Zepos & Yannopoulos

Key legislative developments on e-delivery documents and real-time tracking of goods’ shipment have been introduced by virtue of Ministerial Decisions A. 1122/2024 and A.1123/2024 published recently, the former setting the general framework, timeline and phases of implementation and the latter setting the content, format and technical specifications of transmissions of the e-delivery documents and digital monitoring of goods through the IAPR’s myDATA platform.   Explore the key takeaways of the recent developments in our Tax & Accounting newsletter.   bit.ly/4h3CYEg

The Lex Mundi Bank Finance and Regulation Practice Group meeting that we hosted at our offices last week, brought together lawyers from around the world to discuss key jurisdictional and pan-European developments and share valuable insights. We were honored to welcome Christos Gortsos, Professor of Public Economic Law of the National Kapodistrian University and President of the Academic Board of the European Banking Institute and Vassiliki Lazarakou, Chair of the Hellenic Capital Market Commission and member of the IOSCO and ESMA Management Board. Professor Gortsos provided an in-depth overview of the legal aspects of the forthcoming Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) in the euro area covering issues ranging from the type of digital currency (wholesale vs retail) and the DLT technology used to produce such to the bankruptcy remoteness of the CBDC and its legal tender nature. Vassiliki Lazarakou deepened delegates’ understanding of ESG regulations on the EU level (including the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive, the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive), whilst ‘green washing’ issues were also addressed. Our Head of Finance, Paris Tzoumas, delivered a presentation on the Consumer Credit Directive 2 (covering its key implementation milestones, its scope of application and potential new licensing requirements for creditors and credit intermediaries) and on AIFM Directive 2 regarding provisions on loan originating funds as an alternative to traditional types of lending. Vivian Efthymiou, associate of our Finance & Capital Markets practice group, delivered an in-depth analysis of the Capital Requirements Directive (CRD) 6 focusing on the new minimum requirements (including reporting and capital endowment rules) for third country branches in the EU.   Thank you Lex Mundi for providing us the opportunity to reconnect with friends and colleagues and be part of an international network.

Greece takes one step closer to licensing non-State universities, by introducing reforms that are set to reshape the Greek higher education landscape.   Earlier this year, the Hellenic Parliament enacted Law 5094/2024, which paved the way for the introduction of non-State universities in the Greek education market and established a framework intended to address the peculiarities pertinent to their organisation and operation. Joint Ministerial Decisions no. 7363/2024 and 7341/2024, most recently published in Government Gazette 5460/B/01.10.2024, are the latest, long-awaited, concrete step towards the licensing of non-State universities.   Delve into our recent Education newsletter for a thorough understanding of the latest legislative developments. bit.ly/3zTMf0S

Zepos & Yannopoulos advised the Inspired Education Group as it embarked on its entry into Greece, in what is considered a landmark move for the Greek education market. Inspired is a leading international group of premium private schools, which spans across 6 continents and has in its network over 115 schools, catering to 90,000 students.     A multi-disciplinary team from Zepos & Yannopoulos, drawing from a vast array of expertise, advised Inspired in its new ventures with the Moraitis School and Costeas Geitonas School (CGS), two Greek premier private schools. Our team guided the Inspired Education Group through all its legal and business considerations, offering M&A, real estate, employment, regulatory, data protection, intellectual property, and tax support.   “Working side by side with Inspired has been an exciting, dynamic and thrilling process which allowed us to make full use of our team’s diverse expertise and skillset, as we grappled with novel and unique questions. We are honored by the trust bestowed upon us by the Inspired team for their entry in Greece.”, stated Stefanos Charaktiniotis, head of M&A at Zepos & Yannopoulos, while Gerardo Herrera Larringan, Vice President of Acquisitions & Business Development acted for Inspired Education Group.   The team was led by Stefanos Charaktiniotis, head of M&A, assisted by Stathis Orfanoudakis, partner, Nadia Axioti, senior associate, and Rania Koliouli, associate. On the real estate front, the team was supported by Sonia Melegou, head of Real Estate, and Anastasia Veneti-Pagoni, senior associate. On employment matters, Rania Papakonstantinou, head of Employment & Labour, Matina Andrikopoulou, senior associate, Dorita Bezati, associate and Ilia-Danai Tsigkri, associate, contributed to the team’s efforts. On regulatory matters, Sofia Chatzigiannidou, head of Public Procurement, Athanasia Gkouma, partner, Charalampos Simopoulos, associate, and Dimitris Machaliotis, associate, contributed to the team. On data protection, Theodore Konstantakopoulos, head of TMT & Data, and Yolanda Antoniou-Rapti, senior associate, also contributed. On intellectual property, Natalia Kapsi, senior associate, provided relevant advice. Finally, Elina Filippou, head of Private Clients, and Elina Belouli, senior associate, offered tax advice.   bit.ly/3YdaPmM

Our Administrative, Regulatory & Environmental practice group is seeking to recruit a mid-level associate to join our dynamic team. Our practice covers the full spectrum of regulatory and environmental work advisory, transactional and contentious, providing support to clients on a wide array of industries. If you want to be part of a leading team, you can apply here: bit.ly/3zM0If6   #zeposyannopoulos #zeyacareers

Join our team!   Our Public Procurement & Concessions practice group is seeking to recruit a senior associate lawyer to join our constantly growing team, which covers the full spectrum of public procurement related work advisory, transactional and contentious.   Find out more here: https://bit.ly/47JWrFJ #zeposyannopoulos #zeyacareers

We are honored to announce that our firm was named Greece Tax Law Firm of the Year at the 20th annual ITR Tax Awards. The awards, provided by the International Tax Review, assess the world's leading tax firms, profiling the most proficient tax practitioners from a diverse array of disciplines. Maria Zoupa, head of corporate tax advisory and member of our executive committee and Alex Karopoulos, head of tax controversy and indirect tax, received the award on behalf of our firm during the award ceremony. Combining the transactional expertise of a leading, internationally oriented, law firm with our experience in tax and accountancy services, is what sets us apart as we guide our clients in complying, managing tax impact, and understanding the critical tax considerations of innovative transactions. Distinctions such as the ITR award reaffirm the strength of our team and our commitment to offering high caliber services, guided by transparency, accountability and ethics. 

Providers of intermediary services, including mere conduit services, caching services, online search engines and hosting services, should, latest by 22 October 2024, register with a new Registry of intermediary service providers maintained by the Hellenic Telecommunications & Post Commission (EETT). Above obligation stems as a conse­quence of the adoption of EU Regulation 2065/2022 and the implementation measures transposed into Greek law by virtue of Law 5099/2024 and particularly its article 15 which gives the authority to EETT to set up and operate a Registry of intermedi­ary service providers. Find out more in our latest Tech, Media & Telecom newsletter: https://bit.ly/3Zs9byH #zeposyannopoulos #zeyanewsletters

Zepos & Yannopoulos advised Metlen Energy & Metals, on the execution of a binding agreement for the acquisition of all shares of M.T. ATE by METLEN’s 100% subsidiary, METKA ATE. M.T. ATE is engaged in the undertaking and construction of public and private technical projects, specializing in environmental projects, while also holding a top-tier contractor certificate (4th class) in the special category of the Register of Contractors (MEEP) for "Water cleaning and processing projects for liquid, solid, and gaseous waste".   The acquisition forms part of METKA's strategic plan to expand its activities in the environmental projects sector and increase its capacity in the public and private construction sector. With the additional portfolio of environmental projects from M.T. ATE and the related expertise, METKA intends to pursue new projects and strengthen its position in a rapidly growing sector.   The transaction remains subject to all necessary approvals from the Hellenic Competition Commission.   Our firm is assisting METLEN on all aspects of the transaction, including the conduct of the legal due diligence and the drafting and negotiation of the transactional and ancillary documentation. Our deal team comprises Stefanos Charaktiniotis, head of M&A and Project Development, and Stathis Orfanoudakis, partner, Maria Bozinaki, senior associate, and Rania Koliouli, associate. Stamatis Drakakakis, head of Antitrust & Competition, and Violeta Panagiotopoulou, senior associate, are handling the merger control aspects of the transaction.   The due diligence team included Athanasia Gkouma, partner, Charalampos Simopoulos and Sophia Telonaki, associates, for regulatory matters, Rania Papakonstantinou, head of  Employment & Labour, Tasos Chrysochoou, senior associate, and Ilia-Danai Tsigkri, associate, for employment matters, Paris Tzoumas, head of Finance, and Pinelopi Klara, associate, for financing matters and Theodore Konstantakopoulos, head of TMT & Data, Yolanda Antoniou-Rapti, senior associate, and Iliana Papantoni, associate, for data protection matters.

Dimitris Andriopoulos, associate of our Dispute Resolution practice, participated as speaker at the International Dispute Resolution Alliance - Unbounded Europe event, focusing on the Greek law on international commercial arbitration. The virtual event, hosted by the World Law Alliance on September 12, welcomed speakers from across Europe for an engaging panel debate on International Dispute Resolution topics, highlighting the evolving International Dispute Resolution landscape in the region. You can view the panel discussion here: https://bit.ly/4epgriX