Team size: Two

Major legal advisors: Karatzas and Partners, Baker McKenzie and Bernitsas Law, Rediadis Law Firm, Zeppos Yannopoylos

Bio

Katerina is general counsel at Gastrade, granting a full range of legal services related to regulatory and energy compliance matters, corporate issues of the company, as well as the procedures for the awarding, drafting and execution of all contracts involved (procurement, services, leasing, works, supply etc.). Her practice focuses on commercial, corporate, energy, maritime, banking, civil and public law. Katerina is also a high-level litigation and counselling lawyer advising and representing Gastrade in litigation cases, negotiations of contracts and corporate housekeeping matters. Her combined experience in both in house counselling and litigation is rare to find, possessing second-to-none advisory expertise in landmark business energy transactions in Greece during the latest years.

Prior to her present positions, Katerina was a senior associate at Fortsakis, Diakopoulos, Mylonogiannis & Associates law firm (FDMA) and legal advisor to DEPA Networks (Holding Company of Attiki, Thessaloniki, Thessaly and rest of Greece Natural Gas Distribution Network Companies). She was a leading member of FDMA energy team, advising Greek and international clients in natural gas distribution, storage, supply and transportation cases, LNG and renewable energy projects granting a full range of legal services related to regulatory and energy compliance matters, corporate issues of the company, as well as the procedures for the awarding, drafting and execution of all contracts involved (procurement, services, leasing, works, supply etc.). She has advised Greek and international clients in natural gas distribution, storage, supply and transportation cases, LNG and renewable energy projects.

Katerina has also practiced corporate, civil, banking, insurance, and commercial law, advising Greek and international corporations in planning and structuring their business transactions, several corporate issues and litigation. Katerina has also experience in investment incentive laws applicable to private investments that contribute to the country’s development, having served as a specialised associate to the general secretary of the General Secretariat of Strategic and Private Investments of the Greek Ministry of Development and Competitiveness from July 2014 to March 2015.

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?

The role of in-house counsel is specific and dual. It is called upon to protect the company in its capacity as a lawyer, which is an independent profession, and at the same time to serve the commercial interests of the company. My priority has always been to preserve my integrity as a professional without conceding to provide opinions and advice outside of legal logic. At the same time, however, I primarily listen to the company’s intentions and needs, setting this as the basis of the directions I give , always bearing in mind that the in-house legal counsel should not only point out “what the client should not do” but should assess the legal risks and advise “what the client can do”.

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?

Lawyers in Greece are well balanced in numbers when it comes to women and men so, a candidate’s gender has never been an issue to our profession when choosing the most capable candidate. Age, on the other hand, is an issue, given that there is an inherent negative bias against young professionals. I was given the opportunity to occupy myself with high level legal matters since the beginning of my carrier, always with guidance, and this is the practice that I have adopted myself when hiring associates in my team. Diversity is a current tendency in all professions, but curriculums and a gentle personality never lie when a candidate is being assed.

In your opinion, what are the main trends that are salient in your country currently (these can be legal, political, economy or business-based)?

Energy, estate, tourism, AI and IT services in general are the most prominent and salient sectors in Greece currently. Energy law, being the sector where I belong, combined with maritime services, being for many years one of Greece’s flourishing economy sectors, are in the centre of political and economic developments, offering job opportunities and boosting at the same time the Greek economy. The development of such sectors sets Greece in the centre of world developments strategically and economically.

Tourism, combined with the estate industry, are also very important sectors of the Greek law reality, offering opportunities to foreign investors and individuals who choose Greece to invest in estate and obtain a golden visa in such a unique physical environment. The AI and IT services sectors in Greece is also flourishing given that there are many specialised young professionals in that field offering very high-quality services.