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"The firm Dr PD Theodorides & Dr HG Papaconstantinou, which started as a solo practice, was founded by Dr Panagiotis Theodorides in 1920 and is one of the oldest trade mark and patent firms in Greece. In order to better serve its clients and maintain a competitive practice which covers the br..." read more
"Sarantitis Law Firm serves its clients internationally from offices in all three major financial centres of Greece: Athens, Piraeus and Thessaloniki. Sarantitis is regarded as one of the leading law firms in Greece, being, at the same time, one of the largest in size. Established by its seni..." read more

Overview

Greece has enjoyed a prolonged period of growth, averaging about 4% a year since its admittance to the euro-area economy, thanks in no small part to a drop in borrowing costs and a credit boom. The shipping industry, historically Greece’s dominant market sector, also benefited from easy access to finance, with many of the major Greek shipping companies opting to list on the New York and London stock exchanges as a result of this unprecedented boom. However, the outlook has turned decidedly less certain, with Greece already feeling the effects of the global economic slowdown, resulting in shrinking commercial property and capital markets sectors. The legal market is already beginning to see the effects, with reports of a decrease in the amount of finance and listings-related work and a growing focus on corporate restructuring. On the shipping side, disputes relating to charterparties and bills of lading, typically quiet during a strong market, are expected to rise as shipping companies cut down on shipbuilding contracts.

Greece’s shipping industry has historically dominated the European market and with the preponderance of shipping contracts governed by English law, the major international shipping firms have established offices in the port of Piraeus, 
Greece’s key shipping centre. Watson, Farley & Williams – Greek Branch, Holman Fenwick Willan, Stephenson Harwood Consultants O.E., Ince & Co, Clyde & Co and Hill Dickinson LLP all have a Greek presence, while Reed Smith is the only US firm to offer a Greek practice.

Although the vast majority of international firms based in Greece concentrate mainly on shipping matters, a number are beginning to break away from that model and offer Greek law corporate practices. Norton Rose LLP was the first to adopt this approach, establishing an Athens office to complement its already strong shipping practice with a full-service corporate and banking team. Watson, Farley & Williams – Greek Branch followed suit in 2007, focussing on providing a predominantly UK-based clientele advice on the nascent but growing energy market in Greece. Reed Smith also handles corporate and commercial advice to US clients from its Piraeus office, particularly in the pharmaceutical and life sciences sectors.

While the industry still tends to be dominated by family-run firms, a more commercially-driven approach is increasingly being adopted. KGDI Law Firm is the largest Greece-based firm operating in the marketplace, while Karatzas & Partners Law Firm has a dominant profile in the banking, finance and capital markets sectors. M & P Bernitsas is a heavyweight firm for governmental and public sector work, and Law Office TJ Koutalidis is equally renowned for its mergers and acquisitions work. These firms arguably lead the market in corporate and banking, with Zepos & Yannopoulos a strong presence in corporate and tax work.

Greece has traditionally been considered a safer and more stable country than other Balkan countries, and for that reason has become a convenient avenue for foreign companies looking to invest there. Greek firms have opened offices across south-eastern Europe to cater to the needs of foreign clients looking for a secure entry into the market. KLC Law Firm, I.K. Rokas and Partners, Drakopoulos Law Firm and PI Partners all field offices in Romania and across the Balkans, with the latter also being the only Greek firm to have a presence in Turkey. AdvoHellas – Dr. Ziouvas & Partners has an office in Berlin.

Press releases

The latest news direct from law firms. If you would like to submit press releases for your firm, send an email request to

Legal Developments in Greece

Legal Developments and updates from the leading lawyers in each jurisdiction. To contribute, send an email request to
  • Greek Electricity Regulation 2010

    An update of the firm's yearly chapter on the regulatory regime of the Greek power market
    - Kelemenis & Co
  • Greek Labour Law

    A detailed chapter on Greek employment law
    - Kelemenis & Co
  • Venture capital transactions in Greece

    The Greek venture capital market does not rely on local structures or Greek legislation. Even when funds are of Greek origin, they follow structures and arrangements that are driven by foreign jurisdictions, primarily those with tax incentives.
    - Kelemenis & Co
  • Dispute Resolution 2009

    Court litigation remains the dispute resolution method used most often to settle large commercial disputes.
    - Kelemenis & Co
  • Greece: the state of the law in project finance

    The growth of the Greek economy over the past few years has been supported by an increasing number of project finance transactions. 
    - Kelemenis & Co
  • Financing a photovoltaic project in Greece

    Investment interest in renewable energy sources and particularly in solar/photovoltaic (PV) projects has been booming in Greece over the last couple of years.
    - Kelemenis & Co
  • A practical insight to cross-border merger control issues

    The legislative framework in Greece is set out in “Law 703/1977 on the Control of Monopolies and Oligopolies and the Protection of Free Competition”, as amended (“the Competition Law”). Also, as an EU Member State, the provisions of EC Regulations 1/2003 and 139/2004 will also be of relevance to the Greek jurisdiction.
    - Elias Paraskevas Attorneys at Law
  • Tax on Corporate Transactions

    A full overview of Greek tax legislation applicable to corporate transactions
    - Kelemenis & Co
  • Greece: An annual review of M&A activity

    A review of Greek M&A activity during 2007/2008 and the key legal rules governing it
    - Kelemenis & Co
  • Oil Regulation in Greece

    A comprehensive Q&A on the regulation of the Greek market of oil and oil derivatives
    - Kelemenis & Co

Press releases

The latest news direct from law firms. If you would like to submit press releases for your firm, send an email request to