AKL Law Firm > Athens, Greece > Firm Profile
AKL Law Firm Offices
102, Vas. Sofias Avenue
Athens 115 28
Greece
AKL Law Firm > The Legal 500 Rankings
Greece > Real estate and construction Tier 1
AKL Law Firm is a premier firm for real estate financing and licensing, regularly advising banks and overseeing large projects, with the Hellinikon urban redevelopment project, currently under construction on the site of the former Hellenikon airport, being one of the standout examples of its work. The firm specialises in high-end developments and luxury properties. Jointly leading the practice are Helen Alexiou, an expert in environmental, zoning and planning law, and Constantine Alexiou, who covers a broad range of work including dispute resolution and insolvency matters. Senior associate Eleftheria Vassila supports on almost all of the firm’s key work. Clients describe working with the group as ‘an excellent experience‘.Practice head(s):
Constantine Alexiou; Helen Alexiou
Other key lawyers:
Alexandros Kosmopoulos; Eleftheria Vassila
Testimonials
‘Talented and skilled lawyers.’
‘Fast, quality, cooperative, good fees, reliable’
‘The whole practice treats clients not as external legal but as part of the company and provide solutions in very complex issues within time and budget They are very meticulous with their billing hours and they never overcharge’
‘Helen Alexiou, the leader of the firm, has very deep knowledge and somehow is always available to assist no mater the day or the time.’
‘Working with Alexiou-Kosmopoulos law firm is an excellent experience. People are the main core of the collaboration and people are experts.’
‘Helen Alexiou is a very competent lawyer and exceptionally supportive collaborator. Eleftheria Vassila is an excellent colleague, full of expertise and really hard-working.’
‘ALEXIOU – KOSMOPOULOS LAW FIRM team has, as we called it in Greece, “meraki” for their law services.’
‘The qualities that I have valued in the ALEXIOU – KOSMOPOULOS LAW FIRM team and make them different from competitors are high sense of integrity, transparency and ethics.’
Key clients
Lamda Development S.A. /Hellinikon S.A.
Eurobank S.A.
Prodea Investments RECI
Grivalia Properties/ Grivalia Hospitality
Piraeus Bank S.A.
Hellenic Republic Asset Development Fund
Lamda Olympia Village S.A.
Lamda Domi S.A.
Pylea S.A.
Invel Real Estate Partners
Brook Lane Capital
RND S.A.
Asset Real Estate Management and Investments S.A.
Natural persons / entrepreneurs/high net-worth individuals
MSC Cruises
VGP Greece, part of the VGP Group
Sandaya
Werealize S.A.
White Mulberry S.A.
AK Lane S.A.
Work highlights
- Continues to advise Lamda Development S.A. with respect to all aspects of the overall licensing of the Hellinikon project (Planning and environmental licensing).
- Advising Eurobank in its capacity as global coordinator and Eurobank S.A. and Piraeus Bank S.A. as mandated lead arrangers and with respect to the Hellinikon suite of financing facilities.
- Advised Alpha Bank in its capacity as Bondholder Agent, Administrative Agent, Mandate Lead Arranger and Account Bank regarding a EUR 362 million refinancing and re-leveraging financing for Astir Palace Vouliagmenis S.A.
Greece > Banking, finance and capital markets Tier 2
The ‘team of experienced practitioners from senior partners to young associates’ at AKL Law Firm acts for both borrowers and lenders on acquisition and leveraged finance matters, ‘has immense experience and speciality in syndicated bond loans’, as well as in financings of real estate projects. The practice, which is further noted for its work in the field of banking disputes, debt recovery and asset tracing, is headed by ‘great all-rounder’ Alexandros Kosmopoulos and includes ‘commercially pragmatic’ George Zohios, a specialist for financings, refinancings and re-leveraged financing of projects in the hospitality sector. Kostas Fatsis, experienced in high-value loan transactions, was promoted to partner in April 2022.Practice head(s):
Alexandros Kosmopoulos
Other key lawyers:
George Zohios; Kostas Fatsis; George Athanassiou
Testimonials
‘Robust legal background with commercial awareness, able to provide workable solutions.’
‘A team of experienced practitioners from senior partners to young associates, who work very effectively together to deliver strategic direction to matters, as well as market-leading service.’
‘The team has a deep understanding and technical knowledge coupled with experience across a range of industries as well as commercial terms – both leading to commercial outcomes and streamlined negotiations.’
‘Alexandros Kosmopoulos is a great all-rounder. He is exceptionally knowledgeable and a clear thinker, but also across the details of project management and client management.’
‘George Zohios is very responsive, extremely creative in his problem-solving and brings a commercially pragmatic mindset to his work which is valued.’
‘The firm is known for its integrity and handles issues in an ethical manner.’
‘Alexandros Kosmopoulos: Successful, well-respected, known to be calm, wise and strategic. Garners respect from all parties to a project, especially their ‘opponent’. An innovative Managing Partner.’
‘George Zohios: Delivers in kind, polite and respectful manner irrespective of the pressure during phases of any particular lengthy negotiation/project. Sticks to the objective and guides through the process with sincerity and honesty.’
Key clients
Piraeus Bank S.A.
Eurobank Ergasias S.A.
Alpha Bank S.A.
National Bank of Greece S.A.
NBG Pangaea REIC
Work highlights
- Advised Eurobank in respect to several laws governed common bond loan facilities relating to Hellinikon Project.
- Advised Alpha Bank in its capacity as Bondholder Agent, Administrative Agent, Mandate Lead Arranger and Account Bank, regarding a €362m refinancing and re-leveraging financing for Astir Palace Vouliagmenis S.A.
- Advised Alpha Bank in relation to a €530m financing for the acquisition of a Greek entity controlled by Macquarie Group, of 49% of total shares in Hellenic Electricity Distribution Network Operator S.A.
Greece > Commercial, corporate and M&A Tier 2
AKL Law Firm offers particular strengths in privatisation matters and is likewise well-versed in handling cross-border transactional work and has negotiated, conducted due diligence for, and assisted with notable private tenders and investments. Clients in the finance, real estate, and energy and IT sectors also turn to the firm for corporate governance and commercial advice, including on project management. Practice head Alexandros Kosmopoulos is an expert in all transactional matters, including those with significant cross-border elements. George Zohios is also a key contact, especially for commercial and corporate compliance.Practice head(s):
Alexandros Kosmopoulos
Other key lawyers:
Constantine Alexiou; George Zohios; Kostas Fatsis
Testimonials
‘Very close to the client. AKL has unique expertise in comparison to other legal firms we have worked with.’
‘Alexandros Kosmopoulos is tremendously experienced in corporate law.’
‘We are growing internationally, so we are facing significant challenges as we scale in terms of people, international offices, recruitment abroad, new products etc. AKL has been instrumental in guiding us on how to overcome any obstacles in our growth path.’
‘We have worked with Alexandros Kosmopoulos & Kostas Fatsis, highly recommending both of them given their expertise, eagerness to understand the business and ability to propose solutions that best fit our needs.’
‘The team is very experienced and deeply knowledgeable and has a real interest in understanding the commercial drivers behind the projects. They combine that understanding with their legal expertise to drive the most efficient results.’
‘George Zohios is an extremely experienced lawyer and knowledgeable of the industry and has provided high quality support even in highly complex legal matters. He stands out for his deep understanding of the business aspects.’’
‘The team is pragmatic, reliable and resourceful, and it demonstrates an unmatched commitment to the client.’
‘George Zohios is very creative in coming up with solutions that are adapted to the needs of each party. He knows how to explain complex matters in a simple way.’
Key clients
Lamda Development S.A.
Marguerite Fund
Landis + Gyr S.A.
Convert Group
Prodea Reic
SoftOne Technologies S.A.
Hellenic Republic Asset Development Fund
Brooklane Capital
Automotive Solutions S.A.
Work highlights
- Advised Brooklane Capital on its participation in a private tender process relating to the acquisition from Alpha Bank S.A. concerning a majority stake in a holding company.
- Advised Automotive Solutions S.A. in relation to the sale of a 60% shareholding stake in the company to NRG Supply & Trading S.A..
- Advised Prodea Real Estate Investment Company on the acquisition of 100% share capital of LAMDA Ilida Office S.M.S.A..
Greece > Dispute resolution Tier 2
AKL Law Firm is experienced in handling disputes in a number of sectors, including, but not limited to, financial services, construction and real estate. The team is also capable of handling cross-border matters. Constantine Alexiou is particularly adept at representing domestic and international clients in litigation, arbitration and mediation cases, also acting as lead trial counsel on a number of complex litigation matters. Sotiris Foteas also has extensive court experience.Practice head(s):
Constantine Alexiou; Sotiris Foteas
Other key lawyers:
Eleftheria Vassila; Vicky Zarakioti; Konstantia Natsiou
Key clients
Lamda Group
Pylaia S.A
Joint Venture Attene S.A. – Latomiki S.A.
Silverton S.A.
Special Financial Solutions S.A.
Piraeus Bank S.A.
Eurobank S.A.
Bank of America Merrill Lynch International Designated Activity Company
Eidikou Skopou Dekatessera
Burberry Limited UK
ABN Amro Bank S.A
Metlife Mutual Fund Company
Shop & Trade S.A.
Do Value Greece S.A.
Triton LLC
Enet S.A.
Core S.A.
Ballian S.A.
Cosmofarm LLC
Academy of Athens
The National Theatre of Greece
Work highlights
- Represented a consortium of Greek banks in claims against the consortium of creditors for alleged breach of good faith obligations, abusive exercise of rights and unlawful termination of loans.
- Advised Silverton Greece S.A. in regard to a portfolio of SME debt, including auction re-arrangements, issuance of executory titles and other enforcement proceedings against various debtors.
- Represented Joint Venture Attene S.A. – Latomiki S.A. before the Council of State in defence of an appeal for cassation of the decision of the Patras Administrative Court of Appeals, filed by the Greek State against the Joint Venture.
Greece > Projects and privatisation Tier 2
AKL Law Firm assists clients with all the financial aspects of the projects, including project finance and PPP. The firm is significantly active in large transport infrastructure projects, such as roads, ports, airports and roads in Greece. Practice head Alexandros Kosmopoulos is acting for Alpha Bank S.A. on the €530m financing for the acquisition by a Greek entity in the banking sector, and is further assisted by Helen Alexiou , George Zohios and Kostas Fatsis .Practice head(s):
Alexandros Kosmopoulos
Other key lawyers:
George Zohios; Helen Alexiou; Kostas Fatsis
Testimonials
‘The team adapts to the client’s needs with great flexibility and looks for solutions and alternatives.’
‘George Zohios is excellent from a technical point of view, and he has a very good knowledge of the regulatory bodies, with deep legal knowledge but also with a great practical sense to reach solutions to complex legal problems.’
‘The Alexiou – Kosmopoulos team has extremely high-quality projects and privatisation expertise. They combine knowledge and experience with responsiveness and high-quality advice.’
‘George Zohios is a very trusted, reliable and driven lawyer who combines deep technical knowledge with expertise in a wide range of industries. He has a very thorough understanding of the business aspects of the projects, which makes his advice legally bullet-proof, efficient and solution-focused.’
Key clients
LAMDA DEVELOPMENT S.A.
ALPHA BANK S.A.
Piraeus Bank
Eurobank
HELLENIC REPUBLIC ASSET DEVELOPMENT FUND
Work highlights
- Advised Lamda Development on various aspects of its involvement in the EUR 7bn Hellinikon project.
- Advised the Hellenic Republic Asset Development Fund jointly with YourLegal Partners and Dracopoulos & Vassalakis LP, on the upcoming privatization of 2Greek Regional ports.
- Advised Alpha Bank regarding a €530m financing for the acquisition by a Greek entity, which is controlled by the Macquarie Group.
Greece > Restructuring and insolvency Tier 2
AKL Law Firm is adept at handling contentious matters in this space, including injunction applications, enforcement proceedings, negotiations with regulators and debt portfolio auctioning. Founding partners Constantine Alexiou and Alexandros Kosmopoulos lead the practice jointly with debt litigation expert, Sotiris Foteas. The firm’s clients include major Greek banks such as Piraeus Bank.Practice head(s):
Constantine Alexiou; Alexandros Kosmopoulos; Sotiris Foteas
Testimonials
‘My main contact is Sotiris Foteas but my understanding is that the whole team constitutes a perfect “one-stop-shop” for any matter of domestic commercial transaction, litigation and corporate affairs.’
‘I have exclusive day to day cooperation with partner Sotiris Foteas and secondarily with other members of his team. He has an outstanding ability to handle complex transactional issues and especially very complicated contractual frameworks and relations as well as to provide business friendly solutions in the field of equity restructuring and corporate transformations.’
Key clients
Piraeus Bank
Eurobank
Alpha Bank
Do Value Greece
Silverton Greece
Work highlights
- Advised Silverton Greece S.A. on a portfolio of SME debt, including auction re-arrangements, issuance of executory titles and other enforcement proceedings against various debtors.
- Advised Eurobank S.A., Alpha Bank S.A. and Piraeus Bank S.A. on the status, impact and consequences of a long series of pending proceedings between the owner of a landmark hospitality unit in the island of Crete and the concessionaire of a landmark hospitality asset in the wider Athens area.
- Represented Eurobank S.A., in its capacity as agent for a syndicate of bondholders under a €33m project loan, in injunction and interim judgment proceedings before the Athens Court of First Instance.
AKL Law Firm > Firm Profile
The firm: Established in 1891, Alexiou & Kosmopoulos is one of the oldest and most prestigious law offices in Athens. Building on a solid foundation of four generations of practitioners, Alexiou & Kosmopoulos is a full-service law firm.
Alexiou & Kosmopoulos aspires to offer integrated legal services that consistently exceed expectations and create a model workplace for its people. The firm’s team of select professionals has been brought together by their shared commitment to client value, exceptional quality, innovation and down-to-earth commercial awareness. A consistent performance over time has helped the firm maintain and expand a growing circle of valued and loyal clients across diverse industries, many of whom entrust the firm with providing legal advice and support for their full range of activities. Combining sound expertise in a variety of fields helps realise the firm’s and its clients’ vision of excellence in today’s complex legal and business environment. The firm’s extremely versatile teams are able to interface with any other firm practices as required by the particular focus of the matter at hand (it therefore handles matters with an M&A angle, a finance angle, a litigation angle, an administrative law angle, etc).
Areas of practice
Banking, corporate and project finance: the firm’s experience acknowledges the diversity in the cultures and policies of different clients and organisations and brings its knowledge of domestic and cross-border legal issues, the workings of market infrastructures, systems and platforms to assist with a range of wholesale, retail and consumer products and investments. The practice covers core services and products, financial product structuring, asset finance, acquisition finance, derivatives, debt and equity capital markets, support for financial advisory projects, project finance and syndicated loans. The team has been advising, as single legal counsel, lenders and borrowers for transactions totalling more than €1.5bn in the last three years.
Projects and privatisation: in addition to its exposure in privatisations, concessions, PFI and PPP projects, the firm has been prominently active in major real estate development, energy, telecommunications, tourism, port facilities and transportation projects. The projects and privatisation team is equally adept at advising awarding authorities and bidders as part of public contracts and procurement, including in respect of drafting tender documents, advising on administration of processes, pre-bid and bidding strategies and arrangements, preparation of offer documentation and negotiations. The firm has been successful from whatever role or perspective it has acted; as lenders’ counsel, sponsor/investors’ counsel, lead co-seller counsel. Few law firms in Greece can compete against its recent years’ team track record on privatisations and project development. The firm’s substantial experience includes the first Greek PPP transaction and several privatisations (including Hellinikon, Piraeus Port Authority and Astir Palace).
Real estate: the firm advises on all aspects of investment in real estate, including zoning, planning, construction, development, real estate finance, environmental issues, licensing, and acts for clients within categories with varying requirements, including developers, contractors, financial and strategic investors, lenders, governmental agencies, corporates and high-net-worth individuals. In addition, the experience of the department is showcased by the range of asset and property configurations, types and sizes investigated, including opportunities in the urban, industrial, commercial, infrastructure, governmental, commercial, residential, hospitality-related and agricultural segments. In the complex interdisciplinary setting of projects of significant size, experts from other fields know that the firm understands both the business and their concerns.
Litigation and dispute resolution: the firm’s track record of successful cases spans a wide range of diverse areas, including commercial and financial disputes, construction and real estate, corporate litigation, distribution and licensing disputes, medical negligence, insolvency and enforcement.
Main Contacts
Department | Name | Telephone | |
---|---|---|---|
Banking, finance and capital markets | Alexandros Kosmopoulos | a.kosmopoulos@aklawfirm.gr | 00302103392600 |
Corporate and commercial | Alexandros Kosmopoulos | a.kosmopoulos@aklawfirm.gr | 00302103392600 |
Energy and natural resources | Alexandros Kosmopoulos | a.kosmopoulos@aklawfirm.gr | 00302103392600 |
Mergers and acquisitions | Alexandros Kosmopoulos | a.kosmopoulos@aklawfirm.gr | 00302103392600 |
Privatisation | Alexandros Kosmopoulos | a.kosmopoulos@aklawfirm.gr | 00302103392600 |
Procurement and projects | Alexandros Kosmopoulos | a.kosmopoulos@aklawfirm.gr | 00302103392600 |
Project finance | Alexandros Kosmopoulos | a.kosmopoulos@aklawfirm.gr | 00302103392600 |
Real estate and construction | Alexandros Kosmopoulos | a.kosmopoulos@aklawfirm.gr | 00302103392600 |
Real estate and construction | Helen Alexiou | h.alexiou@aklawfirm.gr | 00302103392600 |
Development, regulatory and environmental | Helen Alexiou | h.alexiou@aklawfirm.gr | 00302103392600 |
Administrative | Helen Alexiou | h.alexiou@aklawfirm.gr | 00302103392600 |
Litigation and dispute resolution | Constantine Alexiou | c.alexiou@aklawfirm.gr | 00302103392600 |
Administrative | Constantine Alexiou | c.alexiou@aklawfirm.gr | 00302103392600 |
Real estate and construction | Constantine Alexiou | c.alexiou@aklawfirm.gr | 00302103392600 |
Employment | Constantine Alexiou | c.alexiou@aklawfirm.gr | 00302103392600 |
Litigation and dispute resolution | Sotiris Foteas | s.foteas@aklawfirm.gr | 00302103392600 |
Insolvency and recovery | Sotiris Foteas | s.foteas@aklawfirm.gr | 00302103392600 |
Banking, finance and capital markets | George Zohios | g.zohios@aklawfirm.gr | 00302103392600 |
Corporate and commercial | George Zohios | g.zohios@aklawfirm.gr | 00302103392600 |
EU, competition and regulation | George Zohios | g.zohios@aklawfirm.gr | 00302103392600 |
Privatisation | George Zohios | g.zohios@aklawfirm.gr | 00302103392600 |
Procurement and projects | George Zohios | g.zohios@aklawfirm.gr | 00302103392600 |
Project finance | George Zohios | g.zohios@aklawfirm.gr | 00302103392600 |
Corporate and commercial | Kostas Fatsis | k.fatsis@aklawfirm.gr | 00302103392600 |
Energy and natural resources | Kostas Fatsis | k.fatsis@aklawfirm.gr | 00302103392600 |
Mergers and acquisitions | Kostas Fatsis | k.fatsis@aklawfirm.gr | 00302103392600 |
Privatisation | Kostas Fatsis | k.fatsis@aklawfirm.gr | 00302103392600 |
Procurement and projects | Kostas Fatsis | k.fatsis@aklawfirm.gr | 00302103392600 |
Lawyer Profiles
Photo | Name | Position | Profile |
---|---|---|---|
Dr Constantine Alexiou | Partner. Constantine fields of legal expertise include Real Estate, Litigation and Arbitration,… | View Profile | |
Mrs Helen Alexiou | Managing Partner. Helen’s fields of legal expertise include Real Estate, Procurement and… | View Profile | |
Mrs Maria Alexiou | Partner. Maria’s fields of legal expertise include Litigation, Corporate and Commercial, and… | View Profile | |
Mr George Athanasiou | Associate. | View Profile | |
Mr Kostas Fatsis | Partner. | View Profile | |
Mr Sotiris Foteas | Partner. | View Profile | |
Mr Alexandros Kosmopoulos | Managing Partner. Alexandros’ fields of legal expertise include Banking & Finance, Corporate… | View Profile | |
Miss Eleftheria Vassila | Associate. | View Profile | |
Miss Vicky Zarakioti | Associate | View Profile | |
Mr George Zohios | Partner. | View Profile |
Staff Figures
Number of lawyers : 20 Number of paralegals : 1 Number of Comms and Marketing : 1Languages
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A breath of fresh air in Greek corporate governance
Greek Law 4706/2020 (the Law) will take effect in July 2021. The Law brings about broad reforms in the landscape of corporate governance, aiming to upgrade compliance standards, enhance transparency and restore investor trust. Following is an overview of selective key aspects of the Law, together with our preliminary assessment of the proposed new approach. -
Interview answers of Helen Alexiou
What role does your firm play in assisting clients with due diligence processes for real estate investments, especially in relation to zoning, land use regulations, and building permits? AKL Law Firm’s unique approach to legal due diligence for real estate transactions combines title and planning reviews to ensure well-informed decisions for investors.
- Real estate and construction