A distinguished legal professional, John Kyriakides is Managing Partner at Kyriakides Georgopoulos Law Firm (KG Law Firm), Member of the Executive Committee and Board of Directors of the American-Hellenic Chamber of Commerce, and Chair of the Chamber’s Legislative Reforms Committee. In this interview to Business Partners magazine, he talks about the legal profession in Greece, successful and needed reforms, and the importance of the rule of law to growth, stability and prosperity.
With a history that spans nine decades, KG Law is Greece’s largest law firm, a legal powerhouse that helps clients bridge the distance in today’s global corporate environment. Tell us a little about the firm and what keeps it at the forefront of its field.
Kyriakides Georgopoulos (KG) Law Firm is a leading Greek multi-tier business law firm, dating back to the 1930s, providing legal services to high-profile clients. KG is highly regarded as a preferred firm to international law firms seeking a trustworthy local partner in complex and innovative cross-border transactions. A legacy of business values established almost 100 years ago is the mainstay of KG’s distinguished success: trust, teamwork, and innovation—guided by ethos and professionalism, which are KG’s core values. Today, over 120 highly skilled lawyers supported by more than 35 other experienced professionals, ensure that clients receive top-notch legal advice, recurring to novel approaches, with cutting-edge technology, even in the most challenging legal situations.
The growing use of digital technology is reshaping the legal landscape
KG has proven and recognized legal expertise in many practice areas and is well known for its corporate and commercial law, M&A, dispute resolution, energy, pharma, banking, project finance, competition, labor law, tax, real estate, IP, telecoms, and GDPR experience. The goal is straightforward: to deliver a comprehensive array of legal services tailored to the business needs and objectives of our clients. We recognize that they expect us to be highly skilled, excel in our field, be cost-effective, and, when necessary, offer sophisticated solutions and fresh ideas and maintain an open-minded approach.
At the heart of KG’s success is its pioneering spirit, which consistently paves new paths for growth to maintain its leadership position both now and in the future. In serving the community, KG continuously offers its resources and supports the causes that make a real difference to many, and the very few. By placing strong emphasis on social responsibility, implementing innovative initiatives aimed at minimizing its ecological impact, integrating sustainable practices into its daily operations, and fostering a culture of teamwork and trust among its diverse workforce, KG enhances its ability to drive meaningful change in the community it operates in.
The legal profession in Greece has undergone somewhat of a transformation over the past decade, including increased specialization, redefined practice patterns, growing use of digital tech, and ongoing internationalization. What does this mean for the field and young lawyers in particular?
The transformation of the legal profession over the past decade holds significant implications for the field and young lawyers. Increased specialization means that law practitioners can offer more expert services, leading to higher standards and enhanced career prospects for lawyers who develop niche skills. Young lawyers have the opportunity to focus their studies and early career efforts on specialized areas such as environmental law, cybersecurity and digital law, telecommunications, technology, and IP, making them highly valuable in these fields.
Redefined practice patterns, including more collaborative and interdisciplinary approaches, allow for more dynamic and flexible career paths. This can lead to innovative solutions for clients and creates diverse job opportunities for new lawyers who must be adept at working across various legal and non-legal domains. The growing use of digital technology is reshaping the legal landscape by streamlining administrative tasks, improving legal research, and enabling remote work. Young lawyers must become proficient with legal tech tools, which can enhance their efficiency and make them more competitive in the industry. Familiarity with technologies such as artificial intelligence and blockchain can also open doors to emerging legal tech roles.
Nothing will change unless all stakeholders realize how important a truly efficient judicial system is to society and economies in general
Ongoing internationalization means that Greek lawyers are increasingly engaging with global legal practices and clients. For young lawyers, this necessitates a broader understanding of international law and multicultural competence. It also offers opportunities to work on transnational cases and collaborate with international firms, enriching their professional experience and expanding their career horizons.
A push for legislative and regulatory reforms in recent years has aimed to remedy longstanding inefficiencies and create a more streamlined and investment-friendly environment. Which do you think have been the most significant changes and in which key areas are further measures required?
The judiciary’s efficiency and independence, along with the principles of transparency and predictability of the rule of law, significantly contribute to a country’s rapid and substantial development while also attracting international investors.
One of the most significant reforms can be traced to the realm of public law (where disputes are dealt with by the administrative courts), with the introduction of the pilot trial mechanism by the Council of State. The pilot trial process allows opposing parties and administrative courts to directly approach the Council of State on issues of general interest that are likely to generate numerous disputes, thereby ensuring the consistency of judicial precedent and legal certainty. Additionally, the current procedures for public procurement disputes ensure their swift resolution by the courts, which is undoubtedly a very positive development.
To expedite further the adjudication process of the administrative courts, we should implement procedural rules that establish specific time frames for the administrative court to hear a case and issue a decision. Another reform would be to establish administrative bodies, such as the Hellenic Single Public Procurement Authority (H.S.P.P.A), to preliminarily examine the merits of the grounds presented by opposing parties. This would assist in reducing the number of cases brought before the administrative courts.
The status of the rule of law in Greece has been a hot topic in recent months. Given how fundamental the rule of law is—not only to the very fabric of democracy but also to stability, security, and creating a truly competitive and resilient economic environment—what needs to be done to ensure Greece can build an equitable and prosperous future?
First and foremost, the independence of the judiciary must be safeguarded as a fundamental pillar of democracy. It is crucial for maintaining the rule of law and protecting individual rights. An independent judiciary ensures fair and impartial justice, free from external influences such as political pressure, corruption, or interference from other branches of government. This autonomy allows judges to make decisions based solely on the law and facts, fostering public confidence in the legal system. It also provides a check and balance on the other two branches of government, preventing abuses of power and safeguarding democratic principles. Ultimately, judicial independence is fundamental to upholding justice, equality, and the integrity of legal institutions.
Having said that, there is great room for improvement, especially when it comes to the time that is necessary to resolve commercial, criminal, or administrative disputes. More than 1,400 days for a simple commercial dispute and some six to eight years for an administrative dispute (i.e. disputes between investors and the state) to be resolved goes far beyond the reasonableness test. It is therefore imperative that innovative and substantial reforms be adopted that will lead to a better delegation of judicial cases, better management of the extremely valuable judicial time, simplification of certain proceedings, and better use of resources, human and artificial. Recently, major reforms were adopted by the Ministry of Justice with this intent in mind. For example, the adoption of the new judicial charter is a radical reform. Past practices inevitably lower our expectations, but maybe the radicalness and breadth of these reforms gives rise to hope again. Alas, nothing will change if all stakeholders involved with the administration of justice (including lawyers and judges) do not rise to the occasion by realizing how important a truly efficient judicial system is to society and economies in general.
As a member of the AmCham Greece Executive Committee and BoD and Chair of the Legislative Reform Committee, you are actively involved in the Chamber’s work. From this vantage point, how do you think AmCham Greece can assist the country in shaping the necessary reforms?
The committees of the American-Hellenic Chamber of Commerce play a very important role in shaping strategic sectoral roles. Sectoral experts, who are members of the committees, organize events such as conferences, exhibitions, trade missions, seminars, closed group discussions, and media briefings. They also develop position papers to assist in policy formation, legislation, and government action. These committees serve as the primary interface between the Chamber, the government, and societal stakeholders, playing a crucial role in the Chamber’s overall development and advancement of the interests of its members. Hence, AmCham’s input is invaluable, as it is grounded in real-world experience and day-to-day business practices rather than just theoretical knowledge.
The Legislative Reforms Committee was established in 2015 with the goal of monitoring and evaluating developments in law and justice. It is composed of renowned lawyers representing significant businesses and law firms that are members of the Chamber. The Committee promotes necessary reforms in the justice sector and contributes proposals and opinions to the Greek policymakers that will improve the existing legislative framework with the intent to assist in the formation of a more efficient justice system, thereby enhancing the country’s competitiveness and instilling a stronger sense of justice among Greek citizens.
