Metaxas & Associates Law Firm ranked as a top-Tier firm by Legal 500 EMEA 2019
April 15th, 2019
Following the successful rankings in Chambers Europe 2019, we are pleased to announce that Metaxas & Associates Law Firm has been recommended as a top-tier law firm in Energy by the Legal 500 EMEA 2019 Guide in the rankings released for Europe and Greece on April the 10th.
Our Firm has moved on the top ranking position of the prestigious Legal 500 Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) rankings that has been providing in the last 32 years a well respected annually updated, impartial, third-party opinion on the leading law firms and lawyers in countries across the region. The EMEA guide provides researched coverage of 85 countries and over 2.700 ranked law firms.
In its analysis, the EMEA guide acknowledges that "Metaxas & Associates Law Firm offers excellent service and a high level of energy law knowledge across the board, it’s Managing Partner Professor Antonis Metaxas demonstrates impressive knowledge of energy law and the firm is especially recommended for its regulatory expertise while it has built up a great track record advising industrial consumers".
The Guide also highlights that "Metaxas & Associates Law Firm is distinct in that it specializes in very specific areas of the law, so when it comes to EU law and competition cases, clients feels that the lawyers are the experts they need". It also mentions that the Firm’s "client service is excellent". Managing Partner Antonis Metaxas 'combines rare professional and academic knowledge' and is 'the leading authority in Greece in European law and state aid’. Firm’s Partner Stathis Kakounis is also praised as an "excellent and effective" legal advisor.
We would like to thank our clients for their continuous support and contribution to Legal 500's and Chambers' Europe 2019 research. Our Firm’s excellent rankings confirm the distinguished level of client service and scientific specialization we offer, which is the core priority for all of us at M & A Law Firm.
Current rankings and information online are taken from The Legal 500 Europe, Middle East and Africa 2019 edition, which was published on 10 April 2019 where Metaxas & Associates has been ranked in Tier 1 for its Energy practice and the founding Partner, Professor Antonis Metaxas has been acknowledged as “Leading Individual” in both the Energy and EU & Competition Law practices.
Professor Dr. Metaxas participates in the Conference "EU and international investment Law"
Professor Dr. A. Metaxas has been invited to participate as speaker in the Conference “EU and international investment Law: Recent developments” co-organized by “The Society of European Studies Experts” in cooperation with the European Law and Governance School (ELGS) of the European Public Law Organization. The Conference will take place on April 12, 2019, between 17.30 and 19.30 at the EPLO premises at the Roman Agora (Plaka), Athens.
For more information and program: https://bit.ly/2UyWKQu
M&A Law Firm selected as national expert for Greece & Cyprus for a DG COMP study on the enforcement of State Aid rules by national courts
Metaxas & Associates Law Firm has the privilege to be selected as the national expert for Greece and Cyprus in a new study on the enforcement of State Aid rules and decisions by national courts in EU member-states.
The study, commissioned by DG COMP, is carried out by the European University Institute in collaboration with major European legal networks and research centers. It is based on the expertise of legal firms in EU member-states that are appointed as national experts due to their proven excellent track record and expertise in legal issues related to the study.
The aim of the Study is to provide a comprehensive overview of the enforcement of State Aid rules by national courts for the period 2007-2017. The Study covers all 27 Member States and gathers information regarding the most relevant rulings adopted by national courts on State aid matters at all levels of jurisdiction, from first to last instance courts. It is being carried out in 2018/2019 and is expected to be concluded and published during the course of this year.
M&A's Energy department's team report on latest developments in energy arbitration
The significant role of arbitration in the energy sector is highlighted in an article published in the Greek press by the ENERGY DPT. team of Metaxas & Associates Law Firm.
In its analysis, we emphasize on the interdependence between the Energy Charter Treaty and EU Law, while pointing out the reasons why the Greek energy market could benefit from more frequent use of arbitration in energy investment disputes.
You can find the article in Greek here: https://energypress.gr/news/i-anagki-axiopoiisis-tis-diaititikis-epilysis-diaforon-ston-tomea-tis-energeias
Prof. Metaxas moderated the Energy & Infrastructure Development panel in Berlin Summit
M&A Law Firm‘s Managing Partner, Professor Dr A. Metaxas, moderated the Energy and Infrastructure Development panel in the prestigious Southeast Europe-Germany Business & Investment Summit in Berlin, on large-scale projects between Germany and SE Europe.
In this highly respected Summit speeches were also delivered by Guy Verhofstadt, Oliver Wittke, the Greek Minister of Energy Mr. Stathakis, representatives from the German and Greek Industry’s Associations, Yannis Stournaras, the Governor of the Bank of Greece, the CEO’s from all four systemic banks of Greece and other high-caliber businesses from Greece and Germany.
Follow moments of this prestigious event in the photos below:
M&A receives award by the Energy Charter Secretariat
Metaxas & Associates Law Firm was recently awarded by the Energy Charter Secretariat for its contribution to the Energy Investment Risk Assessment Report of 2018. M&A had the privilege to be invited as the expert Law Firm for Greece to be a part of the distinguished team of energy experts that prepared the EIRA2018 report.
This prestigious publication assists governments improve investment conditions for foreign investors in the energy sector. M&A’s expert energy practice group has contributed with its extended expertise in the Greek market on issues regarding unpredictable policy change, discrimination between foreign and domestic investors and breach of state obligations.
The EIRA2018 report was officially launched in Brussels, with speakers and representatives of all major international energy institutions and the participation of H.E. Maroš Šefčovič, Vice-President for Energy Union - European Commission, Dr Urban Rusnák, Secretary-General - International Energy Charter, Mr. Dominique Ristori, Director-General for Energy - European Commission.
You can read more on the official launch event here: https://energycharter.org/what-we-do/events/energy-investment-risk-assessment-eira-launch/
Agenda - 3rd Athens Conference on European Energy Law
7 December 2018
09.00 – 09.15 – Registration & Welcome Coffee
09.15 – 09.30 – Opening Remarks
- Prof. Dr. Antonis Metaxas | HERI; University of Athens; Metaxas & Associates
- Prof. Dr. Leigh Hancher | FSR / RSCAS / EUI; Tilburg University
09.30 – 10.00 – Keynote Address
- Georges Kremlis │ DG ENV, European Commission
10:00 – 11.00 – Session I – Sustainable Finance
Chair:
- John Apsouris / HELPE
Speakers:
- Lena Sandberg │ Gibson Dunn LLP
- Prof. Dr. Leigh Hancher | FSR / RSCAS / EUI; Tilburg University
Q&A/ Discussion
11.00 – 11.30 Coffee break
11.30 – 12.45 – Session II – Privatisation of Energy Infrastructures & Networks
Chair:
- Prof. Dr. Leigh Hancher | FSR / RSCAS / EUI; Tilburg University
Speakers:
- Patrizia Rutigliano │ SNAM
- Antonis Bouchagiar │ European Commission
- Marios Andrikopoulos │ ELPEDISON
Q&A/ Discussion
12.45-13.45 Lunch
13.45 – 14.15 – Keynote Address
- Prof. Dr. Rafael Leal-Arcas │ Queen Mary University
14.15 – 15.30 – Session III – Funding for Gas & Electricity Interconnections
Chair:
- Prof. Dr. Antonis Metaxas | HERI; University of Athens; Metaxas & Associates
Speakers:
- Nektaria Karakatsani │ RAE
- Epistimi Oikonomopoulou │ DG ENER, European Commission
- Sophia Michelaki │ DESFA
Q&A/ Discussion
15.30-16.00 Coffee break
16.00 – 17.30 – Session IV – The Clean Energy Package
Chair:
- Prof. Dr. Asteris Pliakos │ Athens University of Economics and Business
Speakers:
- Christof Schoser │ European Commission
- Alexia Trokoudi │ HELPE
- Argiris Economou │ PPC
- Samuel Thomas │ Regulatory Assistance Project
17.30-17.45 Closing remarks
- Prof. Dr. Leigh Hancher | FSR / RSCAS / EUI
New book publication: “Transformation of EU and Eastern Mediterranean Energy Networks: Legal, Regulatory and Geopolitical Challenges”
A new book related to energy regulation and EU law is being published with the significant contribution of Metaxas & Associates Law Firm. This new publication, has been edited by our Managing Partner, Professor Dr. Antonis Metaxas and Dr. Leigh Hancher, Professor at Tilburg University & Florence School of Regulation. The book is a cooperation of the Hellenic Energy Regulation Institute and the Florence School of Regulation.
The publication is part of the European Energy Studies series, by Claeys & Casteels publishing house. It presents a short, comprehensive framework of the major issues that define the regulatory and political challenges of energy networks in the EU and its links with the Eastern Mediterranean. The book contains an analysis on the key issues shaping the current EU regulation framework, a study on the implementation of European energy policies in Southeastern Europe, a presentation of the geopolitical framework in Eastern Mediterranean, and an assessment on the future transformation of the European energy networks through digitization.
Dr. Antonis Metaxas has contributed also with one chapter in the book on Investment Protection under the Energy Charter Treaty. In this analysis, Prof. Metaxas offers an insight of ECT’s key elements and assesses the weight they bring upon current disputes over state sovereignty and investment protection in energy-related investments. The paper identifies the shift to the parties involved in arbitration from central and eastern to western European states. Furthermore, it showcases a shift on the underlying resource of the disputes, rising primarily from changes to regulatory frameworks related to the expansion and integration of RES in the EU. The analysis also detects a potential clash of the ECT with the EU Treaties over jurisdiction in intra-European Union disputes.
The other five chapters of the book have been written by Prof. Dr. Jochen Mohr from the University of Leipzig, Sofia Michelaki from the Greek National Natural Gas System Operator, Michalis Mathioulakis from the Hellenic Energy Regulation Institute, Dr. Fotini Bellou from the University of Macedonia, Alexia Trokoudi from the Hellenic Petroleum, Marios Andrikopoulos from Elpedison S.A and Georgia Patsaroucha, an Athens lawyer.
For online book orders: http://claeys-casteels.com/EES/Transformation-EU-Eastern-Mediterranean-Energy-Networks-Legal-Regulatory-Geopolitical-Challenges
New, distinguished associate joins M&A team
Metaxas & Associates is proud to welcome a new associate in its ranks, Mr. Ioannis Floros.
Mr. Floros is an experienced Athens lawyer, specialized in Commercial and EU Law. Prior to his cooperation with M&A, he has been designated legal consultant of the Greek Minister of Finance for cases of Commercial and EU Law. He holds Masters degrees from the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens and Université de Montpellier in France.
3rd Athens Conference on European Energy Law

7 December 2018
The Athens Conference on European Energy Law is taking place for the third consecutive year in Athens. This highly prestigious international conference is a joint initiative of the Hellenic Energy Regulation Institute and the Energy Union Law Area of the Florence School of Regulation and is designed to address the latest topics in energy regulation that are significant for Greece and the surrounding region, from both a legal and economic perspective.
The Athens Conference on European Energy Law has acquired a pan-European impact as a leading forum for the exchange of views of academics, practitioners and high ranking officials of European institutional bodies and major energy companies and is being considered as the top meeting point for stakeholders interested in energy regulation, State Aid and energy investments in Greece.
Financing of energy infrastructure & energy networks is the overall theme of the Conference and the central point of discussion in all four of its sessions:
- Session I : Sustainable Finance
- Session II : Privatisation of Energy Infrastructures & Networks
- Session III: Funding for Gas & Electricity Interconnections
- Session IV: The Clean Energy Package
Financing and investing in energy infrastructure & energy networks are issues that attract vivid interest by all major stakeholders on a European level as well as in the Greek energy sector, a fact that offers a unique opportunity for highly anticipated presentations in this year’s conference.
You can see the Conference's Agenda and register for the conference by following the link: Agenda & Registration
Sponsors:
Communication sponsor: