Career Biography

Sourlas Yiannis is a seasoned legal professional based in Athens, Greece, with over two decades of experience in complex legal frameworks, strategic advisory, and high-value real estate transactions. Since 2001, he has practised law with a focus initially on mergers and acquisitions and commercial agreements, and since 2012 on privatisations, urban redevelopment, and regulatory compliance, contributing to some of Greece’s most transformative development initiatives.

In 2012, Yiannis joined Lamda Development S.A., the country’s leading real estate development company, where he assumed full responsibility for all legal matters related to The Hellinikon Project, Europe’s largest urban redevelopment. His legal leadership has been instrumental in navigating the project’s multifaceted regulatory landscape, securing strategic agreements, and executing high-stakes commercial transactions that have shaped the future of the Athenian Riviera.

Currently, Yiannis serves as Senior Legal Director of The Ellinikon and Secretary of the Board of ‘Hellinikon SMSA’, leading the legal department through the implementation of landmark developments. He has also served as Secretary or member of the Board in several affiliated companies, demonstrating his ability to operate effectively within highly structured environments and to lead with precision and accountability.

Yiannis brings a long-standing track record in pioneering real estate development, marked by innovation, problem-solving, and a customer-focused, target-oriented approach. His key role in complex programmes and projects is complemented by strong negotiation skills and the ability to influence outcomes across diverse stakeholder groups. He maintains continuous interaction with state authorities, ensuring compliance and alignment with national priorities, while fostering collaborative relationships that support project success.

Selected milestones include directing the conclusion of over 600 transactions for flagship residential projects from 2022 to the present, including The Riviera Tower, The Cove Villas, The Cove Residences, and six Little Athens projects, with a total transaction value exceeding €1.5 billion, contributing to the successful launch of Greece’s most iconic coastal developments. In 2021, he played a pivotal role in the €915 million acquisition of ‘Hellinikon S.A.’ from the Hellenic Republic Asset Development Fund (HRADF), a landmark transaction in the country’s privatisation programme. Between 2014 and 2016, he managed the execution of both the Sale and Purchase Agreement and the Amendment Agreement for the acquisition of ‘Hellinikon S.A.’ with HRADF and the Hellenic Republic. In 2012, he oversaw the acquisition of the International Broadcasting Center (IBC), now known as Golden Hall, in the first privatisation under the HRADF programme.

Yiannis is a regular speaker at legal conferences focused on real estate development, where he shares insights on legal strategy, regulatory innovation, investment structuring, and sustainable urban transformation. He holds a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) from the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Law Faculty, where he also completed a Master of Laws (LLM) in Employment Law.