2013

Chambers Global 2013

Corporate/Commercial (Band 2)

Managing partner Yannis Kelemenis combines corporate and commercial know-how with expertise in litigation. He recently advised General Mills on the Haagen-Dazs franchise in Greece.

Clients praise Ioanna Lazaridou-Elmaloglou for her proactivity, efficiency and practical mindset. She heads the practice and focuses on M&A in particular.

Dispute Resolution (Band 2)

Founder and managing partner Yannis Kelemenis is praised for his in-depth examination of cases. He regularly assists Chevron with disputes.

Tax Directors Handbook 2013

Greece - Leading tax law firms

Kelemenis & Co. is recommended for tax litigation and advisory work. It recently advised Chevron on tax compliance as well as the retrieval of refunds that were frozen by the Ministry of Finance. Tom Kyriakopoulos is a busy figure in the team.

IFLR 1000 2013

The Kelemenis team is driven by the twin lights of Konstantina Soultati on the financing and capital markets side and Ioanna Lazaridou on corporate matters. The financing team worked on the financing arrangements for Youtravel.com last year including negotiations with Santander. In corporate the team acted for Chevron and the sale of its Greek aviation fuel business and AON on the acquisition of a listed insurance portfolio. Projects linked work includes advice on various issues for the Greek Electricity Transmission System Operator

2012

Chambers Europe 2012

Corporate/Commercial

THE FIRM This dynamic firm continues to impress clients with its responsiveness, flexibility and commercial astuteness. The firm is a leader in the energy sector and frequently undertakes regulatory work and project financing, with an increasingly visible footprint in corporate and M&A. The firm has assisted on a diverse range of projects including advising the Ministry of Finance on certain issues and acting for NEL lines on a EUR70 million share capital increase.

Sources say: "The firm has the flexibility that is necessary to provide efficient results for international clients."

KEY INDIVIDUALS Managing partner Yannis Kelemenis is hailed as a rising star on the Greek legal scene, with clients mentioning that he "understands how clients work and can really understand our problems. He is really commercial."

Dispute Resolution

THE FIRM This growing firm has created a strong name for itself advising on commercial disputes in the energy, leisure, insurance and pharmaceuticals sectors. The firm is expanding its international client base and is attracting more cross-border mandates, advising internationals such as GE and Metaxa. Recent highlights include acting for Chevron’s lubricants subsidiary on all its claims filed in Greece, and representing travel operator Thomas Cook in the enforcement of a British-issued payment order.

Sources say: "Our collaboration was smooth; the team anticipates things and gives realistic deadlines."

KEY INDIVIDUALS Yannis Kelemenis is "a seasoned lawyer with excellent case management skills," clients say. He recently acted for Bond Pearce in an insurance dispute issued by the English High Court.

Energy

THE FIRM This dynamic team enters the rankings thanks to its strong performance and excellent market feedback. The seven-member group covers all aspects of energy law, and has a particularly strong reputation for its regulatory practice. It works with national and international investors, as well as drafting the new law transposing EU directives into Greek legislation for the Greek Ministry of Energy and Environment in 2011. Other clients include major domestic and international corporates such as the Greek Public Gas Corporation (DEPA), Endesa, Veolia and Chevron.

Sources say: "Excellent in terms of quality of the work and very solid knowledge of European legislation and how to implement it in Greece." "A smooth collaboration, the team anticipates your needs and gives realistic deadlines."

KEY INDIVIDUALS Yannis Kelemenis has made a strong name for himself in this field, especially on mandates relating to wind farms and solar plants. He is praised across the board, with sources commenting: "His involvement in energy is very intimate and his knowledge is excellent. He is one of the experts on energy." Konstantina Soultati has "solid knowledge of the subject and also the skill to develop new orientation and new alternatives," according to interviewees. Clients appreciate her "extremely helpful and well-informed" advice.

Tax

Tom Kyriakopoulos of Kelemenis & Co was formerly at KPMG and is praised for his tax know-how. He has experienced an increase in transfer pricing and tax compliance work of late.

Chambers Global 2012

Corporate /Commercial

Managing partner Yannis Kelemenis is hailed as a rising star on the Greek legal scene, with clients saying that he "understands how clients work and can really understand our problems. He is really commercial."

Dispute Resolution

Yannis Kelemenis is "a seasoned lawyer with excellent case management skills," clients say. He recently acted for Bond Pearce in an insurance dispute issued by the English High Court. Other significant clients include Chevron and the Greek branch of GE.

Legal 500 2012

Energy

Yannis Kelemenis and Ioanna Lazaridou at Kelemenis & Co are both well regarded for their energy work, whether it be on renewables or oil, gas and power. The firm has helped the Greek Ministry for Energy and the Environment on the drafting of EU-compliant Greek electricity and natural gas legislation. Sunpower and the DEPA are also clients.

Banking, finance and capital markets

Restructurings and refinancings have been high on the agenda at Kelemenis & Co, which primarily acts for borrowers. Recently it represented Kleva Pharmaceuticals on its debt restructuring.

Corporate and M&A

Kelemenis & Co has a very strong following in the energy sector, where it advised the co-main shareholder in Aegean Power on acquiring the other 50% stake from NYSE-listed Aegean Marine Petroleum. Other clients include Chevron and Aquis Hotels & Resorts. Tom Kyriakopoulos, Ioanna Lazaridou and Yannis Kelemenis are all recommended.

Dispute resolution

Kelemenis & Co handles all litigation for Chevron’s lubricants subsidiary in Greece. It also represented the Greek brewer Atalanti, a former distributor for Anheuser-Busch InBev in several claims exceeding €4m against its former business partner. Yannis Kelemenis is recommended.

EU and competition

Kelemenis & Co recently advised Expedia on EU health and safety regulations relating to the operation of Greek hotels.

Employment

Kelemenis & Co’s Tom Kyriakopoulos maintains an employment law practice, and recently advised General Electric in Greece on labour law compliance issues.

Intellectual property

Kelemenis & Co assisted Hellas Power with the filing and registration of new trade marks following its takeover and name change from Aegean Power.

Projects and privatisation

Kelemenis & Co handles energy sector privatisation and projects work. It is advising the Greek Public Gas Corporation on all regulatory and EU issues relating to its pending privatisation, and solar panel manufacturer Sunpower in a joint venture with the Greek Public Power Corporation for the mass construction of solar panels.

Tax

Kelemenis & Co is recommended for tax litigation and advisory work. It recently advised Chevron on tax compliance as well as the retrieval of over €700,000 of refunds that were frozen by the Ministry of Finance. Tom Kyriakopoulos is a busy figure in the team.

IFLR 1000 2012

Kelemenis was earmarked last year as one to watch and it has continued growing, taking on associates and also hiring a new partner, Tatiana Tsirakopoulou, who comes from an in-house position at Endesa Hellas.

"Kelemenis have just surfaced, we know them. We see them as competition," says one partner, while another references the firm's ambition: "Kelemenis market themselves very strongly and are very internationally-minded."

Clients do also seem more than satisfied, as one comments: "They are always available, exceptional client service. These people work super hard," while another adds: "We only started to use Kelemenis about two years ago but you would go a long way to find another firm that is in their league."

The project finance team at the firm has been involved in a lot of energy-related work this year, a major trend within that market. They advised Sunpower, a global player in solar panel production, on its contracts in Greece and also acted for the Greek Gas Corporation and its transport subsidiary in relation to regulatory advice.

The firm's biggest deal though came in the markets, advising a confidential client on the share capital increase of NEL Lines, a ferry company, and the engagement of new stakeholders in the company. The eventual deal was worth €70 million and closed in January 2011.

Partner Yannis Kelemenis is active across a number of areas in the firm and is very well spoken-of by clients. "Yannis Kelemenis is one of the best tactical litigators. Also, his style is very calm and very thorough and clients gain an instant sense of being in very good hands," comments one.

World Tax Review 2012

The tax team at Kelemenis & Co is led by Tom Kyriakopoulos and consists of 5 fee earners. The practice provides a wide range of tax advice including M&A, transfer pricing, indirect tax and corporate finance.

This year the group has been advising Youtravel.com, an online tourism company, on a broad range of tax issues including indirect tax and transfer pricing issues. The group also advised the group on its cross-border restructuring.

Other work this year includes advising the sportswear manufacturer Champion Europe on the tax implications of various commercial agreements and working with Chevron Hellas Petroleum and Chevron Marine Products on their cross-border restructuring.

2011

Chambers Europe 2011

Corporate/Commercial

Glowing praise for its dynamic team of “seasoned individuals" helps this firm climb in the rankings this year. The lawyers’ strong commercial understanding, responsiveness and availability are distinctive strengths, say clients. The firm advises Chevron on all work relating to its lubricants subsidiary in Greece, and also recently assisted Aegean Power with the sale of 50% of the company. Other key clients include Veolia and Youtravel.com. Managing partner Yannis Kelemenis is the main contact for clients, who appreciate that they can “always get in touch with him when needed.”

Dispute Resolution

This “very service-minded, co-operative and approachable” team offers litigation and arbitration services and caters to both Greek and international clients. Standout mandates include representing Breas Medical, a Swedish subsidiary of the GE Healthcare Group, in a claim brought by a Greek former distributor. The team also acted for Aegean Power in an administrative action against the state over the payment of public service obligations by Greek energy companies. Despite his busy practice, group head Yannis Kelemenis “is always available to help us with any question we might have,” remarked one client.

Tax

Tom Kyriakopoulos of Kelemenis & Co. receives consistently warm recommendations from clients. He is praised for his in-depth understanding of corporate tax matters and his ability to provide fast and detailed responses.

Chambers Global 2011

Firm Overview

This full-service player … provides a solid corporate service while distinguishing itself in the disputes field. “The laws in our country are nothing like those in Greece and the firm was great in explaining the local rules to our management and working to international standards,” said one foreign client. The firm is a member of Multilaw and First Law International.

Dispute Resolution

Yannis Kelemenis is an excellent practitioner with a great deal of experience of handling cross-border work. He recently advised a Swedish subsidiary of the GE Healthcare group regarding an action filed by its former Greek distributor.

World Trademark Review 1000 2011

The IP department of [Kelemenis & Co]is an adjunct to its established commercial practice and has a rising profile in the Greek market. The team handles contentious and non-contentious IP matters, and its trademark clients include Metaxa. As part of a broader IP litigation practice, Yannis Kelemenis handles trademark infringement; sources admire his considerable cross-border experience and fast turnaround times.

Legal 500 2011

Corporate and M&A

Kelemenis & Co exhibits ‘considerable depth and quality’ in core specialisms in the hospitality and energy sectors. ‘Cross-border transactional expert’ Tom Kyriakopoulos has been advising Chevron on all legal aspects of its Greek lubricants subsidiary, while ‘excellent negotiator’ Yannis Kelemenis advised Aegean Power on divesting 50% of the company to the subsidiary of a NYSE-listed petroleum and shipping company.

Dispute resolution

Kelemenis & Co has continued to strengthen its commercial litigation profile, and now acts as general legal counsel to Chevron’s local lubricants subsidiary. The team also advised Aegean Power on an administrative claim against the Greek state.

Tax

Kelemenis &Co’s tax practice draws praise for the ‘professional, to-the-point’ advice of Tom Kyriakopoulos. The group handles litigation, such as defending a client against the imposition of additional income taxes and penalties, as well as advising on the tax implications of transactions and corporate reorganisations, such as the closure of a number of Chevron’s local operations.

Energy

Kelemenis & Co is ‘an up-and-coming firm with an excellent reputation in energy’, with name partner Yannis Kelemenis displaying ‘strong depth and variety of energy expertise’. It handles corporate, regulatory and contentious matters for General Electric and Aegean Power, and has been advising Endesa Hellas on the construction of a thermal power plant.

Projects and privatisation

Kelemenis &Co’s ‘expertise and reputation in energy’ is well established and it attracts major project instructions from Endesa Hellas and Sunpower, among others. It is advising the former on an EPC construction contract.

Employment

Kelemenis & Co provides the full suite of employment law advice to a corporate client base that includes Chevron. It recently advised BMC Software on terminating its local director’s employment contract.

Banking, finance and capital markets

Debt restructuring has been a key theme of Kelemenis &Co’s banking practice, which recently advised new client Chevron and its Greek subsidiaries on debt restructuring relating to new commercial agreements.

EU and competition

Kelemenis & Co provides contentious and non-contentious services to its corporate clients. Recent highlights include advising Prenatal on product labelling and packaging compliance issues. Yannis Kelemenis is recommended.

Intellectual property

Kelemenis & Co handles trade mark filing for key clients including Smileyworld and Aquis Hotels & Resorts. On the litigation front, the team advised Metaxa on trade mark disputes.

IFLR 1000 2011

Kelemenis & Co is one to watch. The firm has continued to grow in numbers and deepen its roots, consolidating its position as an up-and-coming full service law firm. The firm maintains its ranking after strong recommendations from clients.
It is strongest in project finance and corporate advice. "I wouldn't recommend any other firm for energy work," says a client, adding: "Excellent service, fast, very well legally supported and very detailed."
"It was a job well done and fast, two hard things to combine for a Greek firm," says another client. Yannis Kelemenis, Tom Kyriakopoulos and Ioanna Lazaridou are all recommended by clients. Competitors recognise the firm is "corporate oriented" with "an impressive strategy: they have done a great job advertising themselves and it has a very diverse practice."
In highlight deals, the firm advised Chevron and its subsidiaries on debt restructurings related to complex and unorthodox debt structures. It advised Aquis Resorts on revolving facilities with Eurobank for €2.5 million and the acquisition of seven four to five star hotels and resorts for €75 million.
The firm acted for Aegean Energy's founding shareholder on the sale of 50% of its shares and Endesa Hellas on a €250 million EPC construction contract. Another interesting deal was for Israeli investors in their 50% participation in the €45 million restructuring of a hotel in Corfu. Elsewhere the firm was active on photovoltaic projects and assisting clients such as Loux, Western Union and Johnson & Johnson.

World Tax Review 2011

Kelemenis & Co’s ‘quality and organisation is closer to what you’d expect from a well-run Western European firm than a Greek one’. It was recently called on by The Energy Community secretariat to provide advice on direct and indirect tax issues for a joint venture in Montenegro. Tom Kyriakopoulos is ‘quick, business-minded and practical’.

2010

Chambers Europe 2010

Corporate / Commercial

This “proactive, reliable and highly effective” firm has a strong focus on the energy sector. Members of the team recently advised Endesa Hellas in relation to the construction of a 430 MW thermal power plant. The firm is also counsel to GE for corporate and commercial, regulatory and contentious matters. A further area of focus for the firm is the hotels, leisure and travel sector, where it has advised on several hotel and resort acquisitions and acted for the management team of Youtravel.com on a company restructuring. Yannis Kelemenis is lauded as “a very experienced corporate adviser with a great grasp of the transactional process.”

Dispute Resolution
Sources describe this respected business law firm as "professional, reliable and hands-on." Clients particularly admire the six-lawyer group's ability to meet tight deadlines and praise its "direct and effective approach." The team excels in cross-border transactions and investment disputes, and is led by the "confident, talented and relaxed" Yannis Kelemenis. The outfit has been appointed to the Greek panel of GE and also recently acted for a subsidiary of Salam International of Qatar against the Greek subsidiary of Siemens.

IFLR 100 2010

The Greek market is a crowded one, with reputedly about 20,000 lawyers in Athens alone. Competition, added to the mixing of traditional structures for firms and allocation of fees with new corporate firm cultures, create spin-offs and a variety of styles. There is no clear recipe for success, as structures vary widely in the top five firms alone.
The big four established firms are Bernitsas, Karatzas, TJ Koutalidis and KGDI, with newly rebranded PotamitisVekris nipping at their collective heels. A notable development in capital markets is the establishment of Your Legal Partners, a spin off from KLC, while young firm Kelemenis & Co, formed in 2003, is beginning to gain traction in the market.

Legal 500 2010

Tax

Kelemenis & Co’s ‘quality and organisation is closer to what you’d expect from a well-run Western European firm than a Greek one’. It was recently called on by The Energy Community secretariat to provide advice on direct and indirect tax issues for a joint venture in Montenegro. Tom Kyriakopoulos is ‘quick, business-minded and practical’.

Corporate and M&A

‘Well organised and hands on, with an international outlook’, Kelemenis & Co has attracted new hotel and leisure clients – a traditional area of strength – as well as an increasing number of energy-related mandates. Key deals in 2009 included acting for Champion Europe on the termination of a Bulgarian distribution contract as well as on the acquisition of a Bulgarian sportswear retailer. Clients recommend Yannis Kelemenis and Tom Kyriakopoulos as ‘standout figures’.

Dispute resolution

Kelemenis & Co provides ‘to the point, professional and practical solutions’ in commercial disputes and was recently appointed as General Electric’s legal counsel. The team recently acted for Reynolds Porter Chamberlain LLP on the enforcement of a UK court decision, and advised Kalo Nero on arbitration proceedings relating to a €14m land dispute.

Employment

Kelemenis & Co’s association with First Law International, a law firm network covering 30 jurisdictions, means it is often called on to provide Greek law advice on cross-border issues, including recently advising Solvay on amendments to its employment agreements. In addition, the team acts for clients such as AON Holdings and Sonae Sirae on termination and HR matters.

Energy

In addition to providing regulatory and transactional advice to energy and environmental companies such as Blue Aegean Energy, Endesa Hellas and Veolia, Kelemenis & Co won the international tender to advise on the creation of the Coordinated Auction Office in southeasten Europe.
Banking, finance and capital markets
Kelemenis & Co has a prominent profile in the leisure and hotel industry, advising on corporate finance issues. The team, led by the ‘commercially aware’ Yannis Kelemenis, acted for Aquis Hotels & Resorts on the €100m financing of eight hotels and resorts, and advised Youtravel.com on its corporate restructuring and debt financing.

EU and competition

Kelemenis & Co’s EU practice is quite active in the higher education sector, where it continues to act for the University of Teeside. Yannis Kelemenis and Iro Stamataki are ‘trustworthy and professional’ lawyers for EU and competition mandates.

Intellectual property

Kelemenis & Co’s IP practice is advising Metaxa on trade mark disputes with two competitors. It also files commercial trade marks for clients such as Smileyworld and Aquis Hotels & Resorts.

Projects and privatisation

Kelemenis & Co has a prominent role on energy projects for clients including Blue Aegean Energy and the Energy Community Secretariat.

2009

Legal 500

Banking, finance and capital markets
Kelemenis & Co’s four-partner firm fields a robust banking and finance practice. The firm acted for hotel developer Aquis Hotels & Resorts on the financing of its acquisition of seven hotels and resorts totalling more than €70m. The firm also acted for UBS on reviewing the regulatory and indirect tax implications of its stock lending agreements in Greek securities. Clients praise the firm’s ‘quick, focused and commercially switched-on approach’.

Energy
Kelemenis & Co has continued to strengthen its energy practice, with the team, led by name partner Yannis Kelemenis, instructed by World Bank to review Moldova’s energy industry and infrastructure to bring it in line with EU regulation and energy requirements. The firm has also been active on the transactional side, providing advice on the acquisition of a Greek hydroelectric power company.

Tax
Kelemenis & Co’s tax practice has gone from strength to strength thanks to Tom Kyriakopoulos’s ‘significant tax expertise’. The firm has been providing tax advice on Barclays’ venture capital investment in a Greek company, which has involved the review of direct and indirect tax issues arising out of inter-group and third-party service agreements.

Corporate and M&A
Kelemenis & Co has an international focus to its corporate practice. The firm has recently acted for Barclays, as majority shareholders in Greek subsidiary Youtravel.com, on an acquisition bid for the company by Western & Oriental. The energy sector is also a strong focus with the firm recently acting for Swiss-based Avelar Energy on a joint venture and acquisition of a Greek electricity company. Partners Yannis Kelemenis and Tom Kyriakopoulos come highly recommended for their ‘high professionalism and versatility’.

Dispute resolution
Kelemenis & Co’s litigation team has been instructed by Bond Pearce LLP to undertake the local enforcement of a €1m judgment awarded in the UK. Athanasiou Papantoniou leads a team that is lauded for its ‘professional attitude and timely delivery of output’.

EU and competition
Kelemenis & Co receives praise for its ‘focused, results-driven’ approach. The firm has been providing regulatory advice to the University of Teeside, and has been retained by Carrefour to provide corporate employment law advice and relevant EU law implications of termination agreements.

Intellectual property
Clients praise the IP practice at Kelemenis & Co for delivering ‘consistently top service’. The firm has advised spirits company Metaxa on trade mark violations by two competitors.

Projects and privatisation
Kelemenis & Co’s partner Tom Kyriakopoulos continues to strengthen the firm’s PPP practice, particularly in the energy sector, where it advised on the acquisition of a Greek hydroelectric power producer, involving careful attention to public procurement law.

Shipping finance
Kelemenis & Co’s shipping finance practice has been working with American law firm Salans on the NYSE listing of a shipping company with interests in Greece.

Chambers & Partners 2009.

Corporate / Commercial
Clients are full of praise for this new entry to the rankings, describing the practice as “immensely dedicated, results-oriented and extremely well organised.” It provides “high-quality personnel and international expertise” across a range of sectors and industries, and lawyers are commended for their “business acumen, creative approach to finding solutions, and effective, to-the-point communications.” The team recently acted on acquisitions, joint ventures and renting agreements and provided advisory and compliance services in Bulgaria and the Middle East. In the energy regulatory arena, it also worked on a transaction involving a Czech company constructing a small scale hydroelectric plant in northern Greece. Yannis Kelemenis is the well-known lead partner.

Dispute Resolution
A new entrant to the rankings this year, this firm has a growing profile on the dispute resolution front, thanks to its involvement in litigation in the corporate, tax and shareholding arenas. Clients praise the group’s “entrepreneurial understanding, knowledge of South-East Europe in general and ability to carry out work in English.” Recently, the team has been taking on an increasing number of cross-border cases, including money laundering matters and disagreements between international manufacturers and their Greek distributors. Satisfied clients also note the group’s provision of “regular updates, consistently high levels of service and practical solutions to complex legal issues,” and note the value for money it represents. The best-known name on the team is Yannis Kelemenis, who is praised for his understanding of clients' business needs and described as “a solid practitioner with an impeccable academic and courts track record.”

Tax
Tom Kyriakopoulos is recognised for boosting Kelemenis & Co's tax practice, having recently joined the firm. The former KPMG lawyer advises Greek and international companies on all aspects of taxation law, including sizeable M&A-related tax work.

IFLR 2009

Kelemenis & Co
"Kelemenis & Co is a top corporate and commercial law firm; we are pleased by the quality of service they continue to provide," says a client. Established in 2004, the young firm is growing rapidly - in the past year five lawyers have joined the firm, including two partners.
In one notable deal, Yannis Kelemenis advised Aquis Hotels and Resorts on the leasing arrangements for various five-star hotels in Corfu valued at €35 million.
The firm is receiving consistent mandates from Stelow and its Greek subsidiary Youtravel.com. In one, the firm advised on Barclays' issue of a loan note to Stelow, and also assisted in the restructuring of Stelow, which required Barclays to increase its loan facilities.
In the past year, the firm was also appointed as legal counsel by Lion Hellas for a €220 million private placement in a Greek renewable-energy company.
M&A is proving to be a distinguished practice area for the firm. Kelemenis led a team advising Stelow on the acquisition of a UK travel group through the issue of €15 million loan notes.
In other work the firm has been advising Barclays Ventures' investments in Greek tourism, and acted for Japanese gas supplier Osaka Gas on an investment project in southeast Europe.

PLC Which Lawyer

Yannis Kelemenis

Tom Kyriakopoulos

Tax Directors Handbook 2009

Kelemenis & Co wins its higher ranking due to the recruitment of new partner Tom Kyriakopoulos, who has a strong experience in tax litigation, from KPMG, to head its tax department. The team has been advising Greek company ICSS on VAT and withholding tax matters relating to a multimillion-euro, cross-border lease of fire-fighting helicopters and personnel to the Greek State.

2008

Legal 500

Dispute resolution
Kelemenis & Co, which is known for its Anglo-American style of practice, has been acting for the Athens campus of the California-based University of La Verne in litigation against the parent university. Athanasia Papantoniou heads the team.

Banking, finance and capital markets
Kelemenis & Co, whose clients report high performance’ and a ‘ coherent team’, has been advising UK holding company Stelow and its Greek subsidiary youtravel.com in a venture capital deal with Barclays Ventures.

Corporate and M&A
Kelemenis & Co’s corporate practice has been strengthened by the arrival of new partner Tom Kyriakopoulos from KPMG to develop the firm’s corporate tax work. Recent work of the internationally oriented law firm – of which clients say ‘ a particular strength is that they have a good knowledge of the entire south eastern European market’ – includes advising the Greece-based Soya Mills Group on its first major investment in Bulgaria. Name partner Yannis Kelemenis is described as ‘ a versatile business lawyer who can inspire colleagues and clients alike’ by clients, who also appreciate the fact that the lawyers ‘ work well in English and are commercially switched on, and have good service processes in place’.

EU and competition
Kelemenis & Co– whose regulatory clients say it is ‘consistently good’ – has been retained to advise Coca-Cola on Greek health and safety regulations as set out in domestic legislation aligned with EU law, work that included a review of EU rules related to beverages.

Energy
Kelemenis & Co name partner Dr Yannis Kelemenis has longstanding involvement in both transactional and regulatory energy matters, and his firm is developing a strong practice. The firm has been retained by Osaka Gas, the second-largest natural gas undertaking in Japan, to act as legal counsel in connection with Greek investments that primarily involve equity participations in renewable energy sources projects. Clients report ‘a good impression that the firm has extensive expertise’.

Intellectual property
Kelemenis & Co, a relative newcomer on the Greek market, wins its new ranking due a fast-developing IP practice which clients praise for a ‘high degree of professionalism’.

Projects and privatisation
Kelemenis & Co wins its ranking due to the recruitment of new partner Tom Kyriakopoulos, who has been active in PPP, including advising the government of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia on PPP legislation. The firm has also entered into a strategic cooperation with Scottish law firm Tods Murray LLP, which has a very strong PFI practice.

Ship finance
Kelemenis & Co partner Dr Andreas Bagias handles ship financing matters on behalf of Greek clients.

Tax
Kelemenis & Co wins its higher ranking due to the recruitment of new partner Tom Kyriakopoulos, who has strong experience in tax litigation, from KPMG, to head its tax department. The team has been advising Greek company ICSS on VAT and withholding tax matters relating to a multimillion euro, cross-border lease of fire-fighting helicopters and personnel to the Greek State.

Chambers & Partners 2008

Dispute Resolution
Yannis Kelemenis of Kelemenis & Co. impresses for being “extremely thorough and getting right on top of a case.” Clients “can’t speak highly enough” of him.

Tax
The “extremely bright” Tom Kyriakopoulos joined Kelemenis & Co. in early 2007 from KPMG. He heads the tax department and is gaining the fledgling house quite a reputation: “We like to get two opinions on tax but nine times out of ten we go with this firm’s suggestion.” He is, in service terms, “to the point and on time” and, like the firm itself, is seen as “young, ambitious and with a bright future.”

IFLR 2008

Kelemenis & Co
Kelemenis & Co is a young practice consisting of 12 lawyers which has shown promise since its inception. It moves into the rankings after recommendations from clients and peers. It acted for Stelow and its Greek subsidiary Youtravel.com in the acquisition of 40% of Stelow’s share capital by Barclays Ventures. Another deal that showed its expertise was when it acted for Lion Hellas in its private placement in Greece. The firm has a strong insolvency practice, having recently acted in the liquidation of the Standard AEEX, a Greek investment fund. The practice impressed the market when it advised ….. The firm was also involved in a few tourism-related transactions. It acted for Fotr in the acquisition of Yaliskari Palace Hotel in the Greek island of Corfu, and of a Seaside Hotel in Crete. Lastly, it advised the Macedonian Ministry of Economy on the country’s legislation on PPP and private finance initiative (PFI) projects.

PLC Which Lawyer 2008

Yannis Kelemenis

Tom Kyriakopoulos

Andreas Bagias

International Tax Review -World Tax 2008

Kelemenis & Co. is an Athens-based law firm that advises a number of varied clients which includes corporations, large institutions and high-net-worth individuals. Tom Kyriakopoulos joined the firm as tax partner from his previous position as manager at KPMG. Together with three other associates and founding partner, Yannis Kelemenis, this team have advised on some of the biggest deals in the Greek market of the past year.