Team size: 10

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 must align completely with the broader business strategy of the organisation to maintain and ensure the organisation’s resilience. A proactive, and at the same time adaptive, approach is important for the entire organisation, and paramount nevertheless for the general counsel, who will need to effectively identify, assess and mitigate potential risks while managing the unexpected through a dynamic and determined approach.

Often, in times of crises or instability, there is a tendency to deviate from the established norms and processes; people feel uneasy, insecure and uncomfortable in a changing environment without much stability. Legal counsel has a pivotal role to play to provide to all business units, management and employees enough sense of security that they are on top of these changes and can provide a regulatory and legal safety net for them to assist them to perform under these extreme conditions. The legal counsel will have to work closely with different business units and people to understand their challenges and provide legal support tailored to their needs, while remaining flexible and adaptive to possibly fast-changing circumstances.

To achieve all these, it is important for the legal counsel to set a clear and precise crisis response plan and a crisis management team including both legal assessment and communications expertise. From my experience, it is absolutely crucial that all communication during a crisis must be transparent and legally sound in order not to expose the organisation to additional risks. At the same time, all legal advice will have to take into consideration the long-term interests of the organisation, also in terms of reputation, market position and regulatory compliance.

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?

Attica Holdings has recognised the importance of embedding sustainability into its core business operations as a vital strategy for long-term success and environmental stewardship. The company operates in the maritime transport industry, a sector that has traditionally faced significant challenges in reducing its environmental impact. However, Attica has taken proactive steps to integrate sustainable practices across its operations, ensuring that its business model aligns with global sustainability goals, making it a much-awarded leader in sustainability in the transport sector

One of the key priorities for Attica is investing in greener technologies and energy-efficient vessels. The company has committed to reducing its carbon footprint by upgrading its fleet to include ships that use cleaner fuels and are equipped with advanced energy-saving systems, to minimise greenhouse gas emissions and reduce fuel consumption, thus contributing to a lower environmental impact. The company adheres to strict environmental regulations and ensures compliance with international standards for maritime operations.

In addition to technological upgrades, Attica Holdings has always supported the prosperity of the society and the local communities it serves, through active support in times of crises, sponsorships of local athletic teams, support of artistic and cultural events and festivals, and many more actions to the benefit of its millions customers and the Greek economy. At the same time, it adheres to the strictest international rules of reporting on ESG criteria, adopting the principles of transparency and accountability throughout its operations.

The role of the general counsel at Attica is crucial in driving and ensuring these sustainable practices. As a key adviser to the senior management, the general counsel helps navigate the complex landscape of environmental and social laws and regulations, advising on best practices and potential risks associated with sustainability efforts and plays a pivotal role in ensuring that all sustainability initiatives are legally compliant and aligned with regulatory requirements. Moreover, the general counsel actively contributes to the development of corporate policies that prioritise sustainability. By collaborating with other departments, the general counsel ensures that sustainability is integrated into the company’s decision-making processes. This includes reviewing contracts, agreements, and partnerships to ensure they reflect the company’s commitment to sustainability and do not expose the company to environmental, social or governance liabilities.

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?

When thinking of emerging technologies making an impact on the legal profession in the near future, obviously artificial intelligence (AI), is the first to come to mind. In the way that I see it, however AI is no longer just “emerging”, it has emerged and is already making a great impact on the legal profession. More and more legal professionals use AI regularly in order to either research a topic or to create and review a contract. It still has a long way to go, the truth is, however, that it is here to stay. The challenge is to understand the ways it can be of help, for example, how it can save time and improve efficiency by allowing the legal practitioner to concentrate on the really important matters of a more strategic nature.

Blockchain and data analytics are also technologies that most certainly will be much discussed in the near future. In the stressful routine of legal counsel, the truth is that the time to stay fully updated with all these developments is limited. It is crucial however that legal professionals are sufficiently informed of these tools and of their potential. Webinars, seminars and exchange of experiences between peers can be very useful to this end, the latter being the most insightful and time effective manner in my opinion.