Banking, finance and capital markets (Tier 2)
Emmanuel Dryllerakis heads the practice at Dryllerakis & Associates, providing specialist knowledge of privatisations, restructurings, M&A, corporate finance, project financing and NPLs. The team is also adept on matters of capital controls and relevant tax issues with particular expertise in the oil sector. A recent highlight saw Aegean Airlines engage the group in relation to the public offering of a €200m bond loan.
Commercial, Corporate and M&A (Tier 1)
At Dryllerakis & Associates, industry specialisation spans the oil, food, cosmetics and leisure industries with lawyers providing reputable expertise in M&A projects, due diligence procedures, shareholder disputes, joint ventures and shareholder agreement structuring. A further key component of the practice is corporate advice work including corporate secretariat, corporate governance rules and applicable legislation advice. Highly-rated practice head Emmanuel Dryllerakis is a specialist of the legal framework in areas such as tax, competition, corporate and privatisation; he recently advised Stoiximan Services on the sale to OPAP Group of a 51% stake in its Greek and Cypriot operations. Aliki Damilakis is recommended for her advice on corporate arrangements and governing legislation
Leading individuals: Emmanuel Dryllerakis
Hall of Fame: John Dryllerakis
Next Generation Partners : Aliki Damilakis
Testimonials
‘Managed very well with several stakeholders of the client at the same time in terms of communication; availability on short notice; handled local jurisdiction procedural challenges successfully; performed legal research and actions on a timely and correct way.’
‘Cleomenis Yannikas (coordination), Stella Yannika (legal advice) (partners) along with the associates’ team have been flexible, available and performing very well all agreed/required legal advice/actions/steps in the local jurisdiction, including meetings with business stakeholders and contacting third parties. Partners have an established good local network.’
‘Fast and reliable service, tailored solutions, high quality of all services,’
‘Very efficient and reliable, high standard of knowledge.’
‘I have found this practice to be one of the best in its area of expertise both regarding the level of knowledge that is required in order to tackle the issues put before it as well as regarding more organizational issues.’
‘The individuals that I have worked with are well educated with great working knowledge and do their best to meet the client’s needs and expectations.’
‘They stand out for the deep knowledge of the issues they are dealing with. It is a team that researchers issues thoroughly and has vast experience.’
‘Excellent legal team with deep knowledge and understanding of corporate legal affairs.’
‘Yannis Dryllerakis: unique scientific background & practice in almost all aspects of law. Emmanuel Dryllerakis: excellent scientific background and deep practice knowledge. Cleomenis Yannikas: excellent scientific background and deep practice knowledge. Vasilis Konstantinidis: excellent scientific background and deep practice knowledge in labour law: Georgia Danatsopoulou: very good scientific background and deep practice knowledge.’
‘Specialist knowledge divided among the different partners/associates. Very good contact from the beginning’.
‘Every time very calm in all situations, very professional in the collaboration. Focus on the important facts’.
Dispute resolution (Tier 1)
Praised as the ‘best practice for dispute resolution’, Dryllerakis & Associates has ‘diversified experience in handling legal matters’. John Damilakis heads up the practice, which includes 'top lawyer' John Dryllerakis, who has a proven track record in the Supreme Court, and Panagiotis Kakaletris, who provides ‘succinct and to-the-point’ advice. The team is active in civil and criminal courts with specific expertise in tax, public procurement and antitrust disputes as well as international and domestic arbitration. In a recent highlight, the group defended Henkel Group in claims filed by a former distributor, which sought termination indemnity and compensation for loss of profits. Gerassimos Apergis is noted for his 'numerous successes in the Supreme Court'.
Hall of Fame: John Dryllerakis
Next Generation Partners : Gerassimos Apergis, Panagiotis Kakaletris
Testimonials
‘Immediate response, responsibility and effectiveness.’
‘Politeness, professionalism.’
‘I have found them very efficient, very quick to understand the tiniest details of our business and financial transactions and able to put them forward before a judge in a clear and succinct fashion. Down to earth, solid advice. Meet deadlines with high-quality work.’
‘Panagiotis Kakaletris is quick, efficient, and provides advice which is down to earth, client friendly, succinct and to the point. Highly recommendable.’
‘Best practice in Dispute Resolution. Commercial understanding. Very good results.’
‘Vassilis Constandinidis, partner. He understands commercial parameters. He quickly identifies main business issues, related to litigation. Excellent legal hearing practice. Thinking out of the box.’
‘Long and diversified experience in handling legal matters. Especially capable in tax, competition issues.’
‘Mr. John Dryllerakis is a top lawyer highly regarded in Greece by the legal community. Mr. G. Apergis is a very efficient litigator with numerous successes in the Supreme Court.’
‘A big firm – in local terms – with the flexibility and friendly approach of a more boutique firm.’
‘The approach resembles that of an in-house counsel. Lawyers in this firm tend to have a business approach to legal matters with ifs, ands, or buts.’
Employment (Tier 1)
Dryllerakis & Associates acts for a range of local and international clients from the retail, hospitality and trading industries. Headed by John Damilakis, the team includes highly regarded individual Vassilis Constantinidis, whose expertise encompasses code of conduct policies and employment contracts in addition to relevant contentious issues. Additional core strengths of the practice include employment-related due diligence for M&A projects, employee background checks, legislative work and redundancies. The group also handles expatriate issues and advised several international clients on the hiring and tax status of non-EU executives employed in Greece.
Leading individuals : Vassilis Constantinidis
Key clients: Aquila Hotels, PIRELLI HELLAS A.E., Henkel Hellas SA, Praktiker Hellas SA, Air Liquide Hellas SA, Thessaloniki Port Authority SA, Regency Entertainment S.A., Mondelez Hellas SA, Baker & McKenzie, Beiersdorf Hellas SA, LOULIS MILLS S.A., Iron Mountain Hellas S.A
EU and competition (Tier 1)
Dryllerakis & Associates provides ‘in-depth knowledge of competition law combined with great experience in related litigation’. Among the group's key areas of expertise are HCC investigation procedures, merger control cases, and state aid matters. The team is also highly knowledgeable of anti-trust private enforcement work and is developing an anti-trust consulting practice. Practice head Emmanuel Dryllerakis is noted for his ‘meticulous approach’ and ‘experience in working with international clients'. The team also includes John Dryllerakis, who has vast experience in the competition space. In a recent highlight, the team represented Unilever in a case brought by the HCC alleging abuse of dominance and vertical restraints in connection with its commercial practices.
Hall of Fame: Emmanuel Dryllerakis, John Dryllerakis
Testimonials
‘Consistency and stability are a strong plus. The Firm continues being one of the top competition law boutiques.’
‘Cleomenis Yannikas is a hard-working lawyer and a safe pair of hands.’
‘Excellent support and representation at all stages of the procedure. Continuing communication with the partners. Proposing innovated solutions.’
‘Highly skilled at this law area. Efficient and targeted solutions.’
‘Strong local firm. Very high quality of work’
‘Cleomenis Yannikas & Emmanuel Dryllerakis: Hard workers, technically strong competition lawyers, experienced in working with international clients. Good value for money.’
‘Very strong expertise, very customer focused and solutions oriented, reasonable charges.’
‘Cleomenis Yannikas: very competent, deep knowledge in competition law. Sotiris Dempegiotis: strong knowledge on compliance, data protection, GDPR, very nice and friendly personality, solutions oriented.’
‘In-depth knowledge of competition law in combination with great experience in competition law litigation.’
‘The firm is undoubtedly one of the most acclaimed ones. Their legal spectrum is outstanding. In particular with regard to Competition law, the practice has marked numerous successful precedents. The partners and associates as well as the office staff contribute to the excellency of the legal services they always deliver.’
‘Stand-out partners are John Dryllerakis, Emmanouil Dryllerakis and Cleomenis Giannikas. They all have a meticulous and in depth approach and study of the legal issues.’
Energy (Tier 2)
Active in the oil, natural gas, electricity and renewable energy sectors, Dryllerakis & Associates has a client roster, which includes Hellenic Petroleum, Systems Sunlight and Larco. Emmanuel Dryllerakis heads up the practice, and focuses his practice on M&A, competition, financing and privatisation matters. In a recent highlight, the team advised new client Enel Green Power on the development of seven wind farm projects.
Intellectual Property (Tier 3)
Dryllerakis & Associates is noted is noted for its ‘immediate responses, subject knowledge and commercial expertise’. The team actively handles the registration, renewal and cancellation of trade marks, industrial designs and patents on a national, European and international level, and also possesses expertise in the transfer and protection of all forms of IP. Aliki Damilakis leads the practice, which is also highly-regarded for pre-filing searches of patents and drafting technology licensing agreements.
Testimonials
‘Prompt responses and high quality of services’
‘Immediate response, knowledge of the subject, knowledge of the commercial law.’
‘John Damilakis, Alice Damilakis, fast acting, immediate responses.’
Projects and privatisation (Tier 1)
Praised for its ‘business-orientated and solution-driven approach’, Dryllerakis & Associates has extensive expertise in handling high-end privatisations for the Greek state, and also represents candidate investors in bid processes. Emmanuel Dryllerakis heads up the department, which includes the ‘distinguished and well-respected’ John Dryllerakis and Cleomenis Yannikas, who is an expert in energy projects. In a recent highlight, the team represented a consortium including Deutsche Investment Equity Partners, Terminal Link and Belterra on its successful bid for a 67% share in Thessaloniki Port Authority from the Hellenic Republic Asset Development Fund.
Leading individuals : Emmanuel Dryllerakis
Testimonials
‘Their business orientation and solution-driven approach has made them recognizable with a solid reputation in the Greek legal market.’
‘John Dryllerakis is undoubtedly a distinguished and well-respected figure in the Greek legal market. However, there is also a full-force dynamic team of younger but very much experienced partners and associates, including Emmanuel Dryllerakis and Cleomenis Yannikas. Diligence and responsiveness are among their main qualities.’
Real estate and construction (Tier 1)
Dryllerakis & Associates handles high-profile transactions, developments, planning projects and leasing matters. The hotel sector is a cornerstone of the practice, which leverages the firm's wider expertise in tax, licensing, property use, planning, finance and zoning law issues. Maria Stoumpidi is an expert in planning investments and the financial aspects of developments; she heads up the department alongside Stella Yannika, whose specialist areas include project finance schemes within the framework of real estate transactions and leasing matters. Stoumpidi is advising Lamda Development on the approval process for land use and the master plan for the Hellinikon Project, a high-profile urban development which will include a metropolitan park, luxury housing and six skyscrapers.
Rising Stars: Maria Stoumpidi, Stella Yannika Next Generation Partners : Stella Yannika
Testimonials
‘Good knowledge in the field; handling negotiations with third parties and client’s business team members. Successful management of more stakeholders’ involvement. High quality performance.’
‘Stella Yannika (partner) assisted throughout negotiations with third parties, both properties owner and constructor in relevant contracts in a timely and accurate manner, including cases under time or 3rd parties’ pressure.’
‘Their advantage is their orthological approach. They are business minded, thinking practically and legally. They avoid unnecessary longevity in all issues while they address practical and business perspectives. They always manage to bring negotiations to an end by reaching an agreement without leaving any grey areas on both sides.’
‘All lawyers have almost the same way of approaching the matters. Their immediate response along with the legal expertise of everyone is absolutely excellent.’
‘All team members which worked in the Due Diligence projects of our Group were very knowledgeable, extremely efficient in legal auditing both in quality of reports as well as in the timely provision of legal support, focused and ready to provide top-level answers and solutions to all issues which were raised during the project.’
Tax (Tier 1)
Dryllerakis & Associates is 'indisputably a top tier tax practice' with 'excellent knowledge, effective communication and high rates of success'. The team's expertise spans the full range of tax-related matters including advice, planning, litigation, transfer pricing and accounting work. In addition, criminal matters including tax evasion and anti-money laundering cases are also areas where the practice is well-versed. Practice head John Dryllerakis is 'one of the most experienced and venerable tax lawyers in Greece'; he recently represented PAOK, the largest football club in Greece's Macedonia region, in a tax audit relating to remuneration given to its athletes. Clients also stem from a broad array of sectors and include credit institutions and telecoms, breweries, shipping, real estate and entertainment companies. Eleftherios Rantos is one of many associates praised for their 'outstanding collaborative and legal skills'. Sophia Grigoriadou departed.
Leading individuals : John Dryllerakis Rising stars: Eleftherios Rantos
Testimonials
‘The firm’s expertise, in depth knowledge and holistic approach is profound. Also the ownership they present in the cases they are handling is one main reason to work with them. The firm is considered by the Greek legal society as Tier 1 in multiple practices. In relation to the tax practice it is fair to say that this is indisputable, since their practice on many occasions not only served their clients’ interests in the best possible way, but also transformed the Greek state’s tax approach by creating tax precedents & best practices.’
‘Excellent knowledge, effective communication and high rate of success.’
‘Mr. Dryllerakis has a deep knowledge and understanding of the sector. He is one of the most experienced and venerable tax lawyers in Greece. ‘
‘The team of Dryllerakis and Associates is characterised by its timeliness and excellent quality of legal services, having delved into complicated tax matters concerning several jurisdictions.’
‘The individuals of the firm are highly qualified attorneys, with extensive experience in dealing with complex issues both domestic, and cross-jurisdictional.’
‘John Dryllerakis’ expertise in tax matters is unparalleled in the industry, and he maintains a close insight and involvement in all issues handled by the team, ensuring the high quality of legal services provided by the firm on tax issues.’
‘Our collaboration with Eleftherios Rantos, John Papadakis, Nikolaia-Anna Lepida and Dimitris Karavas, associates of the firm, has been longstanding and always fruitful. They are all highly skilled attorneys, extremely efficient, and their outstanding collaborative and legal skills make them trustworthy and our only option for collaboration when a complex legal tax issue arises.’
White Collar Crime (Tier 2)
Led by John Damilakis, the team at Dryllerakis & Associates handles white-collar cases in the civil and criminal courts. Financial fraud, including insider dealing and market abuse, is an area of expertise, and the team also has experience in money laundering, corruption and unfair competition disputes. In a recent highlight, the team represented a publishing company in a series of charges concerning IP rights.