Mr Ioannis Kaptanis > Koutalidis Law Firm > Athens, Greece > Lawyer Profile

Koutalidis Law Firm
The Orbit, 115 Kifissias Ave.
Athens 115 24
Greece

Work Department

Project Finance
Banking, Finance & Restructuring
Arbitration, Litigation & Mediation
Public Procurement, Privatisations, Concessions & Public Private Partnerships
Real Estate

Position

Ioannis focuses on concession projects, project finance transactions, commercial arbitration and litigation, as well as contract negotiation. He regularly advises concessionaires and constructors on every aspect of concession and construction projects. Moreover, he advises banks and corporations on financing transactions, particularly asset backed lending transactions, derivatives and repo agreements. He is the Head of the Project Finance Department of our Firm and Co-Head of the Projects and Privatisation and Real Estate Departments of our Firm.

Ioannis is ranked as a Leading Individual in the practice area of Projects and Privatisation in Greece and as a Next Generation Partner in the practice areas of Banking, Finance & Capital Markets and of Dispute Resolution in Greece by The Legal 500 EMEA 2020. He is also ranked as Rising Star Partner by the IFLR1000.

Testimonials in The Legal 500 describe him as “very knowledgeable in the entire spectrum of Private Law, very methodical, tireless and an excellent negotiator.”

Career

Recent work includes:

  • Advising NN Group on the acquisition of MetLife’s business in Greece,
  • Advising GMR Airports Limited and its Greek subsidiary on the EUR 60,5 million financing by National Bank of Greece S.A. in the context of the New Kastelli (Heraklion) International Airport concession project,
  • Advising DESFA on its €505 million common bond load, arranged by the four systemic banks, i.e. Alpha Bank S.A., Eurobank S.A., National Bank of Greece S.A., and Piraeus Bank S.A. where Eurobank S.A. acted as bondholder agent and administrative agent,
  • Advising Alpha Bank on its Euro 500M Senior Preferred bond issuance which has a 6.5-year maturity and is callable in year 5.5 with a coupon of 2.5% and a yield of 2.625%. The bond is listed on the Luxembourg Stock Exchange – EuroMTF Market,
  • Advising the sponsor, Aktor Concessions S.A., and the concessionaire on the concession of the exclusive right to own, use, administer, operate and exploit the Marina of Alimos for a 40-year period for a total consideration of EURO 57.5 million,
  • Advising Piraeus Bank S.A., National Bank of Greece S.A., Alpha Bank S.A. and Eurobank S.A. on (i) an up to €665.6mio bond loan in connection with the 20-year extension of the Airport Development Agreement dated 31 July 1995, (ii) an up to €100mio bond loan, for the financing of capital expenditure projects (iii) an up to €140mio bond loan for the financing of working capital and operational needs,
  • Advising GMR Group Limited with respect to the concession of the planned new international airport in Heraklion, Crete,
  • Advising Alpha Bank on the demerger by way of hive-down of its banking sector,
  • Advising Alpha Bank on matters of Greek Law on the successful issuance of a landmark Euro 500 million Tier 2 subordinated bond,
  • Advising the preferred bidder (Fraport-Copelouzos consortium) with respect to the tender process for the awarded concession of the management, operation and maintenance of 14 regional airports,
  • Advising Fraport and Copelouzos in relation to the sale and transfer of a 10% participation stake in the Fraport Greece entities by Slentel to Marguerite Fund,
  • Advising an international consortium in relation to the tender for the privatization of Egnatia Odos Motorway,
  • Advising Sponsors on Maliakos-Kleidi Project Finance,
  • Advising a major Greek Bank as hedging bank in the context of Mall development projects, energy projects and PPPs in Greece and abroad,
  • Advising and representing before arbitral tribunals and Greek Courts the Concessionaire of a Toll Road €1bn Concession (from the bidding stage until today),
  • Representing a French energy company in an ICC Arbitration against a major Greek company with respect to contract price escalation.

Recognitions

  • IFLR1000 – Project Development (Greece), Rising Star Partner, 31st Edition
  • Legal 500 EMEA – Projects and Privatisation (Greece), Leading Individual, 2021, 2022
  • Legal 500 EMEA – Banking, Finance and Capital Markets (Greece), Next Generation Partner, 2021, 2022
  • Legal 500 EMEA – Dispute Resolution (Greece), Next Generation Partner, 2021, 2022

Languages

Greek, English, French and German.

Memberships

Member of the Athens Bar Association. Qualified to appear before all Courts of all degrees, including the Supreme Courts.

Education

University of Athens (LL.M. in Civil Law, 2006 summa cum laude)
University of Athens, School of Law (LL.B., 2003 summa cum laude)

Lawyer Rankings

Greece > Projects and privatisation

(Leading individuals)

Ioannis KaptanisKoutalidis Law Firm

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.

Greece > Banking, finance and capital markets

(Leading individuals)

Ioannis KaptanisKoutalidis Law Firm

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 hardworkingIoannis 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.

Greece > Real estate and construction

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.

Greece > Insurance

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.

Greece > Intellectual property

(Firms to watch)

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 > Dispute resolution

(Leading individuals)

Ioannis KaptanisKoutalidis Law Firm

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.