Business law · Greece
Work with a business lawyer in Greece who understands local rules
From company start-ups to commercial disputes, Greek business rules combine codified civil law, notarial formalities and strict employment safeguards. We match you with a lawyer who handles your matter and explains each step clearly. No fees, no obligation.
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Business law in Greece
Why the right local lawyer matters
Running or entering a business in Greece means dealing with a specific civil-law framework: codified statutes, notarial requirements for real property, and employment rules that protect employees even in dismissals without cause. A business lawyer in Greece helps you structure contracts, incorporate or register operations, assess regulatory duties, handle employment matters, and represent you in commercial disputes before the ordinary courts. Because Greek lawyers are statutory public functionaries bound by professional secrecy and bar membership, you work with a regulated professional whose conduct is overseen by the local Bar Association. We match you with a business lawyer in Greece for your issue and your location, whether Athens, Thessaloniki, Piraeus or elsewhere. There is no charge for the matching and no obligation to instruct.
Local rules
How business law works in Greece
Key points below are drawn exclusively from verified Greek legal sources. They illustrate the formalities and deadlines that commonly affect business owners and entrepreneurs.
Civil-law courts and commercial cases
Greece follows a continental civil-law system based on codified statutes and the Constitution, rather than binding judicial precedent. Ordinary civil and commercial cases start in the Magistrates’ Courts or Courts of First Instance, with appeals to the Courts of Appeal; the Supreme Court reviews only legal correctness, not the facts.
Lawyers are regulated public functionaries
Only Bar Association members may practise law in Greece. Under Law 4194/2013, lawyers take a statutory oath, are entered in a Bar register and act as public functionaries; practice is expressly not a commercial activity. This status imposes professional secrecy and disciplinary oversight by the Bar.
Commercial and contractual deadlines
General civil claims prescribe after 20 years, but commercial, professional-fee and periodic claims prescribe after five years. Tort claims prescribe after five years with a 20-year absolute cut-off. A business lawyer in Greece can confirm which period applies and prevent missed deadlines.
Employment dismissal safeguards
Termination of an open-ended contract is in principle without cause, but dismissals must not abuse rights and cannot be discriminatory or retaliatory. Statutory severance ranges from two to twelve months’ pay depending on length of service, and strict deadlines apply to challenging a dismissal.
Notarial deeds and property registration
Transfers or encumbrances of immovable property require a notarial deed, and ownership passes only when the deed is registered with the Land Registry or Cadastral Office. Registration is constitutive, not merely administrative, and a 3% Real Estate Transfer Tax is payable before signing.
Lawyer fees and legal aid
Lawyer fees are freely agreed in writing with the client; without a written agreement, statutory scale fees apply and are subject to 24% VAT. Legal aid is available for low-income persons and certain categories, including people with disabilities of 67% or more.
Key time limit — Commercial & Corporate Law
Commercial, professional-fee and periodic claims — 5 years. Shorter prescription for invoices, fees and recurring payments.
Data comes from Greek official bodies and the European e-Justice Portal (accessed at the time of writing).
Common business risks
Where things go wrong without local advice
These are situations a business lawyer in Greece can help you manage early.
Unclear contract or payment terms
Commercial, professional-fee and recurring claims prescribe after just five years. A poorly worded clause can leave you without a recoverable debt or open to a dispute you could have avoided.
Employee dismissal risk
Dismissals are without cause but subject to abuse-of-right limits and strict challenge deadlines. Missteps can lead to nullity claims and severance of up to twelve months’ pay.
Property and lease formalities
Immovable property transfers require a notarial deed and constitutive registration. Missing the formality or the 3% transfer tax can render the transfer void and jeopardise business premises.
Why use our matching
A calmer route to the right lawyer
We focus on the connection so you can focus on the business decision.
Regulated professionals
Every lawyer we suggest is a member of a Greek Bar Association and bound by professional secrecy and the Code of Lawyers.
Local deadlines respected
Your matched lawyer can confirm the correct limitation period or procedural step before it expires, using current Greek rules.
Bilingual clarity
You can receive explanations in clear English while the lawyer handles the Greek-language formalities and court documents.
No-cost matching
There is no charge to be matched, and you are under no obligation to instruct the lawyer you are introduced to.
Where we can help
Lawyer matching across Europe
Whether your matter sits in Greece or touches another European jurisdiction, our network can connect you with local counsel.
Questions and answers
Frequently asked questions
When should I contact a business lawyer in Greece?
You should contact one before signing major contracts, hiring or dismissing employees, acquiring property or entering a dispute. Greek commercial and tort claims can prescribe after five years, and formalities such as notarial registration are strict. Early advice helps you protect your position and avoid avoidable deadlines.
Does a Greek lawyer need to be a member of a Bar Association?
Yes. Membership of a Bar Association is compulsory to practise law in Greece. Under Law 4194/2013, a lawyer must pass the bar examinations, take the statutory oath and be entered in the register of a Bar Association. Lawyers are also treated as public functionaries, not commercial providers.
Which commercial claims have a five-year deadline?
Commercial, professional-fee and periodic claims prescribe after five years. General civil claims, by contrast, prescribe after 20 years, while tort claims prescribe after five years with an absolute 20-year cut-off. A lawyer can confirm which period applies to your specific claim.
Can a business terminate an employee without cause?
In principle, yes, for open-ended contracts, and the employer does not have to state reasons. However, dismissal must not abuse rights, and discriminatory or retaliatory dismissals are null. Statutory severance ranges from two to twelve months’ pay depending on length of service.
Is a notary required for business property transfers in Greece?
Yes. Transfers or encumbrances of immovable property require a notarial deed, and ownership passes only upon registration with the Land Registry or Cadastral Office. A 3% Real Estate Transfer Tax is payable before signing, and failure to use the notarial form renders the transfer void.
Are lawyer fees fixed in Greece?
No. A lawyer’s fee is freely determined by written agreement with the client and may cover the whole proceedings, part of them, or specific acts. If there is no written agreement, statutory scale fees apply and are subject to 24% VAT. Legal aid is available for qualifying low-income persons.
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