Combining a ‘thorough knowledge of competition issues’ with ‘business acumen’, Bernitsas Law is a go-to option for a broad array of EU and competition matters. The department is headed by Marina Androulakakis, who ‘inspires confidence’ when advising on antitrust, merger control and regulatory compliance matters. 'Extraordinary' managing partner Panayotis Bernitsas is also active in this space, with a long-established reputation for high-profile cartel cases heard before the Hellenic Competition Commission (HCC). In addition, counsel Augustine Almyroudi’s core strengths lie in state aid, compliance matters, and internal and regulatory investigations, while ‘driven' senior associate Tania Patsalia is highly acclaimed for her advice on the competition law elements of commercial arrangements. Other areas of expertise include market and sector investigations, abuse of dominance cases, EU public procurement rules and the EU law aspects of commercial, corporate and banking transactions.

Clients hail Dryllerakis & Associates for its ‘deep knowledge of competition law and regulation, at both an EU and a national level’. The team demonstrates proven prowess in prominent cartel and abuse of dominance cases before the HCC, and also thrives in merger control matters. In addition, the department offers day-to-day antitrust compliance advice, with a particular emphasis on distribution contracts and cooperation schemes. It has also worked closely with several international law firms of late to develop its antitrust advisory practice while also expanding its presence in the field of antirust private enforcement. Emmanuel Dryllerakis leads the department and is closely supported by managing partner John Dryllerakis, a leading authority in this space who previously served as a regular member of the HCC. Cleomenis Yannikas is a further name of note, particularly for antitrust matters before the HCC. The team also advises on state aid.

Kyriakides Georgopoulos Law Firm fields a team with specialist expertise in cartel, abuse of dominance, merger control and consumer protection issues in addition to state aid and public procurement. Department head Anastasia Dritsa is also an expert in private antirust litigation, anticompetitive horizontal and vertical agreements, and abuse of sole and collective dominance mandates. Key sectors of focus encompass electricity, petrochemicals, digital platforms, telecoms, consumer goods, retail, pharmaceuticals, media and construction, among others. Recently promoted partner Victoria Mertikopoulou provides the team with EU, antitrust, regulatory, digital economy and consumer protection expertise.

Metaxas & Associates Law Firm is home to ‘true experts in state aid and competition law’ who are also ‘the best in the country for EU law matters’. The team represents its clients in the full suite of HCC hearings, with a strong track record in anticompetitive behaviour claims and abuse of dominance and cartel investigations. It is jointly headed by Antonis Metaxas, famed for his ‘hugely impressive expertise’, and Efstathios Kakounis, whose practice encompasses the competition law elements of due diligence reviews and corporate restructurings. The team also assists its clients with the design of state aid schemes and is extremely adept when it comes to the competition implications of business agreements and transactions. Also integral to the team is senior associate Ioannis Floros, who is praised as a ‘top-quality expert in state aid and competition law’.

A ‘first-rate firm for competition matters at the national and EU level’, PotamitisVekris Law Firm is looked to for cartel, antitrust, merger control and state aid matters, representing both domestic and multinational companies before all relevant Greek and European authorities. Dimitris Loukas, hailed as ‘a tremendous practitioner of competition law’, brings a distinguished level of expertise owing to his former role as the vice-president and commissioner-rapporteur of the HCC; he heads the department, which also includes merger control, cartel and abuse of dominance specialist Vassilis Stergiou. The team has recently noted an uptick in private damages actions and is home to a substantial antirust compliance practice which advises on business regulations of the internal market and public procurement.

Ballas, Pelecanos & Associates LPC sets itself apart from the rest of the market through its distinct focus on the automotive, IT and pharmaceutical sectors. Gregory Pelecanos serves as practice head, focusing his practice on abuse of dominance and vertical restraints disputes in addition to antitrust issues. A standout from the recent workload saw the team represent Suunto Oy, a member of the Amer Sports group, in an HCC investigation into Greece’s watch market.

At Karatzas & Partners, merger control is a clear focus for the competition team, which works closely with the firm’s market-leading commercial, corporate and M&A department. Department head Anna Manda also puts an emphasis on EU competition law and has distinguished expertise in state aid matters within the banking industry. The team also demonstrates noteworthy levels of activity in advising on cartel issues and legislative compliance in the shipping container, distribution, food and drink, retail, automotive and consumer product sectors, among others.

The EU and competition offering at KLC Law Firm is fronted by Vassilis Karagiannis, who has a proven track record in high-end privatisation and state aid cases. He and his team routinely appear before the HCC and the European courts, and are also extremely well versed in merger control matters and complex vertical or horizontal agreements. Sectors of particular specialisation are energy, telecoms, pharmaceuticals and transport.

Lambadarios Law Firm is acclaimed for its ‘ability to deal with the HCC’ on a range of matters, in addition to its ‘strong practice’ in the field of antitrust. Managing partner Constantinos Lambadarios, whose ‘arsenal of legal skills is exceptional', fronts the offering, providing extensive expertise in cartel, merger control and collective dominance matters in industries as diverse as beer, cosmetics, consumer products, construction, automobiles and aquaculture.

A ‘prominent competition law practice’, Nikolinakos & Partners Law Firm stands out for its strength in antitrust litigation, merger control and cartel investigations. A key differentiator for the group is its sector-specific focus on technology, telecoms, electronic communications and pharmaceuticals, as well as its experience in competition matters with IP elements. Managing partner Nikos Nikolinakos is a ‘top-class practitioner for competition law matters’, while Alexis Spyropoulos is noted for his expertise in merger control and state aid. Other strengths include agency litigation and data protection cases.

The practice at Zepos & Yannopoulos, praised for its ‘in-depth knowledge of EU and competition law’, was recently bolstered by the arrival of Stamatis Drakakis from Koutalidis Law Firm; he joins with a strong track record of representing clients before the national and European courts and regulators. The team is equipped to handle merger control, state aid, vertical restraints and cartel enforcement matters, with specific expertise in the financial, electronic communications, energy, construction, chemicals and pharmaceutical sectors, among others. Stefanos Charaktiniotis is the key contact for antitrust compliance matters at both a national and EU level.

Koutalidis Law Firm is home to a broad range of expertise, covering cartel investigations, vertical and horizontal agreements, abuse of dominance, state aid rules and merger clearance. The team is also highly rated for its knowledge of sector-specific competition matters in the electricity, gas, transport, broadcasting and electronic communications industries. Katia Protopapa is the key contact.

'A well-known firm with expertise in competition law’, Stavropoulos & Partners is skilled in advising on agreements and concerted practices, merger control, vertical and horizontal relationships, and market dominance. Managing partner Ioannis Stavropoulos jointly leads the practice with Evanthia Tsiri, a specialist in the applicable regulatory framework in the banking, construction, environment and FMCG sectors. The team also has a strong risk aversion offering, regularly assisting its clients with transactional considerations, commercial policies and rebate schemes.

Under the leadership of managing partner Vangelis Politis, Politis & Partners holds a wealth of expertise in relation to merger clearances and antitrust matters, as well as procurement and consumer protection law. The team also handles EU law matters, including those pertaining to treaties, regulations and directives. In a recent standout from the caseload, the team was engaged by the European Commission in a series of disputes against the beneficiaries of community subsidy programmes.

Sarantitis has a long history of appearing before the HCC, Greek Administrative Courts and European Commission in merger control and other applicable competition matters. A particular strength for the team is its work on exclusive, non-exclusive and selective distribution agreements, regularly advising its clients on their operation, conclusion and termination. Department head Terina Raptis has also handled a number of high-end state aid matters of late.

At VAINANIDIS ECONOMOU & ASSOCIATES LAW FIRM, clients from industries including pharmaceuticals, hotels, construction, cosmetics, food and industrial products are supported on an array of EU and competition matters. Aida Economou leads the practice, which counts horizontal and vertical agreements, abuse of dominance, mergers and antitrust matters among its core fields of focus.

Maria Golfinopoulou is the key contact at Your Legal Partners where she serves as team head. Among her areas of proficiency are antitrust investigations and compliance, merger control and privatisations; her team routinely represents clients before the HCC and is particularly busy in the tobacco, IT, telecoms, petroleum and advertising sectors. The firm is a member of the Ally Law global legal network and regularly supports its clients with competition compliance seminars and mock dawn raids.