Bio

Kakia is an attorney, member of the Athens Bar Association, qualified to plead before the Supreme Court. She holds a law degree from the Athens University and an International Diploma in governance, risk and compliance, from the University of Manchester, Alliance Manchester Business School. She has also obtained certifications as a compliance officer and AML officer. She speaks Greek, English and French.

She has been practicing law as an in-house lawyer and as an external legal advisor to financial and other regulated institutions since 1992, and has extensive experience in corporate, commercial, and civil law, bankruptcy and restructuring of debts, litigation of commercial law cases, finance, real estate, financial and operating leasing, corporate governance and compliance.

She has participated in various legislative committees on the legal framework of leasing, factoring, venture capital and REICs in Greece.

She has served as deputy general manager and head of legal department of NBG Leasing, deputy compliance and AML officer at NBG Leasing, legal advisor of Ethniki Kefalaioy, BNP Paribas and Ethniki Stegastiki Bank.

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? 

During periods of instability legal teams need to stay ahead of potential regulatory changes, contract disputes, or liability issues firstly by identifying in time potential legal challenges and how these may impact operations and secondly by establishing an effective crisis response framework.

Legal teams should be ready to provide quick, well-informed advice and ensure that the organisation adapts quickly to any new compliance requirements (e.g., health regulations during a pandemic or financial regulations during an economic downturn). The inclusion of force majeure, material adverse change (MAC), and renegotiation clauses helps mitigate risks during unpredictable events.

Legal strategies should support business continuity plans. This involves finding ways to balance legal compliance with business needs, such as revising existing policies, restructuring operations to meet legal obligations while protecting the company’s core activities, drafting new agreements, navigating new regulatory environments.

After a crisis, a thorough review of the legal team’s actions can help identify lessons learned and areas for improvement in both the legal and business strategy.

The legal strategy in times of crisis should not only focus on compliance and risk management but also enable the organisation to remain agile and resilient. By closely aligning legal frameworks with the business’s broader objectives, the legal team can help the organisation navigate uncertainty, safeguard assets, and emerge stronger from periods of instability.

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?

Prodea Investments has embedded ESG goals into its overall business strategy, has set clear, measurable targets for reducing environmental impact and improving social responsibility and has adhered to high standards of corporate governance. Furthermore, to ensure that sustainability is a shared responsibility, it has embedded sustainability practices into its corporate culture by educating and engaging its employees in sustainability initiatives, implementing green workplace policies and encouraging sustainable practices.

To efficiently embed sustainability into business operations, companies need the assistance of the general counsel, who can ensure that legal, regulatory, and ethical standards support the company’s sustainability goals. The general counsel’s role is important in aligning legal compliance, risk management, and corporate governance with the company’s commitment to sustainability, driving long-term resilience and positive impact across environmental, social and governance dimensions.

As governments and regulators introduce stricter sustainability-related rules, the general counsel must provide the necessary support so that the company stays compliant with new regulations and laws, such as environmental standards, labour laws, and anti-corruption regulations while remaining proactive in adapting to new legal requirements. The general counsel is required to embed sustainability into contracts and advise the board of directors on sustainability-related risks and opportunities, helping the company navigate legal implications of ESG strategies.

When the company is engaged in mergers and acquisitions or investment decisions, the general counsel ensures that sustainability is a factor. This includes conducting due diligence on the sustainability practices of acquisition targets, assessing potential environmental liabilities, and integrating ESG goals into post-merger integration strategies.

The general counsel often engages with external stakeholders, including regulators, investors, and non-governmental organisations, to communicate the company’s sustainability commitments and progress. They may also work with lawmakers on shaping future regulations and policies that promote sustainability.