Banking & Finance
Global Guide 2024 : Greece
Band 1
About
Provided by Bernitsas Law
Banking, Finance & Capital Markets
One of the foremost practices in Greece with an expertise in both benchmark and mainstream domestic and cross-border transactions.
Project Finance, Development & PPPs
A market leading practice, with experience in large-scale projects in Greece dating back to the opening of the concessions market in the energy and infrastructure sectors.
Recent Experience
- Hoist Finance AB Project Cell Portfolio of c.€1.5bn NPLs: Athanasia Tsene and team advised Hoist Finance AB (publ) as purchaser in connection with the sale and purchase agreement entered into with Alpha Bank acting as seller of Project Cell, a portfolio of non-performing retail loans with a total outstanding balance of approximately €1.5bn.
- Piraeus Bank €500m Senior Preferred Notes: Nikos Papachristopoulos and team advised Piraeus Bank in connection with the issuance and offering of its new €500m Senior Preferred Notes due December 2029 to international and domestic institutional investors, as well as their listing on the Euro MTF Market of the Luxembourg Stock Exchange.
- Crypto Custodian Registration: Maria Nefeli Bernitsa and team advised an institutional digital asset financial services company on their successful registration as a crypto custodian in the relevant registry of the Hellenic Capital Market Commission.
Chambers Review
Bernitsas Law offers exceptional expertise across the banking and finance spectrum. The law firm enjoys an excellent standing in capital market transactions, handling large bond and note issuances and listings, as well as receivables securitisations and structured finance mandates. Additionally, its clientele benefits from in-depth expertise in NPL transactions including the sale and acquisition of portfolios and all regulatory issues. Lawyers at the firm frequently assist with the Greek aspects of pan-European finance deals, acting for a wide range of prestigious financial institutions and private companies.
Work Highlights
- Bernitsas Law acted as local counsel to Eurobank on the issuance and offering of EUR500 million Senior Preferred Instruments.
Strengths
Provided by Chambers
"Bernitsas has the exceptional ability to handle complex and sophisticated matters in a timely fashion."
"They offer world-class advice and execution. They are highly efficient, methodical and intelligent."
"The team has been very responsive and played an important role in the timely closing of the transactions."
"Bernitsas has the exceptional ability to handle complex and sophisticated matters in a timely fashion."
"They offer world-class advice and execution. They are highly efficient, methodical and intelligent."
"The team has been very responsive and played an important role in the timely closing of the transactions."
Notable Practitioners
Managing partner Panayotis Bernitsas continues to garner extensive praise for his depth of expertise and standing in the Greek banking and finance world.
"Panayotis Bernitsas is one of the best managing partners in Greece."
"He is a very experienced lawyer."
Market-leading partner Athanasia Tsene is widely appreciated for her comprehensive coverage of complex finance and capital market transactions, ranging from corporate credit facilities and non-performing receivables sales to structured finance deals and NPL transactions.
"Athanasia Tsene is a very good lawyer who is very technical and reliable."
"She is excellent - she's knowledgeable and has extremely good client service."
Nikos Papachristopoulos continues to enjoy stellar market recognition for his expertise in note and bond issuances, as well as listings. He is frequently seen acting for bookrunners, banking syndicates and corporates.
"Nikos Papachristopoulos is an excellent lawyer with a vast knowledge of the debt capital markets sector. He is extremely diligent and focused, and always responsive to different business needs."
Ranked Lawyers at
Bernitsas Law
Greece
Members
Provided by Bernitsas Law
Afroditi Kazani
Anastasia Mallerou
Angeliki Chlivinou
Head of Department
Eleni Stazilova
Katerina Fotopoulou
Konstantina Karveli
Manto Karamanou
Maria Cheimona
Maria Nefeli Bernitsa
Maria Sfika
Marinos Shiapanis
Head of Department
Odysseas Fokas
Pantazis Karamanolis
Sildia Fotopoulou
Stella Papakosta
Yannis Seiradakis
Head of Department
Clients
Provided by Bernitsas Law
Alpha Bank
Apollo Global Management
BNP Paribas
Bank of America Merrill Lynch
CVC Capital Partners
Cepal SA
Citigroup
Commerzbank
Credit Agricole
Credit Suisse
Davidson Kempner European Partners LLP
Deutsche Bank
Ellington Management Group
Elpedison Power SA
Eurobank Ergasias SA
HSBC
Hellenic Petroleum
International Finance Corporation (IFC)
Intrum AB (publ)
JP Morgan
Link Group
Morgan Stanley
Motor Oil Group
Mubadala Investment Company PJSC
Mytilineos SA
N.M. Rothschilds and Sons Limited
National Bank of Greece
Olympic Commercial and Tourism Enterprises SA (Avis Hellas)
PIMCO
Piraeus Bank
RIA Payment Institution
Shikun & Binui
Société Générale
Thomas Cook (in liquidation)
Titan Group
Trastor REIC
Industries
Provided by Bernitsas Law
Industry Specialisations include financial, telecommunications, energy, gaming, utilities, pharmaceutical, food, retail.