Interview with: Nassos Michelis, Managing Partner

Managing Partner Nassos Michelis explains how the firm is responding and adapting to clients’ changing needs

 

1) What do you see as the main points that differentiate MStR Law from your competitors?

MStR stands out for the detailed, yet comprehensive and effective legal advice that it offers. We have deep expertise in a series of legal areas, amongst which renewables, real estate, tax and employment, both on advisory and litigation level.  We have particular experience with foreign clientele, mainly German speaking, which enables us to understand the difficulties with which foreign clients have to deal when making private or business investments in Greece and to support them in order to efficiently overcome barriers. We have collaborations with other lawyers in main Greek cities, while we participate in international lawyers’ alliances which enables us to offer access to advice also on foreign jurisdictions and, moreover, to exchange experiences and adopt best practices.

 

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

When it comes to our main field of expertise, namely RES sector, energy storage will surely be in the spotlight in the forthcoming months; our law firm supports already stakeholders to license BESS projects as well as to investigate financing possibilities in Greece for some innovative storage technology. In addition, transactions concerning RES projects, either at initial or at more mature stage, are expected to continue with demanding assignments, including due diligences exercises, project land securing and share deals. On the other hand, real estate sector is also expected to be a busy area of work, either in relation to private investments in Greece or to problems that have arisen due to the Greek cadaster process that is still pending in many areas throughout Greece.

 

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

Our law firm has constantly grown since last decade, having doubled its personnel and premises. This has significantly boosted our working capacity. Apart from the three partners, namely Ada Strongylaki, Dirk Reinhart and myself, MStR team includes young and motivated lawyers, with profound legal background and remarkable working performance, looking always to welcome in our firm dedicated young lawyers. In terms of facilities, it is worth-noting that we have recently achieved ISO certificate, which proves our dedication to offering quality services to clients.

 

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

Technological developments affect all sectors of our lives, including thus the provision of legal services. MStR takes advantage of fully organized premises, uses all main legal data basis and legal tools, has full endorsed social media and has updated hardware and software to be not only technologically advanced but also safe. We are also ready to deal with future developments, such as VR tools, as soon as welcomed in Greek legal market.

 

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

MStR has created client relationships based on trust, as evident from their long lasting. We can moreover proudly state that not only our law firm’s but also our clients’ business has managed to grow.  For instance, we have legally supported, a main client to acquire and then implement, as EPC contractor, one of the biggest PV parks in Greece and Europe, being involved with various legal tasks since the very beginning; the success of the project has been further capitalized with further promising projects and we are glad to remain close to the client and legally support the relevant processes for the new projects.

 

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

Speaking for commercial clientele, it is fair to say that clients require from their lawyer to be able to understand not only the legal concerns but also the underlying commercial interests and the way their business operates. Thus, they indeed wish law firms to be able to provide strategic advice, looking forward of course to stability and long-term growth. This is also our firm’s goal, namely to be able to create thriving stable co-operations and help our clients succeed.

Hopefully, in three-years-time MStR will have grown more, by engaging new colleagues as well as new clients and legal assignments in the fields of our expertise, and be lucky to see the plans and investments of our clients also flourish. MStR team works hard to that direction and we trust we can achieve that.