TRANSACTION INTERVIEW 89 It is everyone’s hope and expectation that this will lead to further economic development and the creation of new jobs in the area. In what way would you say that your work on this bond issuance is indicative of Koutalidis’s professionalism as a firm? Over the last decades, our firm has advised on most of the high-profile and groundbreaking transactions in Greece and has the privilege to serve a great variety of clients including leading Greek and foreign corporations, multinational enterprises, major investment and commercial banks and financial institutions. I firmly believe that lawyers must always remember their clients’ bottom line and our firm is well-known for its business approach. When engaging a tier 1 firm, clients take legal expertise for granted, as they should, but our firm (and our Banking and Finance Department in particular) offers clients the added value of decades of experience in complex and landmark transactions involving privatisations and project financing. I am happy to have headed a committed team that succeeded in delivering within very ambitious time and other constraints. What do you expect will be the long-term impact of this bond issuance on the Greek economy and the local area? The main focus is naturally on the acquisition of the Gournes land area by a private company that has ambitious plans for its development. Crete is already a top tourist destination but there is still a lot of room for investment and a more diverse exploitation of what it offers. The plots acquired are by the seaside and the plans made public by REDS so far provide for the construction theme and retail park as well as a mixed tourist resort with hotels, branded freehold villas and a casino. It is everyone’s hope and expectation that this will lead to further economic development and the creation of new jobs in the area. Koutalidis Law Firm acted as Legal Advisor to the National Bank of Greece
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