Interview with: ARHONDOULA PAPAPANAGIOTOU , MANAGING PARTNER

Managing Partner Arhondoula Papapanagiotou explains what makes AP Law Firm unique in helping businesses protect their IP portfolio and maximizing their potential based on a comprehensive IP management strategy.

 

What do you see as the main points that differentiate Arhondoula Papapanagiotou & Partners Law Firm from your competitors?

Our core principles are quality, responsiveness, strategic and business-oriented approach to the needs of our clients. Our reputation was built upon these very principles, which are matched to our firm’s excellent knowledge of Intellectual Property Law and its developments and perspectives. Despite our continuous growth, we have never made concessions in the quality of the services we offer, and we have maintained a relationship with our clients which is professional and at the same time warm, personal and based on trust. Our approach to the needs of our clients is holistic and strategic, meaning that we offer and cover a wide range of legal services in various fields of legal practice, and at the same time, we offer to our clients strategic and business-oriented consultation, fact which adds value to our overall services.

 

Which practices do you see growing in the next 12 months? What are the drivers behind that?

We feel privileged that we practice Intellectual Property Law, which nowadays has gained tremendous significance. There can be no doubt that technology is the driver behind such a development. As the globalized market gets more technology-driven, the world of business and nearly all transactional activity depends on intellectual property and intangible assets. The explosion of AI and the various legal and moral problems around its use will concentrate attention in the future. We believe that in the year to come more and more professionals will have to address AI-related legal issues in some way or another.

 

What’s the main change you’ve made in the firm that will benefit clients?

During the past two years we have made a series of investments in our infrastructure as well as in human resources. We have managed to digitize our working environment and our work files, we have introduced new ERP systems backing our administrative operations, we have endorsed new technological methods of internal and external communication and collaborative work, and we have drawn a very strict data protection policy. Furthermore, we have attracted new talent with expertise in Intellectual Property as well as in other fields of law, thus further strengthening the “holistic” package of services offered to our clients. We have made investments in our Human Resources policy and strategy and our efforts in this respect have culminated in being awarded a “Best Place to Work” certification. Finally, we have broadened our scientific research activities having participated in international and local conferences (including as speakers) and also having co-authored books and articles on Intellectual Property Law.

 

Is technology changing the way you interact with your clients, and the services you can provide them?

Being professionals in a field of law dealing with technology, we fully understand the potential that technology presents for our internal operations and our interaction with clients. We use tools enabling our firm to efficiently communicate with our clients, making our internal operations more agile and advancing our capabilities in legal research, scientific outreach and production of valuable output for our clients within very competitive response-time frames.

 

Can you give us a practical example of how you have helped a client to add value to their business?

We have regularly been providing guidance to our clients on how to make the best of their IP portfolio. Many businesses still face difficulties in understanding how to manage their intangible assets and how to advance their business strategy and profitability by relying on such assets. In the field of technology, our firm, based on its business-oriented approach has discussed the business strategy of several clients, has provided valuable insights into the potential of previously underestimated intangible assets, and having assisted in the clearance, mapping and protection of such assets has paved the way for such businesses to attract investment from major international players. More specifically, we follow a three-step process to consolidate the integrity of our clients IP portfolio:  the first step is the mapping of IP rights, the restoration of proper chain of rights assignment and the addressing of possible transfer gaps. The second step lies in the protection of IP rights through patent, trademark, industrial design and similar filings, which goes beyond the action of just submitting filings: in fact, IP related filings and related decisions are based on a strategic plan taking into consideration multiple legal and business factors. The third step lies in the drafting of solid contracts giving clients maximum protection as well as business potential and backing the client in all investment attraction and M&A processes. In the art world and the entertainment sector, fields of practice in which our firm has excelled, we follow a similar approach, combining legal consultation, strategic decision making and meticulous contractual drafting. In terms of protection of our clients’ interests, our firm has been a pioneer in successfully conducting anti-piracy and anti-counterfeit campaigns, for major software and luxury good companies, having received several awards for its contribution in the suppression of IP infringement. Furthermore, having litigation experience spanning over 30 years of continuous presence in court hearings of far-reaching legal significance, and having an impressive, near 100%, success rate, not only do we protect the interests of the client at court-level but, building on such an experience, the client can be confident that it receives consultation and strategic guidance which minimizes legal risks and secures its moves toward business expansion and growth.

 

Are clients looking for stability and strategic direction from their law firms – where do you see the firm in three years’ time?

Clients are both looking for stability and strategic direction. They are both looking for defensive protection and for expansive opportunities. Based on our experience in the field we can provide our clients with efficient, business-driven consultation on how to build on stability, to take the next step towards growth and reaching new market opportunities. Our plans for the near future concentrate on securing and advancing our position in the market of legal services, by ensuring that our core principles, and most importantly our focus on quality, is not compromised at any level. We also see our firm further establishing its reputation as a pioneer in forecasting legal challenges tied with the emergence of new technologies in all fields of IP practice, from the artworld to entertainment and from patent oriented industries to niche software development, and being at the forefront of putting new ideas and constructive legal solutions into practice.