Sarantitis

Firm details:

• • Managing Partner / Head of M&A: Dorotheos Samoladas
  • Deputy Managing Partner / Head of Banking & Finance: Alexandros Metaxas
  • Partner / Head of Litigation: Theodora Monochartzis
  • Partners: Alexandros Athanassiou, Dionyssia Gamvrakis, Dolly Kostara, Antonis Katsigiannis, Theodora Monochartzis, Eleni Papakostas, Maria Papamichalopoulou, Terina Raptis, Yiannis Sarantitis
  • Number of partners: 12

Firm Overview:

For more than six decades, SARANTITIS Law Firm has been established as a leading law firm, trusted by major corporate groups, banks, enterprises and high-net-worth individuals for our depth of expertise, integrity, and commitment to excellence.

With offices in Athens and Piraeus, SARANTITIS Law Firm provides a wide range of specialized and integrated legal services to corporate clients across a range of sectors, including industrial sector, banking and capital markets, real estate, shipping and energy. SARANTITIS Law Firm supports businesses and entrepreneurs in critical corporate activities, such as investments, transactions, mergers & acquisitions and asset management, while assisting them in resolving complex disputes involving equity interests, corporate structures, and other proprietary or high-value assets, including ownership stakes in companies, groups, or related entities.

Together with its network across Greece, Cyprus, and the Balkans, SARANTITIS Law Firm collaborates closely with distinguished law firms in international business hubs, such as New York, London, Paris, Rome, Moscow, Milan, Hong Kong, Brussels, and Tokyo, delivering integrated, cross-border legal solutions aligned with our clients’ business requirements.

From the beginning our story has been built of steady evolution, bold decisions, and a clear vision: to stand at the forefront of business, law, and industry, guiding our clients guiding our clients through every chapter of their growth and success. Established in 1965 in Piraeus, focusing on maritime law and global transactions, in parallel with the evolving field of banking law during a period of intense economic and financial restructuring in post 1950 Greece, the Firm played a significant role in transforming the legal and business framework in shipping, and therefore, in the country’s business development. In 1996, the firm launched its offices in Athens, determined to strengthen our footprint in the country’s most vibing economic hub. In 2004, the Firm relocated its headquarters to Athens as “SARANTITIS Law Firm” and has been established among the major business law firms in Athens, operating as a full spectrum business law firm, while maintaining strong roots in shipping and the financial hub of Piraeus. The new era of SARANTITIS Law Firm was built on two foundational practice areas: The first one was “Corporate & Commercial – M&A,” dedicated to commercial transactions, mergers and acquisitions, and the restructuring and reorganization of companies. The second was “Banking & Finance”, and “Capital Markets”, with a strong focus on supporting credit institutions in financings and guiding listed companies through an increasingly complex regulatory and commercial environment. Throughout its evolution, SARANTITIS Law Firm went beyond standard advising on smooth commercial dealings. Their team of experienced litigators has been bringing deep experience in civil, commercial, administrative and labor law, competition law, and in criminal matters linked to corporate activity, commonly known as “white collar crime”.

Main areas of practice:

• Mergers and Acquisitions

SARANTITIS Law Firm Mergers & Acquisitions practice is founded on more than 28 years of experience, advising major domestic and international clients across a broad range of industry sectors, including military and defense, media, telecommunications and other key industries. The firm provides comprehensive legal support on complex corporate transactions and on all aspects of clients’ business operations and activities in Greece.

The team has particular expertise in the sale and acquisition of shareholdings, mergers and acquisitions transactions, related contractual arrangements and due diligence assessments. SARANTITIS Law Firm regularly advises domestic and international companies, as well as investment funds, on strategic transactions, private equity investments and other high-value corporate mandates, offering a fully integrated approach from transaction structuring to execution and post-closing support.

In addition to M&A transactions, the practice has a strong track record in complex corporate restructurings, including the restructuring of distressed targets. The firm designs and implements sophisticated debt acquisition and debt-to-equity conversion schemes, alongside management and operational reorganizations. SARANTITIS Law Firm also advises on privatization projects in the Greek public sector and in other Balkan jurisdictions.

Complementing its transactional expertise, the firm assists clients with the establishment of Greek companies, day-to-day corporate compliance and ongoing corporate governance matters. Its capital markets and securities law team brings extensive experience in high-profile IPOs, private equity transactions and listed companies’ regulatory and compliance obligations.

M&A team is headed by Dorotheos Samoladas, Managing Partner / Head of M&A ([email protected])

• Corporate & Commercial

SARANTITIS Law Firm’s Corporate and Commercial – M&A department takes pride of more than 28-years of experience of advising major foreign and local clients in every industry sector, from military and defense to media and telecoms, on complex corporate transactions and on all aspects of their business operation and activities in Greece.

More particularly, SARANTITIS Law Firm continues to advise prominent international enterprises, including several major local players, such as Mytilineos, Neptune Lines, Ideal Group, Printec Group, FROMM Packaging, PCCW Global Group and Schlumberger Europe.

In addition to its corporate work, Corporate & Commercial M&A team is also advising and assisting with major corporate restructuring transactions. In the context of complex corporate restructurings, we are implementing sophisticated debt purchase and conversions to equity schemes, as well as management reorganizations.

Corporate & Commercial team is headed by Dorotheos Samoladas, Managing Partner / Head of M&A ([email protected]).

• Banking and Finance

SARANTITIS Law Firm is a pioneer Greek law firm in the field of banking and finance. From the early years of its establishment, the firm had been collaborating with major international banking institutions, acting as the exclusive legal counsels of the Greek unit/branch of National Westminster Bank ever since its establishment in Greece in 1970 until 1999 (when National Westminster Bank sold its business in Greece to the Greek bank under the name Piraeus Bank). In early 1990s SARANTITIS Law Firm was the first Greek law firm to handle the establishment and licensing of a Representative Office (Rep Office) of a foreign bank in the country and more particularly of the seventh oldest bank in the world under the name Coutts and Co. (founded in 1692), whereas in early 2000, SARANTITIS Law Firm handled the establishment and licensing of the Rep Offices of two other prominent international banking institutions, those of UBS AG and HSBC Private Bank (Suisse) S.A. Following the establishment in Greece of the said Rep Offices, SARANTITIS Law Firm provided its legal services to the banks’ headquarters and their units worldwide on a regular basis, including advising on various highly complex legal issues of the banks’ concern, in view of the application of the Greek legislation and all developments thereto. The regular collaboration with the banks’ headquarters and their units worldwide, continues until today, even though the Rep Offices have already closed down their business in Greece. Moreover, from 2001 up to 2010, SARANTITIS Law Firm acted as the exclusive external legal counsels of the Greek bank First Business Bank (FBB), which had acquired the business of the Bank of Nova Scotia, in Greece, on all matters of Greek Law.

SARANTITIS’ banking practice takes also pride in its flawless track record in complex banking litigation, as well as of its specialized banking regulatory expertise. In particular, SARANTITIS Law Firm has handled in the last twenty years and is continuing the representation of both HSBC BANK Plc as well as HSBC PRIVATE BANK (SUISSE) SA, based in Switzerland, in various complex litigation cases of the above institutions before the Greek Courts (particularly, the Court of Appeal and the Court of Cassation) with significant success. Furthermore, SARANTITIS Law Firm has strengthened its cooperation with UBS, Switzerland by representing the latter also in Greek litigation matters, with significant success in the last couple of years.

During the last twenty-five years, SARANTITIS Law Firm has also considerably increased its work and expertise in the area of finance, by undertaking corporate financing mandates from HSBC UK and debt restructuring negotiations with financial institutions on behalf of major enterprises.

In the field of shipping finance practice, SARANTITIS Law Firm has been acting as external legal counsel of a number of Greek and foreign banks, in the context of a continuous inflow of mandates to handle ship finance transactions.

Banking & Finance Team is headed by Alexandros Metaxas, Deputy Managing Partner / Head of Banking & Finance ([email protected]).

• Restructuring & Insolvency

SARANTITIS Law Firm Restructuring & Insolvency team advises companies, financial institutions, investors, and stakeholders across the full spectrum of financial distress and special situations. The team combines technical expertise with a pragmatic, commercial approach, helping clients navigate complex challenges, while preserving value and managing risk.

SARANTITIS Law Firm acts in both contentious and non-contentious matters, advising on in-court and out-of-court restructurings, insolvency proceedings, debt reorganizations, and distressed transactions. The team’s work includes assisting boards and management with strategic decision-making in times of financial difficulty, advising creditors and investors on enforcement and recovery strategies, and representing insolvency practitioners throughout proceedings.

A key strength of the Firm’s practice is the team’s experience in cross-border insolvency. SARANTITIS Law Firm has handled matters involving multiple jurisdictions, coordinating with foreign counsel and addressing issues such as jurisdictional conflicts, recognition of foreign proceedings, asset tracing, and cross-border enforcement. This allows them to deliver sensible solutions in international restructuring and insolvency scenarios.

SARANTITIS Law Firm team is valued for its ability to operate effectively in complex and time-sensitive situations. They provide clear, practical advice, enabling clients to make informed decisions and achieve workable outcomes in challenging restructuring and insolvency matters.

Restructuring & Insolvency team is headed by Dorotheos Samoladas, Managing Partner / Head of M&A ([email protected]).

• Capital Markets

SARANTITIS Law Firm has been involved in Capital Markets, since the ‘70s, when it established, in Greece, NatWest Bank (remaining the exclusive local counsels until the year 2000, when NatWest sold its Greek operations). Key Clients include HSBC Greece, HSBC Private Bank Swiss and UBS.

Capital Markets team is headed by Dorotheos Samoladas, Managing Partner / Head of M&A ([email protected]).

• Competition

SARANTITIS Law Firm has extensive experience in a wide range of competition and merger control cases before the Greek Competition Commission, the Greek Administrative Courts and the European Commission, as well as in state aid cases.

It is also highly specialized in cases of conclusion, operation and termination of exclusive, non-exclusive and selective distribution agreements, including legal advice on the drafting of distribution and agency agreements, the conformity of vertical restraints with Greek and EU competition law, the conformity of specific commercial policies with Greek and EU competition law, etc. Indicatively, during the last few years, we have provided legal advice, conducted negotiations and acted in the following cases:

• Termination of the exclusive distribution agreement between Beluga Vodka Ltd and its Greek exclusive distributor.
• Termination of the exclusive distribution agreement between Panasonic Europe Ltd and its Greek exclusive distributor.
• Termination of the exclusive distribution agreement between Kosta Glassproduction AG (ex Orrefors Kosta Boda Sweden) and its Greek exclusive distributor, and conclusion of Settlement Agreement and a new distribution agreement, as well as a new logistics agreement.
• Termination of the exclusive distribution agreement between Sagaform AB and its Greek exclusive distributor, and conclusion of Settlement Agreement and a new distribution agreement, as well as a new logistics agreement.
• Termination of the distribution agreement between Rogaska and its Greek distributor, on-going negotiations for the conclusion of a Settlement Agreement and a new distribution agreement.
• Termination of the exclusive distribution and agency agreements between Roche Diagnostics (Hellas) SA and its Greek exclusive distributor/agent.
• Advice for the termination of the distribution agreement between M.J. Maillis and its Italian distributor.
• Termination of the exclusive importer and distribution agreement between Jaguar Land Rover Exports Ltd and its Greek Jaguar importer and distributor.
• Termination of the distributorship agreement between Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd. and Subaru Motors Hellas SA.
• Termination of the exclusive distribution agreement between Benetton S.r.L. and its Greek exclusive distributor.
• Termination of the exclusive agency agreement and template franchise agreement of Kuvera SpA, for Carpisa and Yamamay stores.
• The exclusive distribution agreement between Elizabeth Arden and its Greek exclusive distributor.
• Termination of the distribution agreement between Bison International BV (Bolton Group) and its Greek exclusive distributor and the conclusion of a new distribution agreement.

Competition team is headed by Terina Raptis, Partner ([email protected])

• Dispute Resolution

The firm has a long and impressively successful (in terms of favorable outcome for SARANTITIS Law Firm clients before the Courts) track record in litigation proceedings deriving from all types of market sectors and/or various fields of law, including the handling of all types of litigation, indicatively civil, commercial, employment, banking and criminal, real estate, before the Courts of all instances - including the (Greek) Court of Cassation- representing prominent international and domestic clientele, such as the major international banking institutions UBS (Switzerland), HSBC Private Bank (Suisse) S.A., the Greek Branch of HSBC Plc as well of HSBC (UK) and the Special Administrator of the Hellenic Shipyards (ENAE). In particular, due to the size and nature of business of our clientele, our firm has consistently handled over the last twenty five years, a remarkable number of highly complex litigation matters involving sophisticated legal matters, especially in the sector of banking litigation, the object of many of which were brought before the Greek Courts for the first time, thus leading in many cases, to “pioneer” jurisprudence, in all court instances, including the Greek Supreme Court. As from the beginning of 2025, the Firm is handling a significant commercial dispute in the frame and according to the proceedings of the international arbitration of International Chamber of Commerce.

Dispute Resolution team is headed by Theodora Monochartzis, Partner / Head of Litigation ([email protected])

• Shipping

SARANTITIS Law Firm is one of the very few law firms in Greece with presence in the two main business centers of the country, Athens and Piraeus. Through its Piraeus Branch, the firm has provided legal services to a wide spectrum of international and domestic clients on a broad range of shipping issues for more than five decades.

Its Piraeus Branch has significant expertise in shipping, ship finance and yachting, advising numerous high profile international and domestic shipping companies, Greek financial institutions such as Piraeus Bank S.A., Attica Bank S.A.and other maritime service providers.

The firm has provided its services to one of the leading carriers in the global container shipping industry, Zim Integrated Shipping Services Ltd. as its legal counsel since its establishment of an office in Greece in the early 70’s up to today.

It also advises on its everyday operations, one of the leading finished vehicle logistics providers, offering transportation and shipping solutions to manufacturers and shippers of cars and high & heavy cargoes, Neptune Lines Shipping and Managing Enterprises S.A.

Another client of the firm is Chronos Shipping Co. Ltd., which is a ship management company founded and based in Piraeus since 1972, which the firm incorporated and has been providing legal advice ever since.

Niovis Shipping Co. S.A. is also on the firm’s list of clients to which legal advice is provided on a daily basis relating to various legal issues the company may encounter.

During this year, the firm was once again entrusted by several shipowners to act as their exclusive legal advisors for the completion of the acquisitions of new building and second-hand vessels, their registration under the Greek or other jurisdiction flags and their financing by international or domestic financial institutions.

The firm was also involved in a number of acquisitions of yachts and their registration under the Greek and other European Union flags, as private or professional.

Over the past year Piraeus Bank S.A. and Attica Bank S.A. entrusted the firm as their legal counsel regarding the granting of new financing and rescheduling/restructuring of existing financings granted to international and domestic ship owning companies and assisted the said financial institutions with all legal issues pertaining thereto. In the area of shipping-related litigation, the firm takes pride of its involvement in the Alexandros T case, one of the most remarkable cases brought before the Greek courts.

Shipping team is headed by Eleni Papakostas, Partner / Head of Shipping Finance ([email protected]).

• Labor & Employment

With a strong track record in handling the employment aspects associated with M&A transactions, the advisory team offers revolves around employment contracts and Greek labor laws, complex issues of employment litigation, drafting of internal work regulations of large enterprises, negotiating collective employment agreements and assisting with regulatory compliance measures. Furthermore, the team has a deep knowledge of issues deriving from major reorganizations and restructuring schemes in international enterprises.

The Firm’s experienced employment law team provides services to a wide range of clients, both domestic and international ones, in all business sectors/industries, including high profile enterprises activated in the area of commercial and production activities,hotelier business, logistics and transportation, information technology, energy, as well as the maritime/ freight transportation industry.

SARANTITIS Law Firm is constantly advising major enterprises in relation to matters deriving from the provisions and interpretation of the recent codification of the whole employment legislation effected as from 2022, affecting a wide range of employment relationships and initiating amendments in a number of previous labor laws, such as, indicatively, the violence and harassment, whistleblowing, teleworking as well as the application of the digital card in the workplaces. In particular, during the last years SARANTITIS Law Firm advised upon and drafted several policies regulating the matters of prevention of violence and harassment in the workplace on behalf of globally activated enterprises, as well as whistleblowing, in order to be in conformity with the Greek legal environment.

Labor & Employment team is headed by Terina Raptis, Partner ([email protected]).

• Energy

During the last twenty years, SARANTITIS Law Firm has been active in numerous projects in the Energy and Natural Resources Sector, by servicing major clients – both domestic and international ones, in their activities in Greece – providing legal services in the course of their business and operation as energy investors not only in energy regulatory matters but also in corporate, commercial, real estate, employment and tax issues as well.

SARANTITIS Law Firm is constantly active in numerous projects, especially in the field of renewable sources, providing legal due diligence services in the frame of acquisition of solar and wind farms projects as well as legal advice on the licensing procedures and any aspect of the operation of electricity producers and traders as well as suppliers which hold dominant position in the field.

The Firm’s skilled team advises clients on the drafting and negotiating contracts offering strategic approaches in the development of projects as well as ensuing litigation services in the sector. SARANTITIS Law Firm involvement is based on a special insight into problems and opportunities faced by the energy and electricity utility industries. The team’s substantial legal resources in the field allows them to provide creative, comprehensive and effective legal solutions.

Energy team is headed by Theodora Monochartzis, Partner / Head of Litigation ([email protected]).

• Real Estate, Hospitality & Construction

SARANTITIS Law Firm has long-standing experience in litigation concerning disputes deriving from the sector of constructions as well as in all forms of real estate transactions.

Furthermore, SARANTITIS Law Firm advises on a daily basis its high-profile clientele on legal matters concerning constructions and real property development projects, as well as commercial lease agreements.

Real Estate, Hospitality & Construction team is headed by Antonis Katsigiannis, Partner ([email protected]).

• Intellectual Property

SARANTITIS Law Firm advises on the full spectrum of intellectual property matters, combining technical expertise with practical commercial insight. We have extensive experience in copyright and neighboring rights, trademarks, patents, utility models, industrial designs, computer software and database protection, domain names, know-how and franchising, as well as the drafting and negotiation of license and technology transfer agreements.

The IP practice is supported by a dedicated team of lawyers advising on both transactional and contentious matters, including intellectual property due diligence in the context of mergers, acquisitions and corporate transactions. SARANTITIS Law Firm represents leading Greek and international companies active in Greece and has a strong track record in intellectual property litigation, particularly in trademark disputes, infringement actions and enforcement proceedings.

The Firm has longstanding experience in the media sector and regularly advises television and radio broadcasters on intellectual property and related rights.

SARANTITIS Law Firm also acts as an agent for the registration and management of Greek, European and international trademarks and patents, as well as local (.gr) domain names, on behalf of local and foreign clients, ensuring efficient, cost-effective and user-friendly procedures, and coordinating protection strategies at both national and international level.

Intellectual Property team is headed by Leonidas Panagopoulos, Senior Partner ([email protected]).

• TMT

SARANTITIS Law Firm TMT department has a loyal customer base of major ICT services providers, advising them on a wide range of contentious and non-contentious matters, as well as with respect to their day-to-day operations and regulatory compliance. The team also undertakes regularly legal due diligence mandates within the context of M&A transactions and continues to be active in the area of data privacy, being regularly instructed by foreign law firms and private entities to advise on various aspects of data protection legislation and the implementation of the GDPR in Greece.

This year’s highlight for the TMT team is its work with respect to the acquisition of a majority stake in Cashflex, a company that will operate an off-site ATM fleet, previously operated by Piraeus Bank (see publishable matter 1) by Printec Group, a significant transaction that will not only reshape the ATM market landscape but also marks the beginning of a new phase in the delivery of banking services in Greece.

TMT team is headed by Antonis Katsigiannis, Partner ([email protected]).

• White-Collar Crime & Investigations

Criminal process against corporations and their officers has increased notably over recent years.

SARANTITIS Law Firm has substantial experience and provides a wide range of services in defending individuals or companies against allegations of wrongdoing in a variety of complex criminal investigations and trials in substantive areas such as breaches of business trust, financial, employment, social security, claims, conspiracy, environmental offences, insurance fraud money laundering, negligence, bad faith and other allegations of criminal wrongdoing.

The team consists of experienced litigators, who are familiar with the handling of highly sensitive matters in the relevant field such as securities, finance, fair trade or tax. Several cases of such nature have ended in a successful result, without even becoming a matter of public knowledge. The team also advises on compliance with business ethics and oversight programs and, significantly, on the steps that a company needs to take in order to minimize the threat of criminal exposure.

White-Collar Crime & Investigations team is headed by Maria Papamichalopoulou, Partner ([email protected]).

• Insurance:

Given that SARANTITIS Law Firm has dealt with consulting and contentious services in the area of marine and mainstream insurance, since its establishment in 1965, it is highly regarded for its experience and professionalism.

The scope of the Firm’s Insurance practice ranges from traditional claims' management to helping its clients develop existing and new insurance and re-insurance products and plan their strategy and operation. Claims pertinent to employers' liability, personal injury, defective products, loss of cargo, as well as motor claims constitute our day-to-day practice and are, in most cases, handled in co-operation with our experienced litigation group.

Marine insurance has played a major role in the rapid growth of the Firm's reputation over the years. SARANTITIS Law Firm has been involved in marine insurance hearings both in Greece and abroad and has handled major cargo claim cases on behalf of insurers / P&I Clubs as well as ship and cargo owners.

Insurance team is headed by Dionyssia Gamvrakis, Partner ([email protected]).

• Projects & Privatization:

SARANTITIS Law Firm has longstanding experience in Projects & Privatizations, advising large corporate clients and investor groups on a wide range of such transactions and the relevant financing structures and documentation.

Projects & Privatization team is headed by Dorotheos Samoladas, Managing Partner / Head of M&A ([email protected]).

Offices:

Athens (Head Office):

9 Anagnostopoulou Str., 10673 Athens, Greece

T. (+30) 210 3670400

Ε. [email protected]

Piraeus:

91 Akti Miaouli Str., 18538 Piraeus, Greece

T. (+30) 210 4290780

E. [email protected]