Greece and Cyprus 2025
Supported by the Association of Corporate Counsel
Legal head of energy holdings and regulation | Helleniq Energy Group (HE)
General counsel, Head of legal and corporate governance | Optima bank S.A.
Group chief legal and Corporate governance officer | Public Power Corporation (PPC) S.A.
Secretary/Manager of legal services | Electricity Authority of Cyprus
Chief legal and regulatory officer | Nova Telecommunications & Media
Chief legal officer | The Cyprus Development Bank Public Company Ltd
Director legal affairs and corporate governance | ATHENS INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT S.A.
Legal, ethics, compliance and quality director, Greece & Cyprus | Novo Nordisk
General counsel, Greece &Cyprus | Howden Hellas Insurance and Reinsurance Brokers S.A.
Legal director, Greece, Finland and Scandinavia | AbbVie Pharmaceuticals
Head of legal – competition law and commercial | Coca-Cola HBC Group
Chief legal officer | ION SA COCOA & CHOCOLATE MANUFACTURERS
Group general counsel, Chief legal and compliance officer | SPACE HELLAS GROUP
Director of legal affairs and Company secretary | Hermes Airports Ltd
Group internal legal advisor | Cyprus Trading Corporation (CTC)
General counsel, Member of the board of directors, Greece | Siemens SA
Head of legal department, corporate governance and Secretary of the board | AstroBank
Group general counsel, legal and compliance | IDEAL Holdings S.A.
Legal manager and compliance officer Greece & Albania, Communications manager Greece | Heidelberg Materials Hellas SA
Legal and claims manager | Diana Shipping Services S.A.
VP Legal affairs and regulatory compliance, Company secretary and Ethical business liaison officer | Melco Resorts & Entertainment
General counsel and Head of legal, regulatory and compliance division | Athens Exchange Group
Chief officer of legal affairs and governance | DESFA S.A., Hellenic Gas Transmission System Operator
Head of legal and corporate governance, Secretary of the Board of Directors | Societe Generale Bank – Cyprus Limited
Senior legal director | THE ELLINIKON, LAMDA Development S.A.
Senior legal business partner – energy segment | Metlen Energy & Metals S.A.
Legal counsel and Head of legal department | Grand Automotive Hellas | RENAULT Greece
Senior legal director platform support – Greece, Israel, Cyprus and Malta | Pfizer
General counsel and Corporate secretary, Insurance and claims manager | Seanergy Maritime Holdings Corp.
Head of legal (Greece, Malta, Cyprus and Israel) | British American Tobacco Hellas SA
General counsel, legal and corporate governance affairs and Corporate secretary | Quest Holdings
General counsel, Director legal, insurance and corporate affairs | Attica Holdings S.A. (Attica Group)
Associate general counsel and Director global business units and channels | Hewlett Packard Enterprise
Head of regulatory and corporate affairs | DEPA COMMERCIAL S.M.S.A.
Legal and compliance officer, Secretary to BoD | Marfin Investment Group (MIG)
Head of legal Greece, Cyprus, Malta, Baltics and Regional senior legal manager | Microsoft Hellas SA
General counsel, Chief legal, regulatory, public affairs and corporate governance officer | OTE Group of Companies (HTO)
Chief legal and compliance officer | Allianz European Reliance Single Member Insurance S.A.
General manager of group legal services | National Bank of Greece
Chief human resources and legal issues officer | Independent Power Transmission Operator (IPTO or ADMIE)
Chief legal and compliance counsel | LAMDA Development S.A.
Head of domestic retail legal services division | HELLENiQ ENERGY HOLDINGS S.A.
Head of corporate law and governance | Cepal Hellas Financial Services S.A.
Chief of corporate centre and General counsel | Alpha Bank
Chief legal and compliance officer | Sunlight Group Energy Storage Systems
It is an honour to announce the launch of Legal 500’s GC Powerlist: Greece & Cyprus 2025, which recognises an impressive cohort of leading in-house counsel. Once again, Legal 500 is delighted to mark their achievements and provide a platform to celebrate the integral work of in-house counsel.
As Helen Michaelou, Group Head of Legal at Tickmill Europe Ltd, points out, ‘the role of in-house counsel has evolved significantly’. Today, legal advisors are expected to wear multiple hats. Margarita Malai, Head of Legal at GlobalDots, explains: ‘Of course, you need a solid legal foundation, but that’s just the starting point. What really makes the difference is understanding the business and being able to translate legal risks into practical solutions that actually help the company move forward.’
GCs are increasingly required to provide advice that is robust not only from a legal standpoint, but also from a business perspective. George Xirouchakis, General Counsel at Olympia Group, agrees, noting that ‘this dual role – guardian and business partner – is what makes the function integral to long-term success’.
Bridging the gap between these two aspects – legal expertise and business acumen – requires strong communication and collaboration skills. GCs ‘must be able to translate legal speak into plain words’, says Spyridoula Megalokonomou, Senior Legal Business Partner at Metlen Energy & Metals S.A. Peggy Skandara, Legal Manager at Sarantis Group, agrees: in-house counsel must be able to ‘translate complex legal concepts into actionable advice for diverse stakeholders’.
Maintaining this balance requires in-house counsel to constantly adapt. Legal teams are increasingly integrating artificial intelligence (AI) into their operations. ‘In-house lawyers should be aware of how technology can improve legal processes, compliance, and risk management,’ advises Ira Charisiadou, Head of Legal and Compliance at Bayer Hellas AG. AI has the potential to free up in-house counsel from repetitive or lower-level tasks, allowing the focus to remain on strategic matters and stakeholder engagement. ‘When used well, AI can speed things up and make our work sharper,’ explains Andrii Lohvynenko, Chief Legal Officer at SupportYourApp. But he is quick to caution that AI ‘should always complement, not replace, legal judgment’.
Ultimately, technical ability is just one aspect of the in-house legal role. ‘Emotional intelligence plays a critical role here; empathy, active listening, and diplomacy help build trust and maintain strong relationships across departments’, Maria Kaimi, Group Internal Legal Advisor at CTC, reminds us.
Isabel Caine
Andersen Legal is the Greek member firm of Andersen Global®, an international association of member firms comprised of legal and tax professionals operating in more than 170 countries in 500 locations, including over 2,500 partners and 20,000 professionals worldwide.
Based in Athens, Andersen Legal in Greece delivers more than legal advice — we deliver advantage.
We work with individuals and corporations across industries such as construction, real estate, telecoms, media and technology, healthcare, shipping, and retail, helping them navigate complexity with clarity, precision, and forward-thinking solutions.
Ahead of the Game is not just a message; it is our mindset. It reflects how we approach every challenge: anticipating change, unlocking opportunities, and supporting our clients with strategies that drive success. Our passion and creativity push us to go beyond conventions, transforming legal expertise into business impact.
Through the global platform of Andersen Global®, we ensure seamless, cross-border collaboration, combining international perspective with local insight. This is how we keep our clients — and ourselves — always one step ahead.
Ioannides Demetriou LLC is a leading full-service law firm in Cyprus, with a long-standing reputation for delivering high-quality legal services across a broad spectrum of practice areas.
Since its establishment, the firm has been at the forefront of the Cypriot legal market, earning accolades for its innovation, efficiency, and tailored legal solutions. Recognised for its profound expertise and practical approach, the firm excels in both contentious and non-contentious matters, making it a trusted advisor for domestic and international clients alike.
At the heart of the firm’s success is its team of highly skilled lawyers and legal experts. A number of Partners at Ioannides Demetriou LLC are consistently ranked as leading individuals by prestigious legal directories. These recognitions underscore the firm’s excellence in core areas such as litigation and dispute resolution, banking and finance, corporate and commercial law, and real estate law.
Beyond the traditional areas of law, Ioannides Demetriou LLC has expanded its practice to address evolving legal needs in sectors such as energy, EU and competition law, intellectual property, and data protection. The firm’s proactive approach to emerging legal challenges ensures that clients receive cutting-edge advice that anticipates market shifts and regulatory changes.
Ioannides Demetriou LLC’s ability to navigate intricate legal landscapes and provide swift, strategic solutions sets them apart. The firm is proud of its international outlook and collaborations. As part of global networks, Ioannides Demetriou LLC regularly assists clients with cross-border legal issues, providing seamless solutions that meet the demands of our interconnected business world. This global perspective, combined with their deep local roots, enables the firm to offer a unique combination of legal expertise that transcends borders.
As proud sponsors of the Legal500 GC Powerlist Greece and Cyprus 2024, Ioannides Demetriou LLC remains committed to supporting initiatives that drive growth and innovation, both within the legal profession and the broader business community.
Nobel Trust Ltd is a boutique professional services firm with global reach, offering bespoke business consulting and corporate advisory services. It is a member of the group that includes Ioannides Demetriou LLC – a leading Cypriot law firm – and Nobel Hellas S.A. This unique synergy enables Nobel Trust to offer tailored, multidisciplinary business consulting, corporate advisory, and fiduciary services.
Supported by a team of highly qualified professionals – including chartered accountants, lawyers, economists, and marketing experts – Nobel Trust provides a tailored, multidisciplinary approach designed to meet the diverse needs of its international clientele.
The firm specialises in company structuring and restructuring, management, corporate governance, financial reporting, and tax compliance, focusing on both operational excellence and regulatory compliance. Nobel Trust’s clients span across industries such as financial services, technology, energy, healthcare, real estate, and intellectual property, with many companies benefiting from its expertise in cross-border transactions and complex international ventures.
A notable expansion of Nobel Trust’s operations is through its subsidiary, Nobel Hellas S.A., located in the heart of Athens. Nobel Hellas offers a complete suite of advisory services tailored to local and international investors seeking to tap into Greece’s growing market.
Driven by a mission to provide proactive and personalised services, Nobel Trust prioritizes understanding the specific needs and goals of each client. By delivering holistic solutions and maintaining the highest ethical standards, the firm builds long-lasting relationships, which are at the core of its success. Its commitment to fostering a culture of integrity, transparency, and excellence ensures that clients receive the support they need to navigate the complexities of the business landscape and achieve sustainable growth.
“We believe passionately that long-lasting business relationships are the core of our success.”
For more information, visit: www.nobeltrust.com
On 26 March, Legal 500 partnered with Portuguese law firm PLMJ to bring its renewed sustainability‑focused conference series to Lisbon with the ESG Forum: Portugal 2026. The half‑day event gathered senior leaders from the legal, financial, energy and sustainability spheres for a concentrated programme hosted at PLMJ’s offices. Throughout the sessions, speakers explored the regulatory, governance and enforcement forces reshaping ESG strategy in Portugal, offering a clear cross‑sector perspective on how organisations are adapting to an increasingly complex and fast‑moving landscape.
The event opened with some welcome remarks from Legal 500 editor Francisco Castro, who emphasised the value of events that bring the in‑house community together to learn, exchange experiences and build meaningful professional networks. In his welcome address, he highlighted the growing complexity of ESG obligations across Europe and the increasing pressure on organisations to adopt integrated, business‑wide approaches to compliance, risk management and strategic planning. By underscoring the need for practical, grounded discussion rather than abstract theory, he set the tone for a programme designed to deliver actionable insight and foster collaboration among practitioners navigating a rapidly evolving ESG landscape.
Followed an opening brief delivered by PLMJ’s Managing Partner, Bruno Ferreira, who provided a concise yet comprehensive overview of the ESG priorities defining Portugal in 2026. He outlined the expanding influence of EU regulatory frameworks on corporate reporting, due diligence and governance, noting how these requirements are reshaping expectations around data quality, transparency and accountability. His remarks positioned ESG not as a peripheral concern but as a central driver of corporate behaviour, capital flows and long‑term competitiveness in the Portuguese market.
The first panel, moderated by João Marques Mendes, Partner at PLMJ and joined by Cláudia Teixeira de Almeida of Banco BPI, Nuno Moraes Bastos of GALP and Diogo Graça of REN, explored how corporate governance and sustainable finance are shaping Portugal’s energy transition. The discussion examined how boards and executive teams are adapting oversight structures to manage transition‑related risks and how legal, compliance, sustainability and procurement functions are increasingly intertwined in project governance. Panellists described the growing influence of financing structures on project execution, noting that lenders’ expectations around ESG metrics, contractor performance and transparency now shape governance decisions from the earliest stages. They also addressed the operational constraints that continue to challenge Portugal’s transition ambitions, including permitting timelines, grid capacity limitations and delivery risk. While acknowledging the complexity of EU‑level frameworks, speakers emphasised that these standards also present strategic opportunities to harmonise practices, unlock investment and strengthen Portugal’s competitive position in the energy transition.
Following a short break, the second panel turned to litigation, liability and the emerging enforcement era surrounding sustainability claims. Moderated by Raquel Azevedo, Partner at PLMJ and featuring contributions from Carla Góis Coelho of PLMJ, Carlos Martins Ferreira of Jerónimo Martins, Filipa Rodrigues Carmona of Caixa Geral de Depósitos and Céline da Graça Pires of NOVA, the session examined the rapid rise of ESG‑driven disputes, investigations and regulatory actions. Panellists discussed the typical trigger points for scrutiny, ranging from sustainability reports and corporate websites to marketing materials and investor presentations, and highlighted how these touchpoints are increasingly tested by regulators, competitors, consumers and NGOs. They analysed recent case law developments and their implications for Portuguese organisations, noting the emergence of more stringent evidentiary standards around disclosures and due‑diligence obligations. The panel concluded that sustainability claims can no longer be treated as aspirational messaging; they now carry the weight of binding legal obligations, requiring more rigorous internal validation and cross‑functional coordination.
The forum concluded with closing remarks from Francisco Castro, after which attendees were invited to continue their conversations over a light lunch, providing a relaxed setting to deepen connections and reflect on the themes explored throughout the morning.
Legal 500 extends its thanks to PLMJ for its collaboration in bringing this conference format to Portugal’s in‑house legal community. The team looks forward to returning soon for the launch event of this year’s GC Powerlist: Portugal.
