The firm

Papapolitis & Papapolitis is a leading full service business law firm with offices in Athens and London and a unique international outlook. We have built on the foundations of a long heritage intertwined with contemporary success. We aim to attract the most talented lawyers we can find and have developed a results orientated culture of high performance and innovation. With a deep understanding of our market and globally minded philosophy, we are uniquely positioned to act for foreign investors and corporations looking to invest or establish themselves in Greece. Our track record of successfully advising governments, international and local banks, financial institutions, large corporates and state-owned entities, as well some of the world’s largest and most sophisticated financial investors, spans over 122 years.

Our lawyers advise clients on a broad range of commercial arrangements and issues across a number of industry sectors. The combination of high level technical expertise and a commercial approach ensures that clients receive practical and viable legal advice, tailored to the needs of their business in the way that they want and can understand.

P&P At A Glance
  • 122 Years from the foundation of our firm
  • 4 generations of attorneys
  • Athens and London offices
  • Consistently recognized as a Top-Tier and Leading Firm by major international directories
  • Dedicated Funds Practice that has advised the majority of asset managers that have invested in Greece

The Firm has maintained a strong culture of leadership throughout the years and our partners, attorneys and alumni include renowned international lawyers, law professors and prominent political figures, who have taken part in milestone developments in the Greek economy and political landscape.

In today’s G20 world, our constant dedication to adding value to our client’s businesses, coupled with a commitment to integrity, responsibility and professionalism, is the catalyst for the provision of service of the highest quality and our recognition as a leading firm.

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4 generations of attorneys, countless business cycles and thousands of transactions across Europe, the US, the Middle-East and Asia. Papapolitis & Papapolitis can trace its history back to 1898 when John Papapolitis Sr. founded the Firm as a partnership of attorneys. He was succeeded by his 2 sons, Savvas Papapolitis and Professor Nicholas Papapolitis, in the 1930s to create Papapolitis & Papapolitis that soon became a leading Greek firm with international clientele. Today, John Papapolitis serves as the Chairman of Papapolitis & Papapolitis after serving over 25 years as the Managing Partner of the Firm. Nicholas Papapolitis was appointed Managing Partner in 2015.
A STORY OF PASSING THE FLAME OVER 120 YEARS
JOHN PAPAPOLITIS SENIOR

The Firm is founded by John Papapolitis Sr. and soon represents many leading businesses.

A STORY OF PASSING THE FLAME OVER 120 YEARS
SIGNING OF THE TREATY OF LAUSANNE

The Convention Concerning the Exchange of Greek and Turkish Populations is signed at Lausanne, Switzerland on the 30th January, 1923 by the Governments of Greece and Turkey.  Papapolitis & Papapolitis is appointed as the legal advisor to the Greek Government for the exchange of property between approximately two million residents of both countries.

A STORY OF PASSING THE FLAME OVER 120 YEARS
NICHOLAS PAPAPOLITIS SR.

Nicholas Papapolitis Sr. joins the Firm after completing his post-graduate studies at Hubolt University Berlin, Sorbonne Paris II, Cambridge and Columbia Law School. In 1946, he moves to New York as a partner of a major New York law firm and is invited to head up their shipping practice after winning a landmark shipping litigation in the New York State Court.

A STORY OF PASSING THE FLAME OVER 120 YEARS
SAVVAS PAPAPOLITIS (SECOND FROM LEFT) WITH PRIME MINISTER NIKOLAOS PLASTIRAS

Savvas Papapolitis, the eldest son of John Papapolitis Sr., who had joined the Firm in 1935, is elected as a Member of the Greek Parliament and begins a bright political career during which he is the youngest elected leader of the leading opposition party (EPEK), co-founds the Centre Union Party and is appointed Minister of Trade and Minister of Industry. Professor Nicholas Papapolitis Sr. returns to Greece and rejoins the Firm. He acts as the legal advisor to the Prime Minister of Greece, Nikolaos Plastiras and is elected Lecturer in Commercial Law at the Law Faculty of the University of Athens and Professor of Commercial Law and Shipping Law in the Law Faculty of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki.

A STORY OF PASSING THE FLAME OVER 120 YEARS
GREECE IS ADMITTED TO NATO

The Firm acts as the legal advisor to the Greek Government for its entry into NATO.

A STORY OF PASSING THE FLAME OVER 120 YEARS
THE ILION MELATHRON WHICH HOUSED THE GREEK SUPREME COURT UNTIL 1981

By the early 1960s, Papapolitis & Papapolitis has become one of the largest and most preeminent firms in Greece, with a corporate culture and work ethic modelled on those adopted by the US firms, which proved highly innovative in the Greek market. The Firm counts major shipping companies and corporations among its clients and gains a reputation for the “Papapolitis School of Thought”. The regime of the Colonels takes power in Greece and Papapolitis & Papapolitis acts in the landmark case for the Judges of the Supreme Court of Greece.

A STORY OF PASSING THE FLAME OVER 120 YEARS
PRIME MINISTER KONSTANTINOS KARAMANLIS SIGNS GREECE’S NEW CONSTITUTION

Professor Nicholas Papapolitis Sr. is elected as a member of the Greek Parliament. In 1975, he is a member of the legal team that drafts the country’s new Constitution.

A STORY OF PASSING THE FLAME OVER 120 YEARS
GREECE JOINS THE EU

The Managing Partner of the Firm, Professor Nicholas Papapolitis Sr., acts as legal advisor to the Greek Government in its entry to the EEC and John Papapolitis joins the Firm.

A STORY OF PASSING THE FLAME OVER 120 YEARS
PAPAPOLITIS & PAPAPOLITIS OPENS LONDON OFFICE

The Firm opens its London office in Mayfair and Nicholas Papapolitis is appointed as Managing Partner of the Firm.

A STORY OF PASSING THE FLAME OVER 120 YEARS
Celebrating 120 years of excellence

On July 2018, the Firm celebrated its 120th year anniversary. The event was held in the Museum of Cycladic Art, where the firm honored the international non-profit organization The Hellenic Initiative and announced the inauguration of the “Corporate Ambassador” program for THI that aims to introduce to the community of THI, to Greek established companies.

1898
1923
1940s
1950
1951
1960s
1970s
1981
2015
2018
Services
THE LEGAL 500 EMEA 2019 RANKINGS COMMERCIAL, CORPORATE AND M&A

Papapolitis & Papapolitis benefits from its ability to combine ‘organisational skills with high professional standards, experience and knowledge’

  1. BANKING, FINANCE & CAPITAL MARKETS
  2. CORPORATE GOVERNANCE & REGULATORY COMPLIANCE
  3. CORPORATE AND M&A
  4. DISPUTE RESOLUTION
  5. ENERGY
  6. FUNDS
  7. REAL ESTATE
  8. RESTRUCTURING & INSOLVENCY
  9. TAX
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OUR CLIENTS INCLUDE AMONG OTHERS
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ABOUT US
  • The buyers in largest real-estate transaction to ever take place in Greece
  • Both Agents to the Central Bank of Greece and the Central Bank of Cyprus on the stress tests conducted on the Greek and Cypriot banking systems
  • The joint global co-coordinators on one of the largest rights issue of a Greek bank
  • A number of international asset managers to have invested in private transactions in Greece
  • The buyers on a number of loan portfolios sold by Greek Banks
  • The buyers in one of the largest renewable energy transactions to take place in Greece
  • The underwriters in the first ever primary listing on the London Stock Exchange of a Greek based company
  • The buyers in on of the largest automotive transactions to take place in Greece
  • The buyers in the acquisition of the largest hotel-resort in Greece
  • The Sellers in one of the largest telecom M&A transaction to take place in Greece
  • The successful plaintiffs in a high stakes EU trademark dispute
  • The successful plaintiffs in one of the largest disputes in the healthcare sector
  • The financial sponsors in one of the largest shipping joint ventures in the container industry between financial sponsor and a US listed shipping company
  • The financial sponsors in their investment in the only Greek oil and gas exploration company
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