Banking
“Norton Rose LLP’s ‘focused, specialist team’ has developed strong structured and project finance expertise, particularly in the burgeoning energy sector. Recent highlights for the highly respected Yianni Cheilas and the rest of the team include advising Heliogenesis on financing for a photovoltaic project in Larissa. The practice has been very active in the real estate sector, representing Alpha Bank and Piraeus Bank on numerous developments in Bulgaria and Bucharest, with values up to €200m. Elena Tsohou heads the capital markets team, with Yianni Cheilas recommended for his ‘sharp professionalism.”
Legal 500 EMEA, 2011
“Alongside its strong presence in shipping finance, this firm also houses a well-regarded banking practice. Clients applaud the organisational skills of the Greek team, which naturally benefits from close co-operation with its London office. According to peers, “the team can draw on resources around the world in order to deliver results.” Yianni Cheilas heads the banking practice and is described by commentators as an “excellent practitioner” who is highly active in the field of shipping finance."
Chambers and Partners 2011
We have a leading reputation in the banking sector driven by our outstanding expertise in structuring complex financings. We advise a large number of financial institutions, corporations and shipping companies.
Handling transactions is only part of our service. We also advise banking and corporate clients on a range of general strategic issues such as risk management, restructuring debt portfolios and avoiding insolvency crises, regulatory compliance, valuations and ratings, bond shareholder matters and new financial instruments.
Our banking team comprises 4 partners, 20 lawyers and one professional support lawyer.
We have extensive experience in a wide range of banking work including syndicated loans, structured finance, acquisition finance, asset finance, project finance, real estate finance, securitisation, derivatives, shipping finance work, telecoms finance and international securities work.
Our banking practice in Athens covers the following main areas:
- Acquisition finance
- Asset finance
- Shipping finance
- International securities
- Project finance
- Real estate finance
- Restructuring
- Structured trade and commodity finance
We have acted for all but four of the top 30 banks (by revenue) listed in Fortune Global 500, including Deutsche Bank, HSBC, Citibank, BNP Paribas, Crédit Agricole S.A., Société Générale, Sumitomo and HVB. We have also acted for all major Greek banks such as National Bank of Greece, Alpha Bank, EFG Eurobank, Emporiki Bank and Piraeus Bank.