Gregory P. Bufithis is EAM Capital’s founder and Managing Director. Mr. Bufithis has over 20 years of experience in intellectual property law and commercial transactions in the U.S. and Europe. His commercial transactions work has ranged from structuring international transactions to establishing joint ventures. He has coordinated the commercialization of intellectual property portfolios for international investment groups based in Europe, Asia and the Middle East as well as advising clients on matters involving digital media and intellectual property rights.

He has also provided assistance to a range of international clients on matters including but not limited to devising strategic alliances, joint ventures, fulfillment, co-branding and linking agreements as well as licensing, royalty, outsourcing and marketing agreements. 

Mr. Bufithis received his Juris Doctorate from the John Marshall School of Law (Illinois, U.S.).   He also holds dual Bachelor of Arts degrees from Hartwick College (New York, U.S.) in Economics and Political Science and a Licence en langues et civilizations étrangères (first degree) from the Universitè de Paris Sorbonne. He received his training as a currency and commodities trader at Credit Suisse.   He is fluent in English, French and Greek. 

Valerie J. Pelton is a Principal and EAM Capital’s General Counsel.  Her skillful handling of complex business issues enables clients to maximize results on ventures ranging from structuring international transactions to joint ventures. Her detailed knowledge and expertise also enable clients to navigate the shoals of complex compliance issues under Sarbanes-Oxley and related regulatory matters. As a certified mediator, she assists companies to achieve cost effective out-of-court solutions to business problems.

Prior to joing EAM Capital, Ms. Pelton engaged in the private practice of securities and business law with special emphasis on the practice of securities, mergers & acquisitions and corporate transactions. As a corporate transactional and aviation finance attorney in the defense and aerospace industry, Ms. Pelton gained invaluable understanding of the commercial, financial and executive division goals and the importance of working closely with them to achieve successful business solutions which fully complied with regulatory and legal requirements. Prior to practicing law, Ms. Pelton served as a U.S. Air Force Signals Intelligence and Electronic Combat Operations Officer.

Ms. Pelton received her Juris Doctorate from Whittier College School of Law (California, U.S.) and holds a Master of Arts in Political Science from the University of Nevada at Las Vegas, and Bachelor of Arts degrees from Vanderbilt University (Tennessee, U.S.) in Modern European Studies & French. She also served as Chair of the Europe & NIS Subcommittee of the Northern Virginia Technology Council from 2001-2002 and as Vice Chair of the Europe & NIS Subcommittee from 2000-2001. Ms. Pelton is certified as a mediator in accordance with the provisions of the California Dispute Resolution Programs Act of the California Business and Professions Code and is admitted to practice law in Virginia, New Jersey, the District of Columbia and California.  She is fluent in English and French.

Athina Kontosakou is Intellectual Property Advisor for EAM Capital.   She is further a Consulting Attorney in our sister company Project Counsel Limited and is engaged in the management of complex commercial litigation services, compliance issues and government, regulatory and criminal investigations. She utilizes cutting-edge software to manage e-discovery reviews in a cost-effective and efficient manner.

Prior to joining EAM Capital Ms. Kontosakou extensively practiced business law by consulting corporate clients operating in IT, Energy, Telecoms and Media industries. She had further worked with franchising groups, agents and distributors on corporate and competition issues. She has also handled free and unfair competition cases and worked on IPR (patents, designs, trademarks) protection and enforcement, transfer of technology and license agreements. She has been involved in high profile litigation cases claiming protection under “the essential facilities doctrine” in the IT industry and cases related to enforcement of IPR on software and databases developed. She has assisted designers and artists with copyrighting issues and their contractual relationships with manufacturers and consulted IT joint ventures on corporate issues.  She has further led M&A projects for international firms active in the Renewable Energy Sources market. She has worked closely with environmental organizations and consulted consortiums on Energy Law and Regulation.

Before qualifying, Ms. Kontosakou had received her training in providing business start-up services, consulting on set up issues and potential legal business risks.  She has been involved in compliance matters for listed companies while writing her dissertation on insider dealing issues.

Ms. Kontosakou has further served a member of the managing team of the legal information database inlaw.gr (2008-2009).  

Ms. Kontosakou holds a Master of Laws (LL.M) in Competition Law from University College of London (UCL), awarded with Distinction, a Master of Laws (LL.M) in Corporate and Commercial Law from the University of Athens, and a law degree (LL.B) from University of Athens Law School. She has further studied Construction Law and Arbitration at City University, London. She is fluent in English and French and a native speaker of Greek.   

Alexander Hania is EAM Capital’s Tax Advisor.  His expertise is counseling start-up companies seeking venture capital or angel investments, negotiating venture capital term sheets, and advising corporations and individuals about international tax implications of planned business operations in Europe.  He implemented a German private equity “mirror” fund structure for a major U.S. investor in compliance with corporate, securities, and capital market and tax laws.   He also has extensive experience in incorporating subsidiaries of European companies, cross-border corporate structure and IT licensing agreements. 

He has a Master of Laws (LL.M.) in International Business and Tax Law from American University, Washington College of Law (Washington, D.C.),  a Juris Doctorate (cum laude) from Gutenberg University, Law School (Mainz, Germany) and a law degree from the University of Athens Law School.  He is fluent in English, French, German and Greek.

Mr. Bufithis, Ms. Pelton, Ms. Kontosakou and Mr. Hania are aided by a client advisory team of attorneys and financial analysts based in Brussels, London, Paris and Washington, DC.