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Litigation & Arbitration · Sub-Practice

Unpaid does not have to mean
uncollectable.
We recover what is owed.

Commercial debt recovery in Greece requires more than a demand letter — it requires a strategy that moves quickly from extrajudicial pressure to court order to actual recovery from identifiable assets. We act for domestic and international creditors, including through our membership of the China International Receivables Management Network.

What We Handle Discuss Your Claim
Extrajudicial pressure before litigation
Many commercial debts are recovered without ever reaching a courtroom, through structured demand and negotiation. We pursue this route first — quickly, and without weakening your legal position.
Owed money by a Greek debtor?
Initial consultation to assess the debt, the available recovery routes and the realistic prospects of collection. Confidential and without obligation.
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What We Handle Our Approach Process Experience FAQ Related

Scope of Practice

Debt recovery,
from demand letter to recovered funds.

We act for creditors at every stage of the recovery process — extrajudicial demand, the order for payment procedure, ordinary litigation where the debt is disputed, enforcement against identified assets, and representation in formal insolvency proceedings. A debt recovery lawyer in Greece assesses the debtor's assets at the outset, because a judgment against an empty company is worth little.

Extrajudicial Demand & Negotiation
Formal demand letters and structured negotiation to recover commercial debts without litigation. Many claims resolve at this stage — we pursue it as the fastest and most cost-effective route where it is realistic.
Order for Payment (Διαταγή Πληρωμής)
The Greek summary procedure for documented, undisputed monetary claims — significantly faster than ordinary litigation. We assess eligibility and pursue this route as standard wherever the underlying documentation supports it.
Disputed Debt Litigation
Where the debtor disputes liability or the amount owed, full conduct of ordinary commercial litigation through Greek courts at every instance, including defence against objections to an order for payment.
Cross-Border Debt Recovery
Recovery of debts owed by Greek debtors to foreign creditors, and by foreign debtors to Greek creditors. Particular experience assisting Chinese creditors through our membership of the China International Receivables Management Network.
Asset Tracing & Enforcement
Identification of the debtor's assets — bank accounts, real property, receivables — and enforcement against them once judgment or an order for payment has been obtained. Freezing orders where dissipation is a real risk.
Creditor Representation in Insolvency
Representation of creditors in Greek insolvency, pre-insolvency restructuring and liquidation proceedings under Law 4738/2020 — filing claims, participating in creditor committees and pursuing recovery within the formal process.

Our Approach

Recovery is a process,
not a single legal step.

Recovering a commercial debt is rarely a single action — it is a sequence of decisions, each of which affects the next. Whether to send a formal demand or move directly to court. Whether the order for payment procedure is available or whether the debt will be disputed. Whether the debtor has identifiable assets worth pursuing at all. The objective for a debt recovery lawyer in Greece is money received, not a judgment obtained.

We assess that sequence from the outset, so that every step taken is the one most likely to result in actual recovery — not just a favourable judgment that cannot be enforced. A judgment against an asset-less debtor has limited value; we focus on the realistic path to funds in your account. Send us the invoices and contract and we will assess the fastest route.

"The objective is not a judgment. The objective is recovered money. We structure every recovery strategy around that distinction."

Our membership of the China International Receivables Management Network gives us a particular capability in assisting Chinese creditors recovering debts from Greek and Southeast European debtors — combining our local court experience with a network built specifically for this purpose.

Speed first
Order for payment where available
The Greek διαταγή πληρωμής procedure resolves documented, undisputed claims significantly faster than ordinary litigation. We assess eligibility on every matter and use it as standard.
Cross-border
China International Receivables Management Network
Member of the network specifically built to help Chinese companies recover debts internationally. We act as the Greek and Southeast European point of contact for Chinese creditors.
Asset focus
Recovery, not just judgment
We assess the debtor's asset position before committing to a litigation strategy, so the cost of recovery is proportionate to what can realistically be collected.
Insolvency
Creditor representation under Law 4738/2020
Where a debtor enters formal insolvency or pre-insolvency restructuring, we represent creditors throughout the process — filing claims and protecting your position relative to other creditors.

How We Recover Debt

From the unpaid invoice
to the recovered funds.

STEP 01
Claim Assessment
We review the underlying documentation, assess whether the order for payment procedure is available, and form a view on the debtor's likely response and asset position before any formal step.
STEP 02
Demand & Negotiation
Formal demand letter and, where appropriate, structured negotiation. Many commercial debts are recovered at this stage without the cost or delay of court proceedings.
STEP 03
Court Proceedings
Order for payment application where the claim is documented and undisputed, or ordinary litigation where it is disputed. Defence against any objections raised by the debtor.
STEP 04
Enforcement & Recovery
Identification of the debtor's assets and enforcement against them — bank accounts, real property, receivables. Coordination with insolvency proceedings where the debtor is unable to pay.

Our Experience

Debt recovery,
domestic and cross-border.

Commercial Debt Recovery
Order for Payment & Ordinary Litigation
Recovery of commercial debts across multiple sectors through the Greek order for payment procedure and ordinary litigation where claims are disputed — at every instance of the Greek courts.
Cross-Border
China International Receivables Management Network
Member of the China International Receivables Management Network, assisting Chinese companies with debt recovery and commercial disputes against debtors in Greece and Southeast Europe.
Insolvency
Creditor Representation Under Law 4738/2020
Representation of creditors in Greek insolvency and pre-insolvency restructuring proceedings — filing claims, protecting creditor priority and pursuing recovery within formal insolvency processes.
International Networks
AEA International Lawyers
Membership of AEA International Lawyers enables coordinated cross-border debt recovery where a debtor or its assets are located outside Greece, working with trusted correspondent firms.

Frequently Asked Questions

Debt recovery
questions, answered.

How do I recover an unpaid commercial debt in Greece?+

Most commercial debts in Greece are recovered through a sequence that starts with a formal demand letter, moves to the order for payment procedure (διαταγή πληρωμής) if the claim is documented and undisputed, and proceeds to ordinary litigation only if the debtor genuinely disputes liability or amount. We assess your documentation at the outset to identify the fastest realistic route to actual recovery.

What is the Greek order for payment procedure?+

The order for payment procedure (διαταγή πληρωμής) is a summary court process for recovering documented, undisputed monetary debts — significantly faster than ordinary litigation because it is decided on the papers without a full trial. It is available wherever the debt is evidenced by a written instrument such as an invoice, contract or cheque, and we use it as standard where the facts support it.

How long does debt recovery take in Greece?+

An order for payment can typically be obtained within weeks where the claim is properly documented, though enforcement adds further time if the debtor objects or assets must be traced. Ordinary litigation over a disputed debt follows the same timeline as other commercial litigation — commonly twelve to twenty-four months at first instance. We assess the realistic timeline for your claim before committing to a strategy.

Can you help Chinese companies recover debts from Greek debtors?+

Yes. We are a member of the China International Receivables Management Network, a network built specifically to help Chinese companies recover debts internationally, and we act as the Greek and Southeast European point of contact for Chinese creditors. We handle the full recovery process locally, from demand through enforcement, working in English, Greek or Italian with the creditor and coordinating through the network where a Chinese-language point of contact is needed.

What happens if the debtor becomes insolvent?+

If a debtor enters formal insolvency or pre-insolvency restructuring under Law 4738/2020, your claim must be filed within the insolvency process to protect its priority relative to other creditors. We represent creditors throughout Greek insolvency, restructuring and liquidation proceedings — filing claims, participating in creditor committees and pursuing the best realistic recovery within the formal process.

Is it worth pursuing a debtor who may have no assets?+

Not always — a judgment or order for payment against an asset-less debtor has limited practical value, so we assess the debtor's likely asset position before committing to a litigation strategy. Where assets can be identified, we pursue freezing orders and enforcement against bank accounts, real property and receivables; where they cannot, we advise honestly on the realistic prospects before you incur further cost.

What does an initial consultation cost?+

The initial consultation is confidential and without obligation — we assess the debt, the available recovery routes and the realistic prospects of collection before discussing fees. Fee arrangements are agreed individually based on the size and complexity of the claim, and we are transparent about costs from the outset.

Owed money by a Greek debtor?
Let us assess your recovery options.

Initial consultation to assess the debt, the available recovery routes and the realistic prospects of collection. Confidential and without obligation.

Get in Touch +30 210 36 33 694