Mrs Christina Faitakis > Karatzas & Partners > Athens, Greece > Lawyer Profile

Led by Athens-based Christina Faitakis, the team at Karatzas & Partners regularly handles complex projects and privatisation matters, often spanning across various jurisdictions. The team has vast expertise in the renewable energy sphere, frequently dealing with solar and photovoltaic initiatives. Faitakis specialises in all aspects of banking, financing, and commercial law issues, whilst Valia Apostolopoulou brings in-depth knowledge of project finance and M&A transactions to the outfit. Sophia Mavridou focuses on international tenders, and Katerina Dalamara is an expert in financings and restructurings.

‘Combining legal knowledge with financial insights and deep comprehension of the banking sector’, Karatzas & Partners excels in providing ‘innovative financial solutions’ to creditors and debtors across a broad swathe of financing transactions, running the gamut from project and energy finance and corporate finance matters, through to capital markets mandates and highly structured deals. Stretching back to the firm’s pioneering work for the Greek government in relation to its debt exchange programme, a good deal of this work relates to innovative “first-of-its-kind” mandates, with more recent examples including work for the systemic Greek banks in relation to de-risking their exposure to NPLs through complex transactions on the secondary market. Another strength is the firm’s collaborative approach to work in the space, often drawing upon experts from other core practice areas, as well as its early adoption of sophisticated legal technologies, including the use of AI in due diligence. Praised for her ‘professionalism and in-depth knowledge of finance’ gleaned through her work in private practice as well as through her previous prestigious role as a consultant to the European Investment Bank (EIB), Christina Faitakis is pivotal to much of the team’s high-profile work in the space, including on large securitisations and bond loans, as well as a considerable volume of real estate and energy project finance transactions. The ‘business-oriented’ Nikos Fragos  also excels in ‘providing solutions to complex legal issues’, encompassing debt capital markets work, NPL mandates and special situations financing. Alexandra Kondyli stands out for advising on capital markets mandates, including conventional bond and green bond issuances. Managing partner Catherine Karatzas heads the team, which also recently welcomed the vastly experienced Dionysis Flambouras, who joined the firm from Bernitsas Law in September 2023.

Headed by Valia Apostolopoulou and Christina Faitakis from Athens, the Karatzas & Partners team is highly regarded for its advice on long-term energy initiatives and project financing in the renewable sector. Counting global financial institutions and gas companies among its clients, the practice regularly supports businesses throughout complex tender processes and multi-jurisdictional pipeline transactions. Apostolopoulou is an expert in the Greek regulatory environment; Faitakis regularly acts on behalf of European investment banks; and Anastasia Petta is knowledgeable on the developments behind renewable energy ventures.

Counting international financial institutions and real estate development corporations among its clients, Karatzas & Partners draws upon its ‘great knowledge of the market’ when delivering bespoke advice on M&A and project finance deals. With in-depth experience in handling high-profile urban development initiatives and PPP projects, the team routinely builds ‘long-term relationships’, with Athens-based practice head Vassiliki Salaka bringing 22 years of experience in the real estate sector to the group. Christina Faitakis focuses on the finance aspects of development projects, while Argyro Vagia and Alexandros Anagnostopoulos are knowledgeable on leasing and corporate issues.

Counting global financial institutions and equity firms amongst its key clients, the ‘reputable and well-positioned’ team at Karatzas & Partners specialises in handling multi-jurisdictional strategic investments and complex joint ventures. The practice’s expertise is especially broad, spanning across the energy, finance, and data sectors, enabling its lawyers to deal with complex transactions involving both M&A and financing elements. Catherine Karatzas leads the group from Athens, and is an expert in the corporate and banking spheres, whilst Christina Faitakis is experienced in international tenders. The ‘highly dedicated’ Anna Manda routinely advises on corporate debt restructurings, and Georgios Minoudis assists with investment agreements. Alexandra Kondyli focuses on capital market matters.

Athens-based co-heads Georgios Minoudis and Vassiliki Salaka demonstrate ‘excellent collaboration’ and provide ‘exceptional legal services’ when spearheading the team at Karatzas & Partners, handling all aspects of cross-border banking litigation and enforcement proceedings. Christina Faitakis regularly represents banks in commercial disputes, and Sophia Mavridou concentrates on administrative and regulatory compliance disputes.