POTAMITISVEKRIS
(The following information was supplied by the firm)
Overview:
POTAMITISVEKRIS is one of Greece’s largest full-service law firms. We are a recognized leader in key market sectors and practice areas and highly regarded for our commercial acumen and focus on client relationships.
We all share a commitment to the highest professional and ethical standards. We foster effectiveness in problem-solving, a culture of respect and collaboration, openness, and equal opportunity.
Our law firm has earned the Great Place To Work® certification and has been recognized for its High Trust Culture Workplace, as a testament to our collegial work culture.
Our firm’s success is demonstrated by its recognition as “Greece Law Firm of the Year” in 2012, 2014, 2020, 2021, and 2023 by Chambers Europe and our Top-Tier rankings by all leading legal directories, including Chambers, Legal 500, and IFLR1000.
Moreover, POTAMITISVEKRIS follows a globally recognized approach for its Quality Management System and has been certified under ISO 9001:2015 by Lloyd’s Register Quality Assurance.
Managing Partner:Â Â Â George Bersis
Number of partners: 14
Number of lawyers:Â Â 68
Languages:Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â English, French, German, Italian, Spanish, Russian, Greek
POTAMITISVEKRIS video: http://owncloud.potamitisvekris.com/index.php/s/um8LxRfTZTnEKXf
Expertise:
Banking & Finance / Capital Markets:
POTAMITISVEKRIS’ banking team has a successful track record of advising on some of the most innovative transactions in the market. The firm’s services range from the establishment of banking activities and qualifying holding acquisitions and banking M&A and compliance, to traditional banking, financing and restructuring of loans. POTAMITISVEKRIS also advises on the entire spectrum of capital markets (tender offers, securities listings, investment services, fund management). The firm’s clients include Greek and foreign commercial and investment banking institutions, institutional lenders and investors, private equity funds, hedge funds, strategic buyers, borrowers and issuers of securities.
Contact:Â George Bersis
Email:Â george.bersis@potamitisvekris.com
M&A / Commercial:
POTAMITISVEKRIS’ mergers & acquisitions practice has led to numerous outward and inward investment transactions, privatisations, and domestic reorganisations. The firm has a leading role in the context of several significant transactions that have had a lasting effect on the market, advising buyers, sellers, and State entities. POTAMITISVEKRIS can add significant value to transactions through its collaborative approach starting from the early stages, through contributions to structuring, planning, investigating, implementing, and protecting the terms of corporate transactions.
M&A Contact:Â Vassilis Stergiou
Email:Â vassilis.stergiou@potamitisvekris.com
Commercial Contact:Â Alexandros Kortesis
Email:Â alexandros.kortesis@potamitisvekris.com
Civil, Criminal Litigation & Arbitration:
POTAMITISVEKRIS acts on all types of litigation, ranging from simple proceedings such as applications for payment orders to complex, cross-border litigation involving appeals to the highest Courts and Arbitration. The firm’s efficient white-collar crime team focuses on criminal cases of breach of trust, fraud, anti-money laundering practices, tax offences, and legislation violations; to defend its clients. The team relies on its competence in criminal law and its expertise in the corresponding areas of business law. The firm’s clients are local and overseas companies and individuals for whom we try to elaborate the best legal solutions considering their business needs and strategy
Contact:Â Konstantinos P Papadiamantis
Email:Â konstantinos.papadiamantis@potamitisvekris.com
Employment:
POTAMITISVEKRIS’ employment practice advises companies on all employment issues relating to individual or collective labour relations. It represents clients before employment tribunals, civil and criminal Courts, labour authorities, and social security committees. Moreover, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the firm advises companies on a day-to-day basis and upon particular request to help businesses affected while preventing dismissals during the adopted measures.
Contact:Â Alexios Papastavrou
Email:Â alexios.papastavrou@potamitisvekris.com
Project Finance & Energy:
POTAMITISVEKRIS has established an impressive track record of advising lenders, sponsors, and contractors on large and complex project finance transactions, including motorways, thermal and renewable electricity generation, marinas, large-scale commercial real estate, hospitality, waste management, and PPPs. The firm’s project finance team is well-positioned to structure, document, and lead transactions from start to finish, whether on the lenders’ side or on the sponsors’ or contractors’ side. The energy practice supplements the firm’s project finance practice with enhanced knowledge of the applicable regulatory and environmental framework. POTAMITISVEKRIS advises on all aspects of energy law, providing domestic and international clients with relevant legal services in the context of due diligence review and acquisitions, non-recourse financing of energy projects, and oil and gas projects.
Contact:Â Euripides loannou
Email:Â euripides.ioannou@potamitisvekris.com
EU, Competition & Antitrust:
POTAMITISVEKRIS’ EU & Competition practice has the resources and expertise to advise on the complicated issues arising in this sector. The firm has extensive experience in coordinating multi-jurisdictional filings and dealing with the EU Commission. The firm’s services include the preparation of antitrust guidelines, the provision of employee training, the performance of due diligence and the conduct of mock dawn raids both in Greece and abroad. By providing proactive services to its clients, POTAMITISVEKRIS aims to protect them from future antitrust risk.
Contact:Â Dimitris Loukas
Email:Â dimitris.loukas@potamitisvekris.com
Insolvency & Restructuring:
POTAMITISVEKRIS’ insolvency & restructuring practice counsels both credit institutions and potential investors on how to deal with NPLs. The firm advises debtors, creditors, and other stakeholders, on how to restructure their debt, rehabilitate troubled companies, and secure judicial ratification of agreements, and protect themselves from civil and criminal liability. POTAMITISVEKRIS contributes to efforts to substantially reform bankruptcy laws and cooperate with prominent international organizations of insolvency practitioners, such as INSOL International/Europe, and the International Insolvency Institute.
Contact:Â Stathis Potamitis
Email:Â stathis.potamitis@potamitisvekris.com
Intellectual Property:
POTAMITISVEKRIS intellectual property practice provides business-oriented assistance and advice in protecting and managing IP rights. The firm provides a full range of trademark, copyright, and patent advice, including litigation and enforcement. POTAMITISVEKRIS also advises at every step of a brand’s evolution and provide a one-stop-shop for all legal requirements, including the clearance, prosecution, enforcement, and exploitation of trademarks and IP rights at a national and international level.
Contact:Â Xenophon Paparrigopoulos
Email:Â xenophon.paparrigopoulos@potamitisvekris.com
Real Estate:
POTAMITISVEKRIS’ real estate team represents developers, lenders, private equity funds, local and international investors, including REITs, and the Greek State in the context of privatisations. POTAMITISVEKRIS advises clients on complex issues, including acquisitions, disposals, due diligence, development, planning, projects, and construction. The firm also acts on financings, including senior, mezzanine, and preferred equity financings, as well as loan workouts, restructurings, joint ventures, and complex real estate M&As.
Contact: George Bersis
Email:Â george.bersis@potamitisvekris.com
Contact: Theologos Mintzas
Email: theologos.mintzas@potamitisvekris.com
Tax:
POTAMITISVEKRIS’ tax practice’s client base is made up of multinational public corporations, entrepreneurial ventures, and high-net-worth individuals. It offers a tailored service in a contentious and advisory capacity. The firm represents clients in tax audits and disputes with the Greek tax authorities, and advises the banking industry on tax issues arising from restructurings and reorganisations.
Contact:Â Aspasia Malliou
Email:Â aspasia.malliou@potamitisvekris.com
Key Contacts
Managing Partner:
George Bersis
george.bersis@potamitisvekris.com
Senior Partner:
Stathis Potamitis
stathis.potamitis@potamitisvekris.com
Firm Rankings
Banking & Finance
Band 1
Capital Markets: Debt
Band 1
Capital markets: Equity
Band 1
Competition/Antitrust
Band 1
Corporate/M&A
Band 1
Dispute Resolution
Band 1
9.0
Energy
Band 1
9.0
IP
Band 2
8.0
Labour & Employment
Band 1
Private Wealth Law
Band 2
8.0
Projects
Band 1
9.0
Real Estate
Band 1
Restructuring & Insolvency
Band 1
Tax
Band 1
9.0
TMT
Band 1
9.0
White-Collar Crime
Band 1
9.0
Leading Lawyers
Articles
Partner and Head of our EU, Competition and Antitrust Practice, Dimitrios Loukas, in cooperation with academic associate Konstantinos Lamprinoudis, authored a contribution to the Greek legal journal “Business and Company Law Review†(DEE), titled: “Legal professional privilege is extended to all legal adviceâ€. In this contribution, the authors provide insights into the recent judgment of the […]
Our Civil & Criminal Litigation and Arbitration partner, Konstantinos Papadiamantis, assisted by Catherine Androulaki (Senior Associate) and Konstantina Panagopoulou Perez (Associate), authored the chapter for Greece, sharing local insights into relevant treaties, conventions and other sources of law. The guide provides a comprehensive analysis of the regulatory framework and the recent trends regarding the types of enforceable order, the competent […]
Managing Partner, George Bersis and Partner Theologos Mintzas, who are leading our Real Estate practice, share in Finance Pro their comprehensive viewpoints regarding investments, opportunities and the key trends in the real estate landscape in Greece. Read the full article: Article
Here we discuss the structuring of real estate investments in Greece, present basic steps and schemes, and take account of key tax and legal considerations. We hope you will find the article engaging and helpful and we do welcome any comments and thoughts you may have. The contributing members of our teams were: Aspasia Malliou (Partner, […]
POTAMITISVEKRIS’ Partner and Head of our EU, Competition and Antitrust Practice, Dimitrios Loukas, authored a contribution to the Greek legal journal “Business and Company Law Review†(DEE), titled: “The revised Vertical Block Exemption Regulation (Regulation (EU) 2022/720): What has changed?â€. In this contribution, the author provides his insights into the revision of the framework for the […]
In this article, our Partner, based on his experience as a litigator, proposes certain ideas, some simple some more complicated, to speed up the judicial proceedings and improve the quality of the judgments issued. The article was published by “Kathimerini†newspaper on Friday, March 03, 2023, and you may read it at the following link: […]
Partner Theologos Mintzas, and Associates Ilia Boura and Elli Anastopoulou, members of our Environmental Law team, authored a commentary in the latest issue of Theory and Practice of Administrative Law (11/2022) published by NOMIKI BIBLIOTHIKI . Their commentary discusses the recent Council of State decision (1381/2022) allowing for minor illegal constructions that support a basic public infrastructure work within […]
Stathis Potamitis, Senior Partner, and Konstantinos Rachianiotis, Associate co-authored the Greek chapter of “Insolvency & Restructuring 2023†Guide published by Lexology – Getting The Deal Through. The authors provide their insights into Law 4738/2020, which introduced a new integrated insolvency framework that covers preventive tools, in and out-of-court restructuring tools and liquidation proceedings. To read our […]
Introduction Greece remains a jurisdiction where medium and large businesses are owned and managed by Greek families who need advice on the structuring of the generational transfer of business. Furthermore, Greece attracts foreigners that relocate to Greece and require pre-immigration advice on the operation of the Greek forced heirship rules and the tax efficiency of […]
Greek parliament recently enacted certain provisions refining the process for the issuance of building permits and building permit pre-approvals. POTAMITISVEKRIS Partner, Theologos Mintzas, along with Associates Elli Anastopoulou and Ilia Boura, prepared the insightful brief: Read more
On 26 May 2022, Greece enacted its first National Climate Law 4936/ 2022 (Climate Law). The purpose of the Climate Law is to create a framework for the improvement of the country’s adaptive capacity and climate resilience, ensuring the country’s gradual transition to carbon-neutrality by 2050 in the most environmentally sustainable, socially just, and cost-efficient […]
Congratulations to our Partner, Theologos Mintzas on publishing his new book on “Environmental Protection & Property Ownership†that was released last week by Nomiki Vivliothiki. Please find below a link to more information about the book and feel free to send any queries you may have to Theologos: theologos.mintzas@potamitisvekris.com Read more
Tax Notice from POTAMITISVEKRIS Tax team regarding the New Development Law 4887/2022 Our Partner and Head of POTAMITISVEKRIS Tax team, Aspasia Malliou and Senior Associate, Maria Kilatou co-authored an article/“Tax Notice†regarding the New Development Law 4887/2022, that was recently enacted by the Greek Parliament, aiming to promote Greece’s economic development by granting incentives for […]
Tax Notice from POTAMITISVEKRIS Tax team regarding the New Development Law 4887/2022 Head of POTAMITISVEKRIS Tax team, Aspasia Malliou and Senior Associate, Maria Kilatou co-authored an article/“Tax Notice†regarding the New Development Law 4887/2022, that was recently enacted by the Greek Parliament, aiming to promote Greece’s economic development by granting incentives for specific activities and […]
POTAMITISVEKRIS contributes to Eurofenix, the official quarterly journal of INSOL Europe After the successful participation of Stathis Potamitis in the INSOL Europe Conference, which was held online last October, INSOL Europe invited Stathis and his co-panelists: José Carles, Giorgio Corno, and Frances Coulson to share their views from their respective markets, on the new measures in the […]
At the outset of the 5th wave of corona virus affecting the globe, European Union seems to have drawn useful lessons from the pandemic within the context of the European Union Pharmaceutical Strategy[1], since the importance of ensuring timely access to safe, high quality and affordable medicines on a permanent basis are principles under which […]
Α. THE DATA OF PANDEMIC UNTIL TODAY Over the last 20 years, three new corona viruses have emerged and spread to the human species. The first SARS (2002-2004), first detected in China’s popular markets, spread to 29 countries and infected 8,422 people, causing death in 10% of those infected. Then MERS CoV (2012-present) appeared in […]
Press Releases
POTAMITISVEKRIS team with Maria Ferfeli successfully represented a foreign bank in litigation proceedings before the Greek Supreme Court (Areios Pagos), which confirmed the legality and validity of an exclusive choice-of-court clause in a dispute with consumers. It was ruled that consumers claims for abusive clauses are not investigated ex officio by the court. Read more
Partners Theologos Mintzas and Konstantinos Papadiamantis, supported by Associate Ilia-Aikaterini Boura, successfully represented the winning consortium of a public port sub-concession in an intervention before the Court of Auditors. The intervention succeeded to annul a decision by the Court of Auditors that required prior to the signing of port sub-concessions the preparation and issuance of master plans, a requirement […]
Konstantinos Papadiamantis and Konstantina Panagopoulou Perez successfully represented a Servicer before the Appeal Court, which issued an essential ruling on a disputed issue regarding Greek NPL’s. More specifically, the Athens Appeal Court ruled that it is legal for the Servicer to undertake the judicial proceedings at his name and request the adjudicated amount to be paid directly to […]
POTAMITISVEKRIS have been awarded the EcoVadis Sustainability Silver Medal (2022-2023). The accolade positions POTAMITISVEKRIS among the top 25% of companies assessed by EcoVadis and in the top 13% of companies in the Legal and accounting activities industry. EcoVadis is the world-leading organization for corporate sustainability ratings. The EcoVadis ESG rating recognizes companies that have completed […]
Partner, Konstantinos Papadiamantis, represented Andreas Georgiou before the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR),  former head of the Hellenic Statistical Authority (ELSTAT) during the crisis years. ECHR ruled that Andrea Georgiou did not have a fair trial, when he was condemned for breach of duty, regarding his actions as head of the ELSTAT. ECHR considered that […]
Head of Litigation Konstantinos Papadiamantis and associate Evgenia Kordou, successfully represented, in a pro bono case, before the Athens Multi-member Court, the editor and a journalist of an investigation journalism site against claim for defamation by an investigated party.
Konstantinos Papadiamantis and Evgenia Kordou, successfully represented a charity, a jewelry manufacture company, and a jewelry designer in litigation proceedings before Athens Single and Multi – Member Courts regarding an application of interim measures and a lawsuit against our clients, requesting the Court to order cessation of production and distribution of a certain object and 500k € […]
POTAMITISVEKRIS’s litigation team, headed by Partner, Konstantinos Papadiamantis, represented Andreas Georgiou before the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR), former head of the Hellenic Statistical Authority (ELSTAT) during the crisis years. ECHR ruled that Andrea Georgiou did not have a fair trial, when he was condemned for breach of duty, regarding his actions as head of […]
We are very happy to welcome Alexandros Metallinos to the partnership of POTAMITISVEKRIS. Alexandros is one of the most prominent Greek lawyers with more than 25 years of experience in the fields of banking-finance, M&A, corporate law and arbitration. Besides his law practice, Alexandros is a recognized legal scholar, currently a visiting lecturer at the University of Athens Law School, […]
We are happy to announce that our firm advised the preferred bidder of the tender process initiated by the Greek State and the Hellenic Republic Asset Development Fund for the long-term lease of the Larco metallurgical plant in Larymna, as well as of the tender process initiated by Larco’s Special Administration for the sale of […]
We are very happy to welcome Alexandros Metallinos to the partnership of POTAMITISVEKRIS. Alexandros is an established practitioner with more than 25 years of experience in the fields of banking-finance, M&A, corporate law, and arbitration. Besides his practice, Alexandros is a recognized legal scholar, acting as visiting lecturer at the University of Athens Law School, […]
We want to welcome Maria Perifanou as our latest Partner promotion! Maria has over 13 years of experience as an M&A, Corporate and Capital Markets expert, since she has acted in numerous acquisitions (cross-border, listed or just local) and privatizations. Maria is highly skilled in negotiations and handing complex transactions, including joint ventures, carve-outs, share/asset […]
We are happy to announce that our firm advised the preferred bidder of the tender process initiated by the Greek State and the Hellenic Republic Asset Development Fund for the long-term lease of the Larco metallurgical plant in Larymna, as well as of the tender process initiated by Larco’s Special Administration for the sale of […]
We are delighted that we will participate in the 24th Annual Capital Link Invest in Greece Forum that will be held on December 9, 2022, at the Metropolitan Club, NYC. Our Managing Partner, George Bersis, a leading expert in the Greek capital market sector, will moderate the panel “A new era for the Greek Capital Markets […]
I was greatly surprised and honored from the announcement of my award as one of the Most Empowering women in my country. All these years of hard work, my scope was not aimed at gaining power, but to build a safe and honest relationship with whoever put trust in me. Partner and Head of POTAMITISVEKRIS […]
POTAMITISVEKRIS is pleased to announce the election of George Bersis as Managing Partner of the firm. After his longstanding service at the helm of the firm, Stathis Potamitis handed over the role of Managing Partner to George Bersis, who has been a crucial member of the Partnership for over a decade. Stathis will continue as […]
POTAMITISVEKRIS contributed to the 2nd edition of the Primer on Climate Change which covers 26 countries and the European Union and provides the latest information on how board directors will fulfil their obligations by incorporating climate change initiatives into corporate strategies, governance, disclosure and risk management. Our Managing Partner, Stathis Potamitis and Senior Associate Dimitra Rachouti, were appointed […]
POTAMITISVEKRIS is pleased to announce Anthea Terlegas as its twelfth Partner. Anthea is a dually qualified lawyer (in Greece and England & Wales (non-practising)) with experience in a wide range of domestic and cross-border finance transactions. She specialises in general corporate finance, including project financings in the renewable energy and infrastructure sectors, real estate finance […]
POTAMITISVEKRIS is pleased to announce the election of Anthea Terlegas, a specialist in finance transactions, as its twelfth Partner. Anthea’s election to partnership follows an impressive 12-year career with POTAMITISVEKRIS that started in 2010 from the firm’s junior associate ranks. “We are delighted to welcome Anthea to the partnership: in addition to reinforcing our very […]
Public offering of EUR 230m Green Bonds and listing on ATHEX by a major development listed entity Co-Managing Partner George Bersis and Senior Associate Elena Theocharakou, supported by Associate Marialena Papageorgiou advised a listed holding company specializing in the development, investment and management of real estate on the issuance, through a public offering, of EUR 230 m. senior […]
Acquisition of a hotel resort located in Elounda, Crete Co-Managing Partner George Bersis and Senior Associate Amalia Balla advised one of the largest owners of hotel resorts in Southern Europe on the complex acquisition of a company owning and operating a hotel resort, situated in Elounda, Crete, following its demerger. The team was joined by Partner Theologos Mintzas and Associate Anastasia Bolari, […]
George Bersis and team acted as legal advisors to the issuance advisor, joint coordinators and bookrunners for the public offering of €100m senior bonds listed on ATHEX issued by a listed company active in the real estate sector.
POTAMITISVEKRIS assisted in the privatisation of a leading gas distribution company in the Greek energy market We are delighted to announce that last week, the agreement for the sale of the share capital of Depa Infrastructure SA to Italgas S.p.A, one of the leading gas distributors in Italy and the third largest market player in […]
We are delighted to announce that Theologos Mintzas has been elected to the partnership of POTAMITISVEKRIS. Theologos has shown an unwavering commitment to our values and client service and has built a sterling track record to become a trusted adviser in his areas of practice. “This promotion acknowledges hard work, excellent legal skills and service […]
We are delighted to announce that Theologos Mintzas has been elected to the partnership of POTAMITISVEKRIS. Theologos has shown an unwavering commitment to our values and client service and has built a sterling track record to become a trusted adviser in his areas of practice. “This promotion acknowledges hard work, excellent legal skills and service […]
POTAMITISVEKRIS awarded “Greece Law Firm of the Year” for the fourth time (2012, 2014, 2020 & 2021)! POTAMITISVEKRIS wins & celebrates this highly esteemed award for the 2nd consecutive year and for the 4th time during the last 10 years. Athens, April 23, 2021 – POTAMITISVEKRIS, one of Greece’s largest full-service corporate law firms, with […]
POTAMITISVEKRIS, the winner of 2020, 2014, and 2012 and a nominee for the 2021 award, believes the Chambers Greece Law Firm of the Year awards reward top service quality, innovation, and client satisfaction for all practice areas supported by law firms. These prestigious awards aim to encourage, acknowledge and reward the valuable contribution that businesses […]