Top Band recognition in Chambers Europe 2023

Bernitsas Law is ranked in the Top Bands by Chambers Europe in their 2023 Guide to Europe’s Leading Lawyers for Business.

'Bernitsas Law offers the highest quality; the lawyers are incredibly fast and competent ... If you need a right hand, Bernitsas Law is a business partner ... always on top of developments and very knowledgeable ... an excellent team with deep knowledge of legal issues'

Banking & Finance

Bernitsas Law offers exceptional expertise across the banking and finance spectrum. The law firm enjoys an excellent standing in capital market transactions, handling large bond and notes issuances and listings, as well as receivables securitisations and structured finance mandates. Additionally, its clientele benefits from in-depth expertise in NPL transactions including the sale and acquisition of portfolios and all regulatory issues. Lawyers at the firm frequently assist with the Greek aspects of pan-European finance deals, acting for a wide range of prestigious financial institutions and private companies.

'Their project team shows strong commitment and a high capacity to navigate through the complexities of the project.'

'Bernitsas Law demonstrates strong reliability and swift responsiveness throughout the cooperation.'

'The firm is always on top of developments and is very knowledgeable.'

'Bernitsas Law is hands-on and very responsive.'

Managing partner Panayotis Bernitsas is appreciated for his depth of expertise and well-reputed standing in the Greek banking and finance world.

Nikos Papachristopoulos enjoys strong market recognition for his expertise in notes and bond issuances, as well as listings. He offers strong expertise acting for bookrunners, banking syndicates and corporates.

'Nikos Papachristopoulos is very reliable, responsive, sophisticated and hard-working.'

Athanasia Tsene is widely appreciated for her comprehensive coverage of complex finance and capital market transactions, ranging from corporate credit facilities and non-performing receivables sales to structured finance deals and NPL transactions.

Sources say: 'Athanasia Tsene is extremely knowledgeable, responsive and smart, with strong business acumen'

Dionysis Flambouras overs a broad spectrum of finance work including real estate financings, securitisations of receivables and bond loans. 

'Dionysis Flambouras is extremely committed and provides a strong level of support. He is a sophisticated individual.'

'Dionysis Flambouras is passionate, has an immense level of expertise and a truly unique manner of explaining issues and particularities of the Greek market when a project contains international elements.'

Competition / European Law

Bernitsas Law is a well-recognised corporate firm with a respected competition law offering, acting for an impressive roster of clients. The team has a particular focus on merger control mandates, as well as regulatory issues connected to distribution networks. The department also has experience in investigations and dawn raids. The law firm additionally assists with the appeal of Hellenic Competition Commission decisions and follow-on damages claims relating to alleged collusion.

'If you need a right hand, Bernitsas Law is a business partner.'

Managing partner Panayotis Bernitsas is a well-respected figure in the sector, boasting long-standing expertise in competition law. His practice covers merger clearances, distribution networks and state aid issues.

Marina Androulakakis rises in the rankings on the back of her work advising a diverse client list on transaction-related topics, as well as antitrust investigations and litigation before the Hellenic Competition Commission. She has further experience in state aid matters and appeals against HCC decisions.

'Marina Androulakakis is specialised in competition law and she is also very pleasant.'

Corporate/Commercial

Bernitsas Law boasts a broad corporate and commercial practice based in Athens, aided by its strong financing offering. The law firm comes highly reputed for its expertise in M&A transactions ranging from divestments and demergers to cross-border acquisitions. A further key strength of the firm lies in the handling of shareholder agreements and share acquisitions, as well as the participation in public tenders, making it a great choice for international clients. Additionally, the firm regularly assists with corporate restructurings, contract negotiations and due diligence issues. The firm's clientele includes investment funds and pharmaceutical companies, and lawyers in the team also act for public authorities, further underlining the firm's strong market position.

Panayotis Bernitsas is held in high esteem for his longstanding expertise in corporate and commercial law matters across Greece.

Lambros Belessis is a skilled lawyer who advises prominent international investors and corporate clients on the Greek law aspects of multinational corporate deals.

Evi Kitsou advises clients on complex corporate mandates include share sales, restructurings and mergers, where she often acts on cross-border cases.

Nikos Papachristopoulos is a leading corporate lawyer with an incredible breadth of expertise in shareholder agreements, demergers and acquisitions. He often acts for investment funds and is particularly experienced in cross-border work.

'Nikos Papachristopoulos is absolutely brilliant and is one of the foremost corporate lawyers in Greece.'

Dispute Resolution

Bernitsas Law maintains a top-tier ranking on account of its strong market recognition and consistent presence in high-profile cases. The law firm has proven capabilities in public law litigation, including cases linked to public tenders and the breach of public contracts. The team handles IP litigation, often defending companies in enforcement actions taken by the Greek data protection regulator or other domestic public bodies. It also assists with disputes arising in insolvency situations and additionally offers advice on employment law disputes and civil action claims. Bernitsas Law has a strong reputation for the capacity to handle complex commercial arbitration cases.

'The team has in-depth knowledge of issues that arise and always gives clear clarifications and answers.'

Christos Paraskevopoulos is a well-established litigator with significant experience in contentious intellectual property matters, civil claims, employment and shareholder disputes.

'Christos Paraskevopoulos is highly expert in litigation and can explain in a clear and concise manner complex legal and procedural matters.'

Dimitris Roussis represents clients before the administrative courts in actions against the Hellenic Republic, including notable cases relating to contractual breaches, environmental decisions and results of public tenders. He is also active in arbitration.

'Dimitris Roussis impresses with his level of knowledge, his targeted and immediate response and the level of service he provides.'

Associate-to-watch Evangelos Mamalakis assists clients with product liability cases and litigation relating to public-private partnerships and terminated distribution agreements.

Employment

Bernitsas Law houses a respected employment team advising multinational and domestic clients on a wide range of labour issues. The well-established legal team is particularly knowledgeable in employment termination, regulatory compliance and collective labour contracts. The team also assists with transaction-related mandates and transfer of undertakings.

'They are very quick to answer and very thorough in their feedback and services.'

Katia Papantonopoulou leads the employment team at Bernitsas Law and advises clients on a broad range of collective and individual employment law issues, including terminations and M&A-related labour law matters. He is also equipped to advise on regulatory and compliance matters.

Energy

Bernitsas Law's energy team advises both domestic and international clients on energy matters, frequently working alongside international law firms on cross-border mandates. The law firm is knowledgeable in contractual and financing agreements pertaining to gas infrastructure projects. The team additionally assists with transactions and developments relating to a range of renewable energy sources, including photovoltaic energy. Its lawyers also advise on licensing topics.

Yannis Seiradakis is an eminent lawyer who rises in the rankings due to his extensive experience acting on a wide range of transactions, including M&A, capital markets, privatisations and the associated regulatory matters.

'Yannis Seiradakis is a commercial lawyer and he is very much business-oriented.'

Tax

Bernitsas Law provides a full-service tax offering which works closely with the firm's M&A and dispute resolution teams. The law firm handles cross-border mandates, often assisting international clients with their operations in Greece, including transactions. It is also knowledgeable in corporate income tax, VAT matters and customs duties. It represents clients from a range of industries including automotive, financial services and tech, as well as high net worth individuals.'

'The firm's services are excellent and the work is always done quickly'

Their responsiveness is one of their strongest assets.'

'The lawyers are highly experienced and efficient.'

Fotodotis Malamas is well placed to handle the tax aspects of large transactions, and he has additional experience in handling income tax, customs and VAT issues, as well as inheritance tax law compliance topics.

'He is very attentive and very easy to reach. He gave us very sound advice and helped us facilitate all the processes.'

TMT

Bernitsas Law is a full-service corporate firm with a notable TMT offering. The group advises clients on compliance and regulatory matters, and is also seen handling transactional mandates. Its lawyers often assist foreign companies wishing to provide services in Greece. The team has significant experience in data protection and GDPR issues, often advising clients from the telecoms, technology and automotive sectors. It also advises on agreements in the television industry relating to advertising, sponsorship, and production.

'They are not only very fast, but also very cooperative. They have a very friendly approach.'