AKL Law Firm

Managing Partners: Αlexandros Kosmopoulos, Helen Alexiou

Senior Partner: Constantine Alexiou

Partners: Maria Alexiou, Sotiris Foteas, George Zohios, Kostas Fatsis

Number of partners: 7 Number of lawyers: 12

Languages: Greek, English, German, French

Firm Overview:

From its beginnings in 1891 Alexiou & Kosmopoulos has successfully provided a first-class legal service to its clients and built a formidable reputation in the Greek legal sector.

Now, in the 21st century, the firm is embracing new ideas and new ways of working with its clients and also expanding its international horizons while still holding and maintaining the traditions and values which define it.

While the depth and breadth of its expertise in the legal sectors of real estate, banking anf finance, corporate and dispute resolution and restructuring is the foundation of its success, and that is reflected in the recognition of its lawyers, it is also its service to its clients and the values that drive the service philosophy that makes AKL different.

Main Areas of Practice:

Real Estate:

AKL’s market leading real estate practice is led by Helen Alexiou and Constantine Alexiou, two of the most respected lawyers in the Greek real estate market. Alexandros Kosmopoulos adds strong expertise in finance related matters.

The team is universally recognised for its comprehensive advice on the full range of real estate transactions and is widely known in the market for its in-depth knowledge of the sector and for offering a creative approach to all kinds of real estate projects, no matter their size or complexity. The team has worked on some of the most complex real estate projects in Greece in the past decade.

The team is well-equipped to advise on highly technical matters such as zoning, planning, regulatory and environmental matters, development parameters and licensing, and has strong experience over all asset categories. It provides a comprehensive range of services to the Greek market, including asset acquisitions and divestments, development and redevelopment, concessions, and real estate finance. The firm works with property developers, contractors, financial and strategic investors, lenders, governmental agencies, corporates, and “high-net worth” individuals - both domestic and international.

Banking & Finance:

AKL’s banking and finance practice has been growing and developing consistently over the past decade and is now widely recognised for its ability to handle large, complex and high-value transactions. The firm’s growth has been driven by its dedication to deliver high quality legal services, its commitment to produce innovative and workable solutions, and the determination to tackle even the most demanding challenges.

AKL’s dedicated banking and finance team is led by Alexandros Kosmopoulos and strengthened by George Zohios, both recognised experts in their field.

The banking & finance team acts for an extensive array of international and domestic clients and has enviable experience in a range of key sectors, including corporate finance, acquisition finance and project finance (including infrastructure, real estate, energy finance and PPPs), capital markets, NPLs, investment funds, and regulatory compliance.

The team also has significant experience dealing with cross-border transactions, often acting alongside leading international law firms.

Corporate:

Corporate is AKL’s fastest growing practice and addresses an impressively diverse range of legal service requirements for clients. The corporate team is co-led by George Zohios and Alexandros Kosmopoulos. The team is particularly active in transactional work, including mergers and acquisition, joint ventures and commercial contracts. The team is versatile and experienced and is equally at home working on routine deals or handling high profile, more complex transactions (including privatisations).

In addition, the team has significant experience advising on regulatory compliance (including corporate governance issues), as well as advising on the legal aspects of structuring business operations and processes.

The team has also developed strong expertise in advising technology start-up founders and investors.

Dispute Resolution & Restructuring:

AKL has a highly regarded dispute resolution and restructuring practice. Led by Constantine Alexiou and Sotiris Foteas the team has considerable experience, working through any type of dispute resolution forum, whether traditional Court litigation, arbitration and other alternative methods.

The team has significant experience in a range of sectors, in particular real-estate dispute resolution, commercial and banking disputes, civil relations, construction claims in public and private works, enforcement and restructuring (insolvency and pre-insolvency) facilities. In every case the firm works hard to defend its client’s interests, assessing all viable options and recommending the best available solutions.

AKL always prioritises and focuses on the evidence, but does not disregard finding creative solutions for its clients. The firm advises and negotiates proactively to prevent costly court proceedings when possible but preparing at the same time a viable strategy for potential litigation.

While the primary focus is always on the legal issues involved in any dispute, the hallmark of AKL’s service is its understanding and appreciation of the wider financial and commercial considerations its client is facing. The firm balances these different aspects to achieve the best outcome for its clients.