How do you approach managing legal aspects during periods of instability or crises, and how does your legal strategy align with the broader business strategy to ensure the organisation’s resilience?

Managing legal aspects during periods of instability or crises involves analysing and identifying possible threats for the company. Being proficient in industry-specific legal requirements is crucial since non-compliance can lead to substantial penalties and reputational risks, impacting business continuity significantly. Moreover, for the resolution of such complex issues having clear protocols set beforehand is vital. Identifying and mitigating potential risks associated with crises is an integral part of our business’s survival strategy. Ensuring regulatory compliance protects our business and offers a competitive advantage. Regarding legal strategy, proactively developing policies and procedures helps the legal team to avoid and mitigate potential legal problems.

What measures has your company taken to embed sustainability practices into its core business operations, and how does the role of the general counsel contribute to driving and ensuring sustainable practices within the company?

In 2022, the company, following approval by the board of directors, adopted the Sustainable Development Policy. The company’s Sustainable Development Policy is inextricably linked to the material topics identified through the materiality analysis process so that the company is constantly aware of stakeholder needs (internal and external) but also considers the existing socio-economic trends in relation to its impacts (positive or negative). In the context of the company’s Sustainable Development Policy, corporate responsibility is in line with the ESG criteria and principles and focuses on four areas of activity: environmental protection, promotion of human value, strengthening the social footprint, and the development of a responsible market.

The material issues are the following: creation and distribution of direct and indirect economic value; promoting health, safety and well-being; ensuring regulatory compliance and business ethics; contribution to employees training and development; mitigation and adaptation to climate change; contribution to employment; preservation of natural reserves of raw materials; biodiversity protection; protection and promotion of human rights; emergency situations – business continuity; and healthy and sustainable societies.

Regarding my contribution to driving and ensuring sustainable practices within the company, my team and I, identify and harness the opportunities arising from changing environmental and sustainability regulations and ensure that the company is ready to achieve full compliance. I also have the role of corporate secretary; thus, I have already been exposed to the board conversations on sustainability and have direct responsibility for many topics that fall under the governance umbrella. Ιn addition to my capacities as general legal counsel and corporate secretary, I have been appointed by the board of the company, as corporate governance officer and I am responsible to inform the ESG Committee on corporate governance issues and help the committee assess the company’s business practices and performance on various sustainability and ethical issues. The company has been presenting a Corporate Responsibility Report annually since 2013. The purpose of the reports is to present in detail the responsible practices followed by all the group’s companies in Greece and abroad, the policies and actions it implements to create added value for all stakeholders and minimise any negative impact of its activities.

In our group, we view the need for sustainability from another angle, more in a positive way, as an opportunity rather than risk and governance obligation and we strongly believe that sustainability naturally leads to progress.

What emerging technologies do you see as having the most significant impact on the legal profession in the near future, and how do you stay updated on these developments?

We are constantly informed and updated on technological developments and at this point we are examining how to take advantage of AI in our day-to-day operations.

How do you prioritise diversity and inclusion within your legal department, and what initiatives have you implemented to foster a more inclusive and equitable work environment?

Our company, with its diverse and inclusive work culture, attracts more candidates and recruits from a larger pool and thus it has developed a highly qualified workforce capable of meeting its demands. The diversity of the people makes a team unique: with reinforced team spirit, motivation, and loyalty. All the above applies to the legal department as well. Personally, I value soft skills more than the typical qualifications. In our legal department there is no hierarchy and decisions regarding our team as a whole are made unanimity. We value communication and openness and encourage initiative and creative thinking.

In your opinion, what are the main trends that are salient in your country currently?

We live in very interesting times: Greece’s economic outlook has improved impressively, many legislative reforms have passed that have modernised our legal framework and the mentality of citizens seems to change to a more global, extrovert approach. As a country we have become aware of our position in the European and global economy and have focused on exploiting our natural resources and expanding our primary sector for the first time in decades.