Member Profiles

EDUCATION: Secondary Education: Graduate of the Varvakeio Model School (1979). Bachelor Studies: Bachelor of Law – National and Kapodistriako University of Athens, Law Department ( 1979 – 1984 ). Bachelor of Economics – National and Kapodistriako University of Athens, Economics Department ( 1984 – 1990 ). Bachelor of Political Science – National and Kapodistriako University of Athens, Political Science Department (1990 – 1995). Graduate Studies: Master of Laws – LLM, University of London, London School of Economics, (1985 -1986) -Legal Aspects of International Finance -EU Competition Law -Multinational Corporations and the Law -International Economic Law (primary emphasis on GATT and the IMF) Post-Graduate Studies: Candidate for Doctor of Law ( PhD), Dimokriteio University of Thrace. Thesis topic: “INTERNET and Public Law”. Foreign Languages: Fluent English and French PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE: Attorney – at – Law with the Supreme Court – Member of the Athens Bar Association. (1986 – until present). Areas of Specialisation: Antitrust & Unfair Competition Law Consumer Protection Law International Trade Commercial Law European Law Banking Law Corporate Law Distribution and Agency Agreements Intellectual and Industrial Property Law Stock Exchange Foreign Direct investments in Greece and the Balkan area Mergers and Acquisitions Arbitration Legal consultant of many Greek and European companies on Greek and EU Legislation. Legal consultant of the Greek Nursing Home for the Elderly. Legal consultant of the OA Athens 2004 Committee. Attorney-at-Law of the family of the Patriarch of Alexandria Peter VII regarding the CHINOOK fall on Saint Mount 9/11/2004. Legal partner of several Law Offices in Europe. President of the EEC Youth Committee (1994). Member of the Board of Directors of the National Insurance Company (Ethniki Asfalistiki Etaireia) (1993 – 1996). Political and Legal Consultant of the Minister of Education of Professor Fatouros since 1993 up to 1994. Political and Legal Consultant of the Minister of Labour and Social Security Mr Miltiadis Papaioannou since August 1997 up to 1999. Political and Legal Consultant of the Minister of Labour Mr Dimitrios Reppas since 1999 up to 2002. PARTICIPATION IN THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS: Participated in the Legislative Committee of the Ministry of Environment and Public Works for the harmonisation of Greek legislation with EC Directive 91/689/EE, L 377/91 regarding the administration of toxic and dangerous wastes. Participation in the Legal Committee of the Ministry of Labour for the flexibility of the Labour Market / LAW 2643/1998. LEGAL STUDIES AND PUBLICATIONS: “The Law of Franchising and EEC Competition Law “, EEC Review, 1990. “A Legal Outlook on International Financing”, Greek Bank Review, 1989. “The Legal Protection of Biotechnology “, Nomiko Vima, 1988. “International Law and the Transfer of Technology”, unpublished study submitted to LSE. “The Place of Origin of Products Distributed in the European Union”, independent, unpublished study for a client. Participated in the collective INE (GSEE) study regarding unemployment in Greece on the topic of “The Problem of wages in the Greek Economy”. “Legal Context of Bank Mergers in Greece”, independent, unpublished study for a Greek Bank. SPEAKER AT CONFERENCES: The Economic and Monetary Union of Europe – Perspectives, General Secretariat of Youth Athens, 1997, Speech Topic: “The Economic and Monetary Union of Europe-Perspectives”. The Greek Public Debt – Greek Economic Chamber, Athens, 1988, Speech Topic: “The Legal Problems concerning the Restructuring of Foreign Debt”. The Legal Protection of Software, Greek Informatics Company, Athens, 1988, Speech Topic: “Protection from the Copying of Software”. GOVERNMENT POSITIONS: Member of the Board of Directors of the National Insurance Company (Ethniki Asfalistiki Etaireia) (1993 – 1996). Consultant to the General Secretary of the new Generation for European Matters (1994). President of the Youth Committee of the EEC (1994). Consultant to the Minister of Education, Mr Dim. Fatouros, for European Affairs ( 1994). Consultant to the Minister of Labor Mr. Miltiadis Papaionnou since August 1997 up to 1999, on issues such as restructuring of labour market, immigration policy, European Policy, Social Dialogue. Consultant to the Minister of Labor Mr Dimitrios Reppas since 1999 up to 2001, on issues such as restructuring of labour market, immigration policy, European Policy, Social Dialogue. BOOKS: “The Rights of Working Youth”, General Secretariat of Youth, 1997. Editor and translator of the book of the former Premier of France, Michel Rocard, entitled ” The Rules of the Game”, prefaced by the Greek Prime Minister Konstantinos Simitis, Athens, 1992. Participated in the drafting of the 1991-1992 EUROGUIDE. PROGRAMS: Participation to the Program ” Personnalites d’Avenir” organized by the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs (June 1997). Participation to the Program “Young European Leaders” in the context of “The International Visitor Program” organized by the United States Information Agency (January 1999).

Alexandros Karakitis is the lawyer in charge of the firm. He has 30 years of experience in tax and business law maters. He advises and supports corporate clients and individuals in matters relating to tax planning, tax compliance management, tax controversy and dispute resolution and represents clients at administrative and criminal courts of all instances in tax and business litigation matters. He has vast experience in transfer pricing and permanent establishment issues, business model restructurings, merger & acquisition planning and implementation, tax and legal due diligence, VAT management and refund procedures. He is member of the Athens Bar and is admitted to the Supreme Courts of Greece Practice Areas/Industries Tax Advice Tax Controversy and Litigation at Administrative and Criminal Courts Commercial and Corporate Law Advice and Support in Disputes Permanent Residency & Golden Visa Procedures Estate Planning Transfer Pricing Compliance and Controversy Management Non-Dom Tax Residency Regimes International Executive Assignment Immigration, Tax Planning and Compliance Real Estate and Hospitality Life Sciences Oil & Gas Start-ups Consumer Products Energy Insurance Academic Background Dr. iuris in International Tax Law from the Eberhard Karls Universität Tübingen (1995) Post-graduate degree in European Law from the Europa Institut der Universität des Saarlandes (1989) Law degree (LL.B) from the Faculty of Law of the Aristotles University of Thessaloniki (1988) Languages Greek English German

EDUCATION - Bachelors of Law (LL.B.), (Guatemala, 1998) - Universidad Francisco Marroquin. - Specialization in Arbitration Law and Alternate Dispute Resolutions (U.S.A., 1998) - Loyola University. - Certificate if Digital Economy and E-Business (Guatemala, 2002) - Central American Institute of Public Administration -ICAP / Ministry of Economy. - Specialization in International Mergers & Acquisitions (England, 2003) - College of Law of England & Wales. - Executive Program in Legal Issues of International Business Law, (2003) - Georgetown University Law Center/ INCAE. - Specialization in Advanced Negotiation, Deal Design & Implementation (U.S.A., 2005) - Harvard Law School. - Magister Science (LL.M), Mercantile Law & Competitiveness (Guatemala, 2008) - CIG /USAC. - Attorney at Law - Public Notary (Guatemala, 1998) PRACTICE AREAS - Foreign Investment - Natural Resources (Mining and Energy) - Acquisition of strategic Real Estate Assets - Mergers & Acquisitions - Corporate Law - International Arbitration and Mediation - Head of the Foreign Investment Department of the firm. Advised clients and lead the local strategy to invest in multiple mining and energy projects which include Nickel, Silver, Gold, Antimony and Petroleum in Guatemala and Central America. Advised and lead as local counsel international arbitrations including the first ever DR-CAFTA Investor vs State dispute in Washington DC., which was ruled on behalf of the investor. Team leader in multiple strategic and large real estate transactions, involving natural resources companies, government, and multinationals. Team leader in multiple complex commercial transactions between multinationals and national entities and individuals. MEMBERSHIPS - Central Law Guatemala - AMCHAM Guatemala - ASCABI - Guatemalan Bar Association - Mexican Chamber of Commerce - German Chamber of Commerce - Guatemalan Chamber of Industry - American Bar Association – ABA - Chambers & Partners, Latin America. NOTABLE POSITIONS President of the Board of Directors of American Chamber of Commerce of Guatemala (“Amcham”) (2009- 2012) President of the Board of Directors of the Binational Chambers of Commerce of Guatemala (ASCABI) (2012) President of the Board of Directors of the law firm Central-Law (2002-2005) President and Founder of a Chapter of Fraternidad Internacional de Hombres de Negocios del Evangelio Completo (“FHINEC”) (2001-2002) Secretary of the Board of Directors of the American Chamber of Commerce of Guatemala (“Amcham”) (2007-2008) LANGUAGES Spanish, English and Italian.

Mr. Armando Mérida Ruano, founder and partner of Mérida y Asociados Law Firm, worked for several years in the legal department of a prestigious international banking institution in Guatemala City. This allowed him to acquire solid knowledge and extensive experience.  He was also an associate of Quezada, lbarguen y Escobar, a Law Firm in Guatemala City, and since 1994, founded the firm that operates as Merida y Asociados.  Languages: German, English, and Spanish.  The Firm At our Law Firm, Mérida y Asociados, we provide legal services, specializing in Trademarks and Patents, Notary Services, Civil Law, Business Law, Litigation and Arbitration. We are active members of Cross Border Business Lawyers (CBBL), INTA, ASIPI and AIPLA. We offer legal advice and legal services to individuals and corporations from the United States, Mexico, Canada, Panama, Argentina, Italy, Germany, Japan, and China, among others.