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Our office specialises in providing services associated with contemporary public law. We concentrate especially on public financial law, which of course involves European Community law.
The office works on issues of national law, and is frequently called upon to act as a consultant and to collaborate with lawyers in different countries on complex issues where other legislation is involved in addition to Greek Law.
Within the framework of contemporary public law, the office implements national administrative and constitutional law and commercial and private law are applied in tandem in accordance with the demands at any given time and the demands of the markets.
The office specialises in financial law and focuses on legislation relating to self-financing infrastructure, construction projects (private and public), real estate development and corporate and investment issues.
Within the framework of the work done by the office, we have built up a particularly high degree of specialisation in legislation concerning public contracts, (all forms of) contracts relating to private funding of projects and companies, energy law, telecommunications, the Mass Media, company law and company turnaround plans, investment and corporate incentives law, real estate development legislation, sports law, urban planning and environmental law and tax legislation.
As part of our work in this field, we perform legal inspections, act as consultants, provide ongoing support to companies, carry out instructions issued to us by clients during calls for tenders of all types, provide legal counsel and offer full support on an in-court and out of court basis. We work systematically with the administration to assist our clients with their investment plans and represent them during major negotiations.
The energy sector is continually growing and developing. We play an active role in the sector, offering support to private interests that wish to become involved on a corporate basis in energy issues.
Our office specialises both in energy infrastructure and plant construction and in corporate licensing procedures.
We act as consultants on issues of a legal nature, taking into account both the continuous development taking place within the sector and EU legislation. We take part in invitations to tender and seek legal recourse to national and European authorities where required.
The team of colleagues working in the office on energy matters have considerable experience both of drawing up energy-related contracts and providing advice on energy issues and other related matters.
The mining is currently undergoing a revival. As a result, specialised knowledge both of the legal framework (national and European) and of contemporary practice is essential.
We provide systematic legal support to companies on these issues, and we are particularly involved in matters relating to licensing procedures.
Urban planning and environmental issues, investment organisation, takeovers of problematic businesses. We work together with other environmental and financial consultants to ensure that companies achieve success in the field. We also collaborate with administrative authorities and undertake court action to resolve disputes which arise.
We have devoted a great deal of systematic work to the developments which have taken place in telecommunications legislation in Greece since the beginning of 1990 against the background of amendments to EU legislation and privatisation of associated business activities.
We offer services to companies operating in the telecommunications sector. We assist with licence applications and involve ourselves in the creation of telecommunications infrastructure.
Our office specialises in issues concerning sports legislation. We are particularly involved in issues relating to the legislation for the Olympic Games. During the Athens 2004 Games, the office gained significant experience, involving itself in a number of major issues relating to Olympic projects and environmental matters.
We offer advisory services concerning our areas of expertise in issues relating to tax legislation, particularly matters concerning complex funding systems such as BOT, public private partnerships, concession contracts, etc.
We offer advice on specialised tax situations such as those which exist in free zones, ports, etc. We also offer advice on issues relating to contracts for the avoidance of double taxation.
We undertake action both in and out of court to dispute administrative fines of all types and act before all Greek courts and other authorities. We formulate effective tax solutions for financial programmes and also provide plans for the financial exploitation of real estate.
We are particularly involved in:
- Providing strategic advice and innovative solutions regarding tax legislation matters.
- Providing a range of individual advisory services relating to taxation.
- Appearing before taxation courts.
One aspect of our work is keeping our clients constantly up to date with taxation matters.
We also specialise in work concerning fines imposed by social security bodies, and also fines for pollution/environmental protection infringements, urban planning infringements, Press matters and fines imposed by the Greek National Radio and Television Council.
Our office has major experience of issues of environmental law both at the level of providing legal consultation and at the advisory support level. Our team of specialised colleagues provides us with legal advice covering all sectors of environmental law.
We are often called upon to act as consultants on issues concerning the environment and environmental planning and we play an active role in developments in these areas by offering advice based on our critical judgements.
In particular, our office offers legal support for planning matters, environmental impact studies, land and environmental planning for construction projects. This includes issuing and taking receipt of the licences required and drawing up detailed studies of the situation concerning specialised land use and its environmental consequences.
We offer specialised legal support to industry and to constructors on issues concerning environmental harmonisation. We also offer legal support on issues covered by environmental law relating to the owners of real estate and to those who are active in programmes to develop real estate.
In addition, we provide ongoing information concerning developments and changes taking place in environmental law both at a national and European level, taking part in activities that require special expertise and in the task of formulating legislation carried out by consultants working within major bodies such as the Technical Chamber of Greece and the Ministry of Environment, Physical Planning and Public Works.
Our office provides advisory services to bodies on major environmental issues, including the overall situation prevailing on various islands (Patmos, Hydra, Zakynthos, Marathonisi) concerning sensitive ecosystems and wetland habitats. We also participate in finding legislative solutions for wetland habitats and the protection of special categories of flora and fauna).
We are particularly experienced in matters concerning the protection of cultural heritage and antiquities in cases of major projects, private sector disputes, exploiting real estate in combination with protecting cultural heritage, licensing, appearing before various Administrative Authorities and before the Central Archaeological Council and the Council for Modern Monuments.
Our office has great experience of issues concerning urban planning, studies to obtain licences for power stations, port construction projects, railway projects, construction of roads and major industrial units, hotels, motorist service stations and car parks.
Our office also offers advice and participates in court cases concerning compulsory purchase orders. As part of this specialised work we co-operate with administrative authorities.
Our office has played an active role in the production of studies for port and airport infrastructure, in the construction of ports and airport infrastructure, in the completion of the necessary studies, in obtaining licences and in clarifying the legal status of such reports, and in resolving disputes arising from such issues. The members of our office have in-depth knowledge of the legal situation and legislative developments relating to the shore and to coastal areas. They also have expert knowledge of legislation governing investment in harbours for tourists, ports, etc.
The pressing problem of waste management in Greece requires significant experience and knowledge which we are fortunate to possess thanks to our long-term participation in the development of an infrastructure for waste management.
We offer support to bidders and contractors throughout related calls for tenders and offer advice on matters relating to the legal situation surrounding waste management by companies. We represent clients in court and offer consultation on the status of European and national law.
We have handled some major cases relating to educational law, appearing before authorities and responsible bodies as well as before the courts.
We have dealt with cases involving pupils at state schools, validating the equal status of different university degrees, developments affecting members of DEP (Teaching and Research Personnel Association) and other educational associations. We have acted as consultants on major constitutional issues such as banning the opening of private universities under the terms of the constitution of 1975/81/2001.
We have developed a great degree of specialisation in matters concerning validating the equal status of different university degrees and in matters related to the European legislation governing this particular topic.
We would especially like to mention here that, based on the opinions we expressed as part of our consultations, it was judged necessary to revise the Constitution, something which both the current majority and minority of the Parliament are in favour of.
We have been involved in a considerable number of legal cases, particularly court cases, concerning the Mass Media. We provide legal support in court hearings concerning disputes with the National Radio and Television Council.
Our office has represented Mass Media Companies and individuals in some of the most important cases in recent years in Greece before national courts and European bodies.
As early as 1995 we played a major role in a case involving the right of Mass Media shareholders to participate in public projects; in 2001 we were involved with the case which arose from the revision of the Constitution and art. 14.9 and thereafter assisted those seeking recourse to European authorities in order to reconcile national and European legislation.
As part of our involvement in Mass Media affairs, we have acted as consultants on issues such as the Media Tax, tax-free paper for the Press, special social security issues concerning the Press and licensing for television and radio stations, whilst we have also taken part in a considerable number of court hearings.
Our office is considered one of the most specialised offices dealing both with the creation of infrastructure projects and studies of the conditions governing their funding.
As legal consultants we propose solutions for major matters. These solutions are both innovative and effective.
Our degree of specialisation in self-financing infrastructure projects and in construction law is particularly extensive.
The development since the beginning of 1990 in the self-financing infrastructure sector thanks to European legislation has allowed us to gain in-depth experience of all private funding and co-funding of infrastructure works.
We have worked to establish an institutional framework and resolve major issues of national and European law.
We have worked to overcome serious problems using arbitration and court cases.
We have participated in calls for tenders and have had the pleasure of most of clients winning the contracts they have applied for. The projects we have experience of include road building projects, railways, airports, ports, harbours for tourist craft, casinos and car parks.
Our office offers systematic support to parties interested in submitting bids for projects, supplies and services.
It studies the legal framework governing each sector and formulates solutions for complex issues of the law relating to infrastructure, such as railway projects, the tram, the suburban railway, road links, hospital works, industrial regions, airports, water supply works, energy production, Olympic projects and supplies.
We have extensive experience in the construction sector, tender procedures, court cases, receipt of claims, establishment of consortiums and groups and monitoring the progress of contractual works.
As part of our work we carry out legal inspections, deal with licensing procedures and offer investment and taxation advice.
We take part in negotiations concerning the allocation of contracts and the compilation of contracts.
We enter into correspondence on contractual matters, submit objections and seek recourse when required.
We have participated in a significant number of court proceedings and have sought recourse before European courts.
Thanks to its high level of specialisation in this field, our office offers advice to national and European bodies on associated topics.
It offers opinions to individuals and plays a part in formulating legislative solutions at a national and European level via special procedures that have been provided for.
It offers advice to individuals who wish to participate in similar projects.
Projects in the Balkans, the Middle East and Turkey.
Our office has built up a great deal of experience of working on projects abroad.
It has acted as the legal consultants to consortiums and groups of companies operating internationally and has dealt with complex issues of a legal nature arising from the fact that different regulations are in force in different countries together with the introduction of European legislation.
We have participated as legal consultants on a large number of projects which are now in progress or have already been completed in both Greece and Balkan states or in Balkan states alone, particularly in the Republic of Serbia, Romania and FYROM as well as in Turkey and Jordan. Most of these projects concerned energy and involved the construction of pipelines, electricity projects, dams, natural gas and petroleum pipelines. We also have experience of road building projects in the Balkans, especially in the Republic of Serbia and Romania.
Our office collaborates with international legal and financial firms as part of the effort to create essential networks within the Balkans.
Competition law
The law relating to public contracts
State support
Our office has had many years of experience in issues relating to European law, both with national and European authorities and courts.
Thanks to our work within the field of legislation concerning competition and public contracts, and also corporate turnarounds and the environment, we have appeared before European authorities to deal with major issues.
We are called upon to deal systematically with major issues relating to national and European law, and we act as consultants on various issues of considerable importance, including the legal circumstances involved in constitutional reform relating to the Main Shareholder (art. 14.9 of the Greek Constitution).
We appear before EU authorities and, when required, appear before European Courts to support our clients’ case.
We act as consultants on issues relating to European law and its relation to national law.
Employee legislation and European law concerning employees.
Our office specialises in European law relating to employees and supports clients by appearing before European courts in matters of a similar nature.
Recently our law firm acted as legal consultant to the empoyees of the European Union, on which an extraordinary levy was imposed by the Greek State.
We provide business law services to our clients and undertake corporate cases in full.
We provide services regarding a large range of issues of company law, including drawing up articles of association, shareholder agreements, minutes of Board of Director meetings and General Meetings.
We also advise on the rights and obligations of members of the Board of Directors, compliance with the legislation in force concerning companies and with the regulations of supervisory authorities, requirements for listed companies, complex business acquisitions, mergers and consortiums.
Our office has been systematically involved in the legal due diligence of businesses during the partial or complete acquisition of their shares and during company turnaround programmes.
We have played a major part in recent years in company turnarounds. We feel that the successful turnaround of companies that were facing a serious crisis is a major aspect of our activities.
Our office has great experience in drawing up and administering contracts. It supports its clients during negotiations of all kinds and thereafter undertakes the necessary associated correspondence.
We are active on behalf of Greek and foreign clients, investors in real estate, constructors, financial institutions, legal entities under public law and individuals in a broad range of business activities:
- Infrastructure projects
- Business parks
- Shopping centres
- Hotels
- Industrial regions
- Leasing public real estate and public estates
We have built up extensive experience in issues concerning sales and purchases of real estate, investigating the legal status of real estate in general and property deeds, particularly in complex cases of investment in property which presents serious problems, (special circumstances, forest land, urban planning issues etc.) and also where special potential exists, (quarrying, mining, energy) organised exploitation (residential development, tourism, etc.).
Resolving court disputes
Our office has many years of experience in conducting court cases and arbitration procedures in Greece. We represent our customers before all national courts, the Council of State, the Supreme Court (Arios Pagos) and the Hellenic Court of Audit, and also before all other civil and administrative courts. We deal with issues relating to the specialised field in the firm is involved, protection of the personal privacy of political figures, compensation payments arising from the civic responsibility of the state.
We deal with issues using the courts and arbitration when required. We strive where possible to resolve disputes out of court wherever such a course of action will allow us to carry out our clients’ instructions successfully. Our major partners appear before all the supreme courts and also before courts of other levels.
Arbitration
We have great experience in arbitration, court compromise and technical surveys.
We conduct arbitration procedures using ICC, and ΤΕΕ regulations and the regulations of other national and international bodies.
In recent years, we have been particularly active in participating in arbitration procedures associated with our area of specialisation and have achieved a particularly high degree of success.
Appearances before independent authorities
Given contemporary developments it is frequently necessary for us to appear before independent authorities in order to support our clients.
In particular, we frequently appear before the Citizen’s Advocate, the Energy Regulation Authority for Energy, the National Television and Radio Council and the Competition Commission.
Appearances before the Hellenic Court of Audit to deal with matters relating to public contracts
In line with current developments, the allocation of public contracts requires verification of the legality of the allocation by the Hellenic Court of Audit. Conducting such an important inspection to verify the legality of contracts drawn up requires expertise and experience, something which we are in a position to provide systematically to our clients.
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