Bernitsas Law is ranked in Band 1 across all practice areas by Chambers Global in their 2022 Guide to the World’s Leading Lawyers for Business.
Banking & Finance
Greek law firm 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 delistings, 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.
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. One client praises her for being 'quick and responsive,' while another describes her as 'very strong, experienced and handy to work with.'
Dionysis Flambouras covers a broad spectrum of finance work including real estate financings, NPL transactions and bond loans. Sources say: 'He knows the subject very well and he is a hard worker, a good colleague and a team player.'
Nikos Papachristopoulos enjoys strong market recognition for his expertise in notes and bond issuances, as well as delistings. He offers strong expertise acting for bookrunners, banking syndicates and corporates, with clients stressing: 'He is very experienced, hard-working and a good colleague.'
Managing partner Panayotis Bernitsas is appreciated for his depth of expertise and well-reputed standing in the Greek banking and finance world.
Corporate / Commercial
The law firm Bernitsas Law boasts a broad corporate and commercial practice based in Athens, aided by its strong financing offering. The team 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.
Evi Kitsou enters the rankings following her involvement in complex corporate mandates include share sales, restructurings and mergers, whereby she often acts on cross-border cases. Sources endorse Kitsou's 'quality and ability in understanding the needs of the clients.'
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.
Panayotis Bernitsas is lauded by clients as a 'top-class lawyer.' He is held in high esteem for his longstanding expertise in corporate and commercial law matters across 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.
Christos Paraskevopoulos is a well-established litigator with significant experience in contentious intellectual property matters, civil claims, employment and shareholder disputes.
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.
International & Cross Border Capabilities
Bernitsas Law is a large Greek law firm providing a full-service offering to local and international clients across the full spectrum of legal areas. It is regularly a law firm of choice for clients requiring local law expertise on the Greek aspects of international matters, collaborating effectively with global firms on foreign direct investment. Teams adeptly handle cross-border financing matters, involving both private sponsors and institutional lenders, and the law firm is a trusted adviser to clients on inbound M&A. Equally, its contentious groups are well versed in representing clients in cross-border cases, primarily serving as local counsel on multi-jurisdictional disputes. The law firm also brings industry expertise in energy and infrastructure to bear in project financing transactions and displays proficiency advising on deals in the TMT and real estate spaces.
Multiple sources praise the law firm's ability to collaborate with foreign counsel. One client reports: 'They work seamlessly with our English law advisers.'
