Catherine has been the Managing Partner at Karatzas & Partners since 1996. Before she worked with Shearman & Sterling in New York City from 1988 to 1992.

Catherine has always been in the forefront of legal developments and has participated and continues to participate in some of the most significant transactions for Greek economy and often for Greek national life. Recent examples include the Greek debt restructuring, the 15-year benchmark issue with the longest tenor that has been issued by the Hellenic Republic since the onset of the financial crisis, in 2009 a new, all-new-money bond whose maturity is longer than 2032, the year when the long-term relief measures for the Greek debt are expected to expire, as well as in the banking and financial sector the first recapitalization under the Bank Recovery and Resolution Directive in Europe, the first Greek Green bond and the first NPL transactions.

She was awarded the Pan-European award in the category of financial regulation in the International Financial Law Review Europe Women in Business Law awards in 2015 and entered The Legal 500’s Hall of Fame in 2018.

Credentials

EDUCATION
National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (LL.B. in Hellenic Law)
Columbia University (LL.M.)
LANGUAGES
Greek, English, French & Italian
ADMISSION
1989, Athens & New York Supreme Court
MEMBER OF
Athens Bar Association
New York Bar Association
Board of Directors of Foundation for Economic and Industrial Research (IOBE)

Ranking & Awards

Hall of Fame
Legal500
Top Ranked Lawyer
Chambers & Partners
Top Ranked Lawyer
Chambers & Partners
Women Leaders
IFLR 1000
Highly Regarded
IFLR 1000
Top Ranked Lawyer
Chambers & Partners
Top Ranked Lawyer
Chambers & Partners
Top Ranked Lawyer 2021
Chambers & Partners
Hall of Fame
Legal500
Top Ranked Lawyer 2020
Chambers & Partners
Women Leaders 2021 & 2020
IFLR1000
Highly Regarded 2020 & 2019
IFLR1000
Leading Individual
Legal500
Highly Regarded
IFLR 1000
Pan-European award in the category of financial regulation in 2015
IFLR Europe Women in Business Law awards
Highly Regarded
IFLR 1000
  • “Managing partner Catherine Karatzas offers excellence in corporate and commercial mandates, especially those involving large acquisitions in the energy sector and share capital issues.” Chambers & Partners 2023
  • "US and Greek-qualified practitioner Catherine Karatzas is held in high esteem for her expertise across various complex financing and capital market transactions. She is particularly active in notes issuances, NPL sales and sustainability linked and green bonds, acting for prestigious banks and corporates." Chambers & Partners 2023
  • "Catherine Karatzas has very strong legal and business acumen." Client Testimonial, Banking & Finance, Chambers & Partners 2023
  • "I truly value her commitment and sophistication." Client Testimonial, Banking & Finance, Chambers & Partners 2023

RELEVANT NEWS & INSIGHTS

Our firm advised National Bank of Greece in its strategic cooperation in EPSILON NET

Lexology Panoramic - Public M&A 2024 Guide

Our firm advised the international and Greek banks syndication that ran the voluntary tender offer and the new issuance offer of HELLENiQ ENERGY Finance PLC

Highlights of the 16th National Conference of Corporate In House Counsel by Nomiki Bibliothiki

16th National Conference of Corporate In House Counsel by Nomiki Bibliothiki

Our firm advised National Bank of Greece in a joint tender offer for the acquisition of the entire outstanding share capital of Epsilon Net S.A.

Our Managing Partner, Catherine Karatzas on Talk Radio 98.9

K&P ranked as Top Tier Firm in The Legal 500 EMEA 2024 edition!

K&P has once again been recognized as a Leading Firm in the Chambers and Partners Europe Guide 2024!

Our firm advised the International Managers and the Greek Underwriters in the disposal of the 27% stake in Piraeus Financial Holdings by the HFSF, valued at approx. €1.35 billion

Our firm has advised Cadence Design Systems on the acquisition of BETA CAE Systems International AG, for a purchase price of approx. US$1.24 billion

Our firm advised National Bank of Greece on the closing of Project Frontier II

Our firm advised National Bank of Greece in the disposal of a 22% stake in NBG by the Hellenic Financial Stability Fund, valued at approximately €1.1 billion

Our firm advises Currys Plc in connection with the sale of Dixons South East Europe

Lexology Getting The Deal Through - Private Mergers & Acquisitions 2024 guide

Lexology getting the Deal Through Public M&A 2023 Guide

Our firm advised National Bank of Greece in connection with the acquisition of an 7,5% stake in Epsilon Net.

1st Women in Law Conference by Nomiki Bibliothiki

Karatzas & Partners wins the Award for the National Law Firm of the Year in Greece and for the Deal of the Year!

Chambers and Partners Europe 2023

Our firm has advised Austrian Post in connection with the acquisition of an 80% stake in the Greek technology services provider "Agile Actors".

Our firm has advised Cepal Hellas Financial Services S.A. with respect to Project Rebound

Our firm has proudly advised J.P. Morgan in connection with the Greek law aspects of closing a transaction for the acquisition of a 48.5% ownership stake in Viva Wallet S.A.

We have advised National Bank of Greece in relation to the sale of 51% of the share capital of NBG Pay S.A. to EVO Payments Inc.

Our firm advised National Bank of Greece on the signing of a Memoranda of Understanding (MoU) with EPSILON NET and its main shareholder.

K&P is the exclusive contributor of the Greek chapter in Chambers & Partners Corporate Governance 2022 Global practice guide

Our firm advised National Bank of Greece on the signing of Project Frontier II

K&P is the exclusive contributor of the Greek chapter of the Lexology Getting The Deal Through - Initial Public Offerings 2022 guide

Our firm sponsored the 14th National Conference of Corporate In-house Counsel by Nomiki Bibliothiki.

Our firm stands by the students from Ukraine.

K&P advised Power Factors on the acquisition of Inaccess

This summer, on Fridays we work from...anywhere!

Blood donation at K&P

K&P sponsored the 8th National Moot Court Competition.

K&P has been once again recognised as a Top Tier firm by The Legal500

Karatzas & Partners for Choose Life

Karatzas & Partners wins the Award for Law Firm of the Year in Greece

K&P’s Women Leaders EMEA as announced by IFLR1000

Catherine Karatzas participated in the panel “Investing in Greece: Prospects and Challenges” at Delphi Economic Forum VII

National Bank of Greece-Ethniki Insurance- CVC

K&P has been once again recognised as a Top Ranked firm in Chambers and Partners Europe 2022 ranking guide

K&P is the exclusive contributor of the Greek chapter of the Lexology Getting The Deal Through - Initial Public Offerings 2022 guide

At Karatzas & Partners we encourage women empowerment in our everyday life

Our firm acts as Greek legal counsel to J.P. Morgan in connection with its strategic investment in Viva Wallet

K&P advised HELPE Group in relation to its corporate transformation plan

K&P advised National Bank of Greece on the completion of Project Frontier

K&P advised NBG on the signing of a definitive agreement to form a Joint Venture partnership with EVO Payments

K&P is the exclusive contributor of the Greek chapter of the Lexology Getting The Deal Through Private Mergers & Acquisitions 2022 guide

K&P advised PPC S.A. on its capital increase with gross proceeds of €1.35 bn

K&P advised National Bank of Greece on the signing of Project Frontier

K&P is the exclusive contributor of the Greek chapter in Chambers & Partners Corporate Governance 2021 Global practice guide

K&P acted as legal counsel to PRODEA Investments in connection with the issuance and public offering of a €300 mln 7-year Green Bond

K&P advised the Initial Purchasers in connection with the international offering of PPC's €500 million sustainability-linked notes

K&P advised international banks & investment firms on the €800 million growth Share Capital Increase of Alpha Holdings

K&P’s Women Leaders EMEA as announced by IFLR1000

Karatzas & Partners proudly sponsored Delphi Economic Forum VI (video)

Karatzas & Partners advised the consortium of international banks in connection with Piraeus Holding’s €1.38bln capital raise

K&P acted as Greek legal advisor to Viohalco S.A.

National Bank of Greece-Ethniki Insurance- CVC

Karatzas & Partners ranked as a Top Tier Firm at The Legal 500 EMEA 2021 edition

K&P is shortlisted in 3 categories in the IFLR1000 2021 Awards Europe

Catherine Karatzas participates in the "Women in Law: Is it a men’s world?" webinar

K&P participated in the NPL Webinar on Market Perspectives

K&P advised National Bank of Greece

K&P sponsors the 12th National Conference of Corporate Inhouse Counsel

Karatzas & Partners advised National Bank of Greece - The first green bond issued by a Greek Bank

Karatzas & Partners is the exclusive contributor of the 2020 edition of Lexology Getting The Deal Through Public M&A/ Greek chapter

Catherine M. Karatzas Interview at LAWYER | The Business Magazine

Catherine M. Karatzas named as Woman Leader 2020 IFLR 1000

Karatzas & Partners advises National Bank of Greece

Karatzas & Partners proudly sponsors Delphi Economic Forum V

Karatzas & Partners ranked as a Top Tier Firm at The Legal 500 EMEA 2020 edition

Celebrating womensday 2020

New Generation of Lawyers

Karatzas & Partners Law Firm proudly supported the 11th Greece Race for the Cure®

Karatzas & Partners Law Firm proudly supports the 11th Greece Race for the Cure®

Karatzas & Partners managing partner Catherine Karatzas discusses how our firm is adapting to clients’ changing needs

Mandatory and Voluntary takeover Bids

Seminar on the reform of the law on Sociétés Anonymes

Karatzas & Partners contributed with an article to Lexology Navigator

Karatzas & Partners named Best firm in Greece at Europe Women in Business Law Awards

Catherine Karatzas recognized as an IFLR Woman Leader for 2018

Karatzas & Partners article in Lexology

Karatzas & Partners named Best firm in Greece at Europe Women in Business Law Awards.

Karatzas & Partners participated in the IFLR's Insolvency and Corporate Reorganisation Survey 2014

Our firm advised as Greek law counsel in the issue of a €130 million bond by LR Health & Beauty SE with Trustee & Agency AB as trustee

Our firm advised on the sale of a 70% majority stake of Middle Office Services S.A. to Qualco Group

News Alert - Adoption of digital securities legislation

Our firm acts as sole transaction legal counsel on the IPO and listing on Athens Exchange Group of the shares of Noval Property

Our firm is participating in the 2nd Women in Law Conference by Nomiki Bibliothiki

Our partner Christina Faitakis shortlisted in the Women in Business Law Awards 2024 EMEA

Anna Manda on the M&A Mosaic: Insights from Delphi Economic Forum IX

Our firm is participating in the 1st Listed Companies Conference by Nomiki Bibliothiki

K&P participates in the Delphi Economic Forum IX

Our firm acted as external legal advisor to NBG on all Greek law aspects of the Tender Offer and the issuance of the New Notes

Our firm advised the Joint Coordinators and Bookrunners in connection with the offering of a €130 mln. Bond Loan issued by INTRALOT S.A.

Our firm advised Autohellas in the public offering of a €200 million Bond Loan

Our firm advised Astir Palace Vouliagmenis on €350m bond loan

Our firm advised the Joint Coordinators and Bookrunners in connection with the offering of €100 mln. bonds issued by IDEAL HOLDINGS S.A.

Our firm advised Bain Capital in the sale and transfer to Trastor REIC of office spaces in the landmark Athens building Politeia Business Center

Our firm has advised HRADF and POIH for the joint sale of 11% in HELLENIQ Energy

Our firm has proudly advised Lazard Frères SAS, the disposal advisor of the HFSF, in connection with the acquisition of the entire stake of HFSF in Alpha Services and Holdings S.A. by UniCredit

Our firm advised Pharmathen and its shareholder, Partners Group in connection with the acquisition of CBL Patras

Our firm has advised National Bank of Greece in relation to the issuance of €500 million Tier II bonds.

K&P is once again Top Tier Firm in the IFLR1000 2023 Europe Rankings

K&P is the exclusive contributor to the Chambers and Partners Corporate Governance Global Practice Guide for 2023.

Our firm advised the Joint Coordinators and Bookrunners in connection with the offering of €500 mln. bonds issued by Mytilineos S.A.

NPL Greece Conference 2023

Our firm has advised BC Partners in its acquisition of Metropolitan college and IEK Akmi

Our firm advises on the acquisition of the Project Tethys Portfolio

Our firm advised Kpler on all Greek law aspects relating to the acquisition of Marine Traffic

We advised Wirtgen Invest Energy GmbH, on the acquisition of the company FOTOVOLTAIKOS STATHMOS MARGARITI SINGLE MEMBER S.A., for the development and operation of a photovoltaic power plant portfolio of 50 MWp

Our firm advised ELLAKTOR GROUP in the context of the sale of 75% of the Renewable Energy Sources division to Motor Oil Renewable Energy (MORE)

We are happy to announce the successful completion of a GBP 200 million senior preferred bonds issuance by National Bank of Greece.

Our firm has advised Waterwheel Capital Management, LP in relation to Sunrise III, the latest HAPS securitization transaction originated by Piraeus Bank S.A.

We have advised National Bank of Greece in relation to the issuance of the €500m senior preferred bonds.

Lexology Getting The Deal Through - Private Mergers & Acquisitions 2023 guide

Our firm advises Antenna Group in the acquisition of cinema chain Village Roadshow Operations, Greece.

Our firm is ranked Tier 1 in all practice areas by IFLR 1000

Our firm advised Bespoke SGA Holdings S.A. and EOS Hellenic Renaissance Fund on the acquisition of the company Hellenic Juices Société Anonyme

Our firm advised Athens International Airport S.A. in connection with its financing amounting to circa €1.1billion.

K&P advised the Joint Coordinators and Bookrunners in connection with bond issuance of €100,000,000, by CPLP Shipping Holdings PLC

Our firm advised PPC Renewables on the acquisition of Volterra RES portfolio

Capital Markets Law Alert: Briefing on new rules on the cross-border distribution of funds in Greece.

K&P advised the Joint Coordinators and Bookrunners in connection with bond issuance of €100,000,000 by Safe Bulkers PLC