Sub-Practice Company Formation &
Corporate Secretarial.

For most startups and SMEs, the ΙΚΕ is the right starting point — it has a minimal capital requirement, limited liability, and can be formed quickly through the GEMI one-stop-shop, which is why it has become the most commonly used vehicle for new companies since its introduction under Law 4072/2012. An ΑΕ makes more sense where you need the governance formality of a board of directors, plan to bring in institutional investors, or may eventually want a route to listing on the Athens Exchange — but it requires a minimum share capital of €25,000. We look at your capital plans, investor base and governance needs before recommending one over the other.

For brand-new formations, the ΙΚΕ has largely superseded the ΕΠΕ because it is faster and cheaper to set up and does not require a notarial deed in most cases. The ΕΠΕ still matters for existing companies that already operate in that form, and for conversions where an ΕΠΕ structure is being carried forward rather than started from scratch. We advise on both new formations and conversions of existing ΕΠΕ entities.

GEMI (the Γενικό Εμπορικό Μητρώο, or General Commercial Registry) is the official registry every Greek company must be entered into to acquire legal existence. The e-ΥΜΣ one-stop-shop coordinates the steps that used to require separate visits to different authorities — filing the articles of association, obtaining an ΑΦΜ tax registration number, and registering with GEMI — into a single, streamlined process that is typically a matter of days once the entity type and documentation are settled. We prepare the documentation and manage the filing so founders are not navigating the platform themselves.

It depends on the entity type. An ΑΕ or an ΕΠΕ generally requires the articles of association to be executed as a notarial deed. An ΙΚΕ, and most ΟΕ or ΕΕ partnerships, can in most cases be formed with a private document rather than a notarial deed, which is part of why they are faster and less costly to set up. We confirm the correct requirement for your chosen structure before drafting begins.

Yes — foreign founders and investors regularly form Greek companies without relocating, whether as a standalone investment, a subsidiary of an overseas parent, or a structure connected to a residence or investment plan. Dual qualification in Greece and England & Wales means the formation, English-language documentation and Greek registration are handled directly under a single instruction, and we can also put in place the registered office and local representative arrangements a non-resident founder needs.

Formation is the beginning of a set of ongoing obligations, not the end of them. Companies need GEMI filings and amendments kept current, corporate minutes and resolutions properly kept, share transfers documented correctly, and annual compliance obligations met on schedule — plus, in many cases, an ongoing registered office and legal representative. We provide this as continuing corporate secretarial support, alongside outsourced general counsel services for the legal questions that come up once the company is actually trading.