Bernitsas Law

Managing Partner: Panayotis Bernitsas

Number of partners: 14

Number of Counsel: 6

Number of lawyers: 31

Languages: English, French, German, Greek, Italian, Spanish

Firm Overview

Bernitsas Law is a market leader in the provision of commercial law services in Greece and one of the largest firms in the country. The firm counts industry frontrunners, listed and private companies, supranational, global and national entities and corporations, and small and medium sized enterprises from all the major industry sectors among its clients.

A Focus on Solutions & Service

Bernitsas provides sound and practical legal solutions which take into account its clients’ commercial reality, perspective, concerns and priorities and assist them to achieve their goals and take a proactive approach in identifying both opportunities and risks. Many of its client relationships have been honed over several decades. With long-term relationships comes unrivalled insight into clients’ operations and industries which allows the firm to provide advice tailored to expectations and based on the knowledge it has acquired of their business. Its lawyers have an expertise in working closely with corporate and in-house legal groups and have developed processes and skills which add value to the service they provide.

An Expert Team

The teams have been working together within and across departments for many years to provide a specialised, consistent and high-standard service. The firm has been involved in most of the pioneer transactions to have taken place in the country, encompassing ground-breaking changes in the legal landscape. It has acted in disputes which have created precedents. The firm’s lawyers regularly participate in the preparation of legislation and regulatory frameworks, and interface with regulators, ombudsmen and supervisory authorities.

An Uncompromising Approach to Ethics

The ethical practice of law is the cornerstone of the firm's practice. Bernitsas has policies and procedures in place to ensure compliance with practice regulations and legislation governing the provision of legal services and the legal sector. Over and above this, the firm conforms with international legal industry standards by applying uncompromising ethical and practice management principles.

Main Areas of Practice

Bernitsas is a leader in the corporate, commercial and finance sectors, specialising in foreign direct investment, banking, capital markets, funds, energy, projects, privatisation and real estate transactions. The firm offers expert practices in employment, ESG, EU, competition & antitrust, intellectual property, data protection and privacy, public procurement and tax, and in the insurance, life sciences and healthcare and telecommunications, media and technology industries. Its litigation, arbitration and dispute resolution practice is recognised for its track record in significant administrative, civil and commercial and corporate crime disputes, some of which have created precedents.

The firm counts industry frontrunners, private individuals, listed and private companies, supranational, global and national entities and corporations, and small and medium sized enterprises from all the major sectors among its clients. Clients trust Bernitsas to passionately protect and promote their interests. Exceptional lawyers work within and across teams to offer excellent service in line with international professional and ethical standards of care.

Responsible Business Strategy

Acting with responsibility to the legal industry and the community and markets in which the firm is active is the cornerstone of its practice and drives all of the firm's relationships. Bernitsas promotes and applies the principles of non-discrimination, fairness and equal opportunities to the way it works and delivers its services, all aspects of its professional dealings and all its policies and procedures. Through the firm's pro bono programme, Bernitsas helps provide access to the law and justice for those who cannot otherwise afford legal representation, support the work of non-profits and charities and participate in NGO-run research projects. The firm devotes its resources, energy and enthusiasm to acting for non-profits and charities, on human rights cases and on social impact matters and supports over 30 organisations involved in the welfare of children and vulnerable members of the community, higher and lower education, culture and the arts on an ongoing basis by way of sponsorship and donations.

International Work

The firm delivers an international level of service. A substantial part of the firm’s practice concentrates on complex domestic and cross-border transactions and disputes. The firm has enduring relationships with leading law firms all over the world across its areas of practice and acts together with many of these firms regularly in providing a seamless and integrated international service to its clients.

Practice Areas and Offices

Banking, Finance & Capital Markets

Corporate and M&A

Data Protection, Privacy & Security

Employment

Energy

Environment, Social & Governance (ESG)

EU, Competition & Antitrust

Foreign Direct Investment

Insurance

Intellectual Property

Life Sciences & Healthcare

Litigation, Arbitration & Dispute Resolution

Privatisations

Project Development, Finance & PPPs

Public Procurement

Real Estate, Land Development & Hospitality

Tax

Telecommunications, Media & Technology