Bernitsas

Bernitsas

bernitsaslaw.com
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Greece

Dispute Resolution

Christos Paraskevopoulos

Christos Paraskevopoulos

Partner Christos is a leading litigator with an expertise in contractual, commercial, fraud and white collar crime disputes. Christos has been with the Firm since 2000 and is experienced in advising on criminal and civil proceedings and investigations involving bribery, corruption and fraud, as well as assessing and managing the risk of failure to comply with the legislative and regulatory framework. He also advises companies across a range of industries on asset freezing, corporate misconduct, directors' and officers' liability and intra-company disputes. He is an expert in contractual and commercial agreement disputes, including commercial agency and distribution cases, advising clients on issues arising from termination of contractual relationships and representing them in negotiations, at court and in settlement proceedings. He has substantial experience in defamation claims and succession disputes, representing high net worth individuals in pursuing their rights under estates. He regularly represents clients in debt recovery and enforcement, with a specialisation in the area of hospital supply agreements, and the recognition and enforcement of foreign judgments and arbitral awards. Christos is experienced in medical liability and intellectual property disputes and is active in ADR, representing clients in the context of commercial arbitration proceedings and mediation.
Panayotis Bernitsas

Panayotis Bernitsas

Managing Partner Panayotis is the Managing Partner of the Firm and a leading legal practitioner, with an active, broad-based commercial practice incorporating more than 35 years of experience in transactional, advisory and litigation work. Panayotis is an authority in EU, competition and antitrust law and has represented clients in prominent cartel cases before the Hellenic Competition Commission. He is a senior litigator, with vast experience in all types of dispute resolution, and represents clients in complex, high stake civil and administrative actions before the high courts and arbitration boards. He has also acted as arbitrator at the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC). Panayotis is an expert in concession projects and privatisations, with an unsurpassed track record of playing a key role in many of the pioneering, ground breaking transactions to have taken place in Greece. He advises extensively on major renewable and conventional energy and infrastructure projects and investments in energy property development companies. His real estate practice is focused on large scale developments and real property asset portfolio investments. Within the framework of his private practice, Panayotis has acted on a number of occasions as advisor to the Government on European Union, State Aids and Privatisation issues. He also advises companies and individuals on complex tax structuring and wealth planning matters and has acted extensively in high stakes tax controversies. Panayotis has been widely published in legal journals, books and other publications in his areas of expertise and is a participant in the annual Forum on International Wealth Disputes. He held the position of Associate Professor in International Economic Law, Law of International Business Transactions, European Community Law at the University of Thrace from 1983-2007.
Amaryllis Bernitsa

Amaryllis Bernitsa

Counsel Amaryllis specialises in international arbitration, representing clients in complex, high-value commercial disputes under principal arbitration rules, including ICC, LCIA, UNCITRAL and ICSID. Her practice spans a broad range of contractual and commercial disputes, including matters arising out of joint ventures, shareholder arrangements, supply and distribution agreements and post-M&A disputes. She has significant experience advising clients throughout all stages of the arbitral process, from pre-dispute strategy and jurisdictional challenges to merits hearings and enforcement. Amaryllis advises on the structuring, drafting and negotiation of cross-border corporate transactions, including mergers and acquisitions and transfers of businesses, and all types of commercial agreements. She has represented listed and private companies operating across the energy, telecommunications and technology, banking and financial services, transportation, gaming, healthcare, consumer goods and other industries. Amaryllis advises global clients on complex issues relating to international trade sanctions and export controls. She helps clients navigate evolving sanctions and regulatory requirements, with a focus on implementing and enhancing compliance frameworks and internal controls. She undertakes analysing sanctions-related disclosures in M&A transactions, negotiating contractual trade sanctions provisions, investigating breach concerns and allegations and advising on licencing procedures. Prior to joining the Firm, Amaryllis was a senior associate at a leading international law firm in London.
Evangelos Mamalakis

Evangelos Mamalakis

Counsel Evangelos is a counsel at the Firm which he joined in 2017. His practice is focused on disputes arising from a range of commercial and financial contracts and relationships. Evangelos has considerable experience in advising corporations in disputes arising in all areas of corporate law, including agency, distribution, franchise, joint venture and commercial lease agreement disputes, medical liability as well as litigation arising from mergers and acquisitions. He also advises clients from the financial services sector in disputes relating to financial instruments, bancassurance agreements, directors’ liability, shareholders’ rights and lending activities. Evangelos advises companies on labour and benefits related litigation, as well as on Intellectual Property disputes including trademark infringement, licensing, design, copyright and passing off disputes. He also has experience in medical liability disputes, pre-litigation due diligence and defamation actions. He is an expert in litigation involving conflict of laws and complex jurisdictional issues.
Elia Kotsoni

Elia Kotsoni

Of Counsel Elia is a seasoned litigator with a focus on white-collar crime, financial and corporate criminal law and extensive experience at the intersection of criminal, civil and regulatory matters. Elia advises Greek and international clients across sectors including banking and financial services, healthcare, shipping, transport and consumer goods, on matters involving corporate misconduct, fraud, breach of trust, bribery and corruption, money laundering, internal investigations, tax and customs offences and directors’ and officers’ liability.  She represents corporates, financial institutions, individuals and executives in criminal and civil proceedings before the Courts, investigative and regulatory authorities. Prior to joining the Firm, she was engaged as external counsel to a major general hospital where she regularly advised on financial disputes. She served  as in-house counsel to a large private hospital, a banking institution and investment group advising on civil, corporate and criminal law and litigation. Elia has contributed to legislative policy as a member of expert drafting committees of the Ministry of Justice on the alignment of Greek criminal law with EU instruments, including reforms related to the
Fotini Karra

Fotini Karra

Senior Associate Fotini is a senior associate with the Firm which she joined in 2018. She has extensive experience in the full range of civil and commercial disputes and arbitrations. Fotini’s practice is focused on advising and representing clients in litigation and arbitrations arising from corporate and commercial transactions, PPP and concession agreements, real estate development projects, mergers & acquisitions and shareholder, joint venture and distribution agreements. She also acts in competition disputes and advises on medical liability disputes and the infringement of intellectual property and data privacy rights. Fotini represents clients in enforcement and debt recovery proceedings and participates in pre-litigation due diligence reports. She is a Certified Mediation Advocate.
Pelina Leontiadou

Pelina Leontiadou

Senior Associate Pelina is a senior associate with the Firm which she joined in 2007. Her practice is focused on litigation, in particular in the areas of employment, insurance and commercial law, and providing end-to-end legal advice to corporates in commercial law and corporate governance. Pelina has substantial experience representing clients in disputes arising from employment issues, commercial relationships, fraud and white collar crime, minority and majority shareholder disputes, medical liability and debt recovery. She also advises insurance companies on disputes relating to regulatory enforcement, contracts and claims and relationships with intermediaries. Pelina advises companies on an ongoing basis on a broad spectrum of issues related to the everyday running of a company. Her expertise lies in advising on group and company internal restructurings, the drafting and negotiation of commercial agreements, including distribution and lease agreements, corporate governance and the employment and dismissal of all levels of personnel. Pelina is a Certified Mediation Advocate.
Mara Lissari

Mara Lissari

Senior Associate Mara is specialised in all aspects of administrative and public law and represents clients before the Courts and disciplinary bodies. She advises on disputes arising from regulatory and legislative compliance, challenges to acts and decisions of public bodies and public procurement processes and tenders. Mara assists clients in their participation in public procurement tenders and tendering authorities on the launching of public tenders. She also advises on administrative proceedings and investigations across a variety of industry sectors, including healthcare, real estate and education, as well as in relation to companies and commercial transactions. Mara is a certified mediator registered with the Ministry of Justice, trained by AKKED Prometheus, a non-profit organization set up by the Athens Bar Association and the Industrial Chamber of Athens.
Lina Mastrogiannopoulou

Lina Mastrogiannopoulou

Senior Associate Lina is a senior associate with the Firm and a member of the Public Procurement and Litigation, Arbitration & Dispute Resolution team. She advises on public and administrative law, with a focus on public procurement proceedings, administrative litigation arising from sanctions and fines and the recovery of community aid. Lina has significant experience representing clients before the administrative authorities and courts in disputes stemming from the award of public tenders and advising on pretrial appeals, pre-contractual negotiations, tender documents and contract performance. Prior to joining the firm, Lina participated as a lawyer in the Legislative Committee tasked with reforming the institutional framework governing public contracts for works, supplies and services, established by the Ministry of Development. She also acted as legal associate to the Tenders and Contracts Monitoring Unit at the Center of International and European Economic Law in Thessaloniki.
Anna Meletiou

Anna Meletiou

Senior Associate Anna is a senior associate with the Firm and a member of the Litigation, Arbitration & Dispute Resolution team. Her practice is focused on administrative law and public procurement. Anna advises participants on the various stages of tendering procedures and negotiations. She is experienced in public private partnership projects and privatizations and regularly participates in due diligence exercises. Anna represents clients before administrative courts and in arbitration proceedings and is a certified mediator.
Ioanna Stamou

Ioanna Stamou

Senior Associate Ioanna is a senior associate with the Firm and a member of the Litigation, Arbitration & Dispute Resolution team. She advises on civil and commercial litigation and domestic and international arbitration, with a focus on corporate, financial, insolvency and tort disputes, as well as enforcement and debt recovery proceedings. Ioanna is experienced in representing clients before the Greek courts, as well as in arbitration proceedings in relation to disputes arising from complex cross border transactions and a variety of corporate and financial disputes.
Vasiliki Fasfali

Vasiliki Fasfali

Associate Vasiliki is an associate with the Firm and a member of the Litigation, Arbitration & Dispute Resolution and Public Procurement teams. Vasiliki advises on administrative and public law with particular expertise in public procurement. She represents clients before the administrative courts and is experienced in representing clients before the Dispute Resolution Directorate in relation tax disputes. Vasiliki reviews and drafts public procurement agreements and assists clients in their participation in public procurement tenders. She also drafts appeals and submissions in proceedings before the administrative courts.  
Natasha Skoufi

Natasha Skoufi

Associate Natasha is an associate at the Firm and a member of the Litigation, Arbitration & Dispute Resolution team. She acts in a broad range of civil and commercial disputes, representing clients before the Greek courts and in arbitration proceedings. Her practice focuses on tort, corporate and succession disputes, as well as disputes in the real estate and financial services sectors. She has experience in enforcement and debt recovery proceedings, as well as in cross-border disputes involving multiple jurisdictions and conflict of laws. Natasha is actively involved in alternative dispute resolution and also participates in legal due diligence reviews.

Deals

  • - Enforcement Proceedings Dispute We represent a prominent Greek energy group with global footprint in a €2.3bn dispute related to enforcement proceedings by a foreign creditor against their debtor.
  • - Concession Agreement Arbitration We advise a joint venture of Greek and international construction companies, in ad-hoc arbitration proceedings arising under the respective concession agreement of the 'Olympia Odos' highway with the Greek State, regarding multiple claims against the Greek State, with a collective value of over €132m.
  • - Diesel Emissions Case We represent Kosmocar, the official importer of Volkswagen, AUDI and Skoda automobiles and Ducati motorcycles to Greece, in relation to civil actions filed against them by consumers allegedly affected by software, the purpose of which was to optimize NOx emissions in certain vehicle models. We have to date been successful in the rejection of numerous lawsuits filed against our client, and continue to represent them in other pending or new lawsuits filed by other plaintiffs. The decisions of the Greek Courts will create case law that will be followed in this and possibly in other jurisdictions, where similar lawsuits may have been filed.
  • - €136m Landfill Tax Litigation We represent a state entity before the Council of State in a dispute arising from the imposition of landfill tax on municipal waste.

Team Services

Our practice has a strong track record in major administrative, civil and commercial and corporate crime disputes. We offer a highly specialised level of representation before the courts in Greece and Europe, industrial tribunals, the ICC and in arbitrations and mediations, with an exceptionally high success rate.

We approach disputes constructively, averting litigation where this is feasible and getting the best possible results where it is unavoidable, focusing on time and cost management to ensure minimal disruption to the ordinary course of our clients’ business. We place emphasis on pre-litigation risk management and case viability, recognising the need for communication with our clients to allow for informed decisions throughout the process.

Our practice offers a significant breadth of expertise across all types of commercial, administrative and white collar crime disputes. We enjoy long-standing relationships with clients from a wide range of industries who regularly instruct us on disputes arising in the course of their everyday business. Industry specialisations include medical, pharmaceutical, food and beverages, retail, electronics, car manufacturing, infrastructure, energy, telecommunications, insurance, financial services and securities.

- Administrative & Compliance Disputes
- Banking & Finance Disputes
- Corporate & Commercial Disputes
- Fraud Investigations
- Restructuring & Insolvency Disputes
- White Collar & Corporate Crime