Yiannis Loizos

Yiannis, you've built an impressive career specialising in cross-border M&A. What first drew you into this complex area of law, and what continues to inspire your work today?

Ever since I started my career, I was attracted to corporate and transactional work because it combines the precision of law with the realities of business. M&A really stood out to me early on because no two deals are alike. Each has its own mix of parties, sectors, and challenges, which means you are constantly learning and adapting with every transaction.

I joined Koutalidis as a trainee and have been with the firm ever since. That continuity gave me the rare opportunity to work on major transactions from a very young age, learning directly from senior colleagues and building experience deal by deal.

Although I only practise Greek law, almost all major Greek transactions involve an international element, whether the buyer, seller, or investor is based abroad. That "cross-border" dimension keeps the work fresh and challenging, and it allows us to act as a bridge between Greece and the global business community.

What inspires me most is seeing the real impact our work has. These transactions can often shape entire industries, bring new investment into Greece and drive growth in the wider economy. Knowing that my team and I play a part in that keeps me motivated.

As a Partner at Koutalidis Law Firm, you lead many high-profile transactions involving foreign investors in Greece. How has your approach to deal-making evolved over the years, and what do you consider essential when guiding clients through these negotiations?

Over almost two decades, I've seen my approach evolve from being focused on legal particularities to taking a much bigger-picture view of deals. The technical side is crucial, of course, but deal-making is also about understanding what really matters to the parties involved, where the pressure points are, and how to balance legal risk with commercial goals.

When working with international clients, three things are essential. First, clarity — simplifying what can sometimes be a complex Greek legal framework, especially to parties unfamiliar with our jurisdiction. Second, pragmatism — recognising when to hold firm and when a compromise makes sense. Third, steady communication — keeping clients confident that local challenges won't derail their broader strategy.

At Koutalidis, we place great value on combining legal excellence with this pragmatic, solutions-driven approach. That is what gives clients the confidence to entrust us with their most significant investments in Greece.

Cross-Border M&A is fast-moving and highly regulated. How do you stay ahead of developments in Greece while also keeping pace with international trends, and what shifts do you see shaping the market in the years ahead?

Staying ahead is a mix of constant learning and collaboration. On the Greek side, we keep a very close eye on legislative and regulatory changes — from corporate law updates to shifts in FDI rules. Internationally, we work closely with foreign firms on multi-jurisdictional deals, which gives us great exposure to emerging global trends.
Looking forward, three major trends seem to stand out: first, the continued energy transition, with Greece playing an increasingly important role in renewables; second, a surge in digital and tech investment, especially in data centres and digital infrastructure; and third, renewed capital markets activity, as seen with transactions like the Athens International Airport IPO, which combined M&A and securities elements.

These trends will keep Greece firmly on the radar of international investors, which makes our cross-border work even more relevant.

International transactions often require balancing not only legal frameworks but also cultural and business expectations. In the Greek context, what strengths do you and your team bring to managing these dynamics?

One of our key strengths is being able to translate not just the law, but also the business culture for our clients. International investors often come in with assumptions based on their home country's way of doing business. Part of our job is to explain how things work in Greece. The system here is similar in many ways, but it also has its own nuances, and we help bridge that gap.

We offer both deep technical expertise in Greek law and a practical, commercial mindset so that our advice supports, rather than hinders, the client's strategy. International clients consistently tell us they value that approach. It also allows us to integrate seamlessly into multi-jurisdictional deal teams and ensure that the Greek element — often a critical piece — is handled to the highest standard.

High-stakes deals inevitably come with challenges. Have you experienced situations where a Greek element of a cross-border deal was at risk, and how did you manage to keep things on track?

Challenges are part of M&A transactions. In one recent deal, for instance, progress stalled over the timing of regulatory approvals. The international buyer was worried about potential delays, while the Greek sellers were unwilling to give sweeping undertakings.

We took a step back and reframed the problem: what the buyer really needed was certainty, and what the sellers needed was protection. We designed a conditionality structure that addressed both concerns. By focusing on the underlying interests, rather than rigid positions, the deal moved forward and ultimately closed successfully.

Experiences like this underline how much of our role is problem-solving — often under pressure and with multiple parties involved.

You've advised clients across a range of industries in Greece. How does your approach differ when handling deals in sectors like energy, infrastructure, or banking, and what insights have you gained from this diversity?

The fundamentals of M&A remain the same, but each industry brings its own sensitivities. For example, in energy deals, getting regulatory approvals and securing land rights are key; in infrastructure, concession agreements and public law aspects dominate; in banking, capital requirements and regulatory oversight are central.

Our approach is to tailor our advice to the specifics of each sector, while still applying the same core principles of clarity and pragmatism. An important lesson I've learned is that working across different industries allows us to bring fresh solutions to the table. A deal structure used in an energy transaction, for example, may provide inspiration for a banking or retail deal. That cross-pollination of ideas is one of the real strengths of having a broad practice.

Mentorship and collaboration are vital in any successful law firm. Who influenced your career, and how do you support the next generation of corporate lawyers at Koutalidis Law Firm?

I was fortunate to have senior colleagues, such as Nikos Koritsas (Managing Partner of our firm) and Katia Protopapa (head of our M&A practice) who not only taught me the technical side of M&A but also showed me the importance of integrity, persistence, and client care. Those lessons have stayed with me.

Having grown within the same firm since my trainee days, I benefitted from being entrusted with meaningful work on complex deals very early on. That culture of involving younger lawyers at the front line of major transactions is something we consciously continue today.

At Koutalidis, we take mentoring seriously. In practice, that means giving younger lawyers real responsibility early on, encouraging them to ask questions and think commercially, and leading by example in terms of work ethic and professionalism.

Watching colleagues develop into trusted advisors in their own right is one of the most rewarding aspects of being a partner. It also ensures that our clients will continue to receive the same high standard of advice in years to come.

Finally, what does receiving the Cross- Border M&A Lawyer of the Year award mean to you personally, and how do you hope it reflects the work you and your team are doing in Greece?

On a personal level, I am proud of the recognition. It is encouraging to see years of effort in this field acknowledged. But I see it less as a personal award and more as recognition of the collective effort of our whole team at Koutalidis.

No deal is ever the work of one person. Every transaction, especially in M&A, requires contributions from lawyers across different levels and practice areas — whether it's competition, tax, employment, or capital markets. I hope this award highlights the strength of Greek legal practice more broadly, and the role that firms like ours play in making Greece a reliable destination for international investment.

Ultimately, the award reflects the trust that clients place in us. My hope is that it also reinforces to the international community that Greece is a jurisdiction where complex cross-border deals can be executed smoothly and to the highest standard.