Interview with: Karolina Argyridou, Managing Partner

What do you see as the main points that differentiate K. Argyridou and Associates LLC from your competitors?

We are a boutique firm providing high quality services in our specific areas of expertise. We are a tight-knit team with commitment to our clients while maintaining and promoting good internal culture and a supportive and inspiring working environment for all team members. Our clients have the comfort of knowing that we are always available to them, and they can depend on us for delivery of an efficient service. We take pride in being able to provide flexible solutions to complex issues, always based on solid advice. Furthermore, we are often involved in the transposition or drafting of legislation within the areas of expertise which allows for our acknowledgement as experts in those areas. We also provide training to clients in those specific areas, therefore providing an attractive package of ancillary services which complement and add value to the main services which we provide. Finally, we always strive to keep up with future market trends and changes. We continuously provide training and professional development to our staff and add new services and adapt our existing services, aiming to stay one step ahead in respect of these new trends.

 

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

We expect growth in the ESG and digital areas with an increased focus on crypto assets in view of the new MiCAR regulation. The drivers behind the increased growth are regulatory and include the EU’s Digital Agenda for Europe, the Green Deal as well as market trend towards crypto currencies which at the moment look like they are here to stay. Furthermore, the inclusion of environmental criteria in access to finance as well as the unprecedented changes in climate and extreme weather phenomena which we have seen over the past couple of years give rise to a new emphasis on the need for all market players to take environmental considerations into account in re-formulating their policies, decisions, products and services.

 

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

We believe that technology will be the main driver reshaping the legal services industry and both the way in which we work as a firm and deliver services. We have teamed up with a group of like-minded young tech service providers and are actively working with them on building products and services which will add significant value to our clients as we enter the new era of the digital economy, delivering solutions which we believe are “must-haves” for this new era. Furthermore, we are actively selecting and recruiting high caliber individuals with experience in new areas, who share our core values and which complement our existing team of committed individuals whose work is very much appreciated by clients and colleagues alike.

 

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

Technology enables us to create more efficient ways of communication, data storage and data management. Covid 19 has accelerated the effective utilization of technology and tools available to us for providing services to our clients. Some of the changes in the way in which we use technology are here to stay and have already proven to result in increased efficiency in a measurable way, including enabling cost-effective solutions for our clients.

 

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

We have worked with a client in producing documentation which complies with new regulatory requirements and have complemented our offering with training to their staff in relation to this documentation and the relevant regulatory framework. The benefits for the client were that they were able to demonstrate to the regulatory authorities that they have complied with the requirement to provide training to their staff in this area and have also at the same time been able to demonstrate to their staff their commitment to provide continuous professional development.

 

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

We expect that over the course of the next few years we will have demonstrably achieved many of our goals in providing services which are adapted to the future needs of our clients in what we expect will be an increasingly “green” and digital economy, without compromising our core values, our commitment to our staff and the high level of services to which our clients are accustomed and expect from us. At the same time, we will aim to meet various milestones as a firm in being a socially responsible corporate citizen.