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About
Provided by Panayotis M Bernitsas
Practice Areas
Corporate and M&A; Energy; EU, Competition & Antitrust; Foreign Direct Investment, Litigation, Arbitration & Dispute Resolution; Privatisations, Project Development, Finance & PPPs; Real Estate, Land Development & Hospitality; Tax.
Career
Panayotis is the Managing Partner of the Firm and a leading legal practitioner, with an active, broad-based commercial practice incorporating more than 35 years of experience in transactional, advisory and litigation work.
Professional Memberships
Athens Bar; Supreme Court of Greece.
Work Highlights
Panayotis led the team advising Intrakat on obtaining unconditional merger control clearance from the Hellenic Competition Commission (HCC) and thereafter on the successful completion of its acquisition of 100% of Aktor, a landmark transaction in the Greek constructions market. The transaction was signed on 30 March 2023 and completed on 8 November 2023. He also led the team advising Pancreta Bank on its investment in Attica Bank.
He led the team advising Attica Group and successfully applied the failing firm defence before the HCC, achieving clearance for the merger by absorption of ANEK by Attica Group and the repayment by the post-merger entity of ANEK's loan obligations to its creditors.
Experience
Panayotis is an authority in EU, competition and antitrust law and has represented clients in prominent cartel cases before the Hellenic Competition Commission. He is a senior litigator, with vast experience in all types of dispute resolution, and represents clients in complex, high stake civil and administrative actions before the high courts and arbitration boards. He has also acted as arbitrator at the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC).
Panayotis is an expert in concession projects and privatisations, with an unsurpassed track record of playing a key role in many of the pioneering, ground breaking transactions to have taken place in Greece. He advises extensively on major renewable and conventional energy and infrastructure projects and investments in energy property development companies. His real estate practice is focused on large scale developments and real property asset portfolio investments.
Within the framework of his private practice, Panayotis has acted on a number of occasions as advisor to the Government on European Union, State Aids and Privatisation issues. He also advises companies and individuals on complex tax structuring and wealth planning matters and has acted extensively in high stakes tax controversies.
Panayotis has been widely published in legal journals, books and other publications in his areas of expertise and is a participant in the annual Forum on International Wealth Disputes. He held the position of Associate Professor in International Economic Law, Law of International Business Transactions, European Community Law at the University of Thrace from 1983-2007.
Panayotis holds a Degree in Law from the National & Kapodistrian University of Athens, a DES in Public Law from the University of Paris and a PhD from Aristotle University of Thessaloniki. He is admitted to the Athens Bar (1974) and the Supreme Court of Greece (1984).
Chambers Review
Europe
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 the managing partner of Bernitsas Law and is held in high esteem for his longstanding expertise in corporate and commercial law matters across Greece.
Managing partner Panayotis Bernitsas is a well-respected figure in the sector, boasting long-standing expertise in competition law. His practice covers merger clearances, distribution networks and state aid issues.
Strengths
Provided by Chambers
"Panayotis Bernitsas is the best managing partner in Greece."
"Regardless of the fact that he is the managing partner, Panayotis is always available."
"Panayotis Bernitsas is one of the best managing partners in Greece."
"He is a very experienced lawyer."
"Panayotis Bernitsas is the best managing partner in Greece."
"Regardless of the fact that he is the managing partner, Panayotis is always available."
"Panayotis Bernitsas is one of the best managing partners in Greece."
"He is a very experienced lawyer."
Articles, highlights and press releases
4 items provided by Bernitsas Law
Bernitsas Law advises Intrakat on the acquisition of Aktor
Bernitsas Law advised Intrakat on obtaining unconditional merger control clearance from the Hellenic Competition Commission (HCC) and thereafter on the successful completion of its acquisition of 100% of Aktor, a landmark transaction in the Greek constructions market.
Bernitsas Law achieves clearance for the merger by absorption of ANEK by Attica Group
Bernitsas Law has successfully applied the failing firm defence before the HCC, achieving clearance for the merger by absorption of ANEK by Attica Group and the repayment by the post-merger entity of ANEK's loan obligations to its creditors.
Bernitsas Law advises Pancreta Bank on its investment in Attica Bank
Bernitsas Law is acting as legal counsel to Pancreta Bank in connection with its investment in Attica Bank, along with Thrivest Holding Ltd and the Hellenic Financial Stability Fund.
Bernitsas Law advises CVC on the successful acquisition of 100% of Ethniki Insurance
Bernitsas Law acted as Greek law counsel to CVC on the successful acquisition from National Bank of Greece of 100% of the leading Greek insurer Ethniki Insurance by Ethniki Holdings S.ὰ.r.l., a holding company invested in by funds managed or advised by CVC.
Bernitsas Law advises Intrakat on the acquisition of Aktor
Bernitsas Law advised Intrakat on obtaining unconditional merger control clearance from the Hellenic Competition Commission (HCC) and thereafter on the successful completion of its acquisition of 100% of Aktor, a landmark transaction in the Greek constructions market.
Bernitsas Law achieves clearance for the merger by absorption of ANEK by Attica Group
Bernitsas Law has successfully applied the failing firm defence before the HCC, achieving clearance for the merger by absorption of ANEK by Attica Group and the repayment by the post-merger entity of ANEK's loan obligations to its creditors.
Bernitsas Law advises Pancreta Bank on its investment in Attica Bank
Bernitsas Law is acting as legal counsel to Pancreta Bank in connection with its investment in Attica Bank, along with Thrivest Holding Ltd and the Hellenic Financial Stability Fund.
Bernitsas Law advises CVC on the successful acquisition of 100% of Ethniki Insurance
Bernitsas Law acted as Greek law counsel to CVC on the successful acquisition from National Bank of Greece of 100% of the leading Greek insurer Ethniki Insurance by Ethniki Holdings S.ὰ.r.l., a holding company invested in by funds managed or advised by CVC.