Mr Lambros Belessis > Bernitsas Law > Athens, Greece > Lawyer Profile

With a successful track record in advising on complex corporate transactions, ownership structures, developments and financings, the Athens-based Bernitsas Law real estate team shows ‘exceptional immediacy’ in responding to its international and domestic clients. The practice routinely acts in hospitality, residential and office space developments, with the leading duo of Panayotis Bernitsas and Lambros Belessis being experts in infrastructure projects and corporate restructuring. Eleni Gerasimidou focuses on construction and leasing issues, and Christina Zakopoulou acts for investors, private equity funds and developers.

Demonstrating substantial strength in advising on the negotiation of insurance contracts and regulatory issues, the Bernitsas Law insurance team is highly regarded for representing Greek and international companies. Based out of Athens, Lambros Belessis leads the practice, specialising in private sector mergers, acquisitions and corporate restructurings. Evi Kitsou is an expert on the insurance, consumer goods and automobile industries, and Christos Paraskevopoulos is knowledgeable in contractual disputes. Senior associate Aristeidis Papathanasiou is also noted.

The specialist IP lawyers at Bernitsas Law are ‘hardworking, efficient and productive’, demonstrating vast expertise in patent infringement, trade mark disputes and software licensing agreements. The group is well equipped to manage litigation arising in the pharmaceutical, automobile and technology industries, with Lambros Belessis leading the practice from Athens, bringing 35 years’ experience in advising on IP-related aspects of medical devices and beverages to the department. Yannis Chryssospathis is knowledgeable in EU pharmaceutical law and Aristeidis Papathanasiou focuses on data protection matters.

Advising global and domestic leaders, SMEs, and entrepreneurs from the finance, healthcare, and energy industries, the Bernitsas Law team is highly regarded for delivering the ‘highest level’ of service in relation to M&A and corporate governance issues. The practice has extensive cross-border capabilities, frequently dealing with high-profile commercial transactions in the context of foreign investment and new legislation. Based in Athens, Lambros Belessis and Nikos Papachristopoulos co-head the group, specialising in private sector mergers and capital markets matters. Experienced litigator Panayotis Bernitsas, Evi Kitsou, who focuses on company restructurings, and Iris Sotiriou are also highlighted as key members of the team.

The ‘sharp and responsive’ team at Bernitsas Law provides ‘very accessible and customised advice’ to lenders and borrowers across a range of restructuring and insolvency matters, running the gamut from balance sheet restructurings and distressed M&A through to advice on administrations, workouts and receiverships. Under the guidance of the ‘exceptional’ Athanasia Tsene, and Lambros Belessis the team remains a prominent player in the secondary market for NPLs – whether acting as Greek counsel to an investor, the originator bank, the arranger or the note and security trustee. As part of her broad corporate and commercial expertise, Evi Kitsou regularly provides ‘succinct and on-point advice’ to clients on refinancing matters.