Event information
Agenda
1.00pm-1.50pm Registration with lunch
1.50pm-2.00pm Opening remarks
- Margherita Birri, research editor, The Legal 500
2.00pm-2.30pm Fireside Chat: Use of new technologies and AI to support day-to-day business functions – regulatory risks
While new technologies and most significantly Artificial intelligence (AI) are expanding exponentially in almost every area of human activity and industry, organizations increasingly use and rely on them, in order to support critical elements of their functions, including cybersecurity, HR management and evaluation of employees, credit risk assessment of business partners, consumer profiling, data analysis, automation of workflows, etc. At the same time, very recent and upcoming regulatory initiatives on, both, EU and national level, increase compliance burden for organizations developing, also for organizations using these technologies. This fireside chat aims to explore regulatory risks linked with the use of new technologies, with particular focus on AI, from the perspective of organizations developing and embedding these technologies in products and services, also from the perspective of organizations using these to support their day-to-day business functions.
- Theodore Konstantakopoulos, head of TMT & data practice, Zepos & Yannopoulos
- Antigoni Papanikolaou, corporate, external & legal affairs lead Greece, Cyprus & Malta, Microsoft
- Yota Kremmida, director & associate general counsel, WW Channel & Ecosystems, Hewlett Packard Enterprise
2.30pm-3.20pm Attracting and preparing legal talent for the corporate environment
The corporate world is an extremely demanding and evolving environment. In-house lawyers must be properly integrated, understand the expectations of business and become part of such environment. What is the proper skillset for a young lawyer for pursuing a career in the corporate environment? More importantly, how can young legal talent be prepared for induction in the corporate environment? Do Greek or foreign universities prepare young students for the corporate world? Is prior experience in a legal firm be the proper first step? We will discuss and exchange views on all the above with leading In-house legal counsels in our panel.
- Nikos C. Kortisas, managing partner, Koutadilis Law Firm
- Nikos V. Salakas, partner, head of banking & finance, Koutadilis Law Firm
- Periklis Stroumpos, head of legal, Fraport Greece
- Dimitra Katsafadou, head of legal, Novartis (Hellas) S.A.C.I.
- Thaleia Emiri, chief legal counsel, Alpha Bank
3.20pm-4.05pm Competition Law considerations in day-to-day legal practice
Competition law has never been more relevant and omnipresent in day-to-day legal function. Far from being a specialized or niche area of law, reserved only for cartels or monopolies, competition rules are increasingly used as part of standard legal review within the frames of compliance, commercial agreements and policies, transactions and business strategy, to name a few. With the role of in-house lawyers becoming all the more demanding, competition law assessment has become a typical part of their function. At the same time, recent legal developments, as indicatively the reform of national competition law (e.g. L. 4886/2022) or EU competition law (e.g. Commission Regulation (EU) 2022/720 on vertical agreements and concerted practices) make this role even more challenging. Together with esteemed in-house counsels, we will discuss and share experiences on how various and quite different competition law considerations arise in everyday legal practice, which issues may prove challenging and how these can be addressed optimally to ensure both efficiency and compliance.
- Lia Vitzilaiou, senior legal manager; corporate / competition / M&A, Platis – Anastassiadis & Associates / EY Law
- Julia Pournara, Platis – Anastassiadis & Associates / EY Law
- Alexia Trokoudi, group manager, advocate, legal division on corporate holdings and energy regulation, HELLENiQ ENERGY Holdings S.A
- Gallou Vasso, group legal affairs & compliance executive director, Sunlight Group Energy Storage Systems
- Georgios Kourgias, legal director, Greece & Switzerland, AbbVie Pharmaceuticals S.A.
4.05pm-4.25pm Coffee break
4.25pm-5.15pm ESG Enhancing, Sustaining and Growing
- Christina Faitakis, partner, Karatzas & Partners
- Stamatis Varsamos, senior legal advisor, Athens International Airport
- Spyros Venetsianos, deputy general manager, Eurobank
- Dimitris Tzavaras, senior manager, tax & legal – ESG Services, PwC Greece
5.15pm-5.45pm Fireside Chat: Compliance Due diligence in Mergers and Acquisitions: criminal law aspects
This panel will explore issues which may arise in M&A transactions, in cases where the target company’s management faces criminal proceedings in Greece for business related offences, such as tax offences or money laundering. Our discussion will focus on key points to be considered by potential buyers.
- Natalie Kedikoglou, general counsel (Greece), Eldorado Gold
- Panagiotis Koureleas, deputy managing partner, GIANNIDISKOURELEAS Law Firm
- Natasha Kaisari, partner, GIANNIDISKOURELEAS Law Firm
5.45pm-5.50pm Closing Remarks
- Margherita Birri, research editor, The Legal 500
- Elena Lewis, researcher, The Legal 500
5.50pm-7.30pm Drinks & canapes
Speakers
Theodore Konstantakopoulos, head of TMT & data practice, Zepos & Yannopoulos
Theodore is a member of the corporate commercial group and head of the TMT & Data practice at Zepos & Yannopoulos. He has extensive experience in advising technology multinationals, global telcos and social media companies on issues relating to new technologies and media, covering all aspects of electronic communications, data protection, cybersecurity, content regulation, intellectual property, telecommunications and e-commerce law. He also advises on consumer protection, marketing, product labelling and product liability matters. His advice pertains to novel and complex issues on cloud computing, connected devices and blockchain solutions, while he often interacts on issues of regulatory practice with the Hellenic Data Protection Authority and the Hellenic Telecommunications and Post Commission. Theodore is included in the European Data Protection Board (EDPB)’s Support Pool of Experts for the fields of “Technical expertise in New Technologies and Information Security” and “Legal expertise in New Technologies”. He is a regular contributor to various technology law publications and a guest speaker in data privacy fora in Greece and abroad.
Theodore is admitted before the Court of Appeals. He was admitted to the Athens Bar in 2007 and joined Zepos & Yannopoulos in 2022.
Antigoni Papanikolaou, corporate, external & legal affairs lead Greece, Cyprus & Malta, Microsoft
Natalie Kedikoglou, general counsel (Greece), Eldorado Gold
General Counsel of the Greek subsidiaries of Eldorado Gold Corporation from 2021. Eldorado Gold is a Canadian middle-tier gold and base metals producer with mining, development and exploration operations in Turkey, Canada, Greece and Romania, listed in the Toronto and New York Stock Exchanges. From 2016 to 2021, Natalie was General Counsel to the motorway concession companies NEA ODOS S.A. and ODOS KENTRIKI ELLADAS S.A. and from 2003 to 2016 She was General Counsel to GAIAOSE S.A., a state-owned company managing railway assets (real estate and rolling stock) in Greece. Natalie specialises in financing and operation of major projects, as well as in project finance, concession contracts, state aid, corporate restructuring and privatisations. Professional memberships:
- Association of Corporate Counsel,
- World Association of Mining Lawyers and
- Hellenic Society for the Study of Construction Technology Law (EMEDITEKA).
Member (nominated by ICC Hellas) of the ICC Commission on Arbitration and ADR (2022)
National representative on the permanent advisory committee on railway legislation of DG Move (2014 – 2015).
During the period 2005-2015 Natalie participated as an expert in the design and implementation of the transformation and consolidation of the Greek railway system (spin-off of new companies, debt write-offs, privatizations). In 2012 and 2015 Natalie was an independent expert on behalf of the European Commission, the IMF and the World Bank in the strategic planning and evaluation of the reorganization of Serbian Railways.
Panagiotis Koureleas, deputy managing partner, GIANNIDISKOURELEAS Law Firm
Natasha Kaisari, partner, GIANNIDISKOURELEAS Law Firm
Lia Vitzilaiou, senior legal manager; corporate / competition / M&A, Platis – Anastassiadis & Associates / EY Law
Lia is a Corporate and Commercial lawyer, specialized in a Competition Law. She is experienced in M&A transactions, corporate restructuring, as well as antitrust and commercial litigation.
Prior to joining “Platis-Anastassiadis”, Lia was working for major law firms in London, Madrid and Athens, where she engaged in a wide range of corporate, commercial and competition law projects. She also has extensive experience in antitrust and commercial litigation and has represented clients before the Hellenic Competition Commission and in ICC arbitrations.
Lia holds a Degree in Law from the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens and an LL.M. in International Business Law from University College London (UCL), UK. She is a scholar of the Onassis Public Benefit Foundation.
Julia Pournara, partner, business law & transactions, competition, healthcare law, Platis – Anastassiadis & Associates / EY Law
Alexia Trokoudi, group manager, advocate, legal division on corporate holdings and energy regulation, HELLENiQ ENERGY Holdings S.A
Mrs. Alexia Trokoudi has graduated the Law School of Athens and has obtained an LLM postgraduate degree from the Bristol-UK University in Commercial and Banking Law. She is practicing law since 1994, mainly in commercial law and regulation. She has practiced banking law as a Legal Counsel of the ATTICA BANK SA, and in the telecoms sector as a Legal Counsel in the GREEK TELECOMMUNICATIONS ORGANIZATION SA (OTE). She provided her legal services in the Greek Energy Regulator (RAE) for 13 years, while from 2007 up to 2015 she had the position of Head of the Legal Department of RAE. Since April 2015, she provides her legal services for the HELPE GROUP OF COMPANIES and she has the position of the Group Manager on Corporate Holdings and Energy Regulation. Mrs. Alexia Trokoudi has represented HELPE in the Board of DEPA INFRASTUCTURE SA, in the Public Gas Grid Company of Rest Greece (DEDA SA), the EDA ATTIKIS SA and in the Board of ELPET SA. Mrs Trokoudi participates as a Member in the Board of RES HELPE Group companies in Cyprus. Mrs. Trokoudi participates in the Board of the “Association of Independent Power Producers (IPPs)” and represents HELPE in the Legal Committee of “FUELS EUROPE” (“LIG”). She is a founding member of the Board of the “Hellenic Association for Energy Law”. In 2021, Mrs Trokoudi Alexia was awarded by the Association “Business Law Awards 2021” as the Gold Winner for the energy project “HELLENIC PETROLEUM-PROJECT KOZANI-ENERGY PROJECT”.
Gallou Vasso, group legal affairs & compliance executive director, Sunlight Group Energy Storage Systems
Yota Kremmida, director & associate general counsel, WW Channel & Ecosystems, Hewlett Packard Enterprise
Yota is the Director & Associate General Counsel for WW Channel & Ecosystems in Hewlett Packard Enterprise. She joined the legal team of Hewlett Packard Co in 2010. In her current role, Yota supports the indirect go-to-market representing an average of 75% of the revenue of the company. She is seen as the top expert as regards legal matters for Channel and competition law and advises the WW Channel & Ecosystems teams at the highest level, supporting business clients and legal counsels around the globe. She started as a Country Counsel for Greece and Cyprus and was promoted to Region Counsel including the responsibility for Turkey in 2012. She added Africa, including South Africa, in her portfolio in 2015, while in 2018 she was named the EMEA Counsel for GBU Indirect Sales and Competition Law. She sits in the leadership teams of the subsidiaries and businesses she supports. Previous roles include the position of commercial and corporate counsel for the Olympic Games Organizing Committee- Athens 2004 for seven years and the lead legal advisor to the Public Private Partnerships (SDIT) Unit of the Ministry of Finance for four years. She has extended public sector experience including in PPPs, project finance and construction projects. She is a qualified lawyer, admitted to the Greek Supreme Court. She is a Board Member for the Hellenic Republic Assets Development Fund. She is a graduate of the Law School of the University of Athens and holds a DEA (Masters) from the Law School of the University of Paris X – Nanterre in the Law of International Economic Relationships. She speaks English and French in addition to her native language, Greek. When she is not at work, Yota spends time with her family, occasionally travelling or enjoying a play or concert. She tries not to skip her exercising once or twice per week.
Nikos C. Kortisas, managing partner, Koutadilis Law Firm
As the Managing Partner of Koutalidis Law Firm, Nikos leads our team with his in-depth legal knowledge and team spirit, holding the provision of excellence-driven solutions to our clients as his daily mission. At the same time, thanks to his extensive and internationally acclaimed experience in M&A, Banking, Finance & Restructuring, as well as Capital Markets he is particularly active in assuming challenging undertakings and complicated projects both in the Greek and the international corporate market. Recognised repeatedly by esteemed world class associations of the legal world, indicatively, as a top tier lawyer in IFLR and as an eminent practitioner in Chambers and Partners, Nikos combines his active approach with uncompromised professionalism.
Nikos V. Salakas, partner, head of banking & finance, Koutadilis Law Firm
Nikos has extensive experience in Banking, Finance & Restructuring, Capital Markets, Project Finance, and M&A practices. He is particularly active in complicated projects of these practices and has been repeatedly acknowledged by international legal associations for his successful track record. Indicatively, he has been named “market leader”, “stellar lawyer” and hall of fame lawyer.
Periklis Stroumpos, head of legal, Fraport Greece
Dimitra Katsafadou, head of legal, Novartis (Hellas) S.A.C.I.
Thaleia Emiri, chief legal counsel, Alpha Bank
Georgios Kourgias, legal director, Greece & Switzerland, AbbVie Pharmaceuticals S.A.
Georgios Kourgias holds an LL.B degree in Law from the Aristotle University of Thessalonica, Greece and an LL.M/Master’s degree in Commercial law from the University of Glasgow and Stratchlyde University, Glasgow, United Kingdom.
His legal career started in the beginning of 2006, when he joined Biggart Baillie LL.P – Solicitors, a Glasgow based corporate/commercial law. At the end of 2006 he joined the Corporate team of Tods Murray LL.P – Solicitors in Glasgow.
In the begging of 2009 Georgios returned to Greece and he joined Upstream S.A., as Legal Counsel.
Christina Faitakis, partner, Karatzas & Partners
Christina Faitakis has been a partner at Karatzas & Partners since 2000.
Her principal areas of practice are banking and finance transactions including project finance, corporate and real estate financing. She leads the project finance team of the firm and regularly advises Greek and international funders and sponsors on a wide range of banking transactions.
She is constantly ranked as a top tier lawyer in her areas of practice in Greece from various renowned legal directories such as Chambers & Partners, Legal500 and IFLR1000 and as a Woman Leader EMEA by the IFLR1000
Stamatis Varsamos, senior legal advisor, Athens International Airport
Stamatis studied law in the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens and holds a Master’s in laws Degree (LLM) from the University of Southampton, and a Master’s in Laws Degree with Honors (LLM) in Advanced Studies in Air and Space Law from the University of Leiden. He is also holder of IATA’s International Air Law Diploma.
He is specialized in aviation & competition law and has extended experience in managing all aspects of aviation and airport law related issues, also advising AIA in all its major projects, including financing. He is the writer of the book “Airport Competition Regulation” published in 2016 by Kluwers International and regular contributor to journals of air & space law.
Stamatis is representing AIA at Airport Council International (ACI), State Aid task force and Ground Handling task force, while as from 2022 he is chairing ACI’s legal task force. He is also member of the Committee of the European Air Law Association (EALA), of the World Airport Lawyers Association (WALA), and of the International Institute of Space Law (IISL).
Spyros Venetsianos, deputy general manager, Eurobank
Spyros Venetsianos joined Eurobank in 2004 to create the Project Finance team and remained the head of the department until late 2013. He is currently the Head of the Structured Finance Unit, within the Corporate & Investment Banking division which entails the Hotels & Leisure Finance, Project Finance, Commercial Real Estate Finance and M&A Finance also covering NPL Portfolio Financing solutions. These teams act in all countries in which the Eurobank Group has a presence, such as Bulgaria, Cyprus and Serbia, while main focus is in Greece. They predominantly deal with performing cases.
He is a member of Credit Committees.
In his previous position at Bank Of America, at Global Corporate & Investment Banking, he was one of the key members in teams providing financial advisory services for infrastructure projects, mergers and acquisitions, privatizations, and the provision of specialized financial instruments.
Spyros holds a Diploma of Mechanical Engineering from NTUA and an MBA from Imperial College, University of London.
Dimitris Tzavaras, senior manager, tax & legal - ESG Services, PwC Greece
Dimitris is a Senior Manager in the Tax & Legal Services practice and is also a member of the core ESG team of PwC Greece. Prior to joining PwC, Dimitris has also worked among others as a transfer pricing consultant with another Big4 Firm and as a business / financial analyst in an investment firm.
Dimitris has extensive experience in advising international and domestic clients on a broad range of tax/transfer pricing and ESG assignments, including value-chain transformations and large-scale cross-border/intra-border restructurings, Advance Pricing Arrangements (APAs) and TP audit defense projects, while his work on ESG mainly pertains to analysis, strategy and due diligence projects.
He has worked with clients coming from various industries, with a focus on oil & gas, energy, cement, shipping and transportation, and financial services.
Dimitris is an economist – tax advisor specializing in transfer pricing and ESG; he holds a BSc from the Athens University of Economics & Business (AUEB), an MBA from the University of Liverpool (UK), and a Certification in Tax Law from AUEB.
Margherita Birri, research editor, The Legal 500
Elena Lewis, researcher, The Legal 500
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Koutalidis Law Firm is a multi-awarded top tier law firm based in Athens, Greece. With a legacy originating back to 1930, we take pride in our local and international clientele, which includes leading Greek and international corporations, major investment and commercial banks and financial institutions.
Koutalidis had the privilege to advise ground breaking and high-profile cases and projects both in the private and public sectors, and have built strong expertise among others in M&A, Capital Markets, Public Procurement, Privatisations, Banking & Finance, Project Finance, Concessions and Public Private Partnerships, Corporate & Commercial Law, Energy, EU, Antitrust/Competition, Tax, Employment & Immigration, Arbitration, Litigation and Mediation, Real Estate.
Our team consists of more than 70 innovative thinking legal professionals with outstanding academic education, diverse skills, awarded professional performance and a unique sense of client need understanding.
Our work has been consistently recognised by the International Financial Law Review (IFLR), Chambers and Partners, Legal 500, ITR, Global Competition Review (GCR).
Committing to high standards, Koutalidis Law Firm has a dual certification, ISO9001 and ISO27001, proving our ability and compliance with information security risk management while validating our dedication to the optimal delivery of quality products and services.
Karatzas & Partners Law Firm was founded in 1963, under the name Karatzas Law Offices. From its establishment, it has been active in the fields of civil, company, commercial and financial law, with its clientele being both Greek and international. We specialize in banking and finance law, capital markets law, competition law, energy law, mergers and acquisitions, privatization, project finance law, real estate law, telecommunications law, employment and tax law. We also specialize in litigation, both before courts and arbitral tribunals.
In view of our leading position in the Greek legal market, we are routinely rated by legal directories such as Chambers & Partners, Legal 500 and IFLR1000 as a first-tier firm. As of 2004 we are regularly recognized by Chambers Awards and IFLR Awards, receiving the Greek law firm of the year award, and our partners are considered among the top lawyers in Greece.
At Karatzas & Partners we strive for a company culture where integration, mutual support and respect coexist. We are extremely proud that our firm is the first and only Greek large law firm whose managing partner and majority of partners are women.
Moreover, we are proud to be regarded as the most innovative law firm in Greece through our continuous investment in new technologies and the adaptation to market edge organizational standards.
Finally, offering to society always was and remains one of our objectives. We take our social responsibility very seriously and our activities include a significant portion of pro bono work and financial or other support to initiatives related or even unrelated to the law.
Our firm currently consists of 9 Partners, 4 Senior Counsel, 41 Associates, 10 Trainee Lawyers and 23 employees on supporting functions (Marketing, HR, Accounting department, IT, administrative staff, etc.).
Platis – Anastassiadis & Associates is part of the ΕΥ Law network operating in 90 countries globally and is comprised of 3,500+ people.We are an independent law office with a core team of 42 lawyers. Our office provides high quality legal services across the full range of commercial and financial transactions.Especially in our geographical area, we have established an ongoing cooperation with the respective law firms which are associated with EY, in order to offer seamless and consistent regional services to our clients that have cross country operations.Our experience allows us to better understand our clients’ needs and offer them integrated multidisciplinary solutions in the fields of accounting, tax and financial advisory services. Platis – Anastassiadis & Associates law office is solution focused. We work closely with our clients to seek innovative and practical ways of dealing with their issues. Our priority is to help our clients meet their business objectives. Our expertise, commitment and enthusiasm has resulted in the build-up of a client base which includes local and international listed, state and private sector companies and financial institutions.
Established in 1893, Zepos and Yannopoulos is a leading Greek law firm renowned for its long heritage, legal acumen and integrity. We have a strong international orientation which is echoed in our structure, standards and approach, and ultimately attested in the profile of our client base, our rankings and network affiliations. Our multidisciplinary resources count more than 125 lawyers and economists and 80 business professionals. We take pride in our distinctive mind-set and offering as a full service business law firm, marked by our responsiveness and ability to draw upon a second to none bench of tax and accounting specialists. Our firm and its specialists are highly ranked in the world’s leading legal directories, such as Chambers Global and Chambers Europe, The Legal 500 EMEA and ITR. Fully committed to professional integrity and practices that promote business ethics, Zepos & Yannopoulos is the TRACE Partner Firm for Greece, sharing its mission to promote transparency in international business and to achieve a common standard for anti-bribery compliance and third party due diligence. Zepos & Yannopoulos advises corporations from all commercial and industrial sectors, financial institutions, non-profits, startups and high-net-worth individuals, working closely with regulators and all major professional service firms.
