Criminal Defense
Ilias G. Anagnostopoulos
Recognized in Best Lawyers since 2010 
Firm
Anagnostopoulos
1 Best Lawyers award
Awarded Practice Areas
Biography
Education/Position
Ilias G. Anagnostopoulos, born 1956 in Piraeus, graduated from the School of Law, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, in 1978. In 1982, he received a Doctor Juris degree from the J.W. Goethe University of Frankfurt am Main, Germany, with a book on pre-trial detention (“Haftgründe der Tatschwere und der Wiederholungsgefahr”, Frankfurt a.M. etc., Lang, 1984). He is a Professor emeritus in Criminal Law and Criminal Procedure, School of Law, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens.
Practice Areas
Ilias Anagnostopoulos was called to the Athens Bar in 1982 and heads Athens-based law firm Anagnostopoulos focusing on all aspects of business crime and criminal and regulatory risk management. He has appeared as lead counsel in prominent cases involving bank, tax, customs, securities and EU fraud, money laundering, corrupt and anti-competitive practices, product and corporate criminal liability, environmental offences, anti-terrorism, extradition and alternatives, and mutual assistance. In Lexology / GIR Thought Leaders 2025 he ranks amongst the most highly regarded individuals in business crime defence, investigations and asset recovery, and in Chambers Europe 2025 he is described as an outstanding lawyer in white-collar crime. Legal 500 EMEA ranks Ilias, a Hall of Fame inductee, among the 'top-notch' white-collar crime lawyers. From 2007 to 2013 Ilias chaired the Criminal Law Committee of the Council of Bars and Law Societies of Europe (CCBE), Brussels, and since 2013 he chairs the Hellenic Criminal Bar Association, Greece. From 2015 to 2019 he was a member of the Law Commission on the new Greek Criminal Code which entered into force in July 2019. He is a member of he High-Legal Council with the Bank of Greece and a Fellow of the International Academy of Financial Crime Litigators.
Publications
Ilias is a member of the editorial board of the leading criminal law journal in Greece “Poinika Chronika”. He is a regular commentator of cases and offers expert opinions in domestic and cross-border proceedings. His numerous publications in Greek, English and German cover most aspects of business crimes, international and European criminal law, reform of criminal procedure, human rights and crime policy.
Some of his publications are: -
"Criminal Law in Greece”(with K. Magliveras), Kluwer Law International, 2nd ed, 2023, 288 pp;Proportionality issues in European arrest warrant proceedings", in E Billis et al (eds), 'Proportionality in crime control and criminal justice', Oxford Hart Publishing 2021; “One Act, Multiple Prosecutions Unlimited Sanctions?”American Bar Association, 31st National Institute on White Collar Crime, 2017, U11-15; "Criminal justice cooperation in the EU after the first few 'steps': A defence view", ERAForum 1/2014, 9-24; "The right of access to a lawyer in Europe: A long road ahead?", European Criminal Law Review 1/2014, pp. 3-18; “Ne bis in idem in der Europäischen Union: Offene Fragen”, FS W. Hassemer, CF Müller, Heidelberg 2010, 1121-1140;
A list of Ilias's publications is available at https://iag.gr/publications-by-iag-law-firm
Memberships
Experts Committee of the Hellenic Ministry of Justice; High-Legal Council of the Bank of Greece; European Criminal Bar Association (founder member), European Criminal Law Academic Network, European Law Institute (fellow), International Academy of Financial Crime Litigators (fellow), International Bar Association, International Association of Penal Law, International Society for the Reform of Criminal Law, American Bar Association (associate), National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (international).
Firm
Anagnostopoulos
1 Best Lawyers award
Overview
- English
- French
- German
- Greek
- Greece, Athens Bar Association
- New York, New York City Bar Association
- American Bar Association - Associate, Criminal Justice Section; Associate, Business Law Section
- Council of Bars and Law Societies of Europe (CCBE) - Chair, Criminal Law Committee (2007-2013)
- European Criminal Law Academic Network - Member
- European Law Institute - Fellow
- Hellenic Criminal Bar Association - Chair
- International Bar Association - Member, Business Crime Committe; Member, Criminal Law Committee
- National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (USA) - Member, International
- School of Law, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens - Professor emeritus in Criminal law and Criminal Procedure
- International Academy of Financial Crime Litigators - Fellow
- Areios Pagos, Greece
- English
- French
- German
- Greek
- Greece, Athens Bar Association
- New York, New York City Bar Association
- American Bar Association - Associate, Criminal Justice Section; Associate, Business Law Section
- Council of Bars and Law Societies of Europe (CCBE) - Chair, Criminal Law Committee (2007-2013)
- European Criminal Law Academic Network - Member
- European Law Institute - Fellow
- Hellenic Criminal Bar Association - Chair
- International Bar Association - Member, Business Crime Committe; Member, Criminal Law Committee
- National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (USA) - Member, International
- School of Law, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens - Professor emeritus in Criminal law and Criminal Procedure
- International Academy of Financial Crime Litigators - Fellow
- Areios Pagos, Greece
Client Testimonials
Awards & Focus
Recognized in The Best Lawyers in Greece™ 2015-16 for work in:
- Criminal Defense
Special Focus:
- White-Collar Criminal Defense
Awards:
- 1987, Tsirimokos Prize, awarded by the Hellenic Criminal Bar Association
News & Media
Case History
Q&A
The combination of sophisticated advice and forceful litigation is the hallmark of our firm. We offer our clients, in all situations, a carefully designed overall strategy that includes the necessary synergies to achieve the best outcome; and when it comes to litigation, our firm’s talented and dynamic team commands respect in the courtroom. We pride ourselves on having an impeccable track record in prominent cases through multiple jurisdictions.
Clients seek practical solutions to their cases. We deliver on their expectations offering them clear, concise and creative advocacy.
Among the cases we won last year I would single out the trial of a former De Puy Ltd/Johnson & Johnson CFO in appellate proceedings before the Court of Appeal Athens. Our client had been convicted to 7 years of imprisonment by the first instance court on charges of bribery, fraud and money laundering in relation to the purchase of orthopedic products by public hospitals in Greece. The Court of Appeal quashed the conviction on legal and factual grounds and acquitted the defendant on all charges. We were delighted that the Court remedied what would otherwise have been an unfair treatment of an individual who in all circumstances had acted in good faith.
In the past criminal defence lawyers were called for rescue mostly after the government had invaded the place. In the business crime area this is not the rule anymore. Affected corporates and individuals have developed an understanding that timely and competent advice by experts in this field in relation to risk management is indispensable in order to address the ever-increasing needs in an extremely demanding environment. Only defence lawyers who excel among their peers have an eye for criminal risks and can offer proper guidance on how to navigate through multiple criminal and regulatory risks. Nowadays, most white-collar crime cases have important cross-border aspects. A strategic decision in any of the jurisdictions involved may have serious repercussions in all the others. Timely and careful coordination of all initiatives through multiple jurisdictions is of paramount importance in order to achieve a globally positive outcome of the case. We are fortunate to have an excellent network of prominent colleagues around the world and be able to develop an integrated strategy in each case tailored to the needs of our clients.
My first inspiration was my father, George, a forceful and creative litigator of highest integrity. Following him into the courtroom, I was fascinated by the trial drama. At the Law School of the National University of Athens it was Professor Nikolaos Androulakis, a thought leader in his area, who navigated us through the fundaments of criminal law; and during my doctoral studies at the Goethe University Frankfurt am Main, Germany, my supervisor, Professor Winfried Hassemer, a brilliant and forward-thinking intellectual, guided me through the multiple challenges of criminal law theory and practice. When I started my career in criminal defence, I was inspired by Mr Christoforos Argyropoulos, an admirable lawyer of the highest caliber and moral authority.
I love my family (my wife, Persa, and our sons, Kimon and Aris), our cats (Zarya and Conor), music, motorcycles, classic cars and travelling.
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