Team size: Five 

Major legal advisors: Watson Farley Williams, Rokas Law, Zepos & Yannopoulos, Aktius Attorneys and Counselors, Lamnides Law

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? 

Artificial intelligence, blockchain, and big data analytics are some of the emerging technologies which will undoubtedly impact the legal profession soon. To my view, the impact will enhance the results of any legal team which will be able to implement such tools in their everyday practice.  

AI, especially in the form of natural language processing and machine learning, is revolutionising legal research and document review. Predictive coding can quickly scan large amounts of legal documents, while identifying relevant information quicker and in a more efficient manner than any other traditional methods used in legal due diligence exercises or in litigation proceedings. AI tools will allow our work to be done faster and more accurately, allowing us to focus on more important tasks that cannot be completed by a programme, such as assessing and interpreting the information retrieved through the AI tools.  

Blockchain technology is also starting to affect the legal sector, specifically concerning smart contracts and secure transactions. Such technologies may reduce the need for intermediaries and minimise the risk of human errors, and, more importantly, of any sort of fraud. Blockchain’s security and transparency features are also being used in the verification and the recording of legal transactions. Such technologies are a significant advantage for any organisation in terms of legal and regulatory compliance, especially if they are operating in highly regulated sectors such as finance and insurance.  

Big data analytics allows any legal team to obtain insights from large datasets, such as case law trends, judicial behavior, and client data, assisting lawyers with making more informed decisions.  

Staying updated on these technological advancements is a must do for any legal counsel, so I find that monitoring latest publications on relevant technological advancements and participating in legal forums or legal conferences with such context are essential towards creating a deeper understanding on the matter.  

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?

Every organisation comes across challenges from time to time. In such times, lawyers are usually found in the first line of defence. Managing legal aspects during periods of instability or crises requires an approach with multiple aspects that integrate closely with the broader business strategy to ensure organisational resilience.  

Preparation beforehand is a key aspect to look out for. Designing policies, procedures and response plans for protecting the organisation against risks in a time of crisis is a must have. Additionally, providing constant training and information to personnel, so that they would be able to handle any situation when the time comes, is material for preventing or limiting the impact of a crisis. Most importantly, the response team must be well coordinated. Building strong communication bridges across the various divisions of an organisation and establishing trustworthy business relationships is a key factor for responding effectively and swiftly to any challenge. Soon after the risk has been eliminated, it is essential to use this experience as a way to prevent the organisation from any similar occurrence in the future. 

In our organisation, compliance and prevention are highly evaluated. Part of the broader business strategy is to ensure that the next steps are carefully designed and implemented. Understanding the broader scope and communicating openly and positively is a key factor. Therefore, the legal department makes sure to be engaged in new projects at a very early stage and to obtain a deep understanding of the business needs to safeguard and enhance next business steps.