Best Sanctions & Export Controls Lawyers in Attiki

When to seek sanctions and export controls advice in Attiki

Attiki businesses may face sanctions and export-control issues when moving goods, funds, services, or technical information across borders. The risks are especially practical for companies using the Port of Piraeus, Athens International Airport, or Athens-based shipping, trade, technology, and defence supply chains.

EU sanctions regulations apply directly in Greece. Export controls can require a licence for certain dual-use items, software, or technology, while sanctions may prohibit dealings with listed persons, entities, sectors, or destinations. The applicable rules depend on the item, route, parties, ownership, end user, and intended use.

A Greek lawyer can help assess those facts, coordinate with the relevant authorities, and advise on Greek enforcement exposure. Advice may be urgent if a shipment is held, a payment is blocked, or an authority requests records.

Why you may need a lawyer

• A shipment through Piraeus or Athens International Airport is delayed because customs or a carrier questions its destination, end user, or export classification.

• An Attiki importer, shipowner, freight forwarder, or bank discovers that a customer, vessel, supplier, or beneficial owner may be subject to an EU asset freeze.

• Your company needs to determine whether industrial equipment, software, or technical assistance requires an export authorisation under EU dual-use rules.

• A buyer or intermediary proposes routing goods through another country, raising concerns about sanctions evasion or diversion to a restricted end user.

• A Greek authority, customs officer, bank, or business partner requests transaction records or an explanation of a suspected breach.

• Your funds or assets are frozen, or you are named on a sanctions list and need advice on compliance, a licence request, or challenging the listing.

Local laws and rules that may apply

Regulation (EU) 2021/821 establishes the EU system for controlling exports, brokering, technical assistance, transit, and transfers of dual-use items. It has applied since 9 September 2021 and replaced the previous EU dual-use regulation.

Council Regulation (EU) No 833/2014 imposes sectoral and other restrictive measures concerning Russia. Adopted in July 2014, it has been amended substantially, including after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022; the current consolidated text matters for each transaction.

Council Regulation (EU) No 269/2014 provides for asset freezes and restrictions on making funds or economic resources available to listed persons and entities connected with actions against Ukraine. It has applied since March 2014 and has been amended over time. These EU regulations apply in Greece alongside Greek rules on investigation, customs, and penalties.

Frequently asked questions

Do EU sanctions apply to a company based in Attiki?

Yes. EU restrictive measures apply in Greece, including to Greek companies and transactions within EU jurisdiction. A business may also need to consider rules that apply to a non-EU affiliate, bank, carrier, or destination.

What is the difference between sanctions and export controls?

Sanctions restrict dealings with specified countries, sectors, persons, or entities, and may freeze assets. Export controls regulate the movement or provision of specified goods, software, and technology, including some items with both civilian and military uses.

How can I tell whether a product is controlled?

Start with its technical specifications and compare them with the relevant EU control list. Classification alone may not settle the issue: destination, end user, intended use, and catch-all controls can also matter.

Does every export of dual-use goods need a licence?

No. The requirement depends on the item, destination, transaction, and applicable control. Some transfers may use a general authorisation if its conditions are met, while other exports require an individual authorisation or may be prohibited.

Can a Greek business deal with a company that is not itself listed?

Not necessarily. Ownership or control by a listed person may create restrictions, and indirect provision of funds or economic resources can also be prohibited. Check the ownership chain and the specific measure before proceeding.

What should I do if a bank freezes a payment?

Ask the bank for the stated reason and preserve the payment, contract, invoice, and screening records. Do not reroute or disguise the transaction; obtain legal advice promptly on whether the restriction applies and whether a permitted licence or exception is available.

Can an individual challenge an EU sanctions listing?

A person or entity listed by an EU measure may, in appropriate circumstances, seek review before the EU courts. An action for annulment generally has a two-month time limit under Article 263 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, subject to the applicable procedural rules.

How long does an export authorisation take?

There is no single reliable timeline for every application. Timing depends on the item, destination, end user, completeness of the file, and any consultation required, so confirm the expected process with the competent authority before setting shipment dates.

How much does a sanctions lawyer in Attiki cost?

Fees are not fixed by a standard price for this work. Ask for a written estimate explaining whether the matter is billed hourly or at a fixed fee, what work is included, and whether taxes, translations, or external technical advice are additional.

Can a small business or individual get legal help?

Yes. Eligibility does not depend on company size, but the appropriate adviser and procedure depend on whether the issue concerns a business transaction, a personal asset freeze, or a potential enforcement matter. Bring the relevant notices and transaction records to an initial consultation.

Should I speak to a Greek lawyer or an EU sanctions specialist?

For a transaction or investigation in Greece, a Greek lawyer can address local procedure and enforcement. Matters involving EU listings, several jurisdictions, or complex product classification may also require focused EU sanctions or export-control expertise.

Official resources

• Hellenic Ministry of Foreign Affairs: publishes Greece’s foreign-policy information and can help direct enquiries about sanctions or trade-control responsibilities to the appropriate Greek authority.

• Independent Authority for Public Revenue (AADE): administers Greek customs, including customs procedures relevant to goods entering or leaving through Attiki ports and airports.

• European Commission sanctions information: provides official EU sanctions material, including the consolidated financial sanctions list. Check the measure itself as well as any list entry before relying on a search result.

Next steps to find and hire a lawyer

1. Collect the key records, today. Gather contracts, invoices, product specifications, shipping documents, payment records, screening results, and any notice from a bank or authority.

2. Write a short timeline, today. Record the parties, goods, countries, routes, dates, and any shipment or payment deadlines. Identify whether assets are frozen or an authority has set a response date.

3. Search for relevant experience, within one or two days. Look for a lawyer admitted in Greece who handles EU sanctions, dual-use export controls, customs, or related regulatory matters in Attiki.

4. Verify professional status and scope, before engaging. Check the lawyer’s Greek bar membership and ask who will handle the matter, including any necessary EU-law or technical support.

5. Compare written engagement proposals, within several days. Confirm fees, scope, likely milestones, urgent-response availability, and how confidential business information will be handled.

6. Agree on an immediate compliance plan, as soon as retained. Ask the lawyer to identify the applicable measures, preserve records, assess any hold or reporting duty, and confirm whether the proposed transaction can lawfully continue.