Kyriakides Georgopoulos has advised the German Mercedes-Benz Group on the sale of its Greek subsidiary Mercedes-Benz Hellas to the Swiss Emil Frey Group.

On August 25, 2022, Boyanov & Co announced that Mondelez International's acquisition of Chipita S.A. (reported by CEE Legal Matters on June 1, 2021) had closed. 

Koutalidis has advised MGE Hellenic Investments on its sale of McArthurGlen Hellas to Lamda Olympia Village.

The Lambadarios law firm has advised Hellenic Petroleum on its EUR 90 million acquisition of a 55.2-megawatt portfolio of operating wind farms in Mani from the Copelouzos Group and International Constructional. Norton Rose Fulbright reportedly advised the sellers.

Bernitsas Law has advised Hoist Finance on the acquisition of a portfolio of unsecured non-performing loans with a total outstanding balance of approximately EUR 400 million from Alpha Bank.

Bird & Bird has advised Hungary’s OTP Bank Group on its acquisition of the Albanian subsidiary of Greek Alpha Bank for EUR 55 million. White & Case advised Alpha Services and Holdings. Boga & Associates reportedly advised OTP as well. Kalo & Associates reportedly also advised Alpha.

With the pandemic slowly fading away, the Greek economy is reviving with a large number of projects in the infrastructure, tourism, and energy sectors, according to Bahas Gramatidis & Partners Partner Yanos Gramatidis. 

Norton Rose Fulbright has appointed Partner Yianni Cheilas as the new Greek offices Head from August 1, 2022. He takes over from Partner Dimitri Sofianopoulos, who will now continue with Norton Rose Fulbright as a Senior Consultant.

On July 7, 2022, Koutalidis announced that Nexi Group’s strategic partnership with Alpha Bank in the area of digital payments (reported by CEE Legal Matters on August 19, 2021) had been perfected, on June 30, 2022, following the receipt of regulatory clearance.

The growth rate of public-private partnerships (PPPs) in Greece, which commenced almost four years ago and retained the same dynamics throughout the COVID-19 era despite the internationally unfavorable economic environment, remains undoubtedly impressive.

Entering into force on February 19, 2021, the EU Recovery and Resilience Facility aimed, according to the European Commission, “to mitigate the economic and social impact of the coronavirus pandemic and make European economies and societies more sustainable, resilient, and better prepared for the challenges and opportunities of the green and digital transitions.” CEE Legal Matters spoke with lawyers from Bulgaria, Greece, Hungary, Latvia, Poland, and Romania to learn what each country focused on, with its Recovery and Resilience Plan (RRP), and what difficulties lie ahead, now that these plans have been submitted to the EC.

Kyriakides Georgopoulos has advised Danone SA and Numil Hellas SA on their corporate restructuring, with Numil Hellas absorbing Danone's business in Greece.

A number of jurisdictions provide residency or even citizenship options against certain investments. Greece was one of the last countries to introduce a similar offering. An EU member state as well as a country of the Schengen area, Greece embodies the rule of law and the democratic principles of Western democracies, all in idyllic surroundings.

Lambadarios Law Firm has advised Athens Water Supply and Sewerage Company (Eydap) on an international tender procedure for the award of a five-year services agreement regarding the operation and maintenance of Psyttalia Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP).

Former Alpha Bank Chief Legal and Governance Officer Nikos Salakas has re-joined Koutalidis as a Partner and Head of the firm's Banking and Finance practice.

Despite current geopolitical challenges and the related inflation and price hikes, the current situation in Greece is much better compared to the COVID-19 crisis, with increasing interest in the country's hospitality sector, according to Drakopoulos Partner Michalis Kosmopoulos.

Bernitsas Law, working with Baker McKenzie, has advised Gastrade on the EUR 280 million financing and development of the Alexandroupolis independent natural gas system project.

Souriadakis Tsibris has advised Goldman Sachs on establishing a branch in Athens.