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

  • Acquisition of Hermes Portfolio of €700m NPLs: Athanasia Tsene and team advised AP Hermes Securitisation Sàrl in connection with the acquisition of an NPL Portfolio of unsecured and secured loans of a total legal claim of c.€700m (Hermes Portfolio).
  • Joint Global Coordinators and Bookrunners on PPC's €600m Notes: Nikos Papachristopoulos and team advised joint Global Coordinators, Physical Bookrunners and Bookrunners on the issuance and offering by Public Power Corporation SA (PPC) of its new €600m Senior Notes due 2031 to investors, and the listing of the Notes on the Global Exchange Market of Euronext Dublin.
  • Hellenic Financial Stability Fund divestment of 10% of its shareholding in the National Bank of Greece: Maria Nefeli Bernitsa and team advised on HFSF's divestment of 10% of its shareholding in the National Bank of Greece (NBG) pursuant to an offering to the public in Greece, and a private placement to qualified investors, institutional qualified buyers and other eligible institutional investors outside of Greece.

Chambers Review

Provided by Chambers

Banking & Finance - Greece

1
Band 1

What the Team is Known For

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

Provided by Bernitsas Law

  • Bernitsas Law acted as local counsel for the Hellenic Healthcare Group on the issuance of a EUR1 billion common secured bond loan.

Strengths

Provided by Chambers

Notable Practitioners

Provided by Chambers

Panayotis M Bernitsas
S
Panayotis M Bernitsas
S
Senior Statespeople

Managing partner Panayotis Bernitsas continues to garner extensive praise for the depth of his expertise and for his standing in the Greek banking and finance world.

Athanasia G Tsene
1
Athanasia G Tsene
1
Band 1
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.

She has a proven track record and excellent knowledge on various legal aspects.

Athanasia clearly articulates her thought processes in difficult situations and displays exceptional commitment to ethical standards, ensuring transparency and integrity in all actions.

Athanasia is the most efficient lawyer I've ever worked with. She is smart, knowledgeable and quick to respond.

She delivers high-quality work in a timely manner, demonstrates a strong level of leadership, and can handle shifting priorities and change focus quickly.

Nikos Papachristopoulos
1
Nikos Papachristopoulos
1
Band 1
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 is an exceptional lawyer with an excellent technical and commercial awareness, and the quality of his client service is unmatched.

Nikos Papachristopoulos is a most respected and knowledgeable capital markets lawyer.

Ranked Lawyers at
Bernitsas Law

Provided by Chambers
Filter by
Band

Greece

Banking & Finance

Panayotis M Bernitsas
S
Panayotis M Bernitsas
S
Senior Statespeople
Athanasia G Tsene
1
Athanasia G Tsene
Head of Banking & Finance
1
Band 1
Capital Markets

Nikos Papachristopoulos
1
Nikos Papachristopoulos
1
Band 1
Athanasia G Tsene
2
Athanasia G Tsene
2
Band 2

Members

Provided by Bernitsas Law

Adamantia Karamanou

Anastasia Mallerou

Athanasia G Tsene

Athanasia G Tsene

Head of Department

Eleni Stazilova

Konstantina Karveli

Maria Cheimona

Maria Nefeli Bernitsa

Maria Sfika

Marinos Shiapanis

Nikos Papachristopoulos

Nikos Papachristopoulos

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 Partner LLP

Deutsche Bank

Ellington Management Group

Elpedison Power SA

Eurobank Ergasias SA

Goldman Sachs

HSBC

Hellenic Healthcare Group

Hellenic Petroleum

International Finance Corporation

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

PIMCO

Piraeus Bank

RIA Payment Institution

Shikun & Binui

Societe Generale

Titan Group

Trastor REIC

Industries

Provided by Bernitsas Law

Industry Specialisations include financial, telecommunications, energy, gaming, utilities, pharmaceutical, food, retail.