1 December 2011

Chambers Europe

The recently published 2011 edition of Chambers Europe says the following about Kelemenis & Co.:

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

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

Chambers Global

The recently published 2011 edition of Chambers Global says the following about Kelemenis & Co.

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.

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.

IFLR 1000

The recently published 2011 edition of IFLR 1000 says the following about Kelemenis & Co.:

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 is 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.

Legal 500

The recently published 2011 edition of Legal 500 says the following about Kelemenis & Co.:

Corporate and M&A

Kelemenis & Co exhibits “considerable depth and quality” in its core specialisms in the hospitality and energy sectors. The firm has been advising Chevron on all legal aspects of its Greek lubricants subsidiary, while Yannis Kelemenis advised Aegean Power on the divestment of 50% of the company to a subsidiary of a NYSE-listed petroleum and shipping group.

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 its “professional, to-the-point” advice. The team 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.

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.

World Tax

The recently published 2011 edition of World Tax says the following about Kelemenis & Co.:

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.

World Trademark 1000

The recently published 2011 edition of World Trademark 1000 says the following about Kelemenis & Co.:

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.