Deloitte Legal | Hadjianastassiou, Ioannides LLC > Nicosia, Cyprus > Firm Profile

Deloitte Legal | Hadjianastassiou, Ioannides LLC
11 Michail Paridi
CY-1095 Lefkosia
P.O. Box 21136, CY-1502 Lefkosia
Cyprus

Cyprus > Employment Tier 1

Gaston Hadjianastassiou heads the department at Deloitte Legal | Hadjianastassiou, Ioannides LLC, which has an excellent reputation in the market for its work across a wide range of employment matters. Key areas of strength include advising on compensation and benefits, and on global mobility labour law issues. In addition, the firm is regularly instructed in workforce transformation projects, as well as handling negotiations with trade unions. Senior managing associate Michalis Georgiou stands out for his solid track record in representing clients before the Employment Tribunal, and assists with matters pertaining to sick leave and bonus structures.

Practice head(s):

Gaston Hadjianastassiou

Other key lawyers:

Testimonials

‘Excellent knowledge of legislation with regards to employment.’

‘Deep knowledge and ability to provide guidance and practical, business oriented solutions.’

‘Michalis Georgiou showed a high level of engagement and availability, assisting us in fully understanding the intricacies and finding the best solution in a very sensitive case.’

Key clients

Abacus Limited

Adidas Cyprus Ltd

Albourne Partners (Cyprus) Limited

Alpha Television Cyprus Limited

Bouygues Batiment International

Citrus Gardens Development Ltd

Coca-Cola HBC Cyprus Ltd (formally known as Lanitis Bros Ltd part of the Coca-Cola Hellenic Group)

Deloitte Limited

Fosteus Fund Management Limited

Hellenic Healthcare Holding Single Member S.A.

Housing Finance Corporation

Pharmakas Beton Ltd

SAP Cyprus Ltd

Sunwing Hotels (Cyprus) Limited

Work highlights

  • Advised a hotel and tour operations company on the re-organisation of its tour operations in Cyprus.
  • Performed legal due diligence and advised the client on the acquisition of a diagnostic centre.
  • Advised the provident fund of the employees of Coca-Cola HBC Cyprus on a transfer to a new multi-employer provident fund.

Cyprus > Commercial, corporate and M&A Tier 2

Deloitte Legal | Hadjianastassiou, Ioannides LLC fields a team of ‘experienced professionals who respond immediately, giving solutions and excellent service’. Under the leadership of Kypros Ioannides, the group advises across the full range of corporate law matters, from corporate compliance and acquisitions to joint ventures and shareholders' agreements, and is adept at representing national and international companies in mandates. Andreas Thoma has substantial experience in corporate financing transactions. Calliopi Nicolaidou and Natalie Kyprianou are key names to note.

Practice head(s):

Kypros Ioannides

Other key lawyers:

Testimonials

‘They are a strong team and they are quick to grasp the problem and find solutions. Collaboration with the team is excellent, and has been throughout. The speed of the service is amazing.’

‘The team has repeatedly shown an excellent combination of technical skills and business approach on the legal matters we have cooperated in. The team members are proactive with respect to the client’s needs.’ 

‘Working with Andreas Thoma is a great experience. He is always respectful and attentive to the client’s needs. He communicates difficult legal issues in a clear and business comprehensive way. He acts swiftly in order to effectively resolve problems and ensure positive outcomes.’

‘The individuals we work with truly stand out for their exceptional expertise, dedication and client-focused approach.’

‘The team has in depth knowledge of corporate matters in Cyprus and are able to quickly help and resolve any arising issues and also make excellent recommendations.’

‘The team, from its more junior members to its more seniors members, all have a client-centric approach, with strong command of their area of expertise.’

Key clients

Abacus Limited

Abbyy Plc

Abris Capital Partners

Adidas Cyprus Ltd

Alpha Television Cyprus Limited

Ancoria Insurance Public Ltd

Apollonio Private Hospital Limited

Astro Bank Ltd

CEE Equity Partners

Char. Pilakoutas Group Limited

COCA-COLA HBC Cyprus Ltd (formally known as Lanitis Bros Ltd part of the Coca-Cola Hellenic Group)

Commercial Estates Group Limited

CSC Europe Limited

FattalHolding SAL

GQS Services Limited

HSB Engineering Insurance Ltd

IQ-EQ (Cyprus) Limited

Intership Navigation co. Ltd

Investors’ Compensation Fund of Clients of Ifs

ISWM group

Lanitis Bros Limited (Coca cola Hellenic Group)

Latomia Pharmakas Dimosia Etaireia Ltd

Llyr Marine Limited

Midis Group

Ministry of Energy, Commerce and Industry of the Republic of Cyprus

Ministry of Finance of the Republic of Cyprus

Moneygate Solutions Limited

Nissan Cyprus Limited:

Nice Day Developments Limited

Petrolina (Holdings) Public Limited

Sinergatikos Organismos Paragogis Zootrofon Ltd

Stanleybet Group

Tanana Limited

Universal Life Insurance Public Company Ltd

Wealth Fund Services Limited

Work highlights

  • Advised a client, a member of the largest private health care group in Greece, on the circa EUR 40,000,000 acquisition of 99.07% of the share capital of Aretaeio Private Hospital.
  • Advised a client on a liquidation matter, involving the liquidation of a Cypriot entity and the distribution of its assets to its shareholders.
  • Advised a client, operating in the pharmaceutical industry, on the EUR5,000,000 sale of all of its shares in a Cypriot company.

Cyprus > Dispute resolution Tier 2

The ‘highly supportive, engaged and reassuring’ team at Deloitte Legal | Hadjianastassiou, Ioannides LLC is praised for its ‘business orientated’ approach. It is collectively led by Gaston Hadjianastassiou, Kypros Ioannides and recently promoted partner Costas Philippou, and advises many global and local clients on high-value, complex cases in the civil, administrative, family, tax and real estate law spaces. It also covers a wide array of contentious matters relating to intellectual property, competition and public procurement, and is equally adept at handling arbitration.

Practice head(s):

Gaston Hadjianastassiou; Kypros Ioannides; Costas Philippou

Testimonials

‘The team stands out for its expertise, responsiveness, and reliability. They are very easy to work with. Kypros Ioannides is hard-working, practical, and a pleasure to work with.’

‘Partners are very experienced and give the appropriate guidance to others – the team is young and vibrant. Gaston Hadjianastasiou – responsive. Kypros Ioannides – thorough and careful.’

‘Professional, prompt, articulate and always have the clients best interests at heart. Costas Philippou has been extremely helpful, efficient and competent in all dealings we have had with him across several legal requests. ’

‘All partners and associates have been very helpful and prompt in their responses. Kypros Ioannides is a very efficient lawyer who always provides timely advice.’

‘Gaston Hadjianastassiou is extremely responsive and ready to provide his assistance when needed even under extreme short notice. He is also very knowledgeable in respect to insolvency matters as well as great commercial awareness.’

‘Great team of experienced and well versed litigators with high command of local and international law. Kypros Ioannides is a highly regarded colleague with acute understanding of complex cases.’

‘Kypros Ioannides is without doubt one of the best lawyers in Cyprus. He is knowledgeable, efficient and very reliable. Costas Philippou is also a safe pair of hands.’

‘Special Mention: Costas Philippou (Partner) is very knowledgeable and thorough, and was able to work with tight deadlines.’

Key clients

A. Panayides Contracting Limited

Abacus Limited

Adidas

Alpha Television Cyprus Limited

Aqua Sol Hotels Public Company Limited

Arnold & Porter Kaye Scholer (UK) LLP)

Astra Self Drive Cars Limited

Astro Bank Ltd

Baker Tilly Klitou & Partners

Bank of Cyprus Public Company Ltd

CareerFinders Recruitment Services Limited

CEE Equity Partners Ltd

Char. Pilakoutas Group Limited

COCA-COLA HBC Cyprus Ltd (formally known as Lanitis Bros Ltd part of the Coca-Cola Hellenic Group)

CSC Group Ltd

Deloitte Limited

Elekta EPE

Galatariotis Brothers Limited

GPA Vision Drive Ltd

GQS Services Limited

HLB Cyprus Ltd

HSB Engineering Insurance Ltd

J & A Philippou Architects Engineers E.P.E.

National Bank of Greece (Cyprus) Ltd

Nice Day Developments Limited

PPF Banka A.S

Sinergatikos Organismos Paragogis Zootrofon Ltd – Cooperative Food Production Organisation – SOPAZ

Stanleybet Group

Trade Capital Markets (TCM) Ltd

Work highlights

  • Advising and representing several defendants in the context of a civil action brought before the District Court of Nicosia on behalf of an international conglomerate for damages of around €500m and other remedies for conspiracy to defraud.
  • Representing a leading administrative services provider within the context of complex litigation proceedings before various Cypriot Courts concerning a shareholders’ dispute with an underlying value of around $243m.
  • Advising a number of clients on a dispute over the shareholding and ownership of a large international cosmetics company.

Cyprus > Intellectual property Tier 2

Senior managing associate Rania Vrondou leads Deloitte Legal | Hadjianastassiou, Ioannides LLC's intellectual property practice. Key areas of instruction for the team include assisting start-up clients with the protection of IP rights and working in tandem with other departments in the firm to assist businesses with the protection and transfer of intellectual property rights in Cyprus. The group  is also adept at advising on brand strategies and copyright protection issues.

Practice head(s):

Rania Vrondou

Other key lawyers:

Testimonials

‘The team has a fresh approach and is very responsive, with an excellent grasp on current legal issues.’

‘The individuals are very easy to reach, the client gets the feel of a personal touch to their legal affairs. Very quick to respond and clear and concise on their advice.’

‘They are all strong professionals. They all have not only legal thinking but business thinking.’

‘Gaston Hadjianastassiou is a person who knows how to solve his client’s problems or how to meet his client’s needs and he does everything to solve or meet them. He is a strong legal and business professional.’

Key clients

Alma Europe Ltd

Alpha Television Cyprus Limited

Deloitte Limited

Moebius Limited

MoneyGate Solutions Limited

TPlus Capital Technologies Ltd

Trade Capital Markets (TCM) Limited

RJ Development Ltd

RJ Games Limited

Veraxen Ltd

Work highlights

  • Successfully negotiated a co-existence agreement between TPlus Technologies Ltd and another entity.
  • Successfully negotiated and concluded the preliminary framework for a co-existence agreement between Alma Europe Ltd and another entity.
  • Advised MoneyGate Limited on a dispute with the client’s software developers.

Cyprus > Real estate and construction Tier 3

Gaston Hadjianastassiou heads up Deloitte Legal | Hadjianastassiou, Ioannides LLC's practice, which is instructed by various real estate clients on a myriad of complex matters. The client base includes property companies and real estate investors.

Practice head(s):

Gaston Hadjianastassiou

Testimonials

‘Strong brand, very good practitioners, resourceful office that manages to offer significant level of flexibility and very good service with the direct involvement of the managing partners.’

“Direct approach and offer good money value for their services, with a transparent and competitive pricing. They make you feel that they are there to stand by you and really and truly support your needs and defend your interests, with sincerity and professionalism.’

‘Have been working with Gaston Hadjianastasiou – Knowledgeable, accessible, straight to the point and clear approach and view, friendly, resourceful, efficient.’

Key clients

Health Master Hospital Ltd

Health Master Property Ltd

Hellenic Healthcare Holding Single Member S.A.

Maryvan Limited

Scitus Capital Holdings Advisors Ltd

Work highlights

  • Advising the client on the legal title of immovable properties acquired.
  • Negotiating the terms of a Property Management Agreement for a client.
  • Advising its client on changing the trustees of a Cypriot trust who were affected by UK sanctions and the procedure for recording the changes with the Land Registry, including the preparation and filing of court applications for declaratory and vesting orders.

Cyprus > Banking and finance Tier 4

The 'exceptional' team at Deloitte Legal | Hadjianastassiou, Ioannides LLC is ‘always able to provide quality advice’. The group continues to act as both leading and local counsel on major multi-jurisdictional financing transactions. The team is also adept at handling the full spectrum of financial regulatory matters. Other key areas of instruction include handling the due diligence aspects of loan portfolio acquisitions. Andreas Thoma and financial services expert Calliopi Nicolaidou co-head the practice; Natalie Sepou is a key practitioner in the group.

Practice head(s):

Andreas Thoma; Calliopi Nicolaidou

Other key lawyers:

Natalie Sepou; Kypros Ioannides; Athina Patera

Testimonials

‘Andreas Thoma is a very competent transactional lawyer capable of handing sophisticated matters.’

‘The practice is managed by two young professionals who are dynamic and hands on in their approach. They engage directly with their clients and oversee the work produced by their team. This gives comfort to clients that they are not being managed by junior staff but have the full support of the team.’

‘ I have dealt with Natalie Sepou who was very responsive to emails and had valuable insights and comments.’

‘Andreas Thoma and his team are really fantastic lawyers, providing the assistance the clients need. He is always available, answering fast to all queries you may have.’

‘The team of Andreas Thoma is experienced, diligent and solution orientated. They were able to advise on complex issues and suggest innovative approaches. The client was very positive about their input under Cyprus law.’

‘Andreas Thoma is an excellent leader, focused on best clients’ results. Calliopi Nicolaidou is a bright professional, reliable and responsive.’

‘Calliopi Nicolaidou has high expertise in the banking and financial sector and in depth legal knowledge; Calliopi also leads an excellent team.’

‘Very organised way of working, providing detailed explanations of their work and conforming to deadlines. In addition they can comfortably and optimally work alongside with counterparty legal firms.’

Key clients

Ancoria Bank

Astro Bank Ltd

Bank of Cyprus Public Company Limited

Bank of Scotland plc/ Lloyds Banking Group

Citibank Group

CSC Europe Limited

Eurobank (Cyprus) Ltd

Housing Finance Corporation

Komercni banka a.s.

PPF Banka a.s

Work highlights

  • Advising a Cypriot credit institution on its advanced separability analysis requested by the Central Bank of Cyprus (CBC) in line with the Working Priorities for 2023 set by the Central Bank of Cyprus.
  • Acting as legal members of the temporary administrator team appointed under article 30E of the Business of Credit Institutions law in connection to a local systemic credit institution surrendering its banking licence in Cyprus.
  • Advising a Cyprus company as borrower in relation to the financing provided by Bank of Cyprus Public Company Ltd for the acquisition of Aretaeion Private Hospital, one of the largest private hospitals in Cyprus.

Firm name: Hadjianastassiou, Ioannides LLC (member of the Deloitte Legal network)

Address: 11 Michail Paridi Street, 1095, Nicosia, Cyprus

Phone: +357 22 818280

Email: [email protected]

Website: www.deloittelegal.com

 

Offices

75+ countries

Languages

English, Greek

Number of legal professionals

  1. at this office: 30
  2. in this country: 30
  3. worldwide: 2,500+

International groupings

Deloitte Legal*

 

Firm overview

Legal services in Cyprus are provided by Hadjianastassiou, Ioannides LLC. Established in 2003, the firm is the sole Cyprus member of the Deloitte Legal network.

Deloitte Legal* addresses your challenges with comprehensive thinking, powered by experience and insights drawn from diverse business disciplines, industries, and global perspectives. We bring together legal advice, strategy, and technology to develop innovative solutions, create value for you and your business, and transform the way in which legal services are delivered and consumed.

Operating in more than 75 countries, Deloitte Legal practitioners work closely across borders, providing a strategic perspective to help companies meet local responsibilities and thrive in the global marketplace. With access to industry specialists and an unparalleled range of professional services, we also employ technology to pioneer innovative solutions to the most complex business problems.

Deloitte Legal pairs strategy with technology to aggregate, organize, and analyze complex data from multiple sources, providing the insight to enhance clients’ decision-making process. Deloitte has reshaped many functions with its transformative thinking, which Deloitte Legal applies to reshape the legal department. We focus on people, process, and technology to help legal departments free up time for what matters.

Deloitte Legal doesn’t just work for clients, but with clients to develop the right solutions for their business. Understanding the client’s needs and putting a business lens on legal problems enables us to help the General Counsel become a business partner.

* “Deloitte Legal” means the legal practices of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited member firm affiliates that provide legal services. For legal and regulatory reasons, not all member firms provide legal services.

Main areas of practice

Deloitte Legal organizes its market offerings around three key areas:

Legal Advisory

Deloitte Legal advisors assist multinational organizations with day-to-day activities as well as corporate life events across many jurisdictions. Deloitte Legal’s professionals leverage leading technologies to deliver efficient and transparent support for the everyday legal activities companies manage.

Deloitte Legal practitioners understand that global organizations are enormously complex organisms, and no one unit is sealed off from the rest. The multi-disciplinary, tech-enabled legal approach allows Deloitte Legal to address legal questions not just in the abstract isolated way but with a holistic understanding of what the client organization is trying to achieve.

With a client-centric approach, Deloitte Legal practitioners expand their knowledge about their clients, the industries they operate in, their regulatory and legislative environments around the world to bring more to the table and provide the best possible legal advice to clients.

Guidance, advice and support are offered in the areas of:

  • Corporate law
  • IP law
  • Technology law
  • Dispute resolution
  • Employment law and benefits
  • Mergers and acquisitions
  • Regulatory and compliance
  • Private clients legal services
  • Real estate
  • Banking and & finance
  • Commercial law

Legal Management Consulting

Deloitte’s Legal Management Consulting (LMC) services were developed in collaboration with experts from across Deloitte practice areas such as mainstream management consultancy, risk advisory, tax management consulting, and, of course, legal. The services are configured to identify opportunities to help the General Counsel and the legal department as a whole achieve their desired state: Deloitte practitioners from numerous disciplines collaborate on a long-term roadmap to realize the client’s vision. They benchmark that roadmap with achievable goals, and work with the client from inception to completion.

Deloitte Legal’s LMC services includes assessing and developing legal operating models, evaluating and reconfiguring internal legal processes, developing frameworks for legal risk management, assisting with sourcing (balancing in-house resources with external third party providers), developing and deploying legal technology architecture, and facilitating tailored labs to develop solutions.

Legal Managed Services

Deloitte’s Legal Managed Services were developed to help legal departments keep up with the demands from their businesses for support on a range of legal issues. The legal professionals employ technology (such as dTrax – Deloitte’s award-winning contract management solution) and proven methodologies to act as an extension of a company’s in-house legal team, driving efficiencies through process improvement, and providing support and guidance to help enable their focus to shift to more strategic issues.

Support is offered for:

  • Legal document reviews
  • Legal contracting drafting, reviews and negotiations
  • Legal operations and spend management
  • Legal contract and commercial management
  • Legal entity management
  • “Legal Counsel as a Service”

Main work contacts

Department Name Email Telephone
Banking and finance Andreas Thoma
Banking and finance Natalie Sepou
Commercial Gaston Hadjianastassiou
Commercial Rania Vrondou
Commercial Christina Hadjivassiliou
Corporate Kypros Ioannides
Corporate Natalie Sepou
Corporate Natalie Kyprianou
Corporate Eleni Pophaides
Regulatory and Compliance Calliopi Nicolaidou
Regulatory and Compliance Eleftheria Panayiotou
Employment Gaston Hadjianastassiou
Employment Michalis Georgiou
Intellectual property Kypros Ioannides
Intellectual property Rania Vrondou
Dispute resolution Kypros Ioannides
Dispute resolution Gaston Hadjianastassiou
Dispute resolution Panayiota Papapetrou
Dispute resolution Costas Philippou
Dispute resolution Rita Olympiou
Private client Kypros Ioannides
Private client Rania Vrondou
Real Estate Gaston Hadjianastassiou
Litigation Gaston Hadjianastassiou
Litigation Kypros Ioannides
Litigation Costas Philippou
Litigation Panayiota Papapetrou
Litigation Rita Olympiou
Number of lawyers : 2,000+
at this office : 2
English
Greek

 

At Deloitte, we understand that our diversity is a key driver of our effectiveness in the market. That’s why, in FY2018, we re-committed to progressing our already strong culture of inclusion and increasing gender representation at all levels across Deloitte.
Our deeply embedded, ongoing initiatives to promote diversity and inclusion at Deloitte have proven effective.

  • Deloitte member firms have adopted progressively advanced talent initiatives—including workplace flexibility, and family leave and return-to-work policies—that attract women, parents and employees of all generations.
  • Many Deloitte member firms offer their people opportunities through global business resource groups (BRGs) to connect and build networks with others who share affinity indicators such as gender, race, religion and sexual orientation. Some member firms have also established councils that bridge gaps between single-identity workplace groups.
  • Deloitte leaders in Australia, Canada, UK, US and other countries have been recognized externally for inclusion efforts and/or serve on boards of organizations that promote inclusion.
  • Globally, Deloitte creates a safe work environment for all people through its strong policies against misconduct, inappropriate behavior or sexual harassment.

These are some of the significant reasons why Deloitte is recognized as a desirable workplace by organizations that include
Great Place to Work, LinkedIn, National Association of Female Executives (US), The Times (UK), Glassdoor.

While we are proud of the accolades we have earned and the policies and programs we have implemented, we understand that we must change as the market and world around us change. To lead in the areas of inclusion and diversity, we must achieve more. That is why we are focusing many of our current efforts on gender representation and why we will continue to seek and hire qualified women, provide ample developmental and promotional and leadership opportunities, and remain committed to fair pay for all.

 

Kypros Ioannides, Partner

Kypros Ioannides, founding partner of Hadjianastassiou, Ioannides LLC (member of the Deloitte Legal network) explains how the firm is adapting to clients’ changing needs

What do you see as the main points that differentiate Hadjianastassiou, Ioannides LLC (member of the Deloitte Legal network) from your competitors?

We are a distinctly modern law firm which focuses on attaining the optimal combination of human talent and technology to deliver exceptional client service. As the world is changing ever faster, we need out-of-the-box thinkers to help us build the future of our firm. Our multi-disciplinary, tech-enabled legal approach allows us to address legal questions not just in the abstract isolated way but with a holistic understanding of what our clients are trying to achieve.

By putting our clients in the hearts of everything we do, we push ourselves to expand our knowledge about our clients, the industries they operate in, and their regulatory and legislative environments around the world so that we can provide perspective that will add value to our clients’ organizations.

Global integration, Business Integration and Technology Integration are the main points that differentiate us from our competitors. With over 2,500 legal professionals in more than 75 countries that work together across borders, we have developed a strategic perspective which enables our clients not only to meet their local responsibilities but also to thrive in the global marketplace. We have access to industry specialists and a broad range of professional services spanning strategy, finance, human capital, risk, technology, audit, tax and, of course, legal, to meet our clients’ complex business needs and to provide a one-stop-shop for our clients. We employ technology to pioneer innovative legal solutions. It is part of the Deloitte organization, which has collected several technology-related accolades and has a strong track record in providing technology solutions, both through in-house capabilities and alliances with technology companies. The combination of legal skills with innovative service delivery, solution platforms and intelligent data analysis enable us to provide innovative solutions and unparalleled services to our clients.

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

  • Cybersecurity and privacy: With the exponential rise in the use of technology, privacy and cybersecurity risks are greater than ever, requiring companies to create robust frameworks ensuring the proper management and protection of their data. At the same time, new laws (particularly within the EU) are expected to come into force in an effort to catch up with and regulate technological advancements such as AI, crypto-currency and digital markets.
  • Environmental sustainability: Climate change has highlighted the need for urgent action on environmental protection. At the same time, there has been a rising pressure on companies to improve their sustainability-related performances and comply with ever-expanding regulations in ESG (Environment, Social and Corporate Governance). Together, these are fueling demand for ESG-focused legal services.
  • Health (including digital health): This area of law has seen a surge in demand especially, but not exclusively, due to the covid-19 pandemic. With this heightened importance on health and hygiene more people are seeking control of their health information and wish to monitor their health through the use of digital healthcare products and devices (such as wearable devices, health record platforms, patient-physician portals etc). The rapid pace in innovation in digital health brings with it significant regulatory and policy challenges (be it in terms of IP, privacy and cybersecurity, product liability etc.) which lawyers will be expected to navigate more and more in the coming years.
  • Artificial Intelligence (AI): AI is already taking over the way law firms work. The rapid developments in artificial intelligence are expected to reshape the legal profession and a number of practice areas themselves. The benefits of AI in the drafting of contracts, predicting legal outcomes or recommending judicial decisions, increasing productivity and avoiding costly mistakes are real and tangible. Law firms that embrace emerging AI technologies will be able to benefit from higher efficiency enabling them to meet the higher demand for legal services and to offer services at lower cost.

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

  • Business Integration: Our cooperation with the Deloitte Legal international network allows us to have a first seat of view of solutions to issues arising all over the world, draw on know-how from our counterparts in other jurisdictions to maintain our understanding and market awareness up to date and work in multi-jurisdictional transactions as one team to deliver a product of consistent quality. It strengthens our practices and allows the client to benefit from commercially sound, implementable solutions with a one stop shop service both across service lines and across jurisdictions.
  • Regulatory: The increasing complexity of the global regulatory environment challenges clients to find solutions for greater organization, specialization, and sectorial knowledge. Deloitte Legal combines global perspective with local insights to help them develop and execute on those solutions. We have enhanced our human capital and technological capabilities to support our clients in navigating through the modern regulatory minefield.
  • Enhanced security and business continuity: We have successfully renewed our ISO 22301 ‘Business Continuity Management System’ and ISO 27001 ‘Information Security Management System’ certifications. Obtaining the ISO certificates is especially important during times of uncertainty as it ensures we have the right capabilities to proceed with business as usual. The certifications confirm that we are in position to protect and best serve our clients without disruption and with high levels of protection of their confidential and personal data.
  • Data classification: We have introduced a data classification and data management service which protects our clients’ business and personal data.

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

Technology has become an essential part of our lives and it definitely keeps changing the way we interact with our clients and the services we can provide them. At Deloitte Legal, we have introduced technological tools and stayed apprised of emerging legal technologies so that we can deliver maximum value to our clients.

  • We use an integrated law firm management suite which provides a single source for all our data.
  • We have implemented a document automation solution and we are slowly moving towards a paperless practice. Our contract automation tool allows for the creation and management of contract templates and the easy generation of draft agreements. This eliminates the hassle of finding and populating suitable templates, allowing the in-house lawyers to focus on the productive aspect of a task.
  • We provide matter management and global risk and compliance tools as a means to keeping up to date with constant changes in compliance and regulatory matters.
  • We consolidate all contracts in a centralised repository, helping clients access key documentation quickly and efficiently, while driving insights that are easy to digest to unlock additional value.
  • We have adopted an electronic signing platform to facilitate the online execution of documents which eliminates the hassle of exchanging originals, save time and is an eco-friendly solution.
  • We utilise e-discovery tools that facilitate due diligence exercises and document disclosures in litigation or data analysis.
  • We have in place a data classification and data management service aimed at protecting our clients’ business and personal data.

Importantly, all of the above can be achieved from an office-less environment where data and tools are accessed at anytime from anywhere with secure cloud services.

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

Client-specific seminars and training: We often run seminars/trainings for our clients (for example to banking institutions, systemic and otherwise, governmental authorities (Department of Registrar of Companies and Intellectual Property), major service providers)), tailoring the material to their needs. We add value to their business and know-how by updating them on the latest legal and commercial developments affecting their organisation and the industry in general and educate them on how to adapt and conform with such developments.

Proactive problem solving: We work closely with our clients to anticipate any potential problems that may arise and how to prevent them. This helps our clients minimise their cost and legal exposure by:

  • Avoiding litigation costs and costs in dispute settlement.
  • Minimising cost of work done in our law firm as against their inhouse departments.
  • Providing them with standardised templates to ensure the needs of the business can be met in a timely manner that minimises risk.

Employment law:

  • Our firm has recently enhanced its focus on employee benefits, taking into consideration the recent trends in giving value to our clients’ employees (thus our clients’ businesses as a whole) with less traditional methods.
  • We assist start-ups to receive quick and robust advice in setting up one of the most significant aspects of every operation, human capital.

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

Clients certainly appreciate stability and strategic direction from their legal advisors. As the legal sector changes and competition increases, clients are looking for commercially and legally viable solutions recommended by their lawyers who understand their strategy and business goals.

In three years’ time, we see our firm on a steady road implementing the specific, realistic and attainable goals set today. Growth on multiple levels is the firm’s three-year business plan, in terms of recruiting more and capable staff, expanding and perfecting practice area niche and adopting further legal tech. Our determination to provide exceptional client service involves equipping our clients with reassurance and confidence. Building on our accomplishments, we plan on continuing stronger.