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OUR FIRM
A LEADING FULL SERVICE FIRM WITH A UNIQUE INTERNATIONAL OUTLOOK

 

Founded in 1898, we have supported clients through numerous business cycles and have developed long-term relationships with them that last generations of attorneys and business executives. The Firm has acted as a first port of call in some of Greece’s most important and challenging transactions, as well as many major high-stakes litigations. We are committed to client satisfaction at all times and adapt to changes in the markets and regulatory landscape in a manner which ensures that our work is a reflection of the type of clients we advise and the business they do.

Papapolitis & Papapolitis has offices in Athens and London. We have built on the foundations of a long heritage intertwined with contemporary success and 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 118 years.

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Our clients include among others

• 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 issues 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 one of the largest automotive transactions to take place in in Greece
• The buyers in the acquisition of the largest hotel-resort in Greece
• The Sellers in the largest telecom M&A transactions 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 a financial sponsor and a US listed
shipping company
• The financial sponsors in their investment in the only Greek oil and gas exploration company

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.

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.

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 ALLIANCE WITH REED SMITH

Papapolitis & Papapolitis entered into a non-exclusive Strategic Alliance with leading international law firm Reed Smith LLP. The Strategic Alliance which is the first and only alliance between a Greek law firm and an international law 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
2012
2015
2018
CORPORATE RESPONSIBILITY

Our lawyers are active members of the community and as such, have developed a culture of giving back by providing legal services to individuals and groups that are not able to afford legal services. We regularly advise non-profit organizations and support charitable institutions within Greece and internationally. We also assist start-up companies created by young entrepreneurs in their structuring and formation and continue to provide ongoing advice until such companies are able to raise seed funding. The Firm advises on the formation, ongoing governance and fulfilling of compliance requirements for a number of charitable organizations and non-profit institutions.

Our aim is to ensure that the charities and non-profits we assist are in a position to operate as efficiently and effectively as possible in fulfilling their mandates. As part of our pro bono practice, we also provide legal aid to individuals who could not otherwise afford the services of a lawyer. We constantly re-evaluate our business practices with a view to acting responsibly towards our employees, our clients, the community within which we work and the environment.

Highlights of our corporate responsibility work include:

  • In 2015, Papapolitis & Papapolitis made a donation to The Hellenic Initiative (THI), a global, nonprofit, secular institution whose vision is to mobilize the Greek diaspora and philhellene community to invest in the future of Greece through programs focused on crisis relief, entrepreneurship and economic development.
  • In 2014, Papapolitis & Papapolitis made a donation to OneGreece.Org, an international fundraising and awareness campaign sponsored by the Hellenic Initiative to mobilize support for the people of Greece.
  • In 2014, Papapolitis & Papapolitis made a donation to OneGreece.Org, an international fundraising and awareness campaign sponsored by the Hellenic Initiative to mobilize support for the people of Greece.
  • In May 2013, Papapolitis & Papapolitis sponsors and participates in the Corporate Relay Run (www.thecorporaterelayrun.gr), a 12km run that supports 10 charitable organizations.
  • In 2013, Papapolitis & Papapolitis made a donation to OneGreece.Org, an international fundraising and awareness campaign sponsored by the Hellenic Initiative to mobilize support for the people of Greece.
  • In 2012, Papapolitis & Papapolitis made a donation to Ethelontes tou Cosmou, a Greek non-profit organisation committed to supporting disadvantaged members of Greek society, by providing food, shelter and clothing.
  • In 2012, Papapolitis & Papapolitis made a donation to the Akshaya Trust, a non-profit organisation committed to the care of the homeless, helpless, sick, elderly, mentally ill and destitute. The Founder of the Akshaya Trust, Narayanan Krishnan, was recognised as one of the World’s Top Ten Heroes in 2010 by CNN.
  • In 2011, Papapolitis & Papapolitis made a donation to Stegi, a non-profit organization founded by a union of parents of mentally challenged individuals (E.G.N.Y.A.), which aims to protect, care for and provide social, sports and skills training to mentally challenged people over 18 years of age. Lack of funding has unfortunately left specialized staff unpaid for several months. Our donation aimed to cover outstanding salaries to enable the educators and social workers to continue their much valued and all-important work.
  • In 2010, Papapolitis & Papapolitis made a financial contribution to an international non-profit organization, which made possible the planting of 200 trees in various locations in Europe and in the US.
  • Papapolitis & Papapolitis has acted in the formation of charitable organizations such as ‘Ethelontes Tou Kosmou’, a volunteer organization whose aim is to provide medical, housing assistance and financial aid to disadvantaged members of society, and continues to provide these charities with ongoing legal advice on issues arising in their day to day business. We are pleased to announce that ‘Ethelontes Tou Kosmou’ received a Life Excellence Award from Antenna Channel in 2010.
  • Papapolitis & Papapolitis is advising numerous individuals who are unable to afford legal services on matters ranging from family and civil law, to tenancy and pension issues.
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REPRESENTATIVE MATTERS
June 2019
Invel acquisition of NBG Pangaea REIC
Papapolitis & Papapolitis advised Invel Real Estate (Invel), on the completion of Invel's acquisition of a 32.7% stake in NBG Pangaea REIC (“Pangaea”) for a consideration of €390 million, from the National Bank of Greece (“NBG”), in one of the largest M&A and real-estate transactions to take place in Greece.  The P&P team also advised Invel on the debt financing it received from Piraeus Bank, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), Astro Bank and Hellenic Bank.
May 2019
Acquisition of Scorpios Beach Club and San Giorgio Hotel
Papapolitis & Papapolitis acted for leading hotel chain Soho House in relation to their acquisition of Scorpios Beach Club and San Giorgio Hotel on the island of Mykonos.
April 2019
Shipping finance transaction
Papapolitis & Papapolitis acted as lender's counsel for an international leading bank in relation to a multi-million shipping finance transaction towards a Nasdaq listed shipping company.
March 2019
Piraeus Bank Sale of NPL Portfolio
Papapolitis & Papapolitis acted for Piraeus Bank in relation to the sale of a corporate non-performing loan portfolio in the gaming and hospitality industry.
February 2019
Acquisition of Hilton Athens Hotel
Papapolitis & Papapolitis acted for a private multinational enterprise in relation to its acquisition and investment in the Athens Hilton Hotel.
January 2019
Investment in Leading Hospitality Company
Papapolitis & Papapolitis acted for a private multinational enterprise in relation to its investment in a premier destination developer and operator in the high-end tourism and real-estate sector.
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