Rokas Law Firm > Athens, Greece > Firm Profile

Rokas Law Firm
25, 25A BOUKOURESTIOU STREET
106 71 ATHENS
Greece

Greece > Insurance Tier 1

Drawing upon its extensive contentious expertise, Rokas Law Firm has a specific focus on insurance claims, misappropriation of bank deposit issues and the reservation of insurer’s rights of cancellation cases. It can regularly be found representing energy companies and financial institutions. The firm has a strong track record in regulated markets, often handling M&A transactions, regulatory compliance and winding-up proceedings. Based out of Athens, founding partner Ioannis Rokas specialises in complex insurance litigation and arbitration cases. Alkistis Christofilou primarily focuses on the finance, telecoms and pharmaceutical sectors, and Christos Theodorou is knowledgeable in IPOs and financial law matters. Antonios Tsavdaridis is experienced in advising on major European disputes, and Nikolaos Boutsikos is an expert litigator.

Practice head(s):

Ioannis Rokas; Alkistis Christofilou; Christos Theodorou; Antonios Tsavdaridis; Nikolaos Boutsikos

Other key lawyers:

Kosmas Karanikolas; Andriani Kantilieraki; Xeni Lymperopoulou

Testimonials

‘Rokas Law firm is very well known for its insurance law practice, and this is no wonder. The firm excels in the last decade in Greece in relation to all insurance items (both litigation and consulting services – including M&As). All team members have experience and specialty in all fields of commercial law and more specifically in insurance. The advice provided is always well educated and complete, giving the clients the opportunity to take well informed decisions.’

‘Alkistis Christofilou excels in the provision of legal advice, which is solution-oriented and innovative, always addressing the client needs. Nikos Boutsikos is a highly experienced professional, having led numerous big litigation cases with great success.’

‘ROKAS LAW FIRM lawyers and administrative staff members are excellent in terms of legal knowledge, market knowledge, willingness to support and easiness to reach. In particular, Alkistis Christofilou is a distinguished lawyer with exceptional knowledge both in legal theory and in legal praxis.’

‘RLF aims to build long-term partnerships with clients, focusing on sustained success rather than short-term gains.’

‘RLF possess deep knowledge in their respective fields, ensuring high-quality and accurate outputs.’

‘Alkistis Christofilou is a phenomenal lawyer, not only is her legal expertise exceptional but she is also able to assist clients with regards to market practices and more generally to provide operational and commercial guidance. Nikolaos Boutsikos is also a great lawyer.’

‘Rokas has a very reputed practice and is able to advise on a very wide range of matters in a very timely manner.’

‘Alkistis Christofilou is our key contact at Rokas. She has a very pragmatic approach. Her responsiveness and sense of business is much appreciated.’

Work highlights

  • Advises Generali in its capacity as liability insurers of the Greek train operator, in relation to the Tempi railway accident, also undertaking the defence of claims submitted by relatives of the deceased in this accident.
  • Advises a major energy player on its claims for damages to its refinery facilities and the business interruption which arose thereof.
  • Advises one of the major stakeholders in insurance brokerage regarding the acquisition of other undertakings engaging in insurance intermediation.

Greece > Commercial, corporate and M&A Tier 2

Primarily overseeing multi-jurisdictional M&A transactions in the tourism and insurance brokerage fields, Rokas Law Firm shows an ‘exceptional blend of expertise and responsiveness’ when advising clients. The team is led from Athens by Alkistis Christofilou, Christos Theodorou and Antonios Tsavdaridis, each specialising in all aspects of commercial law, arbitration and IPOs. Dimitrios Chatzimichael is knowledgeable in corporate law cases, Alexios Foskinis focuses on competition law issues, while Sofia Getimi concentrates on trade mark and patent protection issues. Marily Garyfallou is also noted.

Practice head(s):

Alkistis Christofilou; Christos Theodorou; Antonios Tsavdaridis

Testimonials

‘The legal team has consistently demonstrated exceptional expertise and dedication across various complex cases. Their ability to navigate intricate legal scenarios and provide clear, strategic advice sets them apart from other firms we ‘ve worked in the past. What makes this practice truly unique is their client-centric approach, unwavering professionalism, and thorough understanding of the local and international legal landscape.’

‘Potential clients should know that this team goes beyond standard legal representation—they are true partners who prioritize our business objectives and long-term success. Their collaborative approach, coupled with their in-depth knowledge of the industry, ensures that all matters are handled with precision and care. Moreover, their innovative use of technology and transparent billing practices make them a forward-thinking and reliable partner.’

‘The individuals we’ve worked with have been nothing short of exceptional. They have displayed a rare combination of legal expertise, attention to detail, and unwavering commitment to our needs. Their proactive communication and ability to navigate complex legal matters have set them apart from competitors. In particular, Alkistis Christofilou has been a key asset in guiding us through intricate negotiations, providing invaluable insights and strategic advice.’

‘Marily Garyfallou’s meticulous research and problem-solving skills played a critical role in ensuring that no detail was overlooked. Their professionalism and ability to anticipate potential challenges have given us confidence and peace of mind throughout our engagements.’

‘We worked with ROKAS on a recent matter in which their local and sector knowledge, not only in respect of due diligence matters, but across the wider transactional process, was key to our understanding of the target business alongside assisting to successfully negotiate key transactional points. As a firm, they are very responsive, knowledgeable and commercial alongside adopting a highly constructive and collaborative approach towards the various transactional parties.’

‘Both Alkistis Christofilou and Sofia Getimi were very knowledgeable and responsive in their approach, alongside applying a commercial perspective within the advice provided.’

‘Rokas Law Firm’s practice is distinguished by its exceptional combination of deep legal expertise, practical commercial understanding, and client-centric approach. One of the team’s standout qualities is their ability to offer highly tailored solutions, particularly in complex cross-border and cross-cultural transactions. They possess strong market knowledge and maintain an international perspective, which makes them adept at handling multifaceted corporate matters that require intricate legal and regulatory navigation.’

‘The individuals at Rokas Law Firm stand out due to their exceptional blend of expertise, responsiveness, and a highly personalized approach to client service. They demonstrate a deep understanding of both the legal framework and the business context, which enables them to provide insightful, commercially sound advice.’

Key clients

H Hotels (Hadjilazarou)

Ergo Hellas

Rosemont Pharmaceuticals

Chiesi Pharmaceuticals

Innovis Pharma

SNA Europe

Accura

Europ Assistance

Tyntec GmbH

Alpha Bank SA

Trowers & Hamlins

Porsche AG

Nautilus SA Yacht Equipment

BakerMcKenzie

Lekos Group call centres

Kinetta Beach Hotel

Foundation for Policy Alexandros Papanastasiou

bioMerieux SA (biodiagnostics)

Takeda

Tapestry Global Compliance Partners

Swiss Re

Hellenic Republic Asset Development Fund

Hogan Lovells International LLP

LG Electronics Hellas S.A.

T-Mobile

Roche Hellas SA

Vertex Pharmaceuticals

CMS Cameron McKenna Nabarro Olswang LLP

R.E.D.S.

Baker McKenzie LLP

AIG Europe SA – Greece Branch

Swot Hospitality SA (CORA Hotel)

Work highlights

  • Advised Howden Hellas on both the acquisition and the transformation of two companies in the field of insurance intermediation.
  • Advised H Hotels Collections on the multimillion acquisitions of the Rhodes Bay hotel in the island of Rhodes and the Titania hotel in Athens.
  • Advised Rosemont Pharmaceuticals on the acquisition of Greek pharmaceutical R&D company Pharma-Data.

Greece > Energy Tier 2

Particularly active in the natural gas and renewable energy spheres, Rokas Law Firm is routinely called upon by domestic and international clients to assist with strategic investments and project development issues. Operating out of Athens, Mira Todorovic Symeonides heads the practice, standing out for her knowledge in M&A transactions and energy regulatory issues. Harris Synodinos is a specialist in EU and competition law proceedings, alongside focusing on public procurement matters, while Dimitrios Chatzimichael concentrates on corporate reorganisations.

Practice head(s):

Mira Todorovic Symeonides

Other key lawyers:

Harris Synodinos; Dimitris Chatzimichael; Sofia Getimi; Alexis Foskinis; Angela Moysidou; Panagiota Maragkozoglou

Testimonials

‘High degree of knowledge and experience. Especially in our field of renewable Energy. Fast reaction time to requests and availability when necessary, open to work in a very positive way with lawyers from partners, clients and even competitors.’

‘Mrs. Todorovic is extremely skilled, multilingual, and takes a lot of effort in understanding the needs of her clients.’

‘Customer oriented.’

‘Deep experience.’

‘Knowledge of the energy market and the players.’

Work highlights

Greece > Dispute resolution Tier 3

Adhering to ‘very high standards’, Rokas Law Firm covers domestic and international arbitration, alongside insurance and commercial litigation proceedings. Predominantly focusing on the pharmaceutical, maritime and energy sectors, the practice has experience in the First Instance Court and the Court of Appeals. Christos Theodorou and Antonios Tsavdaridis jointly lead the department, specialising in ICC arbitrations and complex insurance claims, while Nick Boutsikos is a strong IP litigator. Andreas Papastathis is knowledgeable in disputes arising out of insurance contract terms. Andriani Kantilieraki is also a key contact.

Practice head(s):

Christos Theodorou; Antonios Tsavdaridis

Other key lawyers:

Nick Boutsikos; Andreas Papastathis; Andriani Kantilieraki; Xenia Lymperopoulou; Ifigeneia Myloni

Testimonials

‘Precise, always on time with deadlines and people very collaborative.’

‘Mr. Antonios Tsavdaridis stands out from competitors as his knowledge of the legal practice enables him to provide efficient solution-driven legal advice. We were extremely pleased with his services, he gained our trust from the inception of our engagement.’

‘Very good knowledge, expertise and preparation in advance for the handling of the case professionally. Also, availability for collaboration and great client care.’

‘Dr. Antonios Tsavdaridis has a deep knowledge of the national and European regulatory framework and unique expertise in handling difficult cross border cases. He is also exceptionally open minded in building a case strategy. He has helped us in difficult cases to reach a very good outcome.’

‘Adherence to the very high standards both professional and ethical as well the expertise in a very specialised subject.’

‘The immediate grasping of issues at hand and the accuracy of their responses.’

‘Very collaborative and always respecting deadlines.’

Key clients

Lloyd’s of London

General Motors / Opel

British Airways

Dogus Group

Head Rush Technologies

Hellenic Train S.A./Ferrovie dello Stato Italiane

Heracles GCC / Lafarge Holcim

AIG Europe S.A.

Hannover Re

AXA XL

Ethniki Insurance S.A.

Generali Italia S.p.A.

Eurolife FFH

Motor Insurers’ Fund (Cyprus)

Motor Insurers’ Bureau (Greece)

Auxiliary Fund (Greece)

QBE

CIMOLAI S.p.A.

Attiki Odos S.A.

REDS S.A.

DEPA S.A.

Avion Express

Roche S.A.

Takeda S.A.

Allianz S.A.

DallBogg S.A.

Biomerieux S.A.

BUPA

Hellenic Petroleum S.A.

Sunlight S.A.

Work highlights

  • Advising insurers and representing HT/FSI in relation to the lawsuits that are being filed following the deadliest train accident in Greece, with 57 deaths, at Tempi on 1 March 2023.
  • Advising reinsurers and representing insurers in respect of claims of €19m against a motorway, under a TPL policy, following the closure of a major motorway due to a snowstorm.
  • Represented Opel of the General Motors Group in a product liability lawsuit in the Greek courts.

The firm:  Rokas was established in early 1977 and has since grown to be the first Greek law firm that is active in ten European countries and holds the vision of providing world-class solutions in the region to a worldwide clientele through its international network. We value our international perspective as our critical advantage regarding the business-oriented approach and the quality of services offered to clients who plan to expand, run and develop their business in an increasingly globalised market economy.

 Areas of practice: Rokas is a full-service firm and specialises in several market sectors with an advisory and litigation/ADR practice. Rokas’ clients include corporations active in finance, insurance, banking, energy, telecommunications, technology, construction, real estate, hotel and leisure; also, businesses in the aluminium, steel and gas sectors, pharmaceuticals, tobacco and courier companies, state institutions and regulators.

The firm has acted as project leader and has participated in consortia in law and regulation drafting projects in several market sectors of central and SE Europe, and of the former USSR states. The projects concerned the strengthening, modernisation and regulation of the insurance, energy and environment, and telecommunications sectors, the supporting of public administration and justice reforms.

Rokas is the leading Greek firm in insurance and reinsurance law. The firm’s partners are widely recognised as academics and as litigation and regulation practitioners in insurance law in Greece and in the regions where Rokas expands. Having published landmark textbooks and articles on the subject in Greece and in other countries, they often participate in law drafting committees.

Rokas is also a top choice for complex litigation and arbitration, as well as non contentious work, in all aspects of commercial law, including energy, e-communications, infrastructure practice, and in M&A deals including privatisations, such as the recently completed unbundling of the Greek electricity transmission system operator.

Indicative work highlights of the firm include:
M&A / privatisations / corporate and commercial: (4 partners; 6 associates)

  • Cross-border merger by absorption of Greek commercial company by a Luxembourg international company;
  • Advising on corporate and contractual issues, for an extremely prominent hotel and resort complex on the Athens Riviera;
  • Advice to a Greek systemic bank on corporate governance issues and potential conflicts of interest arising from multiple appointments of the senior manager within the bank’s group;
  • Advising clients from various market sectors, including shipping, insurance, pharmaceuticals, on the GDPR; acting as DPO;
  • Advice on the provision of cross-border electronic communications services in Greece mainly with respect to automobiles;
  • Licensing and launching of an e-scooter sharing system in Athens;
  • Advising on equity and cash-based plans for Greek employees of large multinational companies of the financial and industrial sector;
  • Legal assessment of the contemplated post-Brexit operational schemes for a number of UK-based companies active in regulated market sectors;
  • Acted for sellers in the electricity supplier’s NRG shares sale to the Motor Oil group;
  • Represented the electricity incumbent in the divestiture of the power grid company via the sale of shares to China’s SGID and to a state owned SPV and indirect listing of the rest of stock;
  • Acquisition of a prestigious hotel and residential complex in the center of Sofia, Bulgaria and hotel management agreements;
  • Divestiture of a Greek systemic bank’s subsidiary in North Macedonia;
  • Advising and representing clients on several business law and regulatory issues, including the update to the reformed law on societes anonymes, company transformations, commercial agency and distribution, business transactions, et.al.;
  • World Bank Subnational Project “Registering Property, Starting Business and Enforcement of Contracts” it launched for six cities in Greece, including the review of the Questionnaires, the organisation and monitoring of the expert teams in each city, providing response instructions, receiving feedback from the expert teams, and cooperating with World Bank.

Energy: (2 partners; 3 associates)

  • Support to a foreign investor in acquisition and subsequent development of a developing 12 solar PV plants of total 284 MW, project which has been characterised as a project of Strategic Interest;
  • Support to a foreign investor in a green-field development of above 250 MW PV plant in Greece;
  • Advising the client regarding the EFET and ISDA agreements; support regarding the compliance for its participation in the wholesale electricity and gas markets, as well as energy derivatives markets, particularly those arising from EMIR, REMIT and other;
  • Providing legal support, review and comments to the Engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) with the German company of the framework agreement and sample individual agreement for the project Kozani, a cluster of photovoltaic power plants with a total licensed capacity above 200 MW;
  • Hellenic Republic Asset Development Fund: development of an underwater gas storage tank located in South Kavala – the first of its kind in Greece;
  • Support to a foreign investor in licensing and development of 6 SPVs for production of electricity from wind;
  • Representation of the major Greek natural gas supplier in a dispute against the Greek Natural Gas TSO regarding to charges for booked gas transmission capacities;
  • Representation of major Greek energy-intensive industrial client in a dispute against the Greek electricity TSO regarding charges imposed to auto-producers with high efficiency cogeneration of heat and power (CHP);
  • Advice regarding the acquisition of 5 SPVs containing 10 PV projects for small PV with the total capacity of 5 MWs.

Dispute resolution and ADR:  (4 partners; 10 associates)

  • Representing the incumbent gas distribution company in two ad hoc international arbitrations against a Greek insurer for claims originating from non consumption of agreed gas quantities by incumbent’s clients (electricity producers);
  • Representing the French, Greek and Italian Guarantee Funds against the Motor Insurance Bureau of the UK, in the first ever international arbitration between Motor Insurance Bureaus, in a dispute related to the insolvency of a Gibraltar insurer;
  • Advised a leading hotel resort in a complex construction dispute involving ICC arbitration in London, against a leading Greek construction company;
  • Complex litigation and arbitration cases, for an extremely prominent hotel and resort complex on the Athens Riviera;
  • Representing Generali and QBE in a series of claims litigation originating from the closure of the main Greek Motorway connecting Athens and Thessaloniki owing to rock fall;
  • Representing the Greek subsidiary of the world leading cement producer in a unique dispute before the Administrative Supreme Court, involving the recovery of state aid;
  • Representing one of the world’s leading batteries’ manufacturer in the largest ever casualty claim in Greece;
  • Representing the leading Greek oil refinery in a large casualty claim involving a cutting-edge Flexicocking technology;
  • Representing several insurers in claims against the Hellenic Republic due to unlawful conduct of the police during the December 2008 riots;
  • Representing a world leader in pipe manufacturing in a jurisdiction and product liability dispute over an irrigation project in the island of Crete;
  • Representing one of the world’s leading pharmaceutical companies, a major biodiagnostics company and a major factoring institution in claims against public hospitals for unpaid invoices from supplies of pharmaceuticals and other products.

Insurance: (5 partners; 5 associates)

  • The firm maintains a recognised leading practice in insurance, reinsurance and insurance mediation law. It supports Greek and international clients including regulators of Eastern Europe countries in all related aspects including establishment, licensing and run-off, M&As and portfolio transfers, passporting of services, regulatory and compliance issues and provides consultancy for a number of important global players of the insurance sector.

Pharmaceuticals and diagnostics:  (3 partners; 3 associates)

  • Representing a number of globally leading pharmaceutical companies and diagnostics company against the HR in litigation over clawback disputes and over the collection of public hospitals debt;
  • Provision of day-to-day legal support to major pharmaceutical companies with regard to various regulatory issues;
  • Preparation and review of clinical trial agreements for various arrangers.

Employment: (1 partner; 2 associates)

  • Representation of a major commercial company as employer and as insurer concerning the calculation of the pension benefit (lump-sum) that is provided to its employees who exit for full or early retirement;
  • Representation of AGET Herakles, the Greek subsidiary of Lafarge Holcim, on a collective redundancy dispute before the Supreme Administrative Court and the European Court of Justice that led to the amendment of the collective redundancies legislation in Greece;
  • Provision of ongoing advisory support to one of the world leading pharmaceutical companies on employment-law matters, as well as in relation to a restructuring plan project;
  • Provision of legal assistance to a leading Korean electronics manufacturer concerning all aspects of individual labour law;
  • Representation of a major insurance company before Court on a pilot case concerning the existence or not of obligation on the part of the employer, deriving from a Group insurance contract, for the payment of a lump sum benefit to its employees during their exit, in view of the fact that the relevant reserves are not sufficient.
Department Name Email Telephone
Banking and finance Prof Dr Ioannis Rokas
Banking and finance Alkistis Christofilou
Capital markets Prof Dr Ioannis Rokas
Competition – M&A Dr Charalampos (Harris) Synodinos
Construction and real estate Christos Theodorou
Corporate and commercial Christos Theodorou
Dispute resolution and ADR Dr Antonios Tsavdaridis
Dispute resolution and ADR Nick Boutsikos
Energy and environment Mira Todorovic Symeonides
Energy and environment Dr Charalampos (Harris) Synodinos
EU law Dr Charalampos (Harris) Synodinos
Insolvency and restructuring Nick Boutsikos
Insurance and reinsurance Prof Dr Ioannis Rokas
Insurance and reinsurance Alkistis Christofilou
Intellectual property and trade marks Prof Dr Dr Konstantinos Christodoulou
Labour and employment Christos Theodorou
Privatisation Dr Charalampos (Harris) Synodinos
Privatisation Alkistis Christofilou
Shipping and transport Dr Antonios Tsavdaridis
Taxation Christos Theodorou
Telecommunication and technology Alkistis Christofilou
Photo Name Position Profile
Nick Boutsikos photo Mr Nick Boutsikos Partner
Dimitrios Chatzimichael photo Dr Dimitrios Chatzimichael Dimitrios has been engaged in the establishment, acquisition and restructuring of many…
Alkistis Christofilou photo Mrs Alkistis Christofilou Managing Partner
Andreas  Papastathis photo Mr Andreas Papastathis Junior Partner
Ioannis Rokas photo Prof Dr Ioannis Rokas Senior Partner
Charalampos (Harris) Synodinos photo Dr Charalampos (Harris) Synodinos Partner
Christos Theodorou photo Mr Christos Theodorou Partner, Head of Litigation Team
Mira Todorovic Symeonides photo Mrs Mira Todorovic Symeonides Partner / Head of Energy Team
Antonios Tsavdaridis photo Dr Antonios Tsavdaridis Partner
Number of lawyers : 70
at this office : 25
Albanian
Bulgarian
Czech
English
French
German
Greek
Italian
Romanian
Russian
Serbian
Spanish
Ukrainian
AIDA
HILA
IBA
INTERLAW
GRIP (Global Network of Restructuring and Insolvency Professionals)
Other offices : Belgrade
Other offices : Bucharest
Other offices : Prague
Other offices : Skopje
Other offices : Sofia
Other offices : Thessaloniki
Other offices : Tirana
Other offices : Podgorica (associated office)
Other offices : Sarajevo (associated office)

Andreas A. Papastathis, Partner / Dispute Resolution & Litigation

Andreas A. Papastathis, Partner at Rokas Law Firm/ Dispute Resolution & Litigation team based in Thessaloniki, provides integrated legal advice and undertakes judicial representation of individuals and businesses on a wide range of cases or disputes of civil law, for any procedure before the Supreme Court. He has significant knowledge and expertise on the procedure law before the Supreme Court, and leveraging this proficiency, explains how Rokas is adapting to clients’ changing needs, and which are the main points that distinguish Rokas as a Law Firm with high quality service provision over the years.

Rokas is the longstanding market leader in insurance litigation and regulatory law matters. The Firm comprises 8 owned offices across 7 countries and 2 associated offices in 2 countries.

 

What do you see as the main points that differentiate Rokas law firm from your competitors?

At Rokas we have developed an international law network spanning the Central and Southeast European region. The firm is active in Athens since 1977, with branch offices located in Sofia (est. 1997) and Thessaloniki (est. 2001), and offices in Belgrade (est.1998), Bucharest (est.1995), Prague (est.2003), Skopje (est.1999) and Tirana (est.2003). The Firm having the ability to conduct business in a variety of languages and in-depth knowledge of local specifics, cultures and business practices, has provided comprehensive legal advice in a multitude of projects particularly in the SE European region, including working closely (in the process of legislative reform) with the governments of several countries with economies in transition, a fact which has helped us understand the significance of procedure and timing of every project, as well as the political and policy factors in every deal. Rokas is providing business-focused, high-quality legal advice, tailor-made to the actual needs of its clients, which include multinational commercial corporations active in banking, finance, energy, telecommunications, technology, construction, real estate, services, businesses in the aluminium, steel and gas sectors, courier companies and of course insurance companies. Our Senior Partner, Prof. Dr.  Ioannis Rokas is generally recognized as a top expert and reference point in insurance law as well as in other business law fields.

Apart from our significant presence with offices in the SE Europe, which allows us to provide legal solutions and advice in a wide range beyond the boundaries of Greece, what mainly differentiates us as a law firm is the deep scientific knowledge and experience of all our lawyers. We have an organized structure with considerable support of assistants, and para-legals who contribute to the day-to-day legal work. Our lawyers have strong academic qualifications, and we emphasize in their continuing education and formation.

The interdisciplinary collaboration of our lawyers (depending on each one’s specialization) in the context of a case, results in a holistic and comprehensive approach from every aspect, which is the strong point we adopt in order to provide our qualitative and specific legal advice or to take any and all necessary legal actions. Therefore, a key factor in the strength of our firm is our team of professionals. We invest in young people, and we recruit with strong qualifications and work-ethics in mind, because they stand for the future and continuity of our Law Firm.

Finally, we take a business approach in addressing our clients’ needs. In this respect, we always look beyond the legal aspect of a case to consider the business impact and costs it may have before coming up with an adequate strategy or solution. Our main goal is, through our legal approach and advice in a case and through the legal solution provided, to give a positive sign to our client. In our cooperation with our clients we are consultants and partners, not just lawyers, we discuss with them and present them with the best possible solutions and options, we try to explain to them our legal concerns, our legal actions and legal concepts in a simple and understandable way and to highlight the impact these may have in their business world,  as well as tailoring our advice to their business goals each and every time. Briefly, through our legal advice, we help our clients not only avoid legal pitfalls but also create a more efficient operational structure, ultimately improving its financial position and legal standing. This view of providing legal services offers clients peace of mind and security.

The above-mentioned points are some key factors that differentiate Rokas and make us a dynamic, growing, and adaptive law scheme responding at any time to the needs and time limits of cases set forth by our clients.

 

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

Already, the digitalization and acceleration of procedures, particularly in the public sector, is spreading to court practice. Processes are being simplified and digitized, they are now being carried out more and more remotely with the help of technology. Also, the financial stability and economic development of Greece is a fact that therefore leads to an increase in investments in general. Specifically, in the real estate and in the hospitality and generally in the tourism industry, a rapid increase because of the residence permits through the “Golden Visa” program adopted by Greece that also helped in this direction, as well as the program of the Greek State “My House I and II” incl. the increasing number of the digital nomads, create remarkable opportunities for the legal business. The technology businesses are considered to be steadily growing, while the pharmaceutical and petroleum product exports are promising industry sectors, thanks to their dynamic and volume of exports, and thus, seeking legal consultation and advice.

Moreover, mediation and ADR in general are areas that are developing rapidly in Greece in concerning the traditional legal dispute before the courts. The sale of portfolios of non-performing loans by banks to funds over the last few years and the case law dealing with related issues are of great interest.  Even the Plenary of the Greek Supreme Court (Areios Pagos) has dealt and is still dealing with legal issues arising from non-performing loans and Funds as managers of these. Furthermore, e-commerce is thriving and the energy sector with the modern energy crisis is a challenge for the future that is linked to legal services in the field of energy, as well as RES and Sustainable development, as there is the ever-increasing trend of the international community to protect the environment and tackle the climate change.

Finally, I believe that M&As and commercial partnerships in general – in any form they arise – will continue to flourish in the coming years. I foresee that the credit insurance will also be developed as a follow-up to trade and collateralisation of commercial transactions. Moreover, I couldn’t fail to mention personal data and compliance, especially in this era that is increasingly digitized and automated, making the need to safeguard personal data even more urgent.

The firm having the relevant experience and a dynamic team, bearing all the above into consideration, is ready to meet the demands of the future and continue to cater the legal needs of its clients. We are establishing and staffing new, special, and separate lawyers teams with scientific expertise such as in energy and personal data and compliance law.

 

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

Focusing on the essence of providing quality legal services and knowing that it is a resultant of various components, we invested in the development of other necessary departments of our firm.

The firm strengthened its operational structure in the fields of HR, Communications and Marketing as well as IT, while increasing the staff of assistants, para-legal and trainees. In this way, we create a work environment to help our associate lawyers so that they can increase their productivity when dealing with a case and grow as professionals.

We also upgraded our communication system with an extra possibility of direct intra-company calls via the internet, as well as our corporate e-mail, upgrading its facilities and capacity.  In addition, we use very often the technology to make our meetings remotely with clients wherever they are (via Teams, Zoom etc).

Moreover, Rokas has been granted ISO 9001 certification and adheres to the corresponding protocols, while it also carries out continuous performance evaluations of staff and teams, utilizing each time the findings of this evaluation and improving its practices.

Also, at regular intervals we hold partners’ meetings to discuss the Firm’s issues and our goals for the year, we inform each other about cases we handle and interesting legal remarks we cope with, while at least every two-three months we communicate with our foreign offices trying our communication and our briefing to be as interpersonal as possible.

Lastly,  we have a very strong and sophisticated cyber security system, which is so good as impossible to harm the hardware and software systems of our clients as well as ours. We constantly update our system regarding the development, the new data and progress of cases so that we can immediately respond to a thorough update/ information note to our clients. Of course, to secure the files of a case, the latter are also saved on other e-paths and on an external hard drive and on removable flash drive. In this way, we limit as much as possible the keeping of a physical file of a case (in hard copy) reducing our environmental footprint.

 

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

Technology beyond any doubt is certainly changing the way we interact with clients, as well as the services we can provide.

Technology enables us to conduct our meetings remotely with clients, wherever they are. Therefore, distances are eliminated, and communication and cooperation are achieved without only in-person meetings.  Also, a huge number of files regarding a case can be sent within minutes at the time of request, saving time and effort. We are proud to note that we are using the latest technology programs, that allow us to sign documents digitally. Moreover, the legal platforms for finding pooled case law for the needs of a case, as well as the digitization of legal books, helps, on the one hand, to save time and on the other hand to better research and document on a client’s case.  At the same time, the use of virtual data rooms facilitates the assessment of transaction documents, the cooperation among legal, financial and technical advisors, and the exchanges between counterparties.

However, as much as technology helps us and we integrate its use into our daily professional lives, Rokas remains true to the timeless value of the personalised approach with which it treats each client and case and, first and foremost, to the trust in its people, its lawyers and administrative staff.

 

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

As mentioned earlier, Rokas is recognized as a client-centered firm that begins by thoroughly analyzing each client’s needs from a holistic perspective. We then come up with tailor-made solutions and strategies, providing clients with a competitive edge and valuable advice. Apart from assisting our clientele in the strategic planning of a business through regulatory compliance and due diligence, we are a companion to each step and individual goal they may have throughout their engagement with entrepreneurship. This process involves the anticipation, assessment, and mitigation of various risks, non-excluding through research of the clients’ key competitors and in-depth understanding of their strategic direction, better safeguarding of their rights and preserving or creating competitive advantage. Rokas, in other words, cares for the clients’ strategic placement in the market and for that reason cultivates a business mentality of an overachiever on its clients’ behalf.

Of course, the interpersonal relations our Firm develops with every client in an environment of mutual respect, help the client express their needs with ease and precision and facilitates the process of setting shared and clear goals in order to provide tailor-made services. The importance of setting a specific goal with clarity benefits both the client and the legal advisor, who appears more focused and dedicated to the implementation of the goal. In addition to that, the goal-oriented mentality of our associates combined with their inherent tendency to in-depth research provides clients with an interaction based on the out-of-the-box way of thinking that leads to inspired and innovative solutions. So, our aim is not only a legal advice or a solution to the client’s case-problem but also the attribution to him, through the advice or action which we indicate, a tangible advantage/benefit over his competitors.  As a result of the above, the clients who entrust us with the future and the success of their business activity, feel safe and sound acknowledging that their endeavors are in good hands, which means that they can focus on other professional or personal goals that could have a significant effect in their lives.

For our individuals, we follow similar steps tailored to the nature of their dispute, carefully listening to their needs and guiding toward the most effective and cost-efficient solution.

Furthermore, many of our clients were increasingly concerned about complying with new financial and insurance regulations, whether they stemmed from domestic or European legislation. They needed guidance on navigating evolving regulatory requirements, including data protection, Solvency II, and consumer protection laws. We helped them in the process of full compliance to local and international/European regulations, as also with the regulatory guidance from supervisory authorities (e.g. Bank of Greece) reducing the risk of costly fines and reputational damage. As a result, the risk management framework was significantly strengthened, ensuring better internal controls, particularly in the areas of data protection and compliance. As legal advisors, we act preventively and not only repressively, so that we can avert any danger before it even appears. By proactively addressing legal concerns, we add value to our client by reducing potential liabilities and creating a secure environment for growth.

In another case, we conducted a comprehensive review of the client’s existing compliance framework and identified gaps in meeting the latest regulatory requirements. This included reviewing their compliance with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) for handling customer data and ensuring they were aligned with the updated Anti-Money Laundering (AML) and Know Your Customer (KYC) requirements. We helped the client implement a more efficient compliance system, creating detailed procedures for monitoring and reporting suspicious transactions, improving customer verification processes, and ensuring that sensitive data was adequately protected.

Wherever feasible and when there is room for negotiation and mutual understanding between opposing parties, we recommend a dispute resolution strategy to minimize the risk of litigation. Additionally, we have facilitated the resolution of minor conflicts with clients and vendors without resorting to formal court proceedings, saving both time and legal costs.

 

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

Undoubtedly, yes. Clients are looking for stability and strategic direction from the law firms they trust with their business affairs, especially in an ever evolving but uncertain business environment. Greater uncertainty is caused to businesses and their decisions by the frequently evolving and changing legal framework.  Therefore, a lawyer and a law firm are not only legal advisors and court representatives, but also companions and collaborators of a business that, depending on their advice and legal actions, can determine and influence its business future and the decisions related to its operation and management.

Consequently, a legal counsel or a lawyer is this key person for a business that, depending on the need of the client, will give him the most appropriate advice or will take the most advantageous legal action for his business based on the current legal framework or the possibility of forming a solution that will not contradict the rules of law. That’s exactly what we do, what our work’s principal at Rokas is. We adopt the personalized approach of every single client and case, co-shaping our solution and legal strategy according to the needs and expectations of the client’s business.

Our Firm has a proven track record of successfully guiding clients from the business world and gives them the confidence that they can trust us as their lawyers and legal advisors. This is proven by most of our long-term client relationships. In fact, many of our clients revert to us to offer them total, comprehensive and vertically integrated legal services. In other words, many of our clients entrust us with cases ranging from very small claims with a small economic impact to very important cases with major financial and legal matters.

Our expertise in anything related to insurance law and insurance companies is a given, but so is our dynamic evolution in the fields of dispute resolution and litigation practice, corporate law, international arbitration, energy law, banking law and M&As. Our clients know that our experience in these specific fields enables us to provide highly specialized legal advice and offer innovative solutions even to resolve legal issues that arise for the first time.

Our clear goal is to continue in the upcoming years to develop our team and improve its breadth of knowledge and diversity, especially in the above fields of specialization and in the field of court Litigation practice, while we also aim to expand the activity of our offices abroad, in the Southeast European region.

Over the next three years, we expect Rokas to maintain and further expand an excellent track record of achieving successful results for our clients in corporate law and M&As, as well as in Dispute Resolution and Litigation practice, the latter of which I guarantee.

Finally, we plan to further invest in technology, client management processes and systems, marketing and of course in skill-building and development programs. We also aim to expand partnerships and collaborations with some law student organizations (e.g. Elsa, The Law Project, etc.) and non-profit organizations.

 

For more information visit our page www.rokas.com