Koutalidis Law Firm > Athens, Greece > Firm Profile

Koutalidis Law Firm Offices

Koutalidis Law Firm
The Orbit, 115 Kifissias Ave.
Athens 115 24
Greece
Visit website 30 210 360 7811 30 210 360 0069

Koutalidis Law Firm > The Legal 500 Rankings

Greece > Banking, finance and capital markets Tier 1

Now headed by Nikos Salakas, who re-joined the firm following a stint in-house at one of the country’s systemic banks, Koutalidis Law Firm provides a ‘cost-effective and business-oriented service’ to a lender-focused client base that includes domestic and international banks across a myriad of new money and refinancing transactions. Project finance is a core strength, where the firm has deep insight into the commercial drivers of transactions by dint of its varied client base, which includes lenders, sponsors and contractors. The ‘analytical, creative and hardworking’ Ioannis Kaptanis is central to the firm’s success in the space, and has handled a number of recent mandates for lenders seeking to refinance debt in accordance with large domestic infrastructure projects. As well as her NPL-related work, Effie Papoutsi is noted for her prowess in relation to acquisition finance mandates, primarily for funders of both sponsor-backed and corporate-led deals. Nikos Koritsas‘ varied practice includes a considerable volume of debt capital markets work, which he combines with his duties as managing partner.

Practice head(s):

Nikos Salakas

Other key lawyers:

Nikos Koritsas; Ioannis Kaptanis; Effie Papoutsi; Chrysanthi Karlou; Dimitris Kalyvas; Georgia Koutsoukou

Testimonials

‘The responsive team provides a cost-effective and business-oriented service.’

‘The depth and breadth of their knowledge ensures that they are able to support every client’s business needs successfully and provide high-quality, innovative legal solutions in the increasingly complex area of legislation and practice.’

‘Ioannis Kaptanis is analytical, creative and hardworking.’

‘The team are great and have deep knowledge on this subject – they are very effective and consistent.’

Key clients

Alpha Bank S.A.

Eurobank S.A.

National Bank of Greece S.A.

Piraeus Bank S.A.

GMR Airports Limited/GMR Airports Greece Single Member Societe Anonyme

Aktor Concessions S.A./Development of New Alimos Marina Concession Single Member S.A.

Hellas Gold S.A.

Aktor Concessions and Intrakat

Macquarie European Infrastructure Fund 6 SCSp (member of Macquarie Asset Management group)

Attica Bank S.A.

Optima Bank S.A.

HSBC Bank plc

Alpha Services and Holdings S.A.

Capital Product Partners L.P.

CPLP Shipping Holdings PLC

BofA Securities Europe SA

Citigroup Global Markets Europe AG

Commerzbank Aktiengesellschaft

Morgan Stanley Europe SE

Société Générale

BNP Paribas

Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft

Goldman Sachs Bank Europe SE

J.P. Morgan

Nomura Financial Products Europe GmbH

Hellenic Financial Stability Fund (HFSF)

Waterwheel Capital Management LLC

Work highlights

  • Advised a syndicate of the Greek systemic banks in connection with the refinancing of the existing indebtedness to such banks of Athens International Airport S.A. (AIA) through the issuance of an up to €1,007,843,966 bond loan and the borrowing of an additional amount of €28,700,000 under the existing bond loan provided to AIA for the financing of five construction projects.
  • Advising Waterwheel Capital Management LLP on its potential investment in Project Solar.
  • Advised National Bank of Greece S.A., in its capacity as listing advisor, in relation to a technical dual listing of the Austrian Company AUSTRIACARD HOLDINGS AG on the Athens Exchange and the Vienna Stock Exchange.

Greece > Commercial, corporate and M&A Tier 1

Described as having a ‘business-oriented mindset’, the team at Koutalidis Law Firm has vast experience of handling complex M&A transactions, privatisations, and structured financial projects. Representing a vast array of clients from across the insurance, energy, and real estate industries, the practice routinely advises on strategic partnerships and joint ventures. Based out of Athens, Nikos Koritsas and Katia Protopapa co-head the group; the well-respected Koritsas focuses on finance and restructuring matters, whilst the ’broad-minded’ Protopapa specialises in cross-border M&A. Yiannis Loizos is a capital markets expert, Chrysanthi Karlou is knowledgeable on banking transactions, and Dora Karagiorgou is also highlighted as a key team member.

Practice head(s):

Nikos Koritsas; Katia Protopapa

Other key lawyers:

Yiannis Loizos; Chrysanthi Karlou; Dora Karagiorgou; Konstantinos Papakonstantinou; Maria Petropoulou

Testimonials

‘Vast experience in their field of law, very good at identifying the weak points of a case and proposing solutions, and up to date with legal developments.’

‘Koutalidis is the by far the most professional and high-performing local legal adviser I have worked with. The team stands out for its breadth of knowledge, high leve lof commitment and focus on finding solutions.’

‘Katia Protopapa is very experienced and broad-minded, with the flexibility to address difficult legal matters.’

‘They provided very prompt responses throughout and provided good advice, with excellent and knowledgeable support.’

‘Katia Protopapa has exceptional client management skills, is focused on solving problems and she has a personal touch. She gives robust, high-level legal advice without legalistic details, and is efficient in using time and resources to meet the client’s needs. Chrysanthi Karlou is extremely professional – she has great communication skills, is knowledgeable and has a practical and business-friendly approach.’

‘The team is very detail oriented and agile and is able to address the particularities of each project successfully.’

‘The individuals that we have worked with are very knowledgeable and have a business-oriented mindset.’

‘Katia Protopapa is very responsive, highly knowledgeable and really understands the requirements of clients’ requests, not only from a legal but also a commercial perspective. Very efficient and effective collaboration.’

Key clients

Alpha Bank

Piraeus Bank

Eurobank

National Bank of Greece

Macquarie Group Limited/Green Investment Group

NN Group

Olympia Group/Sunlight Group

Intel Group

Southbridge Europe Investment Fund

Viohalco Group

Goldman Sachs

McArthurGlen/Bluehouse

Nexi SpA

Viva Wallet

Everty Greece

Mirae Asset Securities (UK) Ltd

Work highlights

  • Advising Green Investment Group (part of Macquarie Asset Management) on the acquisition of a 50% equity interest in Enel Green Power Hellas, Enel Green Power’s fully owned renewable subsidiary in Greece, for a total consideration of approximately EUR 345 million.
  • Acted as Greek legal counsel to Olympia Group on the acquisition by its subsidiary Sunlight Group of 100% of Triathlon Holding GmbH.
  • Advised Etem and Elvalhalcor (a member of Viohalco group) on their strategic partnership with Cosmos Aluminium, which involved the absorption of Etem by Cosmos Aluminium.

Greece > Dispute resolution Tier 1

Counting major financial institutions, asset development funds, and pharmaceutical companies amongst its key clients, Koutalidis Law Firm’s arbitration and litigation division consistently deals with disputes before the Greek courts relating to procurement, construction, and corporate matters. The practice is headed from Athens by Gregory Logothetis, ‘a powerhouse in the field’ who brings vast expertise in international and domestic arbitration to the group, whilst Nikitas Fortsakis focuses on all elements of administrative law disputes. Described as ‘very knowledgeable and thorough’, Ioannis Kaptanis is an expert in intellectual property disputes, while George Naskaris specialises in all aspects of tax proceedings, and Evans Courakis and Manolis Kasotakis are also highlighted as key members of the team.

Practice head(s):

Gregory Logothetis

Other key lawyers:

Nikitas Fortsakis; Ioannis Kaptanis; George Naskaris; Evans Courakis; Manolis Kasotakis; Athina Xynopoulou

Testimonials

‘Gregory Logothetis is a powerhouse in the field of international arbitration in the Greek market. Extremely knowledgeable about the commercial sector, representing high-profile Greek and international clients.’

‘Koutalidis is considered one of the most respected Greek law firms due to its expertise and excellent results. The team’s knowledge and experience are combined with high professional standards and an approach focused on the client’s specific needs.’

‘Gregory Logothetis has handled all our cases of dispute resolution with excellent results. He is an expert negotiator whose personality and experience really stand out. He has been a dedicated collaborator throughout the years, who is passionate about any project we assign to him, and he always manages to deliver the best solution to serve our interests. Ioannis Kaptanis is a very thorough and knowledgeable advisor with a highly effective low-key approach. The results of his work are excellent. Together with Gregory Logothetis, they make a great team that is always prompt to respond to our needs. We rely on them for all our legal issues and value their services. We would recommend them highly.’

‘The litigation and arbitration practice of Koutalidis Law Firm is guided by a very exceptional and experienced lawyer, Gregory Logothetis, who is supported by brilliant individuals such as Manolis Kasotakis, Athina Xynopoulou and others. Due to the depth of their knowledge and the tremendous numbers of cases they handle, this team is very experienced and is capable of dealing with the most large and complex cases. They are also used to and willing to cooperate with other international law firms and this is a plus in big cases where the involvement of more firms is needed.’

‘I haven’t seen any lawyer more knowledgeable, diligent and hardworking than Gregory Logothetis, at least in Greece. When you have Gregory, Manolis Kasotakis and Athina Xynopoulou in the same room you know that a lot of IQ has been gathered there and this makes a big difference in complex cases where many strategies could be seen initially as suitable. Their biggest strength is large, difficult cases.’

‘Due to the technical nature of the disputes we are involved in, which are in some cases particularly difficult and complex, I appreciate that the dispute resolution team of Koutalidis Law Firm and, in particular, Gregory Logothetis and Manolis Kasotakis have a quick understanding of the various legal matters and are able to provide a high quality of legal services, and reasonable and focused legal advice, with the best possible results.’

‘They have handled many litigation cases related to public procurement and civil law for us. The overall co-operation is always successful. The services provided are prompt and of a high quality, and they also have a deep knowledge of and unique expertise in litigation and arbitration. Overall, a strong, devoted team of professionals who really care about the client’s needs.’

‘Gregory Logothetis is an excellent lawyer and litigator! He has substantial experience in litigation and arbitration, he can successfully handle dispute resolution in many areas of law. He is hardworking, very professional, timely in his responses, exceptionally helpful and reliable. Manolis Kasotakis also has wide experience in litigation and arbitration – he has a sharp mind and provides high-quality legal advice to tight deadlines.’

Key clients

Fraport Greece

Aegean Motorway S.A.

Athens Concert Hall

Hellenic Republic Asset Development Fund S.A. (HRADF)

Helleniq Energy Group

ANEK S.A.

Rigensis Capital AS

Vodafone

Hellenic Financial Stability Fund (HFSF)

Genesis Pharma

Everty S.A.

McArthurGlen Group

Netcompany – Intrasoft S.A.

SPIE GmbH

John Vardinoyannis

ELTA S.A. (Hellenic Post)

Credit Suisse Group

New Alimos Marina Concession Single Member S.A.

Proteus Equity Holdings Ltd

Matrix Pack UK Ltd

Prime Equity S.A. Ltd

SEA STAR CAPITAL PLC

Aegean Art

Margaro

Home Concept

Avgouleas Linardatos S.A.

Work highlights

  • Representing Fraport Greece, the concessionaire of 14 regional airports, in ICC arbitration proceedings against the Greek state relating to the adverse effects of the Covid-19 pandemic on the implementation of the concession agreement.
  • Representing a major motorway operator in arbitration proceedings against the Greek state relating to the issuance of an operation permit for the biggest motorway tunnels in the Balkan region.
  • Representing Helpe Patraikos and Energean Italy in a high-value ICC arbitration against the Greek state in respect of the concession of drilling rights in the West Patraikos seabed.

Greece > Projects and privatisation Tier 1

Cementing its place at the summit of projects and privatisations, Koutalidis Law Firm demonstrates ‘deep knowledge and unique expertise’ on high-profile privatisation projects in connection with infrastructure and energy assets. The team is particularly strong in advising on international tender processes, covering all elements of financing, operation, and maintenance, with the ‘excellent’ Gregory Logothetis being an expert in handling complex public tenders and concessions. With the team operating out of Athens, Nikos Koritsas and Nikos Salakas specialise in M&A and banking matters, whilst Ioannis Kaptanis leads the project finance offering. Effie Papoutsi focuses on project finance issues, Yiannis Loizos is knowledgeable in energy and concession projects, having been promoted to partner in January 2023, and Despoina Koutsou is also noted.

Practice head(s):

Nikos Koritsas; Nikos Salakas; Gregory Logothetis; Ioannis Kaptanis; Effie Papoutsi

Other key lawyers:

Yiannis Kantas; Yiannis Loizos; Dimitris Kalyvas; Despoina Koutsou; Evangelos Mylonas-Tsoumas

Testimonials

‘This law firm offers a significantly high level of service in terms of response time, business acumen/industry knowledge, appropriateness of advice, strength-in-depth of team and value for money. The depth and breadth of their knowledge ensures that they are able to support every client’s business needs successfully and provide high quality, innovative legal solutions in the increasingly complex area of legislation and practice.’

‘Nikos Koritsas and Yiannis Kantas are excellent legal advisers.’

‘It is a big practice that can cover end-to-end any corporate matters that may arise, which is useful especially during M&A deals. They have been involved in many recent important M&A deals and privatisations in Greece.’

‘They put a lot of effort, are always there and accountable.’

‘They have deep knowledge and unique expertise on public law/public procurement law and projects. Overall, a strong, devoted team of professionals who really care about client’s needs.’

‘Gregory Logothetis is an excellent lawyer and litigator. He is hard-working, professional, timely in his responses, exceptionally helpful and reliable.’

‘Excellent knowledge of PPPs in Greece, solution-oriented and pragmatic firm.’

‘Yiannis Kantas and Despoina Koutsou have been instrumental in successfully navigating through PPPs. Their ability to explain specific Greek law provisions to a France-based company was outstanding.’

Key clients

Abertis Infraestucturas S.A.

Saur S.A.

Aktor Concessions S.A.

Hellas Gold S.A.

Fraport AG and Fraport Greece

Copelouzos Group

GMR Group Limited

Aegean Motorway S.A. (AMSA)

Avialliance GmbH (member of the PSP Group)

Development of New Alimos Marina Concession Single Member S.A. (concessionaire)

Lamda Development

HelleniQ Energy

Deutsche Telekom AG

National Bank of Greece

Piraeus Bank S.A.

Alpha Bank S.A.

Eurobank S.A.

Macquarie Infrastructure Real Estate Assets Sàrl

Hellenic Republic Asset Development Fund (HRADF)

General Secretary of Research and Innovation

Work highlights

  • Advised Abertis Infraestucturas S.A. on all aspects of its participation to the tender process for the award of the concession of Attiki Odos.
  • Advised the Concessionaire (a JV formed by Aktor Concessions S.A. and Intrakat S.A.) on the tender process for the award of a PPP agreement for the review, financing, operation and maintenance of the road interconnection of West Peloponese, Kalamata-Rizomylos-Pylos-Methoni subconnection and on the issuance of a common secured bond loan of up to €216,000,000 subscribed for by Alpha Bank.
  • Appointed by HRADF to advise the latter on matters of Greek Law, in relation to the tender process for the lease of the Larymna and Loutsi mines owned by the Hellenic Republic and operated by LARCO S.A..

Greece > Real estate and construction Tier 1

The real estate specialists at Koutalidis Law Firm are ‘knowledgeable and very professional’, offering extensive experience in all steps of public tenders, project finance proceedings and construction agreements. The team is active in the real estate corporate sphere, dealing with M&A transactions and joint ventures, and routinely advising clients on regulatory compliance measures. In Athens, Gregory Logothetis and Ioannis Kaptanis lead the group, with the former being an expert in construction disputes, and the latter focusing on leases and transfer issues. Dora Karagiorgou concentrates on civil law matters. Manolis Kasotakis and Athina Xynopoulou are also noted.

Practice head(s):

Gregory Logothetis; Ioannis Kaptanis

Other key lawyers:

Dora Karagiorgou; Manolis Kasotakis; Athina Xynopoulou

Testimonials

‘Experts in their field that always provide accurate and pragmatic advice even for complex issues.’

‘I’d highlight Theodora Karagiorgou – for being responsive, proactive and expert in her field.’

‘Professionalism. Industry know how. Client oriented.’

‘Communication skills. People skills. Responsiveness. Judgement.’

‘The Team was knowledgeable and very professional in their communication.’

‘Knowledge and professionalism makes them stand out from competition.’

Key clients

KEKROPS S.A.

Bluehouse

McArthurGlen Group

Fraport Greece

Abertis Infraestructuras S.A.

Lamda Development

GMR Group Limited

GMR Airports Greece Single Member S.A.

HOCHTIEF Solutions AG

Aktor Concessions S.A.

REDS S.A.

Development of New Alimos Marina S.A.

Aegean Motorway S.A.

Maliakos Kleidi Construction Joint-Venture

HELLENiQ ENERGY

Athens Concert Hall

National Bank of Greece

Piraeus Bank S.A.

Alpha Bank S.A.

Eurobank S.A.

DESFA S.A.

Avialliance GmbH

Hellenic Republic Asset Development Fund (HRADF)

Frank E. Basil S.A.

Macquarie Infrastructure and Real Assets

Home Concept Limited Liability Company

Aegeon-Naxos-Oceanis Private Limited Company

Work highlights

  • Advised the HRADF on matters of Greek Law in relation to the tender process for the lease of the Larymna and Loutsi mines owned by the Hellenic Republic and operated by LARCO.
  • Represented Fraport Greece, affiliate of Fraport AG, in ICC arbitration against the Greek state concerning maintenance of the airports by the Greek state.
  • Represented Aegean Motorway in arbitration proceedings pertaining to a multimillion dispute against the Greek state relating to the issuance of an operation permit for the biggest motorway tunnels in the Balkan region.

Greece > Restructuring and insolvency Tier 1

Tapping into experts from banking, capital markets and project finance, the multidisciplinary team at Koutalidis Law Firm has considerable experience handling distressed finance mandates, from balance sheet restructurings and liability management exercises, through to processes under the Greek Insolvency Code. Leveraging its strong ties with Greek banks, much of the work is on the creditor front, often where the firm has handled the original financing. The banking head Nikos Salakas plays a central role, drawing upon knowledge of the underlying finance documents and with deep expertise across a myriad finance products. Corporate finance head Effie Papoutsi is also pivotal to the firm’s restructuring prowess, regularly advising on bank refinancing loans and bonds for corporates, as well as advising Greek banks and investors in relation to the sale and purchase of NPL portfolios.

Practice head(s):

Nikos Salakas; Nikos Koritsas; Ioannis D. Kaptanis; Effie Th. Papoutsi

Other key lawyers:

Chrysanthi Karlou; Dimitris Kalyvas; Georgia Koutsoukou

Key clients

Alpha Bank S.A.

Eurobank S.A.

National Bank of Greece S.A.

Piraeus Bank S.A.

Attica Bank S.A.

Optima Bank S.A.

Waterwheel Capital Management LLP

Work highlights

  • Advised a syndicate of the Greek systemic banks in connection with the refinancing of the existing indebtedness to such banks of Athens International Airport S.A.
  • Advising Waterwheel Capital Management LLP on its potential investment in Project Solar. The project comprises the sale by Alpha Bank S.A., Eurobank S.A., National Bank of Greece S.A. and Piraeus Bank S.A. of 95% of class B and class C notes to be issued by a securitisation SPV for the financing of the acquisition of a portfolio of common, predominantly non-performing exposures of corporate, small and medium enterprise loans and small business loans with an on-balance sheet amount of c.€1.2bn as of 30 September 2021.
  • Advising the United States International Development Finance Corporation (DFC), a US State-owned development finance institution on the financing of ONEX Elefsis Shipyards and Industries SA, organised and existing under the laws of the Hellenic Republic of Greece for the acquisition, rehabilitation, and upgrades to the Elefsina Shipyards in Athens, Greece.

Greece > Energy Tier 2

The Koutalidis Law Firm team consists of ‘talented and skilled’ energy lawyers, with significant expertise in corporate and administrative law matters. The practice frequently oversees major renewable energy initiatives on behalf of financial institutions and energy corporations, handling photovoltaic and wind power projects. Based out of Athens, Evangelos Courakis leads the group, adopting an ‘extremely client-oriented attitude’ when dealing with project development issues. Panagiota Dikaiou and Evangelos Mylonas Tsoumas are also noted.

Practice head(s):

Evangelos Courakis

Other key lawyers:

Panagiota Dikaiou; Evangelos Mylonas Tsoumas; Vasiliki Xynou; Dimitra Rossopoulou

Testimonials

‘Fast, quality, reliable. Talented, skilled and business-oriented lawyers.’

‘Evangelos Courakis has a very deep knowledge of the energy market. He is super agile without compromising the quality of the deliverable. He demonstrates an extremely client-oriented attitude and definitely acts as a problem solver. ’

‘The legal team at Koutalidis are very professional on how they structure their work and their approach to individual needs even within the same account. They will bring just the necessary people on board, the communication is to the point and when it comes to billing there have never been any bad surprises. ’

‘The energy practice team has specialized expertise in the energy sector, consistently staying abreast of the evolving legal frameworks and market dynamics. They have a deep understanding of both the regulatory landscape and market trends and they can identify the client’s specific needs and objectives and provide legal guidance, especially taking into account complex technical aspects of the energy sector. ’

‘Evangelos (aka: Evans) Courakis is one of the best lawyers one can find in the energy sector. His advice aims straight to the point. Evans has consistently demonstrated an ability to simplify this complex process for investors, ensuring that they make informed decisions. With his legal approach and foresight of the upcoming legal and regulatory framework one can feel they can take the right decisions without the fear of any unencountered issues.’

‘Evangelos Mylonas Tsoumas: Evangelos stands out as an epitome of trustworthiness. His dedication to the ever-evolving nature of law ensures that his analysis is consistently up-to-date, reflecting the most current legal standards and practices.’

‘Vasiliki Xynou: Vasiliki has a very deep understanding of the land issues related to the energy sector and strong experience on the bankability of the land in terms of the energy projects. She can identify land-related problems and suggest remedy solutions. Her approach and her style is characterised by precision and clarity.’

‘Dimitra Rossopoulou: Dimitra is a higly reliable lawyer and is capable of providing updated legal advice. Accessibility is another quality that underscores Dimitra’s commitment to her clients. When Dimitra offers guidance, it comes after careful analysis, ensuring that every angle has been considered.’

Key clients

Aquila Clean Energy

AllOptimal

China Three Gorges Corporation

Elmya

Enel Green Power Hellas

Entricity

Macquarie Asset Management

Valorem

Green Tech

RECOM

Claritas

United Green

Goktekin Enerji

Fensol Development Ltd

AAA Green Energy

Enerta

CUBICO

Elsewedy Electric

Sparkinvest

OX2

Wattcrop

Powerhill

Work highlights

  • Served as the strategic legal advisors to Macquarie Asset Management in the divestiture of a 50% stake in Enel Green Power Hellas, a wholly-owned renewable energy subsidiary of Enel operating in Greece.
  • Rendered comprehensive legal services to the Entricity Group, a developer of Renewable Energy Sources (RES) projects in Greece.

Greece > TMT Tier 2

Demonstrating in-depth knowledge of the regulatory framework governing the TMT field, Koutalidis Law Firm has extensive experience in representing clients before the Greek Administrative Courts on matters ranging from IP to telecoms contracts. The Athens-based outfit offers advice on network sharing and software supply contracts, with Nikitas Fortsakis being an expert in TMT issues and administrative law. Konstantinos Kritsotakis and Martha Klada are both highlighted for their expertise in digital technologies and software licensing.

Practice head(s):

Nikitas Fortsakis

Other key lawyers:

Konstantinos Kritsotakis; Martha Klada

Testimonials

‘The practice provides prompt and specialized responses to complicated legal matters and it is the most niche firm in Greece regarding Telecommunications legal framework.’

‘Nikitas Fortsakis and his team (Martha Klada and Konstantinos Kritsotakis) are extremely valuable partners for our organization. They address any matter with dedication and mindfulness. Their knowledge on the economic sector of our organization is exceptional. They always provide business centric solutions and advice that mitigates the legal risk and challenges of our business.’

‘Insightful, trusting and personalized advice is what we are after and that is what Koutalidis Law Firm and Nikitas Fortsakis, in particular, are offering.’

‘It is all about the individuals! Personalized collaboration truly makes the service feel as if it was offered by in-house resources. Nikitas Fortsakis’s market and legal insights, view and interpretation of matters help us connect the dots, understand any risks and support our key decision making processes and activities. It is of great importance to have a legal advisor that not only understands the sector but also understands where the client stands and offers advice accordingly, as well as challenging our views, when necessary, in order to secure an optimum outcome.’

‘Well organised, responsive and effective team, providing deliverables on time.’

‘Client friendly, experienced and solution driven.’

Key clients

United Group bv

Nova sa (ex Wind which absorbed ex- Nova sa)

Vodafone – Panafon sa

Mobile Operator’s Association

Digea sa

Fraport Greece (Airports)

Work highlights

  • Instructed by Herbert Smith Freehills to provide advice on telecoms regulatory and legal matters to H.R.L. Morrison & Co in the context of a multimillion international transaction.
  • Represented Vodafone (Greece) successfully before the Administrative Court of Appeal for a dispute valued €10,773,602.53.
  • Drafted and negotiated an agreement re the provision of the Multi Program Transport Streams (MPTS) distribution service via Satellite by a major provider.

Greece > EU and competition Tier 3

Acting on behalf of multinational enterprises, financial institutions and Greek corporations, the lawyers at Koutalidis Law Firm display ‘excellent technical skills’ when handling complex merger control and state aid cases, alongside vertical and horizontal agreements. Based out of Athens, Katia Protopapa co-heads the practice, specialising in M&A and competition matters, while fellow co-head Alexandra Mikroulea has deep knowledge of EU law issues. Since joining from the Hellenic Competition Commission in May 2023, Maria Ioannidou also jointly heads the department, focusing on Greek and UK competition law.

Practice head(s):

Katia Protopapa; Alexandra Mikroulea; Maria Ioannidou

Other key lawyers:

Konstantina Tzerefou; Christina Kechagia –Tsiakiri

Testimonials

‘Koutalidis Law Firm has a team of professionals with excellent technical skills, knowledge of the market, and thorough and solid legal advice. ’

‘Both partners and associates have a very high level of technical knowledge, experience and provide thorough and solid legal advice.’

Key clients

Nexi S.p.A.

Hellenic Post S.A. (ELTA)

Greek Mobile Operators Associatio (EEKT)

Telegnous – Telecommunications Solvency Assessment Agency Private Company

Bluehouse Capital

Fraport

Southbridge Advisors A.I.F.M

Quality & Reliability (QNR)

TrainOSE

Cerved Property Services (CPS)

Hellenic Financial Stability Fund (HFSF)

General Secretariat for Research and Innovation

Work highlights

  • Advised Nexi on the competition law aspects of its strategic partnership with Alpha Bank in digital payments.
  • Advised ETEM and ELVALHALCOR on the merger control aspects of their strategic partnership with COSMOS ALUMINIUM.
  • Advising General Secretariat for Research and Innovation (GSRI) with respect to the preparation, implementation and completion of a competition selection/tender process for the conclusion of a PPP.

Greece > Insurance Tier 3

Overseeing complex M&A transactions and litigious proceedings in the insurance industry, Koutalidis Law Firm’s insurance department is highly regarded among Greek and international corporations. Based out of Athens, Nikos Koritsas and Ioannis Kaptanis co-lead the group, bringing in-depth expertise in corporate and private law to the practice. Georgia Koutsoukou handles the regulatory aspects of mergers. Spyros Roussakis is also noted.

Practice head(s):

Nikos Koritsas; Ioannis Kaptanis

Other key lawyers:

Georgia Koutsoukou; Spyros Roussakis

Key clients

NN Group

NN Hellas

Alpha Services and Holdings S.A.

Fraport Greece S.A.

Aegean Motorway S.A.

Work highlights

  • Advised NN Hellas in relation to its merger with NN Hellas II (former MetLife Life Insurance).
  • Advised Alpha Services and Holdings on its merger with its fully-owned subsidiary Alpha Insurance Agents.
  • Defended Aegean Motorway before the Greek courts of all instances in claims exceeding €20m by bus companies, restaurants and other claimants affected by a major rockfall.

Greece > Intellectual property

Covering all aspects of trade mark litigation, copyright enforcement and patent registration, Koutalidis Law Firm is jointly led by Gregory Logothetis and Ioannis Kaptanis.

Greece > Tax

Demonstrating strong cross-border expertise in business restructurings, corporate taxation, and dispute resolution proceedings, Koutalidis Law Firm is highly regarded by clients.

Koutalidis Law Firm > Firm Profile

Koutalidis Law Firm was founded in 1930 and is regarded as one of the most prestigious top-tier law firms in Greece. The firm is well known for its in-depth understanding of clients’ businesses, which enables it to deliver the quality of advice and service they expect.

The firm has advised on most of the high-profile and groundbreaking transactions in Greece and is privileged with an excellent and varied client list that includes leading Greek and foreign corporations, major investment and commercial banks and financial institutions.

Koutalidis Law Firm’s work and commitment to providing excellent service and finding innovative solutions covering a variety of law and business sectors has been recognised by its clients and independent commentators.

Areas of practice: Koutalidis Law Firm specialises in the following areas:

Administrative and environmental law
Agency and distributorship
Arbitration, litigation and mediation
Aviation law
Banking and finance
Capital markets
Corporate and commercial law
Employment and immigration
Energy law
Real estate
Regulatory and compliance
TMT
EU, antitrust/competition and state aid
Intellectual property
Investment in Greece (structuring, protection, grants, permits and operation)
Investigations and white-collar crime (incl. FCPA)
M&A
Pharmaceutical and life sciences
Project finance
Public procurement, privatisations, concessions and public private Partnerships
Tax

Main Contacts

Department Name Email Telephone
Administrative & Environmental Law Nikitas Fortsakis nfortsakis@koutalidis.gr ++302103607811
Administrative & Environmental Law Gregory Logothetis glogothetis@koutalidis.gr ++302103607811
Agency & Distributorship Gregory Logothetis glogothetis@koutalidis.gr ++302103607811
Agency & Distributorship Ioannis Kaptanis gkaptanis@koutalidis.gr ++302103607811
Arbitration, Litigation & Mediation Gregory Logothetis glogothetis@koutalidis.gr ++302103607811
Arbitration, Litigation & Mediation Evangelos Courakis encourakis@koutalidis.gr ++302103607811
Arbitration, Litigation & Mediation Ioannis Kaptanis gkaptanis@koutalidis.gr ++302103607811
Aviation Law Katia Protopapa kprotopapa@koutalidis.gr ++302103607811
Banking, Finance & Restructuring Effie Papoutsi epapoutsi@koutalidis.gr ++302103607811
Banking, Finance & Restructuring Nikos Koritsas nkoritsas@koutalidis.gr ++302103607811
Banking, Finance & Restructuring Ioannis Kaptanis gkaptanis@koutalidis.gr ++302103607811
Capital Markets Nikos Koritsas nkoritsas@koutalidis.gr ++302103607811
Capital Markets Effie Papoutsi epapoutsi@koutalidis.gr ++302103607811
Capital Markets Ioannis Kaptanis gkaptanis@koutalidis.gr ++302103607811
Corporate & Commercial Law Katia Protopapa kprotopapa@koutalidis.gr ++302103607811
Corporate & Commercial Law Nikos Koritsas nkoritsas@koutalidis.gr ++302103607811
Data Protection Evangelos Courakis encourakis@koutalidis.gr ++302103607811
Employment & Immigration Evangelos Courakis encourakis@koutalidis.gr ++302103607811
Employment & Immigration Ioannis Kaptanis gkaptanis@koutalidis.gr ++302103607811
Energy Law Evangelos Courakis encourakis@koutalidis.gr ++302103607811
EU, Antitrust/Competition & State Αid Katia Protopapa kprotopapa@koutalidis.gr ++302103607811
EU, Antitrust/Competition & State Αid Alexandra Mikroulea amikroulea@koutalidis.gr ++302103607811
Intellectual Property Gregory Logothetis glogothetis@koutalidis.gr ++302103607811
Intellectual Property Ioannis Kaptanis gkaptanis@koutalidis.gr ++302103607811
Investigations & White Collar Crime (incl. FCPA) Evangelos Courakis encourakis@koutalidis.gr ++302103607811
Investigations & White Collar Crime (incl. FCPA) George Naskaris gnaskaris@koutalidis.gr ++302103607811
Investigations & White Collar Crime (incl. FCPA) Nikitas Fortsakis nfortsakis@koutalidis.gr ++302103607811
Investment in Greece (Structuring, Protection, Grants, Permits & Operation) Nikitas Fortsakis nfortsakis@koutalidis.gr ++302103607811
M&A Nikos Koritsas nkoritsas@koutalidis.gr ++302103607811
M&A Katia Protopapa kprotopapa@koutalidis.gr ++302103607811
Pharmaceutical and Life Sciences Evangelos Courakis encourakis@koutalidis.gr ++302103607811
Pharmaceutical and Life Sciences Nikitas Fortsakis nfortsakis@koutalidis.gr ++302103607811
Pharmaceutical and Life Sciences Gregory Logothetis glogothetis@koutalidis.gr ++302103607811
Project Finance Ioannis Kaptanis gkaptanis@koutalidis.gr ++302103607811
Project Finance Effie Papoutsi epapoutsi@koutalidis.gr ++302103607811
Project Finance Nikos Koritsas nkoritsas@koutalidis.gr ++302103607811
Public Procurement, Privatisations, Concessions & Public Private Partnerships Nikos Koritsas nkoritsas@koutalidis.gr ++302103607811
Public Procurement, Privatisations, Concessions & Public Private Partnerships Gregory Logothetis glogothetis@koutalidis.gr ++302103607811
Public Procurement, Privatisations, Concessions & Public Private Partnerships Nikitas Fortsakis nfortsakis@koutalidis.gr ++302103607811
Public Procurement, Privatisations, Concessions & Public Private Partnerships Ioannis Kaptanis gkaptanis@koutalidis.gr ++302103607811
Real Estate Nikos Koritsas nkoritsas@koutalidis.gr ++302103607811
Real Estate George Naskaris gnaskaris@koutalidis.gr ++302103607811
Real Estate Gregory Logothetis glogothetis@koutalidis.gr ++302103607811
Real Estate Ioannis Kaptanis gkaptanis@koutalidis.gr ++302103607811
Regulatory & Compliance Katia Protopapa kprotopapa@koutalidis.gr ++302103607811
Regulatory & Compliance George Naskaris gnaskaris@koutalidis.gr ++302103607811
Regulatory & Compliance Nikitas Fortsakis nfortsakis@koutalidis.gr ++302103607811
Tax George Naskaris gnaskaris@koutalidis.gr ++302103607811
TMT Nikitas Fortsakis nfortsakis@koutalidis.gr ++302103607811

Meet The Team(s)

Lawyer Profiles

Photo Name Position Profile
Evangelos Courakis photo Mr Evangelos Courakis Evans focuses on energy law, international arbitrations, complicated litigations before the Greek… View Profile
Sofia Daskalaki photo Ms Sofia Daskalaki Sofia has been in our Firm since 1994 and holds the position… View Profile
Nikitas Fortsakis photo Mr Nikitas Fortsakis Nikitas focuses on all aspects of administrative law, with a special focus… View Profile
Ioannis Kaptanis photo Mr Ioannis Kaptanis Ioannis focuses on concession projects, project finance transactions, commercial arbitration and litigation,… View Profile
Chrysanthi Karlou photo Mrs Chrysanthi Karlou Chrysanthi holds a wide range of transactional and advisory experience with a… View Profile
Manolis Kasotakis photo Mr Manolis Kasotakis Manolis has a wide experience in litigation and commercial arbitration. In his… View Profile
Nikos Koritsas photo Mr Nikos Koritsas As the Managing Partner of Koutalidis Law Firm, Nikos leads our team… View Profile
Gregory Logothetis photo Mr Gregory Logothetis Partner, Head of the Arbitration, Litigation and Mediation Department and Co-Head of… View Profile
Yiannis Loizos photo Mr Yiannis Loizos Yiannis possesses broad expertise in both Greek and cross-border M&A transactions and… View Profile
George Naskaris photo Dr George Naskaris Dr. George Naskaris is the head of our Tax Department. George is… View Profile
Effie Papoutsi photo Ms Effie Papoutsi Effie heads the Corporate Finance Department of our Firm, advising regularly foreign… View Profile
Katia Protopapa photo Ms Katia Protopapa Katia is an experienced and highly skilled professional and at the same… View Profile
Nikos Salakas photo Mr Nikos Salakas Nikos has extensive experience in Banking, Finance & Restructuring, Capital Markets, Project… View Profile
Athina Xynopoulou photo Mrs Athina Xynopoulou Athina focuses on international arbitration and complicated litigations in matters of civil… View Profile

Staff Figures

Number of lawyers : 70+

Languages

Greek
English
German
French
Italian
Armenian

Diversity


Koutalidis Law Firm strives to create a diverse and inclusive workplace. Our fundamental premise is that diversity and inclusion should not be viewed solely as an end in themselves. Aside from their moral imperative, these principles are also crucial for the effective performance and overall strategic goals of Koutalidis Law Firm. We view building an inclusive workplace and setting diversity targets as enhancing meritocracy, being the cornerstone of the operations of our Firm, so both these goals work in tandem.

In this context we continuously place particular emphasis on gender diversity, as evidenced by our increasingly gender-balanced team. In terms of headline figures, the overall percentage of female lawyers in our firm currently stands at 60% (30 out of 50). Women make up almost 40% of our Partners and 50% of our Counsels and Senior Associates, while some of the most instrumental practices for our Firm are led by female lawyers. Conscious of the fact that gender equality is not exclusively a matter of equal representation within our workforce, we also aim to ensure that our female lawyers are involved in high-profile projects and are sufficiently supported to achieve appropriate career development.

International Capabilities


Koutalidis Law Firm is one of the most prestigious top-tier law firms in Greece and a leader in the provision of legal services in Greece in various sectors, including Banking, Finance & Restructuring, Project Finance, Capital Markets, Corporate and Commercial transactions, Mergers and Acquisitions, Litigation and Arbitration, Public Procurement, Concessions, Public Private Partnerships and Privatizations, Real Estate, EU and Competition, TMT, Administrative and Public Law, Employment, Immigration, Tax, Aviation and Energy Law. Our expertise allows us to respond to the needs of a globalized market and to any international demands for assistance. Our in-depth knowledge and extensive experience are a valuable asset in complex cross-border transactions and disputes for clients in all key business jurisdictions worldwide. Our work has been consistently recognised by the Legal 500, Chambers and Partners, International Financial Law Review (IFLR) and Global Competition Review (GCR).

The team

Our team consists of 50 innovative thinking legal professionals with outstanding academic education, diverse skills, awarded professional performance and thorough understanding of client needs. Our lawyers have significant experience dealing with not only domestic clients, but also foreign individuals and corporations, to whom we provide consultancy in regard to international transactions. In this context, we are able to support our clients in connection with any international matter thanks to our lawyers’ expertise, study and work experience in foreign countries and versatile linguistic skills. We are also able to include advice with an international perspective by requesting assistance from law firms abroad with which we collaborate on a regular basis.

The clients

Our firm has a significant number of foreign clients. These include well known multinational companies and institutions from various sectors of industry and commerce, major investment firms and financial institutions, industrial companies, wholesale and retail distributors, real estate developers, as well as public bodies.

The activities

We have participated in a great number of significant deals and transactions offering guidance, consultancy and tailor-made solutions to our clients in regard to their international transactions. Our strong and long-established international connections and cooperation partners allow our firm to support both domestic and international clients in the most comprehensive possible way.

Interviews

Nikos C. Koritsas, Managing Partner

Managing Partner of Koutalidis Law Firm, Mr. Nikos Koritsas, explains what sets the Firm apart

What do you see as the main points that differentiate Koutalidis Law Firm from your competitors?

We pride ourselves on taking a business-minded approach to address our clients’ needs coupled with our in-depth knowledge of the Greek market. In this respect, we always strive to communicate even the most complex legal concepts in a simple and straightforward manner as well as to tailor our advice to the commercial objectives of the relevant transaction. At the same time, our multi-disciplinary team allows us to achieve synergies across practices and provide a 360-degree analysis of all transaction-related aspects.

We also take pride in building a culture that translates to a demanding, yet welcoming workplace for our people. Koutalidis Law Firm has remained the professional home to many of our team members for years on end. At the heart of our efficiency as a firm, lies a strong team culture, where individual skills are celebrated and collective value is acknowledged.

Which practices do you see growing in the next 12 months? What are the drivers behind that?

The successful fight against COVID-19 is expected to drive an upward trend of deal volume in the next 12 months across sectors and transaction types. Privatizations should take the stage as the completion of a number of projects was postponed due to the pandemic, bringing lower-than-expected proceeds in 2020 for the Greek State. Banks’ efforts to reduce the stock of non-performing exposures and improve asset quality should spur NPLs transactions, as the sale of portfolios of an estimated total value of EUR 30 billion was also pushed back for 2021.

However, the impact of COVID-19 is not limited solely to the creation of a backlog of deals that is expected to prompt transaction activity in 2021. At the same time, the pandemic served as a market disruptor as well as an accelerant of trends already underway. This was particularly evident in the distribution of deals across industries during 2020 and the relevant trends are expected to continue in 2021. M&A activity should be largely driven by the TMT sector, which accounted for 44% of total deal value in 2020, including high-value transactions in the e-commerce industry.

We also see significant growth prospects in the energy sector supported by Greece’s broader efforts to create a competitive and well-functioning energy market. The Greek real estate market is also evolving as domestic and internal appetite for real estate assets continues to increase both for tourism-oriented and business-oriented investments.

What’s the main change you’ve made in the firm that will benefit clients?

Growth. Over the last six years we have more than doubled our workforce from 20 to 50 lawyers. This allows us to undertake large-scale projects under strict timelines as well as to advise across a broad range of practice areas. The main strategic goal that guided our expansion was how to build a diverse and inclusive workplace. To ensure excellent working and collaboration conditions for our people as well as for our clients, we have recently moved to a new office building in Athens, The Orbit, which exemplifies modern workspace design and has become the latest landmark in the city.

We place a particular emphasis on gender diversity, as evidenced by our increasingly gender-balanced team. The share of female lawyers in our firm currently stands at 60%. Women make up almost 40% of our Partners and 50% of our Counsels and Senior Associates, while some of our most instrumental practices for our Firm are led by female lawyers. We also strive to create a multi-disciplinary team that will be able to address our clients’ needs. Our hirings cover a broad array of practice areas and industries including financial regulation, energy, pharmaceutical, public procurement, antitrust and state aid, as well as international arbitration.

Is technology changing the way you interact with your clients, and the services you can provide them?

Undoubtedly. The shift towards advanced digital tools was accelerated due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The multitude of platforms and the continuous improvements thereof have contributed significantly to the efficient and secure connection with our clients. At the same time, the frequent use of virtual data rooms facilitates the assessment of transaction documents, the cooperation among legal, financial and technical advisors, and the exchanges between counterparties.

Can you give us a practical example of how you have helped a client to add value to their business?

Greek banks have redoubled their efforts to de-risk their balance sheets, mitigate cost of risk and return to sustainable profitability. This is considered one of the key challenges not only of the financial sector but of the Greek economy as a whole. In this context, we advise one of the four systemic banks on the implementation of a key pillar of its strategic plan, namely its demerger by way of transfer of its banking sector to a new entity. Our role is key both at the level of strategic planning, where our business-minded approach allows us to design optimal solutions, as well as at the level of implementation, where our diverse team provides support on the full array of issues that arise in such a complex and multi-faceted transaction.

Are clients looking for stability and strategic direction from their law firms – where do you see the firm in three years’ time?

As the market environment becomes increasingly complex law firms are expected to possess an in-depth understanding of everchanging business objectives and market conditions. This should always be coupled with a client relationship built on trust. Our goal is to continue to grow our team and improve its knowledge span and diversity, especially in terms of gender and practice area expertise.