Despina
Lawyer · Athens, Greece
- 251 cases handled · 6 in this service
- 18+ years in practice
- Speaks: English, German, Greek
- Law, Athens University of Law
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4.95(12 reviews)
Contract Disputes & Breach of Contract in Greece
A contract dispute in Greece, athetisi symvasis, starts when one side does not do what was agreed: a seller does not complete after the preliminary contract, a builder stops work, a supplier delivers late or a client refuses to pay for work it calls defective. English-speaking lawyers serve the formal notice, negotiate and take the claim to the Greek courts.
About Contract Disputes & Breach of Contract in Greece
A contract dispute — the words people type are breach of contract, contract dispute, suing for breach of contract or claiming damages, and lawyers sometimes say contractual dispute — begins when one party does not perform what the contract says. In Greek it is αθέτηση σύμβασης (athetisi symvasis); the key concept in Greek law is υπερημερία, the default that starts once performance is overdue and, as a rule, after a formal demand, and the usual first document is the εξώδικο, an out-of-court notice served by a court bailiff. Some older lists and lawyer pages call this service “Contractual Disputes”.
Who it concerns
Buyers whose seller or developer is not honouring the preliminary contract (προσύμφωνο) for a house or flat, owners whose renovation contractor on the mainland or an island has stopped work or left defects, foreign companies with a Greek supplier, distributor or agent, holiday-home owners in a dispute with a management company, and freelancers or consultants whose Greek client ended the agreement without paying.
How a dispute usually goes in Greece
- Reading the contract and the evidence: e-mails, invoices, photographs, expert reports.
- The εξώδικο: a formal notice, served by a bailiff, that records the breach, sets a final deadline and announces the consequences. Many Greek disputes are settled at this stage, and it fixes the date from which default runs.
- Negotiation or mediation. For some civil and commercial claims, and for contracts with a mediation clause, Greek law requires an initial mediation session before the court hears the case; the lawyer explains whether this applies.
- A claim before the magistrates' court (Ειρηνοδικείο) or the court of first instance (Πρωτοδικείο), depending on the amount, or arbitration if the contract provides for it.
- Enforcement of the judgment against the other side's assets, carried out through a court bailiff.
Points to watch
- Greek law knows more than one way to end a contract — termination by notice (καταγγελία) and withdrawal with return of what was paid (υπαναχώρηση) are different tools with different conditions; choosing the wrong one can itself be a breach.
- Claims become time-barred, and the periods differ by type of contract; a lawyer checks this early.
- A contract written in English can be relied on in Greece, but court papers are in Greek and documents in another language need an official translation; the governing-law clause matters.
- When the only issue is an undisputed unpaid amount, the quicker route is a payment order through debt collection. Disputes about a home rental are covered under landlord and tenant disputes.
What a lawyer does
Assesses the claim and the evidence, drafts and serves the εξώδικο, negotiates or represents you in mediation, files and runs the case in Greek, and follows enforcement. A judgment from another country has to be recognised in Greece first — see enforcement of foreign judgments. A check before signing avoids much of this, see contract review; for a purchase that has gone wrong at the preliminary-contract stage, see also property purchase.
Questions and answers
Can I sue a Greek company from abroad?
Yes. A lawyer in Greece acts under a power of attorney, and most steps, including the hearing, do not require your presence.
What can I claim?
Depending on the contract and the breach: performance of what was promised, termination with the return of what you paid, compensation for your loss, or the agreed penalty.
Is a letter from a lawyer enough?
Often the εξώδικο is what unlocks a settlement, and it is usually the step that puts the other side formally in default. If it is ignored, the court is next.
Is mediation compulsory in Greece?
Not for every dispute. For certain categories of claims an initial session with a mediator has to take place before the court proceeds; outside those cases mediation is a choice.
How is this different from debt collection?
Debt collection is for money owed that is not seriously disputed and is proven by documents. A contract dispute is about whether the contract was performed at all, or properly.
5 lawyers who provide Contract Disputes & Breach of Contract in Greece
Sorted by experience in this service. Write to any of them — the reply comes from the lawyer, without obligation.
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Joanna
Lawyer · Thessaloniki, Greece
- 345 cases handled · 4 in this service
- 18+ years in practice
- Speaks: English, Greek, Italian, Spanish
- Law, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki - Universidad de Salamanca Spain- International Hellenic University- University of Cologne, Germany
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4.86(40 reviews)
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Anastasia
Lawyer · Thessaloniki, Greece
- 98 cases handled · 1 in this service
- 8+ years in practice
- Speaks: French, English, Greek
- Law, Democritus University of Thrace
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5.00(4 reviews)
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Konstantinos
Lawyer · Athens, Greece
- 28 cases handled · 1 in this service
- 11+ years in practice
- Speaks: English, Greek
- Degree in Law, National & Kapodistrian University of Athens
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5.00(1 review)
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Fotis
Lawyer · Mytilene, Greece
- 11 cases handled
- 6+ years in practice
- Speaks: English, Greek
- MSc in law and informatics, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki
Contact form · a chat with a lawyer
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What our clients say about our service in Greece
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The lawyer was excellent and efficient in every way.
— Tracey04 Nov 2025Contract Disputes & Breach of Contract -
The lawyer is calm, savvy and highly skilled, with excellent English. She helped us settle a tricky legal problem involving a Portuguese-based removal company, guiding us through the legal, technical and cultural complexities of our claim. For us it was priceless to have such peace of mind in a stressful period. We recommend her to anyone dealing with an international or complex legal claim.
— Krista15 Jul 2025Contract Disputes & Breach of Contract -
The lawyer was very helpful, spoke good English and was there when needed. My small case was taken seriously.
— Jan19 Feb 2025Contract Disputes & Breach of Contract -
Working with the lawyer was a pleasure, and her professionalism showed throughout. We are very thankful for her expertise and for the clear, well-articulated plan of action she set out. She made the effort to understand our situation and was always on hand to answer questions. We needed her because our wedding venue had charged us extra "overage" fees after the wedding and was keeping our wedding photos as collateral. She got to the bottom of it and resolved our case.
— Panayota12 Dec 2024Contract Disputes & Breach of Contract -
I am very happy with the lawyer, who is personable and supportive, and I am still working with her.
— Claire08 Nov 2024Contract Disputes & Breach of Contract -
The lawyer gave us very helpful support on the company matter we approached him with. We will certainly use him for any future legal needs.
— Aimee07 Nov 2024Contract Disputes & Breach of Contract -
The lawyer was very committed and, most importantly, successful.
— Nathalie04 Nov 2024Contract Disputes & Breach of Contract -
The lawyer was a great help. He replied quickly, understood our problem and was easy to work with.
— Jonny27 May 2024Contract Disputes & Breach of Contract -
I needed a lawyer after trouble getting a refund for a car reservation I had cancelled because of fraudulent information the car dealer had posted online. I contacted the service and my case was handled by one of its lawyers. Thanks to her action I got a relevant part of the money back within a few days, which I consider an absolute success. Dealing with her, I became firmly convinced that she is smart, excellent and reliable, a professional who comes quickly to the point. I would absolutely recommend her and the service to friends who may need legal support in Spain, and I would contact them again myself if the need arose.
— Marco03 May 2023Contract Disputes & Breach of Contract -
This summer a client of mine had a problem with a Catalan bank, Caixa, which had blocked his mortgage account so that he could not pay his instalments. Being a lawyer from Russia, I was unable to resolve it myself and turned to the lawyers of this service. One of them answered first, and I signed an agreement with her for legal assistance to my client. Thanks to her outstanding perseverance and the highest professionalism, the problem was solved. My client and I are entirely satisfied with her work and deeply grateful. Should I need legal help in Spain again, I will certainly turn to her.
— Ruslan08 Nov 2022Contract Disputes & Breach of Contract -
The lawyer did a great job for us in dealing with a difficult service provider. Her approach was suitably forceful and got the result we needed. Communication was excellent and timely, and we are very grateful. Highly recommended.
— Paul20 Jul 2022 -
Our lawyer did a great job helping us resolve a purchase we made from a dishonest car dealer in Spain. She was honest with us from the beginning, always replied on time, and dealt with a very difficult person on the other side, closing the case successfully. We highly recommend this service!
— Anna27 Jun 2022