Fortsakis – Diakopoulos & Associates  Law Firm (“FDMA”) is a leading Greek law firm providing a comprehensive range of elite legal services across the full spectrum of business, administrative and tax law and possessing second-to-none advisory expertise on landmark business transactions in Greece in the last years.

With its offices located at the heart of the Athens business center, the firm boasts today of a vibrant and multi-disciplined team of top-class practitioners, including four partners, eight counsels and 18 attorneys, all recognized experts in their respective fields of specialization.

Focusing on complex domestic and international transactions, our practice covers a wide spectrum of legal areas ranging from major privatization/PPP projects, to complex corporate commercial and tax law matters to dispute resolution of business/commercial disputes and of tax-related matters. In addition, FDMA is recognized as a leading expert in the fields of Greek energy law M&A’s and investment projects in Greece, as well as in the fields of administrative and tax law.

The firm’s hands-on approach to its clients’ affairs has earned it the reputation of one of the best legal teams in the Greek market, enjoying long-standing relationships with an unmatched variety of Greek and international clients, which includes other law firms and banks, the Big 4 accounting companies, multinationals, foreign State enterprises, financial institutions, utilities and public contractors in energy, investment and construction projects, as well as public law entities and the Greek State.

It is the firm’s policy to combine proven legal expertise with commercial flair, thus adding extra value and scope to the firm’s clients’ business and pursuing best results for their objectives and commercial activities in a demanding and changing legal environment. To this effect, the firm strives to meet its client’s needs by providing timely and efficient services and creative and practical solutions, even when handling the most intricate transactions and agreements.

Main areas of practice

• Banking and finance / capital markets
• Commercial, corporate, mergers and acquisitions
• Dispute resolution (arbitration and litigation)
• Energy and natural resources
• EU and competition
• Projects, privatisations, PPPs and public contracts in general
• Tax
• Telecommunications, media and technology

Banking and finance / capital markets

• Project financing.
• Corporate lending including inter-group lending.
• Private equity and venture capital.
• Asset securitization.
  Key clients: Piraeus Bank, Attica Bank, Hellenic Financial Stability Fund (HSFS), Ideal Standard International, European Financial Stability Fund (EFSF), Airbus Group.
  Contact: Mr Dimitris Diakopoulos
  Tel: +30 210 3218 900
  Email: ddiakopoulos@fdmalaw.com

Commercial, corporate, mergers and acquisitions

• Establishment of Greek companies, branches and rep offices of foreign corporations.
• Mergers, acquisitions and takeovers including financing aspects thereof.
• Company housekeeping and corporate governance.
• Regulation of intra-company affairs and relation-ships with shareholders and directors.
• Legal due diligence in connection with corporate takeovers and share purchase agreements.
• Restructurings, insolvency and liquidation of companies and corporate groups.
• Drafting, negotiating and advising on the execu-tion of commercial contracts, including commercial agency, licensing, franchising and distribution agreements.
  Key clients: COSCO Shipping Ports Limited/Piraeus Container Terminal, TGI Friday’s, Hellenic Republic Asset Development Fund, Piraeus Bank, Cooperative Bank of Chania, Airbus Helicopters, Wavemaker Hellas, Qualco, Ardian Infrastructure Fund SCA, Piraeus Consolidation & Distribution Center S.A.
  Contact: Mr Dimitris Diakopoulos
  Tel: +30 210 3218 900
  Email: ddiakopoulos@fdmalaw.com

Dispute resolution (arbitration and litigation)

• Arbitration and litigation of complex civil and commercial law disputes.
• Arbitration and litigation of complex disputes arising in relation to State-awarded contracts, including in the defense procurement and public works and concessions sectors.
• Litigation of tax and administrative disputes.
  Key Clients: Alpha Bank, Piraeus Bank, Novartis Hellas, Merck Hellas, Indra Sistemas, Wind Hellas, Union of Acciona Concesiones – Mytilineos, Vodafone-Panafon, Nestle, HRADF, Nea Odos, Solar Cells Group.
  Contact: Mr George Mylonogiannis
  Tel: +30 210 3218 900
  Email: gmylonogiannis@fdmalaw.com

Energy and natural resources

• Legal due diligence in connection with energy projects.
• Licensing procedures.
• Drafting and negotiating project agreements and sub-contracts for energy-related projects.
• Representation before the Regulator and the courts in energy-related matters.
  Key clients: Public Power Corporation (PPC), DEPA Commercial (Public Gas Corporation), DEPA Infrastructure SA, EDA Attica, Statkraft Markets GmbH, DESFA, Metalcorp, IGI Poseidon, Hellenic Wind Energy Association, Solar Cells Group.
  Contact: Prof. Theodore Fortsakis
  Tel: +30 210 3218 900
  Email: thfortsakis@fdmalaw.com

EU and competition

• Cartels and abuse of dominant position matters.
• Merger control and applications for clearance of mergers and acquisitions.
• Appeals before the administrative courts against regulators’ decisions and fines.
• State aid rules and proceedings.
  Key clients: COSCO Pacific Limited, Piraeus Container Terminal, Vodafone-Panafon, Public Power Corporation (PPC), HRADF, EDA Attica, Athens International Airport.
  Contact: Prof. Theodore Fortsakis
  Tel: +30 210 3218 900
  Email: thfortsakis@fdmalaw.com

Projects, privatizations, PPPs and Public Contracts

• EU and national legal framework applying to the tendering, assignment and execution of contracts related to the supply of goods and services and the undertaking of public works and concessions.
• Drafting of tender documents and monitoring tender procedures.
• Advisory support related to the legislative framework regarding the implementation of PPP and privatization projects.
• Preparation of bids and negotiations on tender documents.
• Drafting and negotiating financing documents.
• Participation in public tenders and preparation and submission of offers.
• Disputes arising in connection with the tendering processes and public contracts.
• Key clients: Ardian Infrastructure Fund SCA, New Elvo, HRADF, Union of Acciona Concesiones – Mytilineos, JV Intrakat – Mesogeios, COSCO Shipping Ports Limited/Piraeus Container Terminal, Nea Odos and Kentriki Odos, M.A. Angeliades Inc.,
  Contact: Mr Nikolas Avgouleas
  Tel: +30 210 3218 900
  Email: navgouleas@fdmalaw.com

Tax

• Tax planning.
• Direct and Indirect Taxation.
• Transfer pricing.
• Legal support in connection with tax audits.
• Client representation in disputes with the tax authorities.
  Key clients: Lafarge, Intracom, Vodafone-Panafon, Nestle Hellas, SEKAP, The Swatch Group (Greece), DEPA, EDA Attica, Alpha Bank, Eurobank, HELPE, EADS 3 Sigma, Multy Foam, ION, ADECCO.
  Contact: Mr Petros Pantazopoulos
  Tel: +30 210 3218 900
  Email: ppantazopoulos@fdmalaw.com

Telecommunications and media technology

• Advice on national and EU law governing the telecommunications and media sectors.
• Disputes resolution arising in connection with telecommunications and media services.
• Drafting all types of commercial agreements in telecommunications sector, including distribution and licensing agreements.
• Drafting all types of commercial agreements in information technology sector.
• Advice on database services, data protection, software audits and acquisitions
  Key clients: Olympic Broadcasting Services, Vodafone-Panafon, Wind, Forthnet, Wavemaker Hellas, Qualco, MPG Hellas Advertisements – Havas Media Group Subsidiary in Greece.
  Contact: Mr Dimitris Diakopoulos
  Tel: +30 210 3218 900
  Email: ddiakopoulos@fdmalaw.com