The Legal 500

KGDI Law Firm provides ‘very valuable’ advice across banking and finance, and was appointed as one of four legal advisers to the Hellenic Financial Stability Fund. Other clients include Hellenic Postal Savings Bank, RBS and the EBRD. Christina Papanikolopoulou is ‘knowledgeable and experienced in the banking and structured finance field’. Konstantinos Vouterakos is also recommended.

Karatzas & Partners Law Firm is ‘clearly in the top tier of firms’ for banking. It advised National Bank of Greece on its tier one capital increase in 2011. Catherine Karatzas ‘knows the law and its minutiae, and is able to extract the essence without getting the client lost in detail’. Alexander Metallinos and Christina Faitakis are also highly recommended.

Koutalidis Law Firm’s market-leading team represented super senior and senior secured lenders on Greek aspects of the €1.4bn subordinated debt restructuring of Greek mobile phone operator WIND Hellas. Managing partner Nikos Koritsas and Nikos Salakas are both active in this practice.

M & P Bernitsas Law Offices’ ‘first-tier’ banking practice regularly represents domestic and international banks and is involved in several major restructurings. It recently advised the banks, including National Bank of Greece and Alpha Bank, on a €635m bond issued by the Hellenic Railways Organisation. Athanasia Tsene is highly recommended for banking matters, and Nikos Papachristopoulos has ‘good experience’ in capital markets.

Potamitisvekris’ broad-based practice has been involved in several major debt restructurings and recently represented Cardico in a €70m refinancing. On the capital markets side, it represented the underwriters, led by Barclays Bank, on Piraeus Bank’s €805m rights issue. George Bersis and Stathis Potamitis are highly recommended.

Reflecting its weighty reputation, Dryllerakis & Associates was appointed to advise the Greek state on alternative means of restructuring state participation in Greek banks. Other clients include the Hellenic Financial Stability Fund. Senior partner John Dryllerakis is a key figure.

KLC Law Firm is highly active in energyand infrastructure financing, and continues to advise the European Investment Bank on the JESSICA project, which will co-finance or co-invest in selected urban developments. Thomas Lamnidis and Thanos Karvelis are recommended.

Moratis – Passas is a high-quality banking and corporate boutique with ‘fantastic lawyers’ that act for various investment banks. It is particularly strong on structured finance and securitisation. George Moratis is recommended.

Dimitri Sofianopoulos’ strong team at Norton Rose LLP provides top-notch English and Greek law advice across the full range of financial issues. Highlights included advising the lead arrangers on the cross-border restructuring of Maillis Group. English-qualified partner Yianni Cheilas is recommended for his ‘commercial approach and very good knowledge of financial structuring issues’.

Paraskevas Law Firm shows ‘awareness and sophistication in dealing with the sensitive issues concerning offshore private banking’. Dimitris Paraskevas, who is ‘polite and professional under stressful circumstances’, adopts ‘a hands-on approach’, and John Mazarakos shows ‘professionalism, timeliness and accuracy’. The firm recently acted as Greek counsel to Bank of America and Credit Suisse in a $1.3bn loan to various borrowers.

Evangelos Politis heads a very strong team at Politis & Partners, which acts for several major Greek banks. Recently the firm represented a consortium of Greek banks led by EFG Eurobank Ergasias on the €250m refinancing of construction company Michaniki.

Zepos & Yannopoulos stands out for banking and finance work, and has also developed a strong UCITs practice for clients including J.P. Morgan Asset Management and BlackRock Global Funds. Vassiliki Lazarakou and Nicholas Kontizas are the team co-heads. Ilias Koimtzoglou is ‘very competent when it comes to mutual funds’.

Alexiou & Kosmopoulos’ group head Alexandros Kosmopoulos is a popular choice for banking advice. The firm represents numerous banks including EFG Eurobank.

Bahas, Gramatidis & Partners has excellent pedigree in banking work; name partner Marios Bahas was formerly general counsel at the Bank of Greece and Yanos Gramatidis has expertise in aircraft finance. Clients include Attica Bank, which it advised on the establishment of Attica Finance investment bank.

Calavros and Partners is well regarded for capital markets work. Its clients include Credit Suisse, Morgan Stanley and the Agricultural Bank of Greece.

The passing in 2011 of Dracopoulos & Vassalakis’ name partner Petros Dracopoulos left a big hole in the Greek legal community. It is testament to his legacy that the firm retains a very good reputation for banking and finance.

‘The service is excellent, response times are fast and fees are reasonable’ at Drakopoulos Law Firm. Banking head Alexandra Economou is praised for ‘strong legal knowledge and practical advice’.

Lambadarios Law Firm recently advised Emboriki Bank and real estate fund AI Partners on a €250m bid to the European Investment Bank for the Urban Development Fund section of the JESSICA holding funds in Greece. Its international banking clients include Deutsche Bank and Dresdner Bank. Managing partner Nondas Lambadarios heads the team.

Moussas & Tsibris Attorneys at Law’s busy banking team regularly advises the Hellenic Deposit and Investments Guarantee Fund. Clients also recommend it for capital markets matters.

The ‘overall quality is excellent’ at Papapolitis & Papapolitis, which provides a service that is ‘like working with a New York or City law firm’. The firm is strong in capital markets, and recently advised Alpha Bank on a €43m share capital increase for broadband provider Hellas On Line. Nicholas Papapolitis ‘stands out when it comes to complex international transactions’.

Sarantitis Law Firm has a well-balanced finance practice. On the debtor side, it is representing the parent company of Maillis Group on its €280m restructuring. The team also advises Finansbank, UBS and HSBC on regulatory issues. Alexandros Metaxas and Yiannis Economakis are the main contacts.

Spyridakis – Tsoukala Law Firm’s Eleni Tsoukala has a good name for banking and finance work, and the team’s regular clients include HSBC, EFG Eurobank Ergasias and Emporiki Bank. It is also advising several overseas funds on Athens Stock Exchange activities.

Timagenis Law Firm advised the controlling shareholder of Globus Maritime on transferring its shares from the LSE’s AIM market to the NASDAQ Global Market, which was followed by a $22m public offering.

Tsibanoulis & Partners Law Firm was one of four firms appointed to advise the Hellenic Financial Stability Fund in 2011. Dimitris Tsibanoulis is also a capital markets expert.

V&P Law Firm is closely linked to the maritime industry, but its work goes beyond traditional ship finance. Highlights included representing Navios Maritime Acquisition Corporation on two separate bond issues worth $400m and $105m to fund the purchase of seven ships. John Papapetros is the key contact.

Katerina Christodoulou heads the team at Your Legal Partners, which recently advised Emporiki Bank on a syndicated loan to transport company Veinoglou. Other clients include Millennium Bank and National Bank of Greece.

A. S. Papadimitriou & Partners Law Firm recently advised Stomana Industry on a €25m loan from the IFC. Thenia Panagopoulou is active in this area.

Athanassios Avgeros heads Avramopoulos & Partners Law Firm’s banking practice, which has been busy with debt recovery matters. It also represented Algosystems on a bond issue.

Ballas, Pelecanos & Associates LPC’s Gregory Pelecanos enjoys a good reputation for capital markets regulatory advice.

C. & S. Dimitriou & Associates’ name partner Charalampos Dimitriou has a good name for banking matters, and is experienced in public sector financing.

C. Papacostopoulos & Associates is often instructed on finance-related matters due to its close relationship with KPMG.

Cocalis & Psarras’ Dimitri Cocalis and Alkiviades Psarras are both active in banking and finance. Clients have included HSBC and Alpha Bank.

I.K. Rokas and Partners is primarily focused on the insurance sector, and it often advises insurers on cross-border financings.

Restructurings and refinancings have been high on the agenda at Kelemenis & Co, which primarily acts for borrowers. Recently it represented Kleva Pharmaceuticals on its debt restructuring.

P.V. Kanellopoulos & Partners Law Firm primarily advises borrowers, but also represents several European banks. The main focus has been restructuring work, though the firm has also been involved in some start-up financings.

Stavropoulos & Partners is experienced in handling syndicated loans and the firm has an excellent tax practice.

Theo V. Sioufas & Co. Law Offices has a good reputation for structured finance, particularly ship finance. Clients include Deutsche Schiffsbank, Bank of Athens and ABN AMRO.

Best known for its ship finance work, Watson, Farley & Williams – Greek Branch is also highly recommended for energy-related project finance. It broadened its offering by recruiting Nikos Kostikas, formerly legal counsel at UniCredit Bank.