Which recent political, economic, or regulatory changes have impacted the company and the team the most?

The third energy package, the clean energy legislation, and the very recent global acceptance that all countries must adopt greener strategies in their energy policies have reformed and impacted our corporate goals and our team thinking. For example, the Group had to choose between the sectors of infrastructure and supply in the gas sector instead of participating in both and finally decided to disinvest from the sector of infrastructure (legal and functional unbundling).

At the same time, the company decided to increase its investment in the renewable sector, we have proceeded to a large series of RES M&A in photovoltaics and wind farms. At the same time, we improved the quality of the environmental footprint of our refineries and invested in electromobility as well.

In what ways do you see the in-house legal role evolving in your region over the next few years?

I see in-house lawyers obtaining a multifaceted role. They will be asked to have legal views enriched with much more technical and economic knowledge.

Furthermore, as the technology will substitute – in specific fields of legal science – legal drafting, the in-house lawyer will be called to take an advisory role with regards to business and day-to-day operations. The lawyer will become a “manager-lawyer,” a role akin to the director of the company which advises on precautions in every activity and participates as a non-executive member in more boards of directors and executive committees.

How has the increasing consciousness of climate change and sustainability affected the company and the team’s priorities?

Our Group is one of the best examples of that has been affected by climate change and sustainability. In the light of our “Fit for 55 Package” obligation to minimise our carbon footprint as a refinery company in its hard-core activity, we have targeted a new vision for 2025 which focuses in producing energy from renewable sources (p/h-wind parks), minimising our environmental emissions, and making our refineries greener through investing in green and blue hydrogen, prioritizing ESG and rebranding our group name and our corporate identity.

As the legal head of the regulatory division for the compliance of the group with the energy European acquis, I find my position in the Group extremely interesting on the one hand and very demanding on the other hand.