Koumentakis

Tag: legal consultant

  • Cyber Attacks And The Role Of The Legal Advisor

    Cyber Attacks And The Role Of The Legal Advisor

    [vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] “There are only two types of companies: those that have been hacked, and those that will be”, said on 2012 the then FBI Director Robert Mueller.

    Despite the digitization of information and the use of electronic networks to deal with transactions and operations, it is obvious that most companies in Greece are not aware of the risks they face as well as their customers’ data from cyber-attacks.

    The legal consequences of data leakage due to cyber-attacks are always serious. On the one hand, the injured third parties are entitled to bring legal proceedings against the company for the leakage of their data while on the other hand, the competent authorities must impose the fines provided for by law.

     

    The Νetwork And Information Security Directive

    Most are now aware of the General Data Protection Regulation 2016/679 (also known as GDPR). Few, however, are aware of the Network and Information Security (2016/1148), which also had to be incorporated into the domestic law of the Member States in May 2018.

    With the above-mentioned legislation, the European Union strengthens its attitude towards corporate responsibility for failing to protect and secure data management. Both of these laws provide for unfavorable consequences for the company for data leakage.

     

    The Role of the Legal Advisor

    The duty of the Legal Advisor is to ensure the correct implementation of legislation and best practices, to mitigate the consequences of any breach and, in particular, to harmonize the entire company to comply with the Incident Response Plan, which every company must have. A Response Plan to Cyber- Attacks indicatively includes:

    • The composition of the crisis management team and when / how it is activated.
    • The heads of the action groups, and when / how they are alerted.
    • The person who decides (and the decision-making deadline) for the total shutdown of the company’s networks or the continuation as an attempt to identify the origin of the cyber-attack.
    • The documents that will document the time of cyber-awareness and the actions that have taken place.
    • The communications officer who (possibly) will handle the communicative part of the revelation.

    Your legal advisor knows what actions are required to make clear to the authorities that the company has done its best on both preventive and post-data leakage as well as to collect the appropriate evidence. The role of the legal advisor is also critical for the preparation of a report that will clearly and easily identify the causes of the leakage and the persons responsible for such.

    Also, the company’s legal advisor will identify the most likely sources of risk and will be able to negotiate the content of the proposed insurance contracts and eventually recommend the conclusion of the appropriate insurance coverage contract against cyber-attack.

    All the above actions of the legal advisor (internal policies, Response Plan, Insurance Coverage), but mainly the alignment of the company with everything that is provided to this respect, can only result in the increase of the trust of its clients and associates towards it.

     

    Lambros Timotheou
    Partner

     

    P.S. The article has been published in MAKEDONIA Newspaper (October 21, 2018)

     

  • The Proper Legal Advisor

    The Proper Legal Advisor

    [vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] Legal Advisor, Attorney, Counsel. How many times have we all been wondering about who is the appropriate? Is it a question of remuneration (: cheap / expensive), promoted by the media (: unknown / famous), studies and experience, age or gender? And me, I’m neither from the Boston Legals nor member of the team of Suits. No such luck nor experiences! I managed to write a simple decalogue, which does not even refer to the level of fees … Who is the appropriate legal advisor and lawyer? Is it yours?

    1. Trust, Integrity, Prestige

    A constituent element of the client – lawyer relationship is trust. If we do not trust the (potential) lawyer, legal advisor, or if he does not trust you, I shall be dogmatic: We DOT not start a cooperation. But in the case that we have started the cooperation and we already see that mutual trust has been lost, we stop it DIRECTLY! We seek for another lawyer. A lawyer we can trust.

    But in order to trust our lawyer, he must have inspired us and still, unfailingly and continuously, inspire us with his integrity, credibility, seriousness and prestige. If, hopefully, he did not succeed with us, how will he succeed in court, clients and colleagues while defending our interests?

    2. Strategy And Details

    It is usually easy for any lawyer to deal with our affairs. But is that all we need? We must not forget that our legal advisor must develop a strategy for handling each case (small or large). And it is certain he will do well if he can be two steps ahead of others – not just one. But this strategy should be dynamic. At all times, and depending on the developments, its correctness should be assessed and, when necessary, revised. Caution! We are not only interested in the “forest”, we are also interested in the “trees”. No single case was won by strategy alone. It is necessary to look into the details that our counterparts and contractors have not identified. Our Attorney is the right person to deal with them-better not you!

    3. Knowledge And Experience

    No one would like to (and should not) choose an “illiterate” lawyer or someone (who thinks he) “knows everything”. An appropriate legal advisor is not only he who has the appropriate scientific knowledge and expertise, but also, he who has the courage to accept the limits of his abilities. And for the rest to refer (or he himself to address) to the experts. And if, hopefully, our lawyer, focusing on our pocket or to impress us, makes us believe that “he knows everything and that he can do anything” you should introduce him to me. Because I still believe that there is NO such a lawyer.

    4. Consistency, Judgement And Perception

    What is more attractive than the spiritual consistency and the satisfactory, at least, judgment and perception? Does anyone imagine a lawyer who not only is he not able to perceive those that happen but is also unable to decode them and use them in his client’s benefit? Does anyone imagine a lawyer without analytical and, at the same time, synthetic thinking? And more over: Does anyone imagine a lawyer whose speech (spoken or written) is not understood or attractive? We must not forget that every lawyer has listeners, judges or co-contractors before him. And if he cannot bring the interest of the listener or reader to what he himself supports or, worse, be understood in the formulation of his thoughts, he probably should not be our legal advisor.

    5. Negotiating capacity, Persuasion And Passion

    And if I take for granted the judgment and perception of the lawyer we have chosen, I should also take for granted his negotiating capacity in the defense of our affairs and interests. It is precisely in this capacity that our legal advisor must be able to convince the people he is dealing with on our behalf.

    But it is a prerequisite that he himself has been convinced. And more over: to defend us and our interests with passion. For if he is not convinced himself, and is confined to the simple, lukewarm, quote or reading of our argument, we must also assume that even the people he has before him will not be convinced.

    6. Qualitative And Quantitative Performance. Speed Of Response And Availability

    We cannot expect from our lawyer anything less than the best. The best in quality, the most in quantity and at the right (fastest) time. And that because, think of a lawyer who does his job extremely good thus without respect (or commitment) to procedural deadlines or to the client’s business needs. A lawyer that has been just today able to start working on the job he was assigned with a month ago. And to complete it, “God will provide” …

    And just to meet our needs, experience has shown that it is not possible for a lawyer to invoke or use a timetable, to divide the days into working and unparalleled, or to systematic lack, for whatever reason, availability and inability to communicate. Availability is required when and wherever needed!

    7. Efficiency

    We have all met competent people who, however, are unable to focus on the outcome and often to succeed getting one. And it is true that each interested person, by nature, always wants to win (whether he says it or not). However, it is important that our attorney focuses on the best result and does not leave “incomplete” his or her relative effort either by indolence or by indifference or for any other reason. It is important that our lawyer does not leave the case file aside before completing whatever is necessary and possible.

    8. Calmness And Sobriety

    When someone reaches the point of seeking the advice or assistance of his lawyer, it means that a matter of importance is of concern to him. Sometimes these issues prove to be complex and highly complicated. And some others, are reaching the point of crushing, with their consequences, those concerned. And here is the need for an appropriate legal advisor: not to share (client’s) panic attack (but eventually), to decode the data and put them in their true dimension, to propose the appropriate strategy, but also to implement it, to select and oversee the individual solutions.

    Crisis management (whether it refers to smaller or larger or / and really big crises) is, beyond any doubt, an almost daily necessity to which our legal advisor must successfully respond.

    9. Self-Confidence And Ability to Collaborate.

    We all know what a lack of self-confidence means. And if we refer to children, we can reasonably look forward to strengthening it over time. But if we meet the lack of confidence in our doctor or lawyer, can we have hope? It may be the case if, in order to strengthen it, he will appeal to willing and better than its own colleagues. But if such are not available or are already tired of him? If he tries to “cling” to our own thought and opinion to choose or strengthen his own? He’s probably not the appropriate lawyer.

    It also does not seem for our legal counsel to be the right person if he lacks team spirit and of the ability to co-operate with the useful and necessary persons, to recognize their assistance and contribution and the fact that he relies (to any extent) on those. If our lawyer needs a confirmation of his skills by concealing the necessity of collaborations and of his associates, we should probably start to doubt both his abilities and him.

    And something more: Our legal advisor should have leadership skills, he must be able to set up a team and manage it for the best result but also to “take upon himself” our case. But, in particular: to be in a position to remove the burden that our case, personally, and fair, creates.

    10. Does He “Lay Down A Part Of His Life” For Your Cases?

    And if we identified the appropriate lawyer who has “everything in the world” -and more and even more, there is one last question: Do we feel that our lawyer deals with our affairs, simply as a good professional or that, in addition, he lays down a part of his life for them? If the second ALSO happens I think we should not leave him.

    He is the one who will do what is humanly possible for us and for our interests, the one who will “turn night into day” and who will “upset everything” for us. It is he who is honestly happy with our joy and who does not “give up” in our dead ends. He is the one who will continue to fight until victory or up to the end. He is the one who deserves to be OUR LAWYER!!!

    So, is your lawyer the proper lawyer, legal advisor and counsel? I guess you have, already, concluded…

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  • AXELOS: Important Agreement with PEOPLECERT

    AXELOS: Important Agreement with PEOPLECERT

    [vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] Koumentakis & Associates Law Firm, the Legal Advisor of PEOPLECERT Group, welcomes the new big success of the Group, which announced the signing of an exclusive, multi-year agreement with AXELOS Global Best Practice to provide testing and certification services around the world.

     

    AXELOS GLOBAL BEST PRACTICE

    Starting from January 2018, PEOPLECERT will be the only exam provider, certifying over 500.000 professionals annually in more than 160 countries. This move will be welcomed by more than 1.300 training organizations, as well as by companies and aspiring professionals, who will benefit significantly from a more modern, consistent and quality-driven experience in all areas.

     

    PEOPLECERT

    PEOPLECERT is a global leader in the assessment and certification of professional skills, partnering with multi-national organisations and government bodies to develop and deliver market leading exams worldwide.

    With a high-quality assessment technology,the company conducts exams in 160 countries and in 25 languages and enables professionals to enhance their careers.

     

    Read more in peoplecert.org and axelos.com [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_text_separator title=”Gallery”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_images_carousel images=”34719,34717,34716″ img_size=”full” slides_per_view=”3″ autoplay=”yes” wrap=”yes”][/vc_column][/vc_row]

  • Legal Support Of The Greek – Chinese Association

    Legal Support Of The Greek – Chinese Association

    [vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] Koumentakis & Associates Law Firm was appointed as the Legal Advisor of the Greek – Chinese Association For The Promotion Of Investments And Partnerships (EKEPES).

    In a recent event held in Thessaloniki, Mr. Dimitris Samaras, President of EKEPES, announced the establishment of the Association with the aim of developing partnerships in many areas, mainly in tourism, culture, education, trade, agri-food sector and infrastructure. As Mr. Samaras noted, “whereas Chinese interest has so far been centered on so-called classic trade, it is now expanding both in tourist investment and infrastructure, such as in airports and ports, as well as in industry and commerce, tourism and infrastructure”.

     

    EKEPES Role

    EKEPES is expected to play a strong role in the “marriage” of Greek-Chinese efforts and, in this direction, organizes, among other, meetings in Thessaloniki and throughout Northern Greece, while it plans meetings in Athens with the competent ministers and with financial institutions.

    Additionally to the efforts made in strengthening the Greek-Chinese business, cultural, tourist and educational ties are, it is expected that the decision of the TIF-Helexpo for Chine to be the Honored Country at the TIF in 2017 applies. In this context, the Association intends to bring many Chinese businessmen as exhibitors to the General Exhibition of September, filling yet another stand apart from China’s (as the honored country) established stand.

     

    Brilliant Prospects

    The Chinese entrepreneur and Vice-President of the Greek-Chinese Association for the Promotion of Investments and Partnerships, Mrs. Betty Xu, appeared optimistic about the future of bilateral relations. As a lover of Greece, she believes that the bilateral relations of the next decade will produce much more fruitful results, while the five-year experience of her own company in Greece has been revealed. “Greek-Chinese cooperation is growing rapidly in a number of areas, demonstrating a brilliant prospect” the young entrepreneur said, emphasizing that “there are many Chinese people who want to invest in Greece”.

     

    It is to be noted that distinguished politicians and entrepreneurs from the sectors of tourism, industry, agribusiness, energy, transport and commerce have already demonstrated their support for the Greek-Chinese Association. Among other things, the chairman of the Exporters’ Association of Northern Greece, Mr. Kyriakos Loufakis stressed that both the geographical position and the favorable times can offer significant benefits to Thessaloniki and Northern Greece. Alexandros Thanos, representative of the Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs and Administrative Reconstruction, Maria Kollia-Tsaroucha, vice-governor of Tourism and Culture of Central Macedonia, and the Deputy Minister of Tourism and International Relations, Spyros Pegas, expressed their support for the new project. [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_text_separator title=”Gallery” border_width=”3″][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_images_carousel images=”34669,34668,34667,34666″ img_size=”full” slides_per_view=”3″ autoplay=”yes” hide_pagination_control=”yes” wrap=”yes”][/vc_column][/vc_row]

  • Legal Support of Wyndham Grand Athens

    Legal Support of Wyndham Grand Athens

    [vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] With the comprehensive legal support of Koumentakis & Associates Law Firm, the new hotel unit, Wyndham Grand Athens, has recently opened its doors. Stavros Koumentakis, Senior Partner, said: “In Koumentakis & Associates Law Firm we feel great pleasure and satisfaction that we have in due time and successfully assumed and completed the highly demanding piece of the legal support of the project for the reconstruction and renovation of Wyndham Grand Athens. On the occasion, we want to thank ZEUS International, for the trust it shows to us. Our cooperation has been built on strong foundations and in this context, in addition to the legal support for the operation of the hotel, we are ready to support the plans for its dynamic growth”.

    Wyndham Grand Athens is located at Karaiskaki Square (2 Megalou Alexandrou St., Metaxourgeio Station). It has 276 rooms, 2.500 square meters of conference and event venues, thus setting the hotel in the strong positions of conference tourism in Athens.

    George Margaritis, General Manager of Wyndham Grand Athens, said: “Wyndham Grand Athens is not just one more hotel but a new unique hosting experience for the visitor of Athens. The international experience of Zeus International and the name of the Wyndham Hotel Group are a guarantee of success for the new hotel”

     

    Zeus International

    It should be noted that the development and management of Wyndham Grand Athens is undertaken by Zeus International, a Greek company offering consulting services to institutions and organizations as well as hotel development and management services, while it is already responsible for the operation of hotels in Eastern Europe. Wyndham Grand Athens will be the starting point of its action and dynamic presence within Greece as well. It should also be noted that the coordinated actions of Zeus International’s experienced team of associates have already speeded up the work, leading to the opening of the hotel earlier on December 1, 2016 instead of the 2017 as originally expected.

     

    Wyndham Group

    Wyndham Grand is part of a group of distinguished hotels that offer their visitors unique hosting services through the sophisticated accommodations they have in many destinations. In addition, in the modern facilities of the Wyndham Group Hotels all guests have the opportunity to enjoy the cozy ambience combined with attentive services. Wyndham Grand hotels, which are part of the Wyndham Hotel Group, are located in more than 30 areas all over the world.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_text_separator title=”Gallery” border_width=”3″][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_images_carousel images=”34677,34676,34675,34674,34673″ img_size=”full” slides_per_view=”3″ autoplay=”yes” hide_pagination_control=”yes” wrap=”yes”][/vc_column][/vc_row]

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