Rokas Law Firm

Andreas A. Papastathis, Partner at Rokas Law Firm/ Dispute Resolution & Litigation team based in Thessaloniki, provides integrated legal advice and undertakes judicial representation of individuals and businesses on a wide range of cases or disputes of civil law, for any procedure before the Supreme Court. He has significant knowledge and expertise on the procedure law before the Supreme Court, and leveraging this proficiency, explains how Rokas is adapting to clients’ changing needs, and which are the main points that distinguish Rokas as a Law Firm with high quality service provision over the years. Rokas is the longstanding market leader in insurance litigation and regulatory law matters. The Firm comprises 8 owned offices across 7 countries and 2 associated offices in 2 countries.   What do you see as the main points that differentiate Rokas law firm from your competitors? At Rokas we have developed an international law network spanning the Central and Southeast European region. The firm is active in Athens since 1977, with branch offices located in Sofia (est. 1997) and Thessaloniki (est. 2001), and offices in Belgrade (est.1998), Bucharest (est.1995), Prague (est.2003), Skopje (est.1999) and Tirana (est.2003). The Firm having the ability to conduct business in a variety of languages and in-depth knowledge of local specifics, cultures and business practices, has provided comprehensive legal advice in a multitude of projects particularly in the SE European region, including working closely (in the process of legislative reform) with the governments of several countries with economies in transition, a fact which has helped us understand the significance of procedure and timing of every project, as well as the political and policy factors in every deal. Rokas is providing business-focused, high-quality legal advice, tailor-made to the actual needs of its clients, which include multinational commercial corporations active in banking, finance, energy, telecommunications, technology, construction, real estate, services, businesses in the aluminium, steel and gas sectors, courier companies and of course insurance companies. Our Senior Partner, Prof. Dr.  Ioannis Rokas is generally recognized as a top expert and reference point in insurance law as well as in other business law fields. Apart from our significant presence with offices in the SE Europe, which allows us to provide legal solutions and advice in a wide range beyond the boundaries of Greece, what mainly differentiates us as a law firm is the deep scientific knowledge and experience of all our lawyers. We have an organized structure with considerable support of assistants, and para-legals who contribute to the day-to-day legal work. Our lawyers have strong academic qualifications, and we emphasize in their continuing education and formation. The interdisciplinary collaboration of our lawyers (depending on each one's specialization) in the context of a case, results in a holistic and comprehensive approach from every aspect, which is the strong point we adopt in order to provide our qualitative and specific legal advice or to take any and all necessary legal actions. Therefore, a key factor in the strength of our firm is our team of professionals. We invest in young people, and we recruit with strong qualifications and work-ethics in mind, because they stand for the future and continuity of our Law Firm. Finally, we take a business approach in addressing our clients' needs. In this respect, we always look beyond the legal aspect of a case to consider the business impact and costs it may have before coming up with an adequate strategy or solution. Our main goal is, through our legal approach and advice in a case and through the legal solution provided, to give a positive sign to our client. In our cooperation with our clients we are consultants and partners, not just lawyers, we discuss with them and present them with the best possible solutions and options, we try to explain to them our legal concerns, our legal actions and legal concepts in a simple and understandable way and to highlight the impact these may have in their business world,  as well as tailoring our advice to their business goals each and every time. Briefly, through our legal advice, we help our clients not only avoid legal pitfalls but also create a more efficient operational structure, ultimately improving its financial position and legal standing. This view of providing legal services offers clients peace of mind and security. The above-mentioned points are some key factors that differentiate Rokas and make us a dynamic, growing, and adaptive law scheme responding at any time to the needs and time limits of cases set forth by our clients.   Which practices do you see growing in the next 12 months? What are the drivers behind that? Already, the digitalization and acceleration of procedures, particularly in the public sector, is spreading to court practice. Processes are being simplified and digitized, they are now being carried out more and more remotely with the help of technology. Also, the financial stability and economic development of Greece is a fact that therefore leads to an increase in investments in general. Specifically, in the real estate and in the hospitality and generally in the tourism industry, a rapid increase because of the residence permits through the “Golden Visa” program adopted by Greece that also helped in this direction, as well as the program of the Greek State “My House I and II” incl. the increasing number of the digital nomads, create remarkable opportunities for the legal business. The technology businesses are considered to be steadily growing, while the pharmaceutical and petroleum product exports are promising industry sectors, thanks to their dynamic and volume of exports, and thus, seeking legal consultation and advice. Moreover, mediation and ADR in general are areas that are developing rapidly in Greece in concerning the traditional legal dispute before the courts. The sale of portfolios of non-performing loans by banks to funds over the last few years and the case law dealing with related issues are of great interest.  Even the Plenary of the Greek Supreme Court (Areios Pagos) has dealt and is still dealing with legal issues arising from non-performing loans and Funds as managers of these. Furthermore, e-commerce is thriving and the energy sector with the modern energy crisis is a challenge for the future that is linked to legal services in the field of energy, as well as RES and Sustainable development, as there is the ever-increasing trend of the international community to protect the environment and tackle the climate change. Finally, I believe that M&As and commercial partnerships in general - in any form they arise - will continue to flourish in the coming years. I foresee that the credit insurance will also be developed as a follow-up to trade and collateralisation of commercial transactions. Moreover, I couldn’t fail to mention personal data and compliance, especially in this era that is increasingly digitized and automated, making the need to safeguard personal data even more urgent. The firm having the relevant experience and a dynamic team, bearing all the above into consideration, is ready to meet the demands of the future and continue to cater the legal needs of its clients. We are establishing and staffing new, special, and separate lawyers teams with scientific expertise such as in energy and personal data and compliance law.   What's the main change you've made in the firm that will benefit clients? Focusing on the essence of providing quality legal services and knowing that it is a resultant of various components, we invested in the development of other necessary departments of our firm. The firm strengthened its operational structure in the fields of HR, Communications and Marketing as well as IT, while increasing the staff of assistants, para-legal and trainees. In this way, we create a work environment to help our associate lawyers so that they can increase their productivity when dealing with a case and grow as professionals. We also upgraded our communication system with an extra possibility of direct intra-company calls via the internet, as well as our corporate e-mail, upgrading its facilities and capacity.  In addition, we use very often the technology to make our meetings remotely with clients wherever they are (via Teams, Zoom etc). Moreover, Rokas has been granted ISO 9001 certification and adheres to the corresponding protocols, while it also carries out continuous performance evaluations of staff and teams, utilizing each time the findings of this evaluation and improving its practices. Also, at regular intervals we hold partners' meetings to discuss the Firm's issues and our goals for the year, we inform each other about cases we handle and interesting legal remarks we cope with, while at least every two-three months we communicate with our foreign offices trying our communication and our briefing to be as interpersonal as possible. Lastly,  we have a very strong and sophisticated cyber security system, which is so good as impossible to harm the hardware and software systems of our clients as well as ours. We constantly update our system regarding the development, the new data and progress of cases so that we can immediately respond to a thorough update/ information note to our clients. Of course, to secure the files of a case, the latter are also saved on other e-paths and on an external hard drive and on removable flash drive. In this way, we limit as much as possible the keeping of a physical file of a case (in hard copy) reducing our environmental footprint.   Is technology changing the way you interact with your clients, and the services you can provide them? Technology beyond any doubt is certainly changing the way we interact with clients, as well as the services we can provide. Technology enables us to conduct our meetings remotely with clients, wherever they are. Therefore, distances are eliminated, and communication and cooperation are achieved without only in-person meetings.  Also, a huge number of files regarding a case can be sent within minutes at the time of request, saving time and effort. We are proud to note that we are using the latest technology programs, that allow us to sign documents digitally. Moreover, the legal platforms for finding pooled case law for the needs of a case, as well as the digitization of legal books, helps, on the one hand, to save time and on the other hand to better research and document on a client's case.  At the same time, the use of virtual data rooms facilitates the assessment of transaction documents, the cooperation among legal, financial and technical advisors, and the exchanges between counterparties. However, as much as technology helps us and we integrate its use into our daily professional lives, Rokas remains true to the timeless value of the personalised approach with which it treats each client and case and, first and foremost, to the trust in its people, its lawyers and administrative staff.   Can you give us a practical example of how you have helped a client to add value to their business? As mentioned earlier, Rokas is recognized as a client-centered firm that begins by thoroughly analyzing each client’s needs from a holistic perspective. We then come up with tailor-made solutions and strategies, providing clients with a competitive edge and valuable advice. Apart from assisting our clientele in the strategic planning of a business through regulatory compliance and due diligence, we are a companion to each step and individual goal they may have throughout their engagement with entrepreneurship. This process involves the anticipation, assessment, and mitigation of various risks, non-excluding through research of the clients' key competitors and in-depth understanding of their strategic direction, better safeguarding of their rights and preserving or creating competitive advantage. Rokas, in other words, cares for the clients' strategic placement in the market and for that reason cultivates a business mentality of an overachiever on its clients' behalf. Of course, the interpersonal relations our Firm develops with every client in an environment of mutual respect, help the client express their needs with ease and precision and facilitates the process of setting shared and clear goals in order to provide tailor-made services. The importance of setting a specific goal with clarity benefits both the client and the legal advisor, who appears more focused and dedicated to the implementation of the goal. In addition to that, the goal-oriented mentality of our associates combined with their inherent tendency to in-depth research provides clients with an interaction based on the out-of-the-box way of thinking that leads to inspired and innovative solutions. So, our aim is not only a legal advice or a solution to the client's case-problem but also the attribution to him, through the advice or action which we indicate, a tangible advantage/benefit over his competitors.  As a result of the above, the clients who entrust us with the future and the success of their business activity, feel safe and sound acknowledging that their endeavors are in good hands, which means that they can focus on other professional or personal goals that could have a significant effect in their lives. For our individuals, we follow similar steps tailored to the nature of their dispute, carefully listening to their needs and guiding toward the most effective and cost-efficient solution. Furthermore, many of our clients were increasingly concerned about complying with new financial and insurance regulations, whether they stemmed from domestic or European legislation. They needed guidance on navigating evolving regulatory requirements, including data protection, Solvency II, and consumer protection laws. We helped them in the process of full compliance to local and international/European regulations, as also with the regulatory guidance from supervisory authorities (e.g. Bank of Greece) reducing the risk of costly fines and reputational damage. As a result, the risk management framework was significantly strengthened, ensuring better internal controls, particularly in the areas of data protection and compliance. As legal advisors, we act preventively and not only repressively, so that we can avert any danger before it even appears. By proactively addressing legal concerns, we add value to our client by reducing potential liabilities and creating a secure environment for growth. In another case, we conducted a comprehensive review of the client’s existing compliance framework and identified gaps in meeting the latest regulatory requirements. This included reviewing their compliance with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) for handling customer data and ensuring they were aligned with the updated Anti-Money Laundering (AML) and Know Your Customer (KYC) requirements. We helped the client implement a more efficient compliance system, creating detailed procedures for monitoring and reporting suspicious transactions, improving customer verification processes, and ensuring that sensitive data was adequately protected. Wherever feasible and when there is room for negotiation and mutual understanding between opposing parties, we recommend a dispute resolution strategy to minimize the risk of litigation. Additionally, we have facilitated the resolution of minor conflicts with clients and vendors without resorting to formal court proceedings, saving both time and legal costs.   Are clients looking for stability and strategic direction from their law firms - where do you see the firm in three years’ time? Undoubtedly, yes. Clients are looking for stability and strategic direction from the law firms they trust with their business affairs, especially in an ever evolving but uncertain business environment. Greater uncertainty is caused to businesses and their decisions by the frequently evolving and changing legal framework.  Therefore, a lawyer and a law firm are not only legal advisors and court representatives, but also companions and collaborators of a business that, depending on their advice and legal actions, can determine and influence its business future and the decisions related to its operation and management. Consequently, a legal counsel or a lawyer is this key person for a business that, depending on the need of the client, will give him the most appropriate advice or will take the most advantageous legal action for his business based on the current legal framework or the possibility of forming a solution that will not contradict the rules of law. That’s exactly what we do, what our work’s principal at Rokas is. We adopt the personalized approach of every single client and case, co-shaping our solution and legal strategy according to the needs and expectations of the client’s business. Our Firm has a proven track record of successfully guiding clients from the business world and gives them the confidence that they can trust us as their lawyers and legal advisors. This is proven by most of our long-term client relationships. In fact, many of our clients revert to us to offer them total, comprehensive and vertically integrated legal services. In other words, many of our clients entrust us with cases ranging from very small claims with a small economic impact to very important cases with major financial and legal matters. Our expertise in anything related to insurance law and insurance companies is a given, but so is our dynamic evolution in the fields of dispute resolution and litigation practice, corporate law, international arbitration, energy law, banking law and M&As. Our clients know that our experience in these specific fields enables us to provide highly specialized legal advice and offer innovative solutions even to resolve legal issues that arise for the first time. Our clear goal is to continue in the upcoming years to develop our team and improve its breadth of knowledge and diversity, especially in the above fields of specialization and in the field of court Litigation practice, while we also aim to expand the activity of our offices abroad, in the Southeast European region. Over the next three years, we expect Rokas to maintain and further expand an excellent track record of achieving successful results for our clients in corporate law and M&As, as well as in Dispute Resolution and Litigation practice, the latter of which I guarantee. Finally, we plan to further invest in technology, client management processes and systems, marketing and of course in skill-building and development programs. We also aim to expand partnerships and collaborations with some law student organizations (e.g. Elsa, The Law Project, etc.) and non-profit organizations.   For more information visit our page www.rokas.com