Commercial, Corporate and M&A

For over 15 years, our M&A and Corporate practice group has been ranked as a leading practice by The Legal 500, reflecting our long-standing presence and reputation in the market.

Our pre‑eminent corporate and M&A team acts for major domestic and international corporations, global law firms, leading investment groups, private equity funds, hedge funds, asset management companies and other domestic and overseas investors with investments across a wide range of industries and an active presence in the Hellenic Republic, the United States, the EU and the Middle East .

We advise clients on complex local, cross‑border and multi‑jurisdictional transactions, combining in‑depth experience with acute business acumen. Our knowledge and expertise spans the full spectrum of corporate activity, including company formation in Greece, mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, partnership structures, public takeovers, IPOs, share capital increases and rights issues, public tender offers, private placements of securities, debt financing, private equity and venture capital.

Our M&A expertise extends across all industry sectors, and we have been involved in some of the largest mergers and acquisitions in the banking, hotel, food and beverage, real estate, media and telecoms sectors. We represent listed and private companies in domestic and cross‑border mergers and acquisitions and have a thorough understanding of the challenges encountered during an M&A transaction. We support clients throughout the entire M&A lifecycle — from pre‑acquisition planning, due diligence and successful closing to post‑transaction transition and post‑merger integration.

Clients rely on us for advice on a wide range of issues, including corporate and commercial, tax, antitrust, real estate, employment, environmental compliance, intellectual property and litigation. Our work includes performing full due diligence and reviewing all material documents and contracts of the target company, such as corporate documents, loans, credit agreements, customer and supplier contracts, partnership or joint venture agreements, employment agreements, union contracts and collective bargaining agreements, exclusivity agreements, real estate leases and purchase agreements, licence agreements, franchise agreements, equity finance agreements, agency or distribution agreements, non‑competition agreements and any industry‑specific agreements. We also draft and negotiate all transaction documents, including asset purchase agreements, share purchase agreements, shareholders’ agreements, loan agreements and related closing documentation, and assist clients in obtaining all regulatory approvals.

We have unrivalled expertise in securities legislation and regulations, including obligations of listed companies, trading laws and regulations, dealings with and hearings before Hellenic Regulatory Authorities, and the full range of securities laws and enforcement matters.

We have a leading track record in equity capital markets transactions, including IPOs, share capital increases and rights issues, as well as share acquisitions and disposals of listed securities through the Athens Stock Exchange and over‑the‑counter transactions.

We represent issuers and underwriters in complex initial public offerings (IPOs) and guide them throughout the IPO process. As issuer’s counsel, we play a central role in advising clients on the development and implementation of corporate governance practices and on initial and ongoing disclosure and reporting requirements. Our work includes performing due diligence, handling confidentiality matters, preparing the prospectus and all stock‑exchange filings. As underwriter’s counsel, we assist in preparing the prospectus, reviewing all offering documents and negotiating and drafting the underwriting agreement.

Our expertise also extends to share capital increases and rights issues, acting for both issuers and shareholders on all aspects of these transactions. Our work includes advising shareholders on the capital‑increase process and any pre‑emption rights, negotiating subscription terms and shareholders’ agreements, drafting corporate resolutions and amending articles of association. We provide extensive advice on the prospectus and all documentation relating to rights issues.

We also have long‑standing expertise in public tender offers and have been involved in major voluntary and compulsory tender offers on the Athens Stock Exchange. We cover all aspects of the public‑tender process and advise issuers on offering circulars, boards of directors and employees. For minority and majority shareholders, we focus on advising them on their rights and obligations. We have extensive experience advising major corporates and shareholders on all corporate matters, regulatory steps and filings required to complete such processes.

We represent clients in all types of private equity transactions, including private investments, leveraged and management buyouts, investment‑fund formations, financings, recapitalisations, sales and other exit strategies, bankruptcy buyouts and other distressed M&A transactions, supporting them through all phases of the investment cycle. Our work includes assisting clients with the financing and formation of investment vehicles and with the management of portfolio companies, including restructurings and existing‑debt refinancing. We also perform due diligence and negotiate and draft financing and shareholders’ agreements, security documents and all other transaction documents.

Our corporate and M&A practice group assists clients with day‑to‑day corporate matters, including company formation in Greece, shareholder rights and obligations, board‑meeting issues, EGM and AGM matters and corporate governance.

We also regularly advise clients on all types of commercial contracts, including business and asset acquisitions, distribution agreements, licence agreements, franchise agreements, joint venture and cooperation agreements, supply and procurement agreements, services and outsourcing agreements, technology and software agreements, agency and representation agreements, memoranda of understanding (MOUs), non-disclosure agreements (NDAs), and other commercial arrangements.