The Legal 500

Within Banking, finance and capital markets, POTAMITISVEKRIS is a first tier firm,

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.

Within Corporate and M&A, POTAMITISVEKRIS is a second tier firm,

PotamitisVekris advised private equity group EFG Equities on its investment in plastics manufacturer NGP. Other clients include SunEdison and Vivartia, which it represented in its €95m takeover of Meygal. Stathis Potamitis and George Bersis are recommended.

Within Dispute resolution, POTAMITISVEKRIS is a first tier firm,

PotamitisVekris represented Aegean Motorways in arbitration with the Greek state over damage caused by farmers’ blockades. Other clients include Citibank, Microsoft and Procter & Gamble. Xenophon Paparrigopoulos and regulatory expert Konstantinos Papadiamantis are recommended.

Within EU and competition, POTAMITISVEKRIS is a second tier firm,

PotamitisVekris is equally adept at contentious and non-contentious matters. It has been representing Procter & Gamble in a Competition Committee investigation into the detergents market. Xenophon Paparrigopoulos heads the practice.

Within Employment, POTAMITISVEKRIS is a first tier firm,

PotamitisVekris provides an excellent and highly specialised practice, and has a large transport sector client base. It defended Athens Metro Operations Company against lawsuits filed by 285 employees on one-year, fixed-term agreements regarding their reinstatement onto the annual payroll. Alexios Papastavrou is highly recommended.

Within Energy, POTAMITISVEKRIS is a first tier firm,

PotamitisVekris enjoys a good reputation and has been involved in several major photovoltaic energy projects, such as Sun Edison’s 220MW site in central Greece. The firm also advised GDF Suez and GEK Terna as sponsors of Heron II, a 435MW power plant. Euripides Ioannou is highly recommended.

Within Intellectual property, POTAMITISVEKRIS is a third tier firm,

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

Within Legal market overview ,

The legal market has ridden the economic turmoil better than most sectors, partly because lawyers are less specialised than counterparts in larger jurisdictions and have maintained a flexible and robust approach to the changing demands of the market. Karatzas & Partners Law Firm, Koutalidis Law Firm, M & P Bernitsas Law Offices, Potamitisvekris and KGDI Law Firm are the most prominent Greek firms, with the latter the largest by size with around 100 lawyers. UK shipping law firms represent the bulk of international operations in Greece, and the majority have kept to the confines of this practice, with the exceptions of Norton Rose LLP with a full-service offering; Watson, Farley & Williams – Greek Branch for energy matters; and Reed Smith.

Within Projects and privatisation, POTAMITISVEKRIS is a first tier firm,

PotamitisVekris has an excellent reputation for major energy and infrastructure projects. Highlights included advising the project company, Heron II, and the sponsors, GDF Suez and GEK Terna, on the €300m development of a 435MW power plant. The firm is also advising the project companies on the €1.1bn Ionian Motorway and Pathe Connecting Branch, and the €1.5bn Central Greece Motorway project. Euripides Ioannou is highly recommended.

Within Real estate and construction, POTAMITISVEKRIS is a first tier firm,

PotamitisVekris is recommended for major construction and development projects. It recently advised Piraeus Bank on a €100m loan to Karelas for the construction of a major office building to be leased to a telecoms company. Euripides Ioannou handles development work, and Ioannis Vekris is recommended for transactions.

Within Shipping finance, POTAMITISVEKRIS is a third tier firm,

PotamitisVekris acts for numerous ship management companies, including Minerva Marine and Omicron Ship Management. Ioannis Vekris’ well-regarded team recently advised on several shareholder agreements.

Within Shipping litigation, POTAMITISVEKRIS is a third tier firm,

PotamitisVekris is rare among Greek firms in that it is often involved in London-based maritime arbitrations, most recently in a shipbuilding contract and charterparty dispute. Konstandinos Papadiamantis is the main contact.

Within TMT, POTAMITISVEKRIS is a second tier firm,

PotamitisVekris recently represented Microsoft in its software anti-piracy campaign. Other clients include Antenna TV and Pegasus Publications.