COMMERCIAL
We are dedicated to helping businesses navigate the complexities of the Greek market in the areas where Tsimikalis Kalonarou is known to excel.
From its early years, the firm was primarily engaged in facilitating foreign investors in their efforts to overcome the difficulties associated with the expansion of their business to Greece and the complexities of the Greek legal framework. Today, we continue to represent the interests of multinational corporations in Greece, providing all types of assistance in their day-to-day business operations, along with a full suite of quality legal services across a broad spectrum of practice areas and industries. Under the currently prevailing circumstances in particular, the facilitation of incoming investments remains a priority.
Our clients regularly seek assistance in the framework of our advisory and dispute resolution services, primarily in connection with Corporate Matters, Commercial Transactions, Real Estate and Employment.
COMMERCIAL & CORPORATE LAW
Historically, this is the firm’s core practice area. The fact that associations of individuals participate dynamically in economic and social life is of paramount importance, since they promote goals that would otherwise be very difficult or impossible to achieve. There are many drivers behind each transaction and we are well aware of the challenges that may arise. We have a proven track record in representing private and public companies active in various sectors of industry and across the spectrum of corporate forms (civil companies, general partnerships, limited partnerships, limited liability companies, corporations, etc.) in a wide range of matters.
We act for both buyers and sellers through all stages – from negotiation, documentation and due diligence reviews, to sign-off and closing – in different types of transactions. Our services include:
- Legal Due Dilligence
- Incorporation of companies
- Drafting of shareholders’ agreements
- Advising on corporate governance issues
- Advising on management rights and responsibilities
- Drafting of and advising on commercial agency and distribution agreements and advising on disputes connected with the termination of such agreements
- Transfer of stock, assets or entire businesses
- Minority investments
- Contributions in kind
- Restructuring and reorganizations
- Transformation and conversion of legal form
- Joint ventures
EMPLOYMENT LAW
A company’s labour relations are of crucial importance, not least because of the decisive contribution of employees to achieving commercial targets. The constant evolution of labour legislation at national and European level, the free movement of citizens and the alternation of economic cycles make it imperative for companies to always have sound and informed advice. Greek employment law may be a complex area, but it is one that our firm can help foreign clients understand and navigate. Among other matters, Tsimikalis Kalonarou advises international and domestic companies on:
- Drafting employment contracts for personnel and executives
- Terminating employment contracts and determining compensation
- Negotiations with trade union bodies
- Drafting internal Work Regulations and Codes of Behaviour
- Advising on issues arising from the employment in foreign companies and on the conformity of the relevant provisions with Greek labour regulations
- Advising on social insurance obligations
- Resolving issues arising from the merger or transfer of companies and from the abolition of company departments
- Data protection in the workplace
- Health and safety issues in the workplace
- Resolving judicial disputes before all authorities and courts
- Residence and work permits
DISPUTE RESOLUTION
Our Litigation, Arbitration & Dispute Resolution practice is specialised in commercial and civil law matters. One of our core beliefs is that the prevention and avoidance of unnecessary litigation is often the most appropriate way to secure our clients’ best interests. By adopting a pragmatic, commercial approach in the context of a predefined strategy, following an in-depth analysis of the legal grounds and facts of each case, the firm has built a strong track record of success. In this area, we are best known for representing clients in IP, employment and commercial litigation matters, while we also frequently represent clients in high profile defamation cases. Product liability and product safety law, also falls within our specialties where we represent manufacturers, importers and retailers across a wide spectrum of industries. Complex litigation, up to the highest courts, is part of our daily work. In more detail, we represent clients in disputes relating to:
- Breach of contract in the areas of investments, acquisitions, joint ventures, share sale and purchase agreements, employment, transportation of goods and passengers (especially aviation)
- Defamation claims and personality and image rights infringements
- Product liability and product safety
- Termination of commercial agreements such as agency and distribution agreements
- Enforcement of foreign judgments in Greece
- Infringement of patents, trademarks, designs, domain names and copyright
- Administrative proceedings pertaining to the annulment or revocation of government acts and decisions
- Debt recovery proceedings
REAL ESTATE
The real estate market has always been an extremely important part of the Greek economy, as Greeks have traditionally invested their savings in property. Historically, this was due to the fact that for several decades after World War II, in order to protect the economy from inflation and the national currency from uncontrolled devaluation, the Greek state prohibited transactions in gold and foreign currencies. As a consequence, the stock market remained in an embryonic state until the early 1990s, leading many Greeks and foreign investors in Greece to view real estate as the best investment option.
However, Greece’s current financial crisis has upset this long-standing tradition, underscoring the significant impact that fluctuations in the real estate market have on the economy. As the real estate sector strives to regain momentum, investors are once again moving into the Greek market. Our firm helps clients navigate the legal and regulatory framework governing every kind of real estate transaction. More specifically we represent the interests of our clients on matters such as:
- Purchase and sale transactions
- Sale and leaseback agreements
- Issues related to commercial leases
- Commercial development of real estate
- REICs
AVIATION LAW
The transportation of persons or goods by air today plays a vital role in facilitating all forms of trade. It has certainly become the primary commercial use of airspace and an integral part of daily social, financial and civic life. This goes some way to explaining the exhaustive regulation of some aspects of air transport which is not encountered in other transport-related sectors. For many decades, our firm has represented leading international companies in the aviation industry in matters pertaining to:
- Litigation matters in passenger claim proceedings before Courts of every instance
- The processing of passenger personal data
- The establishment of branches of foreign airlines in Greece
- The negotiation and drafting of general sales agreements (GSA)
- The negotiations and termination of agreements with travel agents
- Disputes regarding debts owed by travel agencies and passenger claims
- The scope of IATA Regulations and Decisions
The core of our philosophy is to address and tackle the challenges our clients face by finding a workable solution using commercial “nous”.
