While counsel to Esso and Shell in the 1970s, John Dryllerakis was practicing competition law in Greece before the country even had an antitrust statute. At 78, the former authority head is still going strong and leads the practice at Dryllerakis & Associates alongside fellow partners Emmanuel Dryllerakis, his son, and Cleomenis Yannikas.
On the behavioural side, the firm is representing Mythos Brewery in its abuse of dominance complaint against Athenian Brewery. It issued the complaint in 2006, but the case was delayed on procedural grounds – the hearings are currently taking place, with a decision expected soon. The team was also instructed in a poultry cartel case, which involved fines of €40 million, and is currently being challenged before the country’s administrative court of appeal.
Few mergers now take place in Greece, although the firm continues to be active in a handful. The team was instructed by Carlsberg in its acquisition of the Mythos and Olympic breweries, securing unconditional clearance, and was also local counsel in the Aegean Airlines/Olympic Air merger, which was approved by the European Commission at the second attempt two years ago. The firm is also acting for LARCO Mining & Metallurgical and Regency Entertainment in state aid cases.