As business attorneys focusing on international clients in Greece, we specialize in advising on cross-border commercial law matters. In this area, our clients benefit from the special expertise of our law office.
The delivery of goods, in addition to the provision of services, is the focus of almost every economic activity. Greece imports goods worth over 55 billion euros from 197 countries every year.
The strength of our law office is particularly evident when it comes to commercial law matters. As business attorneys focusing on international clients and specializing in business law, we have the in-depth knowledge of cross-border transactions and many years of experience in supporting international companies from in Greece.
Our advisory services in commercial law matters range from drafting contracts to legal disputes and beyond. Should a sales network be set up in Greece or should the sales structure be changed? Will the subsidiary be liquidated and will a contract be made with a commercial agent or dealer? Are agreed services or payments not fulfilled or poorly?
We advise on the particularities of Greek law and accompany you in the contract negotiations with your Greek partners. We will show you the legal options and, if necessary, pursue your claim in court.
With the EU Commercial Agents Directive, the national law on commercial agents has been harmonized and EU standards on the right of commercial agents have been introduced. The directive 653/1986/EEC was legally implemented in Greece by Presidential Decree 219/1991. It has been supplemented by P.D. 249/94, 88/94, 312/95 and Law 3557/2007.
Dealer law is not regulated by law in Greece, either. However, since 2007, the analogous application of the sales representative provisions has been prescribed by law. The prerequisite is the existence of an exclusive sales contract and integration into the sales organization of the entrepreneur.
In the case of cross-border commercial contracts, both the place of jurisdiction and the applicable law can be freely agreed. If no agreement has been reached, the Greek courts have jurisdiction (Art. 7 I b EU Regulation No 1215/2012) and Greek law applies (Art. 4 I b. Rome I Regulation).
In international sale of goods many foreign laws lead to an applicability of the United Nations Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods (CISG). As a consequence, terms and conditions according to Art. 14, 18 f. CISG apply. This means when a conflict to general terms an conditions occurs, the theory of the last word (“last shot”). If this is not wanted, the applicability of the UN sales law should be explicitly excluded.
As in most European countries, distribution law in Greece is shaped by the jurisprudence of the national courts and the decisions of the ECJ. Only the right of the commercial agent is regulated by law, contractual freedom prevails in every other aspect. The legal consequences are largely based on commercial agency law. Contractual freedom, ongoing market developments, but also advancing digitization, trigger constant changes and corresponding adjustments in case law and contract drafting.
