, such as insolvency and shareholder disputes, and has acted on cases in the banking, construction and TMT sectors.
Employment
One source appreciates the team's practical approach: 'They are able to take quite complex set-ups and bring them back to simple solutions. We are able to have very pragmatic conversations and find efficient solutions.' This interviewee also values that the lawyers are 'always able to deliver within tight timescales and deadlines.' Clients say: 'They know the local market very well, have excellent knowledge of labour law and resolve complicated issues very quickly and effectively.' Katia Papantonopoulou heads the employment team and furnishes clients with a range of labour law support, from day-to-day advice to terminations.
Energy
Clients express their satisfaction with the quality of the work provided, saying: 'The service was good and they were very reactive.' Market commentators praise the team's reliability and state: 'The lawyers had very good knowledge of their domestic market and they were very responsive.'
Real Estate
One client is 'extremely happy with the quality of advice received,' describing the team as 'very efficient and effective.'
The 'very pleasant and business-oriented' Nikos Vouhiounis possesses a broad and varied real estate practice, acting for funds, public entities and private clients on a range of transactions, including privatisation deals. One client describes him as 'first-class and very international,' commenting on his 'ability to have efficient talks with the other party.'
Restructuring/Insolvency
Interviewees explain that the team has the in-depth understanding of 'both the legal and business particularities necessary for these complex transactions.'
Managing partner Panayotis Bernitsas is held in high regard for his broad and long-standing practice, bringing his corporate and finance expertise to restructuring mandates. He also handles contentious matters and group restructurings, often involving cross-border aspects.
Department co-head Athanasia Tsene is well regarded for her restructuring and finance practice. Her clientele include major banks, as well as companies in sectors such as the construction industry. Her work of late has involved advising Eurobank on bond loan restructurings and extensions.
Tax
One client values the team's 'in-depth knowledge of the issues' and its 'willingness to provide further details from external resources when deemed necessary.'
Another source describes the practitioners as 'agreeable, fast and always there to assist us whenever it is needed.'
Fotodotis Malamas receives plaudits for his expertise and knowledge of the tax and compliance environment in Greece and abroad. Sources appreciate his 'very good technical knowledge and client-oriented approach.' He often handles tax aspects related to corporate law, with his recent work involving company structures and joint ventures.
TMT
One client explains that the 'lawyers are experts in the field of telecommunications.' This source also highlights the practitioners' 'responsibility and devotion,' explaining that 'the lawyers always inform us of various changes in the regulations in a timely manner.' Click here to read the full rankings.
