The Legal 500

A. & K. Metaxopoulos & Partners. Law Firm enjoys an excellent reputation for IP, and is particularly strong on media and arts related copyright law. It advised the union representing privately owned radio stations in court concerning interventions against a controversial new copyright law regarding payments to producers and musicians. Kriton Metaxopoulos is a leader in his field.

Ballas, Pelecanos & Associates LPC draws its clients from the pharmaceuticals, IT, defence, leisure and fashion industries. It was recently instructed by Teva to defend a patent infringement claim. Other clients include Lockheed Martin, Seiko, Microsoft, Levi Strauss and Nike. George Ballas heads this excellent team.

IP boutique Dontas Law Offices has a superb reputation, thanks in no small part to senior partner Nicolas Dontas, whose ‘understanding of IP and the way to make it work in Greece, particularly with regards to enforcement, is excellent’. The team recently represented Facebook in claims against users of confusingly similar trade marks. Other clients include Disney, Warner Bros, Sanofi-Aventis and Tommy Hilfiger.

‘Excellent’ IP boutique Dr Helen Papaconstantinou, John Filias & Associates acts for a broad spread of clients on the full range of matters. It represented Google in its successful bid to cancel the registration of the domain name groogle.gr, and advised Ferrari, Hugo Boss and Fred Perry, among others, on raids and seizures of counterfeit goods. Name partner Helen Papaconstantinou is one of the leaders in her field.

Highly rated IP boutique Patrinos & Kilimiris advises clients on patent and trade mark issues. Major patent clients include Pfizer, 3M and Merck Sharp & Dohme, and clients on the trade mark side include Procter & Gamble, Orange, Chanel and Apple. Constantinos Kilimiris and Maria Kilimiris are very well regarded.

KGDI Law Firm’s ‘longstanding relations with the various Greek regulatory bodies give confidence that the issue at hand will not be left unattended or overlooked’. The firm recently represented Coca-Cola Hellenic Bottling Company and McDonald’s before the TV Advertising Committee. The ‘very professional’ Irene Kyriakides provides ‘sound and effective advice’.

KLC Law Firm acts for clients in the TMT and pharmaceuticals sectors, including Businesslike Communication Services, which it recently represented in an unfair competition dispute involving IP matters.

Kiortsis & Associates Law Offices is well regarded for its ‘prompt responses and highly appropriate advice’ on industrial property matters. New clients include Volkswagen, Colgate-Palmolive, Diners Club and Gap. Name partner Christina Kiortsis has a good reputation.

Lambadarios Law Firm acted for Sony Music in a dispute with a well-known artist that resulted in asset seizures. Other clients include Athenian Brewery, Procter & Gamble, The Gillette Company and Braun. Maria Fronista heads this experienced team.

Yannis Chryssospathis heads the team at M & P Bernitsas Law Offices, which has a good record in data protection matters. Clients include BMW Hellas, Bristol-Myers Squibb, EMI, and Smith & Nephew.

P.V. Kanellopoulos & Partners Law Firm runs a busy trade mark litigation practice, which represents major clients in the food, automotive and pharmaceuticals industries. The firm also advises SPOT JWT, one of Greece’s leading advertising agencies. Victoria Kanellopoulos is recommended.

Sarantitis Law Firm has been advising Greek shoe designer Tsakiris Mallas on the registration and protection of various trade marks.

V&P Law Firm is noted for its trade mark and domain name protection work. Clients have included Levi-Strauss and Sony.

Zepos & Yannopoulos is highly experienced in brand name protection and has advised numerous major clients in the fashion, luxury and fast-moving consumer goods industries, including LVMH and DKNY.

Avramopoulos & Partners Law Firm is experienced in IP and data protection issues. Clients include Greek music house Nakas, Zebra and Aegean Blue Vacations. Athanassios Safaris heads the team.

Bahas, Gramatidis & Partners has been representing Japan Tobacco in a multimillion-dollar trade mark dispute in Greece. It also represents Mango on all its Greek trade mark issues. Spyros Alexandris heads the two-partner team.

Calavros and Partners’ client base in the life sciences and TMT sectors ensures a regular flow of IP work. OTE is a major client.

Cocalis & Psarras acts for a range of telecoms clients and household products manufacturers, including Sara Lee, Procter & Gamble and Siemens. Name partner Alkiviades Psarras has a strong reputation.

While Drakopoulos Law Firm has been a longstanding player in Greek IP, it will miss former group head Eleni Lappa, who left to form her own boutique firm. Clients include BP, Bacardi and Shell.

George Minoudis is Karatzas & Partners Law Firm’s main IP lawyer. He handles trade mark portfolio management and disputes.

Kelemenis & Co assisted Hellas Power with the filing and registration of new trade marks following its takeover and name change from Aegean Power.

Moussas & Tsibris Attorneys at Law acts for clients in the healthcare, telecoms and publishing sectors, and is strong on trade mark protection.

PotamitisVekris represents several household names including Procter & Gamble, Microsoft and the Coca-Cola Hellenic Bottling Company. Xenephon Paparrigopoulos is the main contact.