Linardakis & Partners Law Firm is located in Athens. It is a quality, boutique law firm whose managing partner’s vision was to “…create a law firm which would provide its clients with legal services of the highest caliber, without quality discounts or evasions.” The firm focuses on the client-oriented approach and long-term cooperation. This has made the firm play a historical role in the development of industries such as banking, hotels etc.

A “boutique” law firm which specializes in the field of business law and stands out for handling difficult cases.

In a very interesting interview, Mr. Stavros Linardakis, Managing Partner of the law firm “Linardakis & Partners,” tells us about his vision, the individual features, the principles and the way “Linardakis & Partners” operates, as key points of its success, as well as about the future which seems particularly optimistic.

You are characterized as a dynamic, combative law office, “different” from the others. Tell us more about this and your vision and explain to us what your “diversity” consists of.

At first, let me clarify that we are, by choice, a “boutique” law firm, which operates in the field of business law and covers the entire range of the individual sectors which constitute business law. But let me begin with the last part of your question, what makes us different. My vision has always been to create a law firm which would provide its clients with legal services of the highest caliber, without quality discounts and evasions. A law firm which would focus on the essence of each case, personalized, separate for each client. It was never my intention to create a large firm, because I was always interested in the personal element being strongly prevalent both in the relationships between our associates and in the relationships with our clients. And that is because, in my opinion, this is also how to avoid “standardized” solutions for the client. So, as you can appreciate, I strongly believe in the value of a personalized approach, because my experience over the years has shown me that each case is different, even in the smallest detail, which substantially differentiates it from other cases. Throughout the years, we managed to create a very dynamic law firm, well known for its involvement with “difficult” cases, which strives every day to defend the interests of its clients, providing practical solutions to even the most complex issues.

We seek and do not avoid responsibility. We seek, to the extent that our client agrees and allows us, to be part of the business decision made, as we want the legal solution we propose to not just be the formal application of the law but to also include our own legal – business approach; to incorporate our own personal touch. And this is something which is not only appreciated but it is also requested by the majority of our clients now, which, I believe, constitutes a significant differentiating factor for our firm. We continue to move forward based on this vision and, while it obviously evolves, we continue to build the future of our law firm.

How important is the client-oriented approach and long term cooperations to you? How do you achieve this in practice?

As I mentioned before, our goal is to provide our clients with personalized legal services, tailored to the specific needs and characteristics of each client separately. It is, therefore, obvious that our main focus is our client and his actual needs. As lawyers, we must develop the relevant skills that allow us to understand these needs, as if we were in our client’s shoes. Τhis is not always easy, nor self-evident, for most lawyers. Because each legal sector is different. And that means different peculiarities, different mode and operating conditions and different market structures.

An in-depth understanding of each sector in which the client conducts business is, often, if not always, a prerequisite in order to provide the appropriate legal guidance. As far as stability in our cooperations is concerned, this is by no means an end itself, nor has it ever been. Nor, of course, is it a requirement for any of our cooperations. But that stability and continuity usually occurs in practice, because of the client’s recognition of the quali

ty of the services provided. There is no greater satisfaction for all of us, and for me personally, to see a

 

relationship that starts as a fragmentary cooperation, evolve into a long-term, stable cooperation. This is the best reward we could ask for, as it is tangible evidence of the client’s recognition of the quality and effectiveness of our services. It’s a great honor for our office to have cooperations with some of the largest Greek and multinational companies, for over 30 and 40 years, which have lasted until today.

 

Your company has played a historical role and has had a major impact in the development of certain industries in Greece, such as banking, hotels, tourism and cosmetics. Which are the transactions that you believe stand out in your career so far, and how do they relate to the company’s future and to the dialogue between the ‘old’ and the ‘new’?

To begin with, I believe that our firm has contributed significantly to the way hotel services are organized and provided, since over 40 years ago we created the legal framework for the establishment of “all-inclusive” hotels which allowed for optional air transport packages. Our involvement in this sector continues to this day with the establishment of new hotel units and/or the acquisition of existing ones. In the banking sector, in 1991 we concluded the first bank acquisition and privatization, and successfully handled multiple mergers and acquisitions in the banking sector thereafter. Finally, our involvement in the cosmetics sector for over 40 years has been characterized by our firm’s contribution to the transformation of the selective distribution channel, where, after many legal battles, the various brands had the right to have their own stands and a physical presence of beauty consultants in the cosmetic stores, and, of course, the successful reorganization of distribution systems. Today, together with the firm’s dynamic younger generation, we continue to expand our cooperations in the above sectors,

 

with a special focus on the hotel industry, chemicals, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals and investments. Our firm’s contribution is also notable in the energy sector, as well as in the recent creation of an e-banking institution, which represents the most advanced manifestation of new technologies combined with modern day banking practices.

What does it take for a modern law office to stand out and be able to meet the business needs of its clients, given the constantly changing market conditions?

First of all, a modern law office has to constantly evolve and to adapt to market conditions in order to be in a position to understand the real business needs of its clients and to adjust the legal services provided accordingly. In my opinion, a modern law office active in the field of business law, must be involved in the classical – traditional sectors of business law, such as corporate law, mergers and acquisitions, contract law, intellectual property, competition law, insolvency law, banking, capital markets, etc. But it must also be able to meet the ever-changing needs of its clients, with a modern look to the future. Technological evolution, digital skills, software development etc. must not be overlooked and should constantly concern us. Quite the opposite, we have to expand the range of our services and not remain stagnant, so that we can meet the needs of our clients in new, ever-growing sectors of the economy. And that is exactly what we do in our firm. The structure and the way our office operates aids this process significantly, since as a modern, dynamic law firm, we are flexible and able to adapt immediately to the changing market conditions. Since we live in an international environment and our clients’ needs are not limited to the domestic market, we have, for many years, made it a point to participate in international networks and we maintain long-term partnerships with reliable law firms in many countries around the world, so that our clients, when needed, can benefit from fast and reliable legal services not only in Greece, but also in other countries. We have also always considered it important to represent clients from many different sectors of the economy (e.g., pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, food, construction, energy, electrical equipment, chemicals, clothing and footwear, tourism, hotels, banking, entertainment, technology etc.) with the aim of constantly improving our services. This is a priority but also constitutes a commitment for the future of our firm.

 

What are the key characteristics of your firm’s culture and how do these reflect your philosophy as a “boutique” firm, not only with respect to the relations between your associates but also the relations with your clients?

The most important factors contributing to the success of our firm over the years are teamwork, team spirit and the excellent cooperation between the members of our firm. This is what I

believe to be the key to success, in combination with the perseverance and dedication of everyone in the cases they handle or are involved to achieve the best possible result. I would venture to say that the level and the quality of our lawyers are truly unique and rarely found. To this end, the fact that we are not, and do not wish to be, a mass law firm helps significantly, since the personal element and personal contact are very prevalent. It is very important for me personally that everyone in the office, without exception, feels like they are a member of a “family”. That’s exactly how I feel about each and every one individually. This is why, when we need to search for a new colleague, in

Stavros Linardakis and Nikolas Linardakis

addition to his/her professional skills, we pay a lot of attention to his/her personality and the ability to integrate into the team, which is not always easy. Transparency and accountability are also key principles that determine the way our firm operates, both with respect to the relations between the members of our firm as well as the relations with our clients. These principles are non-negotiable for us. Based on them, we envision a bright future for our firm,

since the next generation is already here, and I should point out with great pleasure that this generation is very active, very combative and very effective in our day-to-day, contributing decisively to our successes and achievements. I have no doubt that the vision and principles that have guided our firm for so many years will not only continue but they will evolve and strengthen year after year.

Linardakis & Partners Law Firm 54 Omirou Street, 106 72, Athens T: +30 210 3603416 W: linardakis-partners.com