Moratis Passas Law Firm > Athens, Greece > Firm Profile

Moratis Passas Law Firm Offices

Moratis Passas Law Firm
15, VOUKOURESTIOU STREET
106 71 ATHENS
Greece
Visit website 30 210 360 6107

Moratis Passas Law Firm > The Legal 500 Rankings

Greece > Banking, finance and capital markets Tier 3

Combining local expertise with an international mindset, Moratis Passas Law Firm is a popular choice among domestic and international banks, funds and investors across a strong mix of transactional and restructuring matters, as well as regulatory mandates. Vassilis Saliaris is one of the main contacts within the team and is particularly adept at handling buy and sell-side NPL mandates. Saliaris co-heads the team alongside managing partner Dimitris Passas.

Practice head(s):

Dimitris Passas; Vassilis Saliaris

Other key lawyers:

Pelagia Klara; Maria Androulaki

Key clients

Alpha Bank

Citibank Europe Plc

Citigroup Global Markets Limited

Eurobank

doValue Greece Loans and Credits Claim Management Societe Anonyme

doValue Spa

Attica Bank

Piraeus Bank

Piraeus Financial Holdings Group

Cyprus Popular Bank Public Co Ltd

Davidson Kempner European Partners LLP

HSBC

INTRUM HELLAS

Davidson Kempner European Partners LLP

HSBC

Greece > Dispute resolution Tier 4

Demonstrating significant ‘expertise and experience’ in complex cross-border litigation and out-of-court dispute resolution, the team at Moratis Passas Law Firm is highly regarded for representing clients in commercial disputes, and banking and financial cases, alongside shareholders’ claims. Operating out of Athens, co-founder Dimitris Passas frequently represents companies from across the insurance and shipping sectors, whilst Nikos Syrmas and Fotis Kotsis are described as ‘excellent litigators’, focusing on commercial and civil disputes.

Practice head(s):

Dimitris Passas; Nikos Syrmas; Fotis Kotsis

Other key lawyers:

Christiana Koliofoti; Panagiotis Anastopoulos; Natasha Skoufi

Testimonials

‘The firm’s expertise and experience in civil litigation exceeds its peers. They maintain an excellent track record and success rate in civil litigation.’

‘Nikos Syrmas and Fotis Kotsis are excellent litigators, with a deep understanding of the law, and brilliant drafting and communication skills. They tailor their approach to achieve the best possible outcome for the client.’

Key clients

Cyprus Popular Bank Public Company Ltd, Greek branch

EDOEAP (Press and Media Pension Fund)

NN Hellas

Citibank Europe Plc, Greek branch

Piraeus Bank

Hellas Capital Leasing

Viva wallet Bank

Antenna T.V. SA

Intrum Hellas

Work highlights

  • Representing NN Hellas SA, a member of NN Group, in litigation concerning insurance products sold in the Greek market.
  • Representing EDOEAP (Press and Media Pension Fund) in a lawsuit against Bank of Greece to recover its assets held by the Bank of Greece under the legal regime applicable to Greek pension funds and public law legal entities.
  • Handling six appeals filed by CPB (Cyprus Popular Bank Company Ltd) against the Greek state before the Thessaloniki Administrative Court of Appeal concerning withholding tax.

Moratis Passas Law Firm > Firm Profile

The firm: Moratis Passas was founded in 1990 by joining the previously individual successful practices of George Moratis and Dimitris Passas. In 2010 the firm was established as a law partnership under Greek Law (Presidential Decree 81/2005) and is located in Athens (Head office: 15 Voukourestiou str. |Branch office 5 Zalokosta str.)

Moratis Passas has since its inception been an advisor to many key players in the Greek banking and financial sectors. Over the past decades, we have built a highly qualified team that combines local expertise with experience in major international transactions, ensuring our clients receive consistent quality. Our firm has experience in the vast majority of the business segments and financial markets across multiple jurisdictions and works with high-profile clients to resolve disputes efficiently and effectively –through arbitration, litigation, or other techniques. Our widely recognized expertise has been developed through the years, and has led us to top tier ranking among Greek law firms in the fields of banking and finance. Furthermore, we have played a substantial role in many of the most complex and noteworthy transactions and litigations. Gradually, our areas of practice have successfully expanded over most fields of contemporary financial and corporate matters. Today, we are proud of our expanding and loyal clientele that varies from corporate entities to banks and multinational organizations, as well as private entities. The firm’s commitment to meeting all challenges with absolute dedication has led to long-lasting ties with its clients, which include venture capital firms, private equity funds, financial and credit institutions, Greek and foreign ship-owners and businessmen, as well as, major companies in almost all areas of industry and commerce. Moratis Passas operates in accordance with its business principles of quality, unity, and integrity, aims to provide the highest possible standard of legal service to each of its clients, and to maintain an outstanding level of quality at every point of contact.

Main areas of practice
Banking and finance: We advise most local and foreign credit and financial institutions operating in Greece on a wide range of matters pertaining to banking, finance and corporate law as well as regulatory issues. Our experience includes negotiation and conclusion of sale and purchase agreements (SPAs) regarding transfer of whole or part of a business, documentation and execution of credit facilities, including syndicated loans, documentation and enforcement of securities (mortgages and charges), indemnities and guarantees, factoring transactions, leasing transactions, hire-purchase transactions, inter-creditor agreements, international trade finance (letters of credit and other negotiable instruments), corporate refinancing and restructuring, project and construction finance and other. We have also pioneered many new financial products and practices in the retail banking and consumer lending.

Capital markets:The international capital markets expertise of Moratis Passas covers initial public offerings and further equity offerings, regulatory capital and equity-linked (convertible and exchangeable) bond issues. The capital markets practice concentrates on securities transactions and other products sold into the capital markets. The practice is complemented by local securities law expertise in each of the key financial centers. It provides practical, integrated legal advice that covers the full spectrum of capital raising activities, including public and private domestic and international offerings of traditional debt and equity securities, as well as convertible and other derivative and structured securities.

Structured finance, securitizations and structured bonds: Our firm has in depth experience of Greek law on securitizations, having been involved in a number of such transactions by local originators, since the enactment of Law 3156/2003 on corporate bonds and securitizations. The firm excels in all areas of the securitization market across all asset classes, though it has particular expertise in whole business securitizations and corporate structured funding, including infrastructure and project bond-related work, and it is a leading legal advisor in the covered bonds market .We also have wide experience on international issues of debt securities issued by Greek companies, having acted as Greek counsel to the underwriters in most High Yield Bond issues of Greek corporates. The practice provides highly commercial and practical advice across the full spectrum of financial products, including syndicated lending and leveraged and acquisition finance, asset finance, project finance, financial regulatory, insolvency, restructuring and structured finance ,diversified payment rights transactions and other asset securitizations (bonds, repos and options).

Financial services regulatory: Our firm’s service portfolio covers the entire regulatory lifecycle, from licensing procedures, cross border services, payment systems, AML rules to industry-specific regulations.

Corporate and M&A: Our corporate and commercial practice legal team handles some of the most complex M&As transactions, joint ventures, shareholders’ agreements, company and partnership formations, as well as general corporate representation. Our practice has a notably strong record in legal support for companies, corporate groups, enterprises, in-house legal teams, and individuals with respect to commercial contracts and agreements covering all aspects of commercial transactions, including sale and lease of movable and immovable property, provision of legal services, franchise, license, and distribution agreements. Our firm also advises spin-offs of Greek companies and assists with the day-to-day legal affairs of several major Greek companies with international activities. Furthermore, our experience includes negotiation and conclusion of sale and purchase agreements (SPAs) regarding transfer of whole or part of a business.

Dispute resolution (litigation and arbitration): Moratis Passas has a very strong litigation team with a long track record of achievements in major complex, national and cross border litigation, arbitration and out of court disputes, especially in handling civil litigation, commercial disputes, banking, and financial cases. With highly skilled lawyers in litigation, arbitration, our firm deploys that experience to help clients devise the best legal strategies to handle business disputes. Furthermore, it provides robust complementary corporate and litigation advice and representation. The firm represents clients in litigation and arbitration before Greek courts and international arbitral tribunals in relation to a wide range of disputes.

Competition/antitrust and EU law: Our antitrust experts have extensive experience in dealing with cartel investigations, conducted either by the Hellenic Competition Commission or the European Commission, in a very large number of industry sectors, including banking, pharmaceuticals, food sector, automobile, energy and telecommunications. We have also dealt with cases concerning abuse of dominance, in all its forms (margin squeeze, predatory pricing, unfair trading conditions etc), both under Greek and EU law. We regularly advise our clients on possible antitrust and competition law issues arising in the context of commercial agreements, including exclusive and selective distribution, franchising and e-commerce. As we strongly believe in a proactive approach, we are keen to help our clients on compliance strategies by drafting competition guidelines and organizing training programs for investigations (dawn raids) tailored to our clients’ individual needs.Our team in the field of M&A’s provides all necessary substantive analysis in close collaboration with expert economists and assists our clients in the filing of a merger notification and possible remedies implementation, both under Greek and EU merger control system. Lastly, we represent our clients before the Greek Administrative Courts and the Council of State against the Hellenic Competition Commission’s decisions, as well as EU Courts in Luxembourg and we proceed to any necessary actions for damages before Greek civil courts for violations of antitrust rules.

Insurance: We have broad and extensive experience in Greek insurance and reinsurance law. Among our clients are many of the worlds and local leading insurers, reinsurers, brokers, as well as banking clients. Our in-depth know-how of local laws and regulatory framework, as well as our practice insight, enables us to provide practical and client-oriented legal and tax advice in connection with life/non-life insurance and reinsurance, as well as bancassourance arrangements.

Public sector: We review public sector contracts and concession agreements and advise on financing Greek public sector entities, including acting for foreign state agencies.

Data protection: Our law firm holds significant expertise in the area of data protection for more than two decades. Our dedicated team of lawyers is certified as Privacy Practitioners by IAPP and has solid knowledge and experience in privacy issues, forming a holistic and business-friendly approach to address the needs of our clients. Our work covers regulatory compliance, data protection audits, due diligence on data protection and privacy issues, privacy statements ,privacy impact assessments, whistle-blowing schemes and other privacy policies, internal investigations, data processing agreements, data security, data retention obligations and related litigation.

Main Contacts

Department Name Email Telephone
Banking, finance and capital markets Dimitris Passas dimitris.passas@morpas.gr +30 210 36 06 107
Capital Markets Vassilis Saliaris vassilis.saliaris@morpas.gr +30 210 36 06 107
Capital Markets Maria Androulaki maria.androulaki@morpas.gr +30 210 36 06 107
Structured Finance, Securitizations and Structured Bonds Vassilis Saliaris vassilis.saliaris@morpas.gr +30 210 36 06 107
Structured Finance, Securitizations and Structured Bonds Maria Androulaki maria.androulaki@morpas.gr +30 210 36 06 107
Corporate and M&A Eleni Babaletaki eleni.babaletaki@morpas.gr +30 210 36 06 107
Project Finance & Public/Private Partnerships Vassilis Saliaris vassilis.saliaris@morpas.gr +30 210 36 06 107
Project Finance & Public/Private Partnerships Panagiotis Anastopoulos panagiotis.anastopoulos@morpas.gr +30 210 36 06 107
Dispute resolution Dimitris Passas dimitris.passas@morpas.gr +30 210 36 06 107
Dispute resolution Nikos Syrmas nikos.syrmas@morpas.gr +30 210 36 06 107
Dispute resolution Fotis Kotsis fotis.kotsis@morpas.gr +30 210 36 06 107
Insurance Pelagia Klara pelagia.klara@morpas.gr +30 210 36 06 107
Public Sector Fotis Kotsis fotis.kotsis@morpas.gr +30 210 36 06 107
Public Sector Panagiotis Anastopoulos panagiotis.anastopoulos@morpas.gr +30 210 36 06 107
Competition and antitrust Marina Stavropoulou marina.stavropoulou@morpas.gr +30 210 36 06 107
Intellectual property Christiana Koliofoti christiana.koliofoti@morpas.gr +30 210 36 06 107
Data Protection Maria Androulaki maria.androulaki@morpas.gr +30 210 36 06 107
Litigation Sofia Vrontou sofia.vrontou@morpas.gr +30 210 36 06 107
Litigation Efstratios Stamoulis e.stamoulis@morpas.gr +30 210 36 06 107
Litigation Lena Sotirakopoulou lena.sotirakopoulou@morpas.gr +30 210 36 06 107
Corporate and M&A Andreas Chasiotis andreas.chasiotis@morpas.gr +30 210 36 06 107

Meet The Team(s)

Staff Figures

Number of lawyers - At this address : 20
Number of lawyers - in this country : 20
Number of lawyers - worldwide : 20

Languages

English
French
German
Italian
Russian
Spanish
Greek

Diversity/Community


DIVERSITY STATEMENT

MORATIS PASSAS values diversity and welcomes people of different ages, religious affiliations, social background, and genders. Our firm provides equal opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment regardless of age, gender identity, or sexual orientation. Our people are our firm’s greatest asset. Their uniqueness and expertise set us apart, which is why we aim to hire dedicated and creative professionals with diverse backgrounds and experiences. We strongly believe in gender diversity, and that 60% of our professionals and the administrative team are women, proves our commitment. We strive to create a culture that is inclusive and encourages, supports, and celebrates the diverse voices of our employees. This, in turn, brings us closer to the communities we serve and to our clients.

We exhibit a daily commitment to pursuing our goal of a professional setting that not only celebrates differences, but also takes great care to treat all individuals with equity and respect. Our firm’s culture guarantees that we advocate for inclusion and diversity.

Last but not least, we offer chances to young legal trainees and encourage personal and professional development of our people.

PRO BONO INITIATIVES

MORATIS PASSAS is committed to giving back to the community and offer our pro bono services to a wide range of organizations in the areas of art and culture, including the visual, literary and performing arts.

We consider pro bono work an important professional responsibility; believing that arts played a significant role in forming the identity of Greece, our firm’s pro bono legal work is mainly focused to providing legal services to Renowned artists.

Client Testimonials


CLIENT: MR ROB BASTON
COMPANY/FIRM: UBS
TESTIMONIAL: The most valuable aspect of Moratis Passas is their somewhat unique capacity to be commercial and pro-active as well as a lawyer’s lawyer, total on top of the details. If you want counsel with an acute legal mind and a problem solving drive, pick up the phone to them …

CLIENT: MS MADELEINE HORROCKS
COMPANY/FIRM: ORRICK
TESTIMONIAL: Vassilis Saliaris and his team always provide clear and practical advice on complex finance matters, including NPLs and HAPS.

CLIENT: MR MENELAOS KARPATHAKIS
COMPANY/FIRM: DoValue GREECE
TESTIMONIAL: Moratis Passas are top experts in banking and finance law with hands-on mentality and great analytical approach, while possessing an excellent understanding of the client’s business. Serious and reliable partners, exceptional commitment to get the deal done. They are a highly experienced firm with a lot of capabilities showing an outstanding work ethic and professionalism. What we appreciate most is the deep legal knowledge and fast responsiveness of Moratis Passas banking and finance practice.

CLIENT: MR CLEOVOULOS ALEXANDROU
COMPANY/FIRM: CPB
TESTIMONIAL: The above named legal firm have been our legal consultants since 2013 and we feel that their legal expertise and professionalism stands next to none. They are assisting us on issues of banking practice and other relevant issues based on Greek Law. They pursue all litigation in Greece which comprise of numerous cases. They also acted as our legal consultants on our Greek bank subsidiaries sale process and now on arbitration issues. Our experience with the said law office has been all along very satisfactory. They promptly respond to all our diversified legal queries in a resolute and highly professional manner. Their team work is highly appreciated.