Ioannis Vassardanis & Partners

Managing Partner: Ioannis Vassardanis

Number of partners: 2

Number of lawyers: 15

Languages: English, French, German, Greek 

Firm Overview: 

Through unmatched professionalism and comprehensive knowledge of both the Greek and international business environments, Ioannis Vassardanis & Partners ensure that the firm’s lawyers offer legal advice of the highest caliber in every situation. The firm’s strong international profile, combined with working closely with clients, creates a competitive advantage that is evidenced by the results yielded. The team has established long-standing cooperation with law firms and consultants from many countries, strengthening a substantial track-record in cross-border transactions, while it is also regularly asked to identify key opportunities for the promotion of international projects both in Greece and abroad. The above illustrate the firm’s range in legal and strategic counseling, as well as the team’s commitment to providing well-rounded advice and transforming ‘problems’ into opportunities.

Ioannis Vassardanis & Partners has been consistently recognised for its work by a number of international ranking organisations, including Chambers and Partners Global, Chambers and Partners Europe, as well as Legal 500 Europe, Middle East and Africa. Specifically, the firm has been consistently recognised and recommended in the practice areas of dispute resolution, energy, real estate & construction and corporate & commercial. Legal 500 makes reference to the ‘smart and hardworking team’ of Ioannis Vassardanis & Partners, as well as to the team’s ‘very good sense of strategy’ and how it is ‘well versed in international law issues’.

Ioannis Vassardanis, managing partner, has been a recognised practitioner in the area of dispute resolution, among other fields, by Chambers and Partners Global, Chambers and Partners Europe, Legal 500 Europe, Middle East & Africa consistently since 2013. Ioannis has been praised for ‘his in-depth analysis of issues and strategic approach’, as well as ‘[his] international profile and a very broad network of contacts worldwide’. Moreover, clients highlight that Ioannis ‘always impresses’ and has ‘built up a first class team of excellent associates’.

Eleni Tsakri, partner, has been an up-and-coming and recognised practitioner in the area of dispute resolution, among other fields, by Chambers and Partners Global and Chambers and Partners Europe consistently since 2015 and by Legal 500 Europe, Middle East & Africa since 2014. Clients have underlined Eleni’s ability to address issues ‘flexibly, confidently and in a timely manner,’ while praising her practical and analytical skills as well as her ‘good strategic vision’.

Main Areas of Practice:  

Litigation, Arbitration & ADR: 

Ioannis Vassardanis & Partners is one of the few law firms in Greece with such a high specialization in international arbitration and the only law firm with demonstrated double expertise in both investment and commercial arbitration cases. The firm handles a vast range of international and domestic arbitration cases, having extensive experience in arbitrations held under the auspices of key arbitral institutions worldwide (e.g. ICC, LCIA, SCC, DIFC-LCIA, ICSID), as well as ad hoc, in various jurisdictions and under several governing laws (including Greece, France, Switzerland, Germany, UK, Sweden). Moreover, the firm’s Managing Partner, Ioannis Vassardanis, regularly acts as arbitrator in both institutional (ICSID, ICC, LCIA, SCC) and ad hoc arbitration proceedings.

The firm has substantial experience in investment arbitration as well, currently representing as lead counsel AVAX S.A. in an investment arbitration case against the Lebanese Republic under the auspices of the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes.

The firm’s litigation team represents major international Greek and foreign companies, as well as individuals before the Greek domestic civil and administrative courts (in ordinary proceedings, interim measures, proceedings related to procurement). Moreover, the firm’s lawyers have been involved in many complex litigation cases, including cases regarding construction, insurance, corporate law, accounting irregularities, restructuring and energy-related matters, as well as arbitration related proceedings before Greek and foreign courts (in cooperation with other international law firms). Indicatively, reference should be made to the firm’s major contribution to a Judgement of the French Court of Appeal in November 2011, “The Tecnimont Case”, which was among the five worldwide cases shortlisted that year for the award offered by the famous international arbitration e-journal, the Global Arbitration Review (GAR).

Construction 

The firm has in-depth expertise in the construction sector, providing tailored advice and legal representation to all role-players in the relevant industries, including financiers, project sponsors, employers, contractors and professionals. The firm handles major construction and engineering projects, provides front-end risk analysis and advises clients on contract management throughout the lifespan of the project. The firm takes pride in its outstanding record of advising and resolving complex, high value cases in Greece, Europe, Middle East and Africa. The firm’s managing partner, Ioannis Vassardanis also served as Co-Chair of the Dispute Resolution subcommittee of the International Construction Projects (ICP) committee of the International Bar Association (IBA) for 2020-2021, following a successful tenure as Vice Co-Chair for 2018-2019.

Corporate Law & M&A 

The firm represents local and international clients in a variety of corporate matters spanning across the company’s life-cycle, from the incorporation of the company throughout its development, operation and restructuring. The firm provides advice in relation to company incorporation and the formation of consortia. The team structures, plans and negotiates cross-border and domestic joint venture partnerships and regularly advises on the setting-up of branch offices and subsidiaries in Greece for overseas companies or abroad for Greek companies wishing to expand. The members of the team advise the clients on all aspects of corporate governance, legal compliance, strategic planning, corporate financing, as well as share capital and shareholder rights (including minority rights). The team also provides advice on all aspects and stages of M&As and performs due diligence and advises the clients in the whole process of an M&A transaction, including the negotiation of SPAs.

Energy, Natural Resources & Utilities 

The firm’s energy practice advises across the full spectrum of the energy sector and has acted in numerous high-profile energy projects of power, oil and gas both in Greece and abroad. The firm’s lawyers possess an in depth understanding of the global energy business environment and are highly experienced in energy transactions, disputes and regulatory/legislative matters. The firm provides advice to international companies in all aspects of the construction of major power plant projects in Greece and abroad (South Eastern Europe, Middle East, North Africa), on project financing, issuance of licenses/permits, contract administration, defense-pricing, establishment of joint ventures, PPAs, as well as dispute resolution and the settling of claims. The firm has been involved in most renewable energy and affiliate projects carried out by the Greek Public Power Corporation (PPC), the Independent Power Transmission Operator (IPTO), and the Hellenic Electricity Distribution Network Operator (HEDNO).

Renewable energy projects, including wind, solar, hydroelectric and waste-to-energy are also a core part of the firm’s energy practice, handling greenfield renewable energy projects and renewable energy portfolios. The firm regularly advises developers, contractors and investors on a wide range of energy projects, such as large-scale PV and wind projects, while having been involved in major transactions in the Greek energy market. The firm has on many occasions performed due diligence in RES projects and supported M&A transactions for RES projects in drafting transaction documents and advising participants in cross-border transactions. The firm also provides specialized support and advice in RES energy communities’ projects having extensive experience in these highly regulated industries.

Commercial Contracts  

The firm has represented Greek and international companies in complex transactions while it negotiates, drafts and assists in managing a wide array of commercial contracts (including major construction contracts -particularly in the energy sector, contracts for services, sale of goods, licensing, distribution, manufacturing, outsourcing, maintenance, supply and franchising) as well as NDAs, Management Agreements, Investment Deeds, Development Agreements and Financing agreements.