Team size: 70 

Could you share an example of a time when you came up with an innovation that improved how your legal team works and did not come at a large expense?  

Undoubtedly, an innovation that improved our work as a legal team was the introduction of the “bottom-up management” scheme. Embracing this has helped us discover that this model can result in innovative solutions to crucial legal issues that might not have been identified otherwise. Furthermore, when lawyers at all levels are encouraged to address challenges and suggest solutions, problems can be identified and resolved more quickly. Also, bottom-up management encourages a culture of adaptability and responsiveness that benefits the company as a whole. Lawyers can quickly adjust to changes in the legal landscape, helping the company stay ahead of emerging trends and improving its processes, strategies, and best practices.  

Finally, it must be said that for a legal department to get the most out of the “bottom-up management” scheme it is necessary that clear communication channels, well-defined responsibilities, and a degree of oversight are established. 

What are the most significant cases or transactions that your legal team has recently been involved in? 

An important recent achievement of the company’s legal team was reaching an agreement with the Greek government, in 2022, that ensures both sustainability of EYDAP and the uninterrupted and quality provision of water supply services to millions of citizens located in EYDAP’s area of responsibility.  

In 2013, intensive negotiations were launched to settle outstanding financial obligations of the past years. So, after several years of demanding negotiations, in February of 2022 the sale price of raw water was finally contractually determined for a period of 20 years and the exclusive right to provide water supply and sewerage services was renewed for the benefit of EYDAP until the year 2040. 

Furthermore, the economic terms of the sale of raw water were set at a price lower by up to 40% compared to the costs that had been captured in related studies. It is also worth mentioning that this agreement received the approval of the shareholders of EYDAP with a majority of 99.96%. Eventually, the extremely demanding legal framework makes this agreement a landmark in the history of EYDAP S.A.  

In conclusion, it is obvious that our legal department completed a complex legal project that led to a mutually beneficial agreement for all interested parties and laid the foundations for the further development of EYDAP.  

How important is choosing to work with external lawyers who align with your company’s values? Are you likely to reconsider what firms you work with based on this?  

It is certain that choosing external partners who share the corporate ethics ensures multiple benefits to a company, so EYDAP places special emphasis on this topic. First of all, these lawyers are more likely to provide legal advice and recommendations that align with the company’s ethical and moral principles. It is also more likely to understand EYDAP’s culture, which can be essential in tailoring legal advice and strategies that suit the company’s way of doing business. This consistency helps in maintaining the overall integrity and reputation of EYDAP. Furthermore, lawyers who align with EYDAP’s values are better equipped to understand the company’s goals and mission.  

All the above becomes even more important if we take into consideration that water and sewerage services are necessary for the healthy living of millions of citizens of Greece. Both the supply of drinking water, a natural commodity that becomes scarcer over time, and the drainage of sewage are vital to human hygiene.  

So, selecting external lawyers who align with our EYDAP’s values is about more than just legal expertise. It’s about creating a synergy between legal strategy and the company’s broader mission, culture, and ethical considerations. This alignment can lead to more effective legal representation and better outcomes for the company as a whole.