Commercial & Corporate Law · Greece
Commercial & Corporate Law lawyers in Greece
From company formation and shareholders’ agreements to contract disputes and compliance, our network helps you connect with Greek corporate lawyers who understand how civil-law rules and court practice shape everyday business decisions. Describe your matter once and receive a shortlist of specialised lawyers matched to your needs.
- Matched to your legal issue and industry
- Verified practitioners admitted to a Greek Bar Association
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Why work with a Greek corporate lawyer
The value of a specialist on Commercial & Corporate Law in Greece
Commercial and corporate matters in Greece are governed by codified statutes within a continental civil-law system, where statutory law and the Constitution are the primary sources of law. Whether you are incorporating a company, negotiating a shareholders’ agreement, pursuing a contractual claim or managing a compliance review, the applicable limitation periods, court structure and formalities can materially affect your position. Our service helps you find Commercial & Corporate Law lawyers in Greece who are admitted to a local Bar Association and familiar with the Greek Civil Code, Commercial Code and relevant procedural rules. Rather than offering legal advice, we match you with a lawyer who can assess your specific situation, explain the options under Greek law and represent you before the courts or in negotiations.
Greece in practice
How Commercial & Corporate Law works in Greece
Greece applies a codified civil-law system in which legislation and the Constitution are the primary sources of law, and the Supreme Court (Areios Pagos) ensures uniform interpretation without creating binding precedent. The ordinary courts are organised into magistrates’ courts, courts of first instance and courts of appeal, while administrative courts form a separate branch. For cross-border commercial matters, EU regulations and Greek statutory rules interact in areas such as cross-border successions and recognition of EU certificates. Below are the practical points that shape commercial and corporate work in Greece.
Civil-law court structure and commercial disputes
Greece follows the continental (civil law) model based on codified statutes rooted in the Roman-Byzantine tradition. The Supreme Court for civil and criminal justice is the Court of Cassation (Areios Pagos), which reviews only the legal correctness of lower-court decisions and has six civil-law chambers covering contractual, commercial and related matters. Ordinary courts consist of Magistrates’ Courts and Courts of First Instance, with appeals heard by Courts of Appeal.
Compulsory Bar Association membership for corporate lawyers
Under Article 4 of Law 4194/2013 (the Code of Lawyers), a person acquires the status of lawyer by passing the nationwide bar examinations, receiving an appointment decision from the Minister of Justice, taking the statutory oath and being entered in the register of a Bar Association. Membership is compulsory; the Athens Bar Association alone has roughly 22,000 members. The lawyer is a public functionary whose office is a foundation of the rule of law and is not a commercial activity.
Statutory limitation periods that affect commercial claims
The general limitation period for civil claims is 20 years, but commercial, professional-fee and periodic claims are subject to a five-year limitation period. Tort claims also carry a five-year limitation with a 20-year absolute cut-off. These periods start from the time the claim arises and can affect when a corporate dispute must be brought, making early legal review essential.
Court fees, lawyer fees and legal aid
Court fees are set by statute and vary by court and procedure. A proportional judicial stamp duty is generally payable on the value of civil claims at 4 per mille or 8 per mille depending on the type of claim, plus a 30% surcharge for the TAXDIK fund. A lawyer’s fee is freely agreed in writing or, in the absence of agreement, fixed by the statutory scale, and is subject to 24% VAT. Free legal aid is available under Law 3226/2004 for qualifying low-income applicants.
Notarial and Land Registry formalities for property-linked corporate transactions
When a corporate matter involves the transfer or encumbrance of immovable property, the underlying legal act must be executed by a notarial deed and ownership passes only upon registration with the competent Land Registry or Cadastral Office. Registration is constitutive, not merely declarative, and failure to observe the notarial form renders the transfer incurably void. A 3% Real Estate Transfer Tax must be paid before the deed is signed, and only lawyers, bailiffs and notaries may conduct registry searches.
Key time limit — Commercial & Corporate Law
Commercial, professional-fee and periodic claims — 5 years. A shorter limitation that often applies to business-to-business debts and fees.
The country-specific information on this page is drawn from official Greek public sources and the European e-Justice Portal, accessed on 26 February 2025.
Common challenges
Where Greek commercial procedure gets tricky
Without local guidance, these are the points where corporate matters often stall or fail.
Unclear which Greek court or deadline applies
With multiple courts and statutory limitation periods ranging from five to twenty years, a misstep can put your claim at risk. A specialist lawyer can identify the right forum and calculate the relevant deadline.
Commercial contracts and corporate formalities are codified but technical
Greek civil-law rules on formation, shareholders’ agreements and property-linked transactions require precise notarial and registry steps. Without local guidance, a defect can make the act void.
Language and procedural barriers slow down cross-border work
Greek court documents and legal proceedings are conducted in Greek. You need a lawyer who can manage procedural formalities and explain each step in your language.
What you gain
A faster route to the right expertise
Our matching service focuses on reducing the time and uncertainty of finding a Greek corporate lawyer.
Access to specialised corporate lawyers
We match you with practitioners who handle company, contract and compliance matters under Greek law, so you do not waste time on generalists.
Clarity on formalities and deadlines
A matched lawyer can explain the notarial, registration and limitation rules that apply to your specific situation and help you plan each step.
24–48h initial response
After you describe your matter, we aim to send you a shortlist of relevant lawyers within 24 to 48 hours, free of charge.
No obligation to instruct
The matching service costs nothing and does not commit you to instruct a lawyer. You choose whether and how to proceed.
Related jurisdictions
We also match clients in these European countries
Our network extends beyond Greece to help you find specialist legal support across Europe.
Questions you may have
Commercial & Corporate Law in Greece — FAQ
How do I find Commercial & Corporate Law lawyers in Greece?
You can use our free matching service. Tell us about your company, contract or compliance issue and we will connect you with verified lawyers admitted to a Greek Bar Association who handle that type of work. There is no obligation to instruct.
How are Greek courts structured for commercial disputes?
Ordinary civil courts include Magistrates’ Courts and Courts of First Instance, with appeals to Courts of Appeal. The Areios Pagos reviews only legal correctness, not facts. Administrative courts are separate.
What is the limitation period for a commercial claim in Greece?
A five-year limitation generally applies to commercial, professional-fee and periodic claims, while the general civil limitation is twenty years. Tort claims have a five-year period and a twenty-year absolute cut-off. A lawyer can confirm which period applies.
Do I need a Greek lawyer to litigate in Greece?
In principle yes; a party is represented by a lawyer admitted to a Greek Bar Association. Lawyers must pass the national bar examinations and be entered in a Bar Association register. We can match you with such a lawyer.
Are lawyer fees regulated in Greece?
A lawyer’s fee is freely agreed by written contract, but if no agreement exists, the statutory scale applies. Fees are subject to 24% VAT, and court fees are set by statute. Legal aid is available for qualifying low-income applicants.
What formalities apply to property involved in a corporate transaction in Greece?
Immovable property transfers must be made by notarial deed and registered with the Land Registry or Cadastral Office; registration is constitutive. A 3% transfer tax is payable before the deed. A lawyer can manage these steps.
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