Competition/European Law: Greece (Band 1)
What the team is known for
Dryllerakis & Associates has a top-tier competition practice representing both international and domestic clients in proceedings before the Hellenic Competition Commission. The department regularly acts for clients on investigations and cases relating to abuse of dominance and vertical restraints. The team also assists clients with state aid issues, merger control mandates and antitrust compliance audits.
Notable practitioners
John Dryllerakis is a highly respected and much sought-after authority on competition law, with one client enthusing that he "inspires trust and respect” and is “a person you can rely on for every complex legal issue.” He regularly represents clients before Greek and European courts in unlawful state aid and abuse of dominance cases.
Head of department Emmanuel Dryllerakis commands respect for his extensive knowledge in the field. His practice covers contentious and non-contentious competition mandates, including merger control issues and abuse of dominance matters. Interviewees say: “He translates legal knowledge into business solutions that meet client expectations.”
Cleomenis Yannikas regularly represents clients before the Hellenic Competition Commission and administrative courts. His broad expertise covers abuse of dominant position, dawn raids and distribution networks. One client describes him as "very knowledgeable and solution-oriented," while another source considers him to be "a holistic lawyer who is excellent in detail and strategy."
Corporate/Commercial: Greece (Band 2)
What the team is known for.
Dryllerakis & Associates is an Athens-based law firm home to an excellent corporate department. The team offers particular expertise handling M&A transactions, including the acquisition of energy and hospitality assets, spin-offs and large privatisations. Clients also benefit from the firm's strength in shareholder matters, due diligence and cooperation agreements, as well as joint venture set-ups. Its activity across the technology, real estate and energy sectors further illustrates the firm's presence in the market and makes the firm particularly attractive to international clients.
Strengths
Sources describe the team as "very responsive, knowledgeable and experienced and also able to understand the business dimension of topics going beyond strict legal advice," further highlighting the firm's "high level of knowledge and awareness of new evolutions, anticipating changes in the regulatory environment and suggesting practical solutions."
Work highlights
Advised an investment fund on the acquisition of a hotel complex in Northern Greece valued at EUR205 million.
Notable practitioners
John Dryllerakis is highly regarded for his breadth of expertise in corporate and commercial law mandates across Greece. He is described by sources as an "outstanding lawyer and mentor with an exceptional personality, expertise and incomparable business approach to legal matters aiming at providing solutions."
Emmanuel Dryllerakis advises on a variety of corporate and commercial transactions across Greece and other jurisdictions including the acquisition of energy assets and the establishment of joint ventures. Clients highlight Dryllerakis' "very good vision for solutions in difficult cases."
Clients describe Cleomenis Yannikas as a "highly experienced and expert lawyer with whom it is great to cooperate." He is regularly involved in large privatisations and M&A transactions especially in relation to the hospitality sector with further expertise in investments and spin-offs.
Dispute Resolution: Greece (Band 1)
What the team is known for.
Dryllerakis & Associates is a market-leading firm that handles both litigation and arbitration work. The law firm advises on diverse commercial proceedings, with notable experience in disputes over the termination of distribution and agency agreements, as well as contract breaches, damages and shareholder disputes. The firm’s senior partners act either as arbitrators or as counsel on domestic and international arbitration. The team further advises on complaints to the Greek competition authority and handles contentious tax mandates and white-collar crime cases flowing from allegations of fraud or embezzlement.
Strengths
“We have trust and confidence in always getting good advice on time”, a client says. “They handled the matter with experience and accuracy,” a client says, adding: “They’re responsive, effective and quick.”
Notable practitioners
Senior practitioner John Dryllerakis boasts outstanding experience in commercial and administrative litigation. He is also frequently appointed as arbitrator. Clients value his technical knowledge and see him as "very experienced and respected.”
Vassilis Constantinidis offers advice on diverse matters including those linked to insolvency, competition law breaches or allegations of financial crimes. "He has strong legal expertise and background and also a high business acumen; this combination is extremely powerful," a client says.
John Damilakis has broad experience in the dispute resolution field. His practice covers civil law litigation and he also acts as an arbitrator. "He's very well known and very efficient," a source says.
Panagiotis Kakaletris advances in this year's rankings after strong market support, with clients describing him as "proactive and well informed" and also praising his solution-oriented approach. He assists with disputes arising from the non-performance of contracts and the termination of other commercial agreements, as well as the violation of IP rights and shareholder disputes.
Tax : Greece (Band 2)
What the team is known for
Dryllerakis & Associates has a long-established department that is widely respected for its prowess in contentious tax proceedings, frequently litigating before the administrative courts. The law firm offers comprehensive advice on the full gamut of disputes relating to share and property transfer tax, withholding tax, VAT refunds, stamp duty and customs issues. The team also assists with tax matters relating to corporate income tax.
Work highlights. Dryllerakis & Associates advised FFH Eurolife Insurance Group on tax matters in connection with its financial statements and distribution of dividends to its shareholders.
Notable practitioners
John Dryllerakis leads the firm's tax practice. He is a highly respected and much sought-after authority on tax law matters. He stands out for his unrivalled experience in litigation and arbitration proceedings. "He is among the most renowned lawyers in tax," asserts one commentator, while another source notes: "He is a clear partner to the company, he has great market experience and he is customer-oriented."
Eleftherios Rantos enters the rankings after winning plaudits for his experience in tax litigation. One client appreciates that "he has the ability to give the best legal advice in favour of his clients," while another cites him as "a technically extremely strong professional."