Keynote & Featured Speakers
KEYNOTE SPEAKERS (IN ORDER OF APPEARANCE)
KEYNOTE SPEAKER
THE HON STEPHEN GAGELER AC
CHIEF JUSTICE OF THE HIGH COURT OF AUSTRALIA
Stephen Gageler is a graduate of the Australian National University and has post-graduate qualifications from Harvard University.
He was admitted as a barrister of the Supreme Court of New South Wales in 1989 and was appointed Senior Counsel in 2000. He practiced as a barrister extensively throughout Australia principally in constitutional law, administrative law and commercial law.
Stephen Gageler was appointed as Solicitor-General of Australia in 2008. While Solicitor-General, he was appointed to the High Court in October 2012. On 6 November 2023, Justice Stephen Gageler became the fourteenth Chief Justice of the High Court, the highest court in the Australian judicial system.
Stephen Gageler has been a Member of the Permanent Court of Arbitration between 2009 – 2015 as Solicitor-General, and again from March 2024 as Chief Justice of Australia.
KEYNOTE SPEAKER
Professor EVANGELOS VENIZELOS
Professor Emeritus of Constitutional Law at Aristotle University of Thessaloniki School of Law, Former Deputy Prime Minister
Prof. Evangelos Venizelos is one of Greece’s most distinguished constitutional scholars and statesmen, whose career bridges academia, public service, and international diplomacy. A Professor Emeritus of Constitutional Law at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, he has authored over 20 books and hundreds of scholarly articles on constitutional theory, European integration, and public law. His academic work has shaped generations of legal thought in Greece and beyond.
From 1993 to 2019, Professor Venizelos served as a Member of the Hellenic Parliament and held numerous ministerial portfolios, including Minister for Justice, Minister for Culture and Sports, Minister for National Defence, and Minister of Finance. He twice served as Deputy Prime Minister and was Minister of Foreign Affairs from 2013 to 2015, playing a pivotal role in Greece’s international negotiations during the financial crisis.
He was the general rapporteur for the 2001 Constitutional Revision and represented Greece in the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, where he served as Rapporteur on the implementation of European Court of Human Rights decisions. A prolific public intellectual, he is also the founder of Kyklos Ideon (Circle of Ideas), a think tank dedicated to democratic renewal and strategic policy for Greece’s future.
Professor Venizelos holds honorary doctorates from several international institutions and continues to contribute to public discourse through lectures, publications, and civic engagement. Fluent in Greek, English, and French, he remains a leading voice in constitutional reform, European affairs, and the role of law in democratic governance.
KEYNOTE SPEAKER
The Hon Michael A. Chagares
Chief Judge, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
Michael A. Chagares is Chief Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit and has been a Circuit Judge since April 2006. He is a member of the Judicial Conference of the United States, the governing body of the federal judiciary, and was appointed by Chief Justice Roberts to the Executive Committee of the Judicial Conference. Chief Judge Chagares served as a member and later Chair of the federal Appellate Rules Advisory Committee. He is Chair of the Working Group on Immigrant Representation in New Jersey, which aims to increase the representation of low-income immigrants and to improve the quality of immigrant representation.
Before taking the bench, Chief Judge Chagares was a partner in the law firm of Cole Schotz, P.A. and served as a Hearing Officer for the 9/11 Victim Compensation Fund. From 1990 to 2004, he served as an Assistant U.S. Attorney in the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Newark, becoming Chief of the Civil Division in 1999. He has served as law clerk to the Honorable Morton I. Greenberg, U.S.C.J., whose seat Chief Judge Chagares now holds, and has been an Adjunct Professor at Seton Hall Law School since 1991.
He has published various articles and is a co-author of the book New Jersey Federal Civil Procedure. He has served as President of the boards of community organizations such as his town’s public library, West Bergen Mental Healthcare, and the Torpedoes Soccer Club, has served on the board of organizations such as A Future With Hope, The New Jersey Lawyer Newspaper, and the Historical Society of the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey, and is a former Chair of the New Jersey State Bar Association’s Federal Practice and Procedure Section.
Chief Judge Chagares was honored by the Hellenic Lawyers Association in 2008 at its twentieth annual gala and has received the William J. Brennan, Jr. Award from the Association of the Federal Bar, two U.S. Department of Justice Director’s Awards, and the Seton Hall Law School Adjunct Professor of the Year award from the students. Chief Judge Chagares has lectured abroad on behalf of the U.S. Department of State to foreign judges, officials, and others about the United States justice system and the rule of law.
KEYNOTE SPEAKER
Professor Achilles C. Emilianides
Professor of Law and Dean of the School of Law of the University of Nicosia, President of the Cyprus Academy of Sciences, Letters and Arts
Prof. Dr Achilles Emilianides is Professor of Law and Dean of the School of Law of the University of Nicosia, as well as a practising advocate. He is the Editor in Chief of the ‘Cyprus and European Law Review’ and the Chair of the Royal Commonwealth Society Cyprus Branch. Major recent publications include: An Introduction to the Bibliography of Cypriot Law (2017), Labour Law in Cyprus (2016), The Republic of Cyprus and the Doctrine of Necessity (2016), Elements of Greek and Cypriot Law on Religion (2016), Cypriot Succession Law (2015), Media Law in Cyprus (2015), Private International Law in Cyprus (2015), Law and Religion in Cyprus (2014), Annotated Legal Documents on Islam in Cyprus (2014), Constitutional Law in Cyprus (2013), Family and Succession Law (2012).
FEATURED SPEAKERS (IN ORDER OF APPEARANCE)
AI and Democracy: Legal Accountability, Ethical Considerations and Regulatory Challenges Posed by Machine Technologies Without Borders
THE HON DR MELISSA ANNE PERRY
JUSTICE OF THE FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA (HAL NSW CHAPTER PATRON)
Justice Melissa Perry was appointed to the Federal Court of Australia in 2013 and also serves as the Deputy President of the Defence Force Discipline Appeal Tribunal. Her Honour graduated in Law from Adelaide University with 1st class honours, and was awarded a prize-winning PhD in public international law from the University of Cambridge. She practiced at the Bar in Australia from 1992 to 2013, being appointed Queen’s Counsel in 2004. Her Honour was also admitted to the Bar of England and Wales in 2012 as a member of Inner Temple and was a non-resident member of Twenty Essex.
Justice Perry serves with the RAAF Legal Specialist Reserves holding the rank of Air Commodore and was appointed as Deputy Judge Advocate General – Air Force in 2023. Among other roles, her Honour is a Foundation Fellow and former director of the Australian Academy of Law, and a member of the advisory boards for the Centre for International and Public Law (Australian National University), the Gilbert + Tobin Centre of Public Law (University of New South Wales), and until recently, the UNSW Allens Hub for Technology, Law and Innovation. She served for many years on the Administrative Review Council (ARC) which was responsible for monitoring the health of the federal administrative law system, reporting to the Commonwealth Attorney-General. Following judicial appointment, Justice Perry was the Federal Court appointee to the (then) Judicial Council on Cultural Diversity. In that role, her Honour chaired the expert committee which prepared the first and second editions of the Recommended National Standards for Working with Interpreters in Courts and Tribunals and was a member of the Editorial Working Group which reviewed Modern Slavery: Guidance for Australian Courts, published by the JCCD in 2021.
Among other subjects, Justice Perry has spoken and published extensively on issues pertaining to technology and the rule of law since 2006, including automated decision-making, autonomous weapons, and AI.
PROFESSOR JOHN TASIOULAS
PROFESSOR OF ETHICS AND LEGAL PHILOSOPHY/ DIRECTOR OF THE INSTITUTE FOR ETHICS IN AI AT THE UNIVERSITY OF OXFORD
John Tasioulas is Professor of Ethics and Legal Philosophy and the inaugural Director of the Institute for Ethics in AI at the University of Oxford. He is also a Senior Research Fellow at Balliol College Oxford. He studied law and philosophy at the University of Melbourne and completed his doctorate as a Rhodes Scholar at the University of Oxford.
He was previously Yeoh Professor of Politics, Philosophy, and Law at King’s College London, Quain Professor of Jurisprudence at University College London, Reader in Moral and Legal Philosophy at the University of Oxford, and Lecturer in Jurisprudence at the University of Glasgow. He previously held chairs at University College London and King’s College London and visiting positions at the University of Chicago and Harvard University.
He has published widely in the areas of moral philosophy, legal philosophy, political philosophy, and the philosophy of technology. Among his publications are: On Justice and Mercy: Essays in Moral and Legal Philosophy (OUP forthcoming) and as editor The Cambridge Companion to the Philosophy of Law (CUP, 2020).
Professor Tasioulas is a member of the Prime Minister of Greece’s High-Level Advisory Committee on AI and has acted as a consultant on human rights to the World Bank and served as a member of the International Advisory Board, Panel for the Future of Science and Technology (STOA), European Parliament.
You can view selected publication and talks here: https://www.oxfordaiethics.ox.ac.uk/john-tasioulas
PETER TANTALOS
associate TO THE HONOURABLE CHIEF JUSTICE KOURAKIS AND CHAIR OF HELLENIC AUSTRALIAN LAWYERS [SA CHAPTER]
Peter Tantalos is the Associate to the Honourable Chief Justice Chris Kourakis of the Supreme Court of South Australia. He is concurrently undertaking a Master of Laws (LLM) at the Australian National University, specialising in New Technologies Law, with an emphasis on artificial intelligence, blockchain, and information technology law.
Peter’s professional experience includes both commercial law and the public sector. Prior to his current appointment, he worked in a property and commercial law team, on a broad range of matters including land transactions, leasing, infrastructure and development projects, renewable energy, mining regulation, and residential parks. This involved local government, statutory authorities, and private sector entities, on issues concerning Crown and community land, roads, encroachments, compulsory acquisition, and local government regulation.
Peter has held roles in the electorate offices of Federal Members of Parliament, where he contributed to policy engagement, constituent casework, and the administration of parliamentary and community services. During his undergraduate (LLB) studies at the University of Adelaide, Peter was elected President of the Adelaide University Law Students’ Society, leading a record number of academic, professional, and community initiatives.
A passionate advocate for Hellenism, Peter serves as Chair of the South Australian Chapter and a National Board Member of the Hellenic Australian Lawyers Association. He is a contributing writer for The Greek Herald, founding member of the Hellenic Collective, the youth initiative of the Foundation for Hellenic Studies, and is a founding committee member of Australia’s first English-speaking Greek Orthodox parish. His work reflects a commitment to legal education, civic engagement, and the promotion of Hellenic heritage and ideals in Australian public life.
Court, Tribunal and Other Mechanisms to Ensure State Accountability in Australia and Greece
THE HON JUSTICE EMILIOS KYROU AO
PRESIDENT OF THE ADMINISTRATIVE REVIEW TRIBUNAL AND JUDGE OF THE FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA (HAL VIC CHAPTER PATRON)
The Honourable Justice Emilios Kyrou AO is the President of the Administrative Review Tribunal, a Judge of the Federal Court of Australia, the Patron of the Australian Greek Welfare Society (Pronia) and the Victorian Patron of the Hellenic Australian Lawyers Association.
He was a Judge of the Victorian Court of Appeal from July 2014 until he was appointed a Judge of the Federal Court in June 2023. Between May 2008 and July 2014, he was a Trial Judge of the Supreme Court of Victoria.
Prior to his judicial appointment, he was a senior litigation partner at the international legal firm that is now known as King & Wood Mallesons.
Justice Kyrou was born in Greece. His family migrated to Australia when he was eight years of age. He is the only Greek-born judge of a superior court in Australia and the second solicitor to be appointed directly to the Supreme Court of Victoria since it was established in 1852.
In 2012, he published a partial autobiography titled ‘Call me Emilios’ about his experience as a child migrant. A Greek translation of the book was published in 2015.
Justice Kyrou is a strong advocate of equal opportunity. He was an inaugural member of the Judicial Council on Diversity and Inclusion.
Dr. Dimitrios Finokaliotis
President of the Thessaloniki Bar Association
Dr. Dimitrios Finokaliotis is a prominent Greek attorney and the current President of the Thessaloniki Bar Association, one of the largest and most historic legal institutions in Greece. Elected in 2021, he assumed office in January 2022 following a decisive victory that reflected broad support from the legal community. His leadership is marked by a commitment to transparency, modernization, and the strengthening of the legal profession’s role in public life.
A practicing attorney with over two decades of experience, Dr. Finokaliotis specializes in civil and commercial law, with a focus on litigation and legal reform. He is known for his pragmatic approach to legal advocacy and his dedication to improving the everyday practice of law for his colleagues across Thessaloniki and beyond.
In addition to his role at the Bar Association, he serves on the Board of Directors of the Centre of International & European Economic Law (CIEEL), contributing to the advancement of legal scholarship and policy dialogue at the national and European levels.
Dr. Finokaliotis is a graduate of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki School of Law, where he also earned his doctoral law degree. He is a vocal advocate for judicial efficiency, legal education, and the protection of democratic institutions—values that reflect both his professional ethos and his deep commitment to the Hellenic legal tradition.
Digital Governance, Artificial Intelligence, and Cross-Border Transfer of Personal Data: Legal Developments in Light of Technological Progress
Kostas Argyropoulos
General Counsel of Space Hellas Group of Companies – Chief Legal & Compliance Officer
Kostas C. Argyropoulos is a veteran legal executive and international lawyer with nearly three decades of experience at the intersection of law, technology, and corporate governance. As General Counsel and Chief Legal & Compliance Officer of Space Hellas—a publicly listed international IT and cybersecurity group—he leads a ten-member legal team overseeing complex cross-border transactions, regulatory compliance, and strategic risk management across the company’s global operations.
Mr. Argyropoulos began his legal journey in Athens and Paris, earning his D.E.A. in Public Law from Université Panthéon-Assas (Paris II) and later completing postgraduate studies at Harvard Law School, where he focused on cyberspace law and data protection. His early work with UNESCO and the Berkman Center for Internet & Society at Harvard positioned him at the forefront of digital legal transformation.
Since joining Space Hellas as its first in-house counsel, he has built the legal department from the ground up, guiding the company through its expansion into a multinational group with over 800 employees. His leadership is grounded in trust-based relationships with shareholders and executives, and a deep commitment to ethical innovation and legal foresight.
Mr. Argyropoulos is also a published author on constitutional and digital law and has served as a legal advisor to public and private institutions in Greece and abroad. Fluent in Greek, English, French, and German, he continues to champion the role of legal integrity in shaping the future of technology and enterprise.
John C. Stratakis
Partner, Poles Tublin, Stratakis & Gonzalez, LLP
John C. Stratakis is a seasoned New York attorney and Partner at Poles Tublin Stratakis & Gonzalez LLP, a firm with deep roots in maritime and international law since its founding in 1957. With a practice focused on international vessel transactions, financing, and cross-border corporate structuring, Mr. Stratakis is widely recognized for his expertise in maritime law and global business advisory.
He began his legal career as a law clerk to the Honorable Nicholas Tsoucalas of the U.S. Court of International Trade, and has since built a distinguished practice advising international investors, including in the acquisition and financing of New York real estate. His transactional work spans multiple jurisdictions and industries, with a particular emphasis on shipping and international commerce.
Mr. Stratakis serves on the Board of Directors of Navios Maritime Holdings, Inc., and is an active member of the Maritime Law Association of the United States. He also holds leadership roles in several prominent organizations, including New York Maritime, Inc., the Hellenic American Chamber of Commerce, the Hellenic American Cultural Foundation, and the European American Chamber of Commerce in the United States. Additionally, he is a member of the Advisory Board of the Center for Corporate Governance at Drexel University’s LeBow College of Business.
A proud member of the Hellenic legal and business community, Mr. Stratakis brings decades of experience, cultural insight, and legal acumen to his work, bridging continents and industries with integrity and precision.
MODERATOR: Stathis Mihos
Lawyer, LL.M., M.A., Sr. Legal Director Pfizer (Greece, Israel, Cyprus & Malta)
Born in Athens, Greece, in 1964. He studied Law at the University of Athens and holds two postgraduate degrees (LL.M. in Information Technology and Telecommunications Law from the University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, and an M.B.A. in Tourism Business Management from the Hellenic Open University). He worked as a lawyer in law firms and, since 2001, has been leading internal legal services for international companies in Greece (AGET Heracles, BP, Carrefour, and since 2013, Pfizer). He is the author of two legal books (i) on the monitoring of personal data in the workplace and (ii) on in house lawyers. He has been recognized as the best General Commercial in house lawyer (European Counsel Awards
2021), has been included four times in the GC Powerlist for Greece and Cyprus (2018, 2022, 2023, 2024), and has been recognized as a Legal Leader in Pharma 2024. He has also been honored with Pfizer’s GC award (2022) for outstanding legal support provided to the company’s Digital Innovation Center in Thessaloniki. He is a member of the Permanent
Scientific Committee for the Examination of the Impact on the Judicial System of the Introduction of Artificial Intelligence of the Greek Ministry of Justice and of the Future and Information Law Committees of the Council of Bars and Law Societies of Europe (CCBE). He is a former President and board member of the Association of Corporate Counsel (Europe) and other non-governmental organizations, professional associations, and commercial companies.
Ensuring the Rule of Law and Defending Democratic Values – Shared Experiences and Challenges
Ilias Klapas
President of the Piraeus Bar Association
Ilias Klapas is a respected Greek attorney and the current President of the Piraeus Bar Association, one of Greece’s most prominent legal institutions. Elected by his peers for his integrity, vision, and commitment to the legal profession, Mr. Klapas leads the Bar with a focus on institutional transparency, professional development, and the defense of democratic values.
With a legal career spanning over two decades, Mr. Klapas is the founder of Klappas I. Ilias & Synergates, a law firm based in Nikaia, Attica, renowned for its expertise in civil, criminal, and administrative law. His practice is rooted in client advocacy, legal precision, and a deep understanding of the evolving challenges facing the Greek legal system.
As President of the Piraeus Bar Association, he has championed initiatives to modernize legal services, support young lawyers, and strengthen the role of the legal profession in public discourse. He is also an active voice in national legal reform efforts and a frequent participant in conferences addressing justice, ethics, and the rule of law.
Mr. Klapas holds a law degree from a Greek university and is widely regarded for his collaborative leadership style and unwavering commitment to the independence of the judiciary. His work reflects a deep respect for the Hellenic legal tradition and a forward-looking approach to the role of law in society.
DR. Costas Paraskeva
Associate Professor of Public Law, Chairman of the Department of Law, University of Cyprus
Prof. Costas Paraskeva is an Associate Professor of Public Law and Human Rights at the University of Cyprus, Department of Law and he is also the Chairman of the Department. He obtained his LLB from the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece (2001) and his LLM (2003) and PhD (2009) from London Metropolitan University, under the supervision of Philip Leach and Bill Bowring. His doctoral thesis was on “The relationship between the domestic implementation of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) and the ongoing reforms of the European Court of Human Rights.”
Before joining the University of Cyprus, Dr Paraskeva worked as a teaching and research fellow at London Metropolitan University and later as an Assistant Professor at the University of Nicosia. He was called to the Cyprus Bar in 2004 and has often appeared, before the Supreme Court of Cyprus and the European Court of Human Rights in human-rights cases. He has been the member for Cyprus of the Council of Europe Committee for the Prevention of Torture (CPT) since 2011.
THE HON JUSTICE EMILIOS KYROU AO
PRESIDENT OF THE ADMINISTRATIVE REVIEW TRIBUNAL AND JUDGE OF THE FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA (HAL VIC CHAPTER PATRON)
The Honourable Justice Emilios Kyrou AO is the President of the Administrative Review Tribunal, a Judge of the Federal Court of Australia, the Patron of the Australian Greek Welfare Society (Pronia) and the Victorian Patron of the Hellenic Australian Lawyers Association.
He was a Judge of the Victorian Court of Appeal from July 2014 until he was appointed a Judge of the Federal Court in June 2023. Between May 2008 and July 2014, he was a Trial Judge of the Supreme Court of Victoria.
Prior to his judicial appointment, he was a senior litigation partner at the international legal firm that is now known as King & Wood Mallesons.
Justice Kyrou was born in Greece. His family migrated to Australia when he was eight years of age. He is the only Greek-born judge of a superior court in Australia and the second solicitor to be appointed directly to the Supreme Court of Victoria since it was established in 1852.
In 2012, he published a partial autobiography titled ‘Call me Emilios’ about his experience as a child migrant. A Greek translation of the book was published in 2015.
Justice Kyrou is a strong advocate of equal opportunity. He was an inaugural member of the Judicial Council on Diversity and Inclusion.
THE Hon Madeline Singas
Associate Judge, New York State Court of Appeals
The Honorable Madeline Singas was appointed to the New York Court of Appeals by Governor Andrew Cuomo on May 25, 2021, and she was confirmed by the New York State Senate on June 8, 2021. Judge Singas is the ninth woman and first Greek-American to serve on the Court of Appeals. Judge Singas began her public service career as a prosecutor in Queens County in 1991. In 2006, she joined the Nassau County District Attorney’s Office to establish the county’s first Special Victims Bureau, bringing her expertise to serve the most vulnerable victims—children, the elderly, and victims of domestic and sexual abuse. In 2011, Judge Singas was appointed Chief Assistant District Attorney and worked to design and implement specialized programs for adolescent offenders, veterans, and those who suffer from mental illness or drug addiction. In 2015 and again in 2019, she was overwhelmingly elected Nassau County District Attorney, a role she held until her appointment to the Court of Appeals. She managed a staff of more than 450 attorneys, investigators, and support staff prosecuting and investigating approximately 30,000 criminal cases annually. During her tenure, crime in Nassau County dropped by more than 25%, making it the safest community in America for two years in a row according to U.S. News and World Report.
On her watch, opioid overdoses fell by more than 20%, and gang violence plummeted as the office simultaneously worked to prevent crime and recidivism through innovative programs that engaged the community. Judge Singas worked to address the opioid crisis using funds seized from criminals to establish the region’s first 24/7 medically assisted crisis treatment facility, bridging the gap between emergency room discharge and long-term drug treatment. She coordinated the launch of Nassau County’s Family Justice Center, which will provide holistic on-site services to crime victims and their families. She established the Phoenix Division to help justice-involved individuals access the services, support, and job training they need to lead productive and law-abiding lives, and created new units to focus on hate crimes, crimes against immigrants, and offenses that victimize the elderly. In 2018, Judge Singas was appointed to the role of special prosecutor, tasked with investigating the allegations of sexual assault against then-Attorney General Eric Schneiderman.
Judge Singas has been an advocate for women throughout her career. During her tenure as District Attorney, in addition to her work protecting women, she also promoted the careers of women in the District Attorney’s office, increasing the percentage of women managers from 57% to 67%. Because of her advocacy, the Nassau County District Attorney’s Office became the first county office to offer family leave to attorneys. During her time on the Court of Appeals, Judge Singas created, and continues to grow, the Judges for Career Opportunities for Refugees’ program, which places women and other Afghan refugees with experience in the legal field in positions within New York’s Unified Court System. Judge Singas is an active member of the Nassau County Women’s Bar Association, an Honorary Board Member of the Hellenic Lawyers Association of New York, and a Member of the Board of Directors of the Fordham Law Alumni Association. The daughter of Greek immigrants, Judge Singas grew up in Astoria. She is a graduate of the Bronx High School of Science, Barnard College, Columbia University, and Fordham University Law School. She is a proud mother of twins and lives on Long Island with her husband.
Delimitation of Maritime Zones in the Eastern Mediterranean: Territorial Sea, Continental Shelf, and Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ)
Dr. Nicholas A. Ioannides
Deputy Minister of Migration and International Protection of the Republic of Cyprus
Dr Nicholas A. Ioannides holds a PhD in Public International Law from the University of Bristol (2017). He was also a Nippon Fellow at the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (2017-2018), where he conducted research on the legal framework governing undelimited maritime areas. He obtained a law degree (LLB) from Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (2010) and a master’s degree (LLM) in Public International Law from the University of Bristol (2012). He has taught Public International Law and International Humanitarian Law at the University of Nicosia, University of Cyprus, and International and European Law at the Hellenic Open University.
He also served as legal advisor to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Cyprus (2015 2024). He participated in working groups of the Council of the European Union on public international law (COJUR) and the law of the sea (COMAR). He represented the Republic of Cyprus before the International Court of Justice. In 2019, he received a prize from the Hellenic Association of International Law and International Relations for the best doctoral thesis. In 2020, he was awarded the ‘Daniel Vignes’ Prize by the International Association of the Law of the Sea for his article on hydrocarbon activities in undelimited maritime areas, published in the International and Comparative Law Quarterly (2019).
His monograph entitled ‘Maritime Claims and Boundary Delimitation: Tensions and Trends in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea’ was published by Routledge (2021). His second monograph entitled ‘The Predominant Interest Concept and Maritime Delimitation: Safeguarding Predictability and Enhancing Equitableness’ has been published by Edward Elgar (2025). He was also President of the International and European Law Committee of the Cyprus Bar Association.
In June 2024, he was appointed the first Deputy Minister of Migration and International Protection of the Republic of Cyprus.
Dr. GEORGIOS K. FILIS
Professor of International Relations, Geopolitics & European Affairs in the International Relations Department of Ledra College, Nicosia
Dr. Georgios K. Filis is Professor of International Relations, Geopolitics & European Affairs in the International Relations Department of Ledra College, Nicosia. He also teaches in the International Baccalaureate Diploma of the Hellenic American Educational Foundation (Athens-Psychico College). He is affiliated and teaches geostrategic issues and energy security in the Hellenic National Defense College and other educational institutions of the Hellenic Armed Forces. He is a member of the Athens-based Institute for Security & Defense Analysis and he is the director of AEGIS Publishing which operates the news portal “www.defence-point.gr”. Dr. Filis is the International Relations Analyst of the TV Station ALPHA and acts also as a scientific & policy advisor of relevant issues & government planning on top political-executive level. Dr. Filis is Vice-President of the FLOW ENERGY SA.
His views, analyses and articles are consistently presented on major Greek, Cypriot and international media and news-outlets.
Dr. Filis holds a Ph.D. (2010) in International Relations focusing in the systemic geopolitical analysis of the quadrangle Greece-Turkey-Russia-West from Durham University (UK), while he holds a Masters Degree (2003) in International Studies from the same University and a Bachelors Degree (2002) in Economics from The American College of Greece. He graduated from Athens College in 1994.
MODERATOR:
Alkistis Christofilou
ADVOCATE LL.M. – MANAGING Partner, ROKAS Law Firm
Alkistis Christofilou is managing partner of ROKAS Law Firm.
A practicing lawyer admitted to the Athens Bar Association with over 25 years of experience in composite national and cross-border M&A transactions in regulated markets including energy, insurance, media and e-communications, she also engages in the establishment, acquisition, restructuring and integration of financial conglomerates in Greece and in SEE. Her field of expertise includes regulatory practice with emphasis on insurance and financial law and e-communications.
Her thorough knowledge of the regional SEE area through working closely with Rokas’ regional offices and through her direct involvement in EU and World Bank funded law-approximation projects. She is admitted to the Athens Bar Association and is qualified to appear before all the courts in Greece.
Alkistis has chaired AIDA EUROPE, the European arm of the International Insurance Law Association, during 2020 – 2024 and is currently serving on the ExCo’s of AIDA World and AIDA Europe.
She holds an LL.M. degree from the London School of Economics and Political Science and a Ptycheion from the Law School of the Kapodistrian University in Athens.
From Pericles to Populism: Learning from Ancient Athens to Protect Modern Democracies
The Hon Andromache Karakatsanis
Judge of the Supreme Court of Canada
Justice Andromache Karakatsanis is the longest-serving justice of the Supreme Court of Canada, appointed in 2011. A judge since 2002, she served first as a trial judge of the Ontario Superior Court of Justice and then as a judge of the Ontario Court of Appeal. Before her appointment to the bench, she worked in the justice system in diverse capacities over two decades: as a lawyer in private practice; as Chair and CEO of a regulatory tribunal; as Secretary of Native Affairs for Ontario; and as Deputy Minister of Justice and Deputy Attorney General of Ontario. She subsequently served as Deputy Minister to the Premier, Clerk of the Privy Council, and head of the Ontario Public Service, providing leadership to the Deputy Ministers and to 60,000 public servants.
Throughout her career, Andromache Karakatsanis has volunteered extensively and served on the boards of many community and professional associations. She has been recognized with numerous Medals and awards in her profession and community. She currently serves as Chair of the National Action Committee on Access to Justice in civil and family matters. Justice Karakatsanis is one of the highest-ranking judges of Hellenic descent in the Diaspora. She frequently speaks of her pride in her Greek heritage.
In 2015, the President of the Hellenic Republic bestowed on her the distinction of Grand Commander of the Order of Honour.
THE HON ANTHE IOANNA PHILIPPIDES
FORMER JUSTICE OF THE SUPREME COURT OF QUEENSLAND (HAL QLD CHAPTER PATRON)
Justice Philippides was the first woman of Hellenic heritage to be admitted as a barrister in Queensland in 1984 and to attain silk in Australia in 1999. Her Honour was appointed a Judge of the Supreme Court of Queensland in December 2000 and a Judge of the Court of Appeal in December 2014. Those appointments marked the first in Australia to a superior court and an appellate court respectively of a woman lawyer of immigrant parents (her Honour’s parents having emigrated from Cyprus).
Her Honour has served as President of the Land Appeal Court of Queensland and as a Judge and inaugural President of the Queensland Mental Health Court. Her Honour served for over a decade as a member and chair of the Committee of the Supreme and District Courts Criminal Benchbook, which provides guidance on directions to juries in criminal cases. Her Honour graduated from The University of Queensland with a Bachelor of Arts, a Bachelor of Laws and the University Medal in Law along with several law prizes. Her Honour was UQ’s first law graduate to be awarded a British Council Commonwealth Scholarship for a Master of Law Degree at Cambridge University.
Her Honour’s practice as a barrister was in commercial law with a specialisation in admiralty and maritime law. Her Honour established the first maritime law course in Queensland and was the first woman to be elected President of the Maritime Law Association of Australia and New Zealand. Her Honour has served on many state and federal maritime bodies, was a member of the Advisory Committee to the Australian Law Reform Commission Review of the Marine Insurance Act 2000 (Cth) and is a member of the Commonwealth Admiralty Rules Committee.
Justice Philippides is the Patron of The Legal Forecast – Creative and the Law Orchestra Queensland, which promotes mental wellbeing and social inclusion for young lawyers through music. In 2017, her Honour established the Music and the Arts Circle, to provide free access to the arts and social support to First Nations students and young professionals. Her Honour is a Titular Member of the Comité Maritime International, an Honorary Life Member of the Australian National Maritime Museum, a Member of the Société de Legislation Comparée and a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Law. She is a director of Musica Viva Australia. Recently, Justice Philippides established the Queensland Cambridge Australia Scholarship for postgraduate study of law. Her Honour retired as a Judge of the Court of Appeal of Queensland on 23 April 2021.
MODERATOR: Joseph Tsalanidis
President of the Hellenic Australian Lawyers Association and Barrister at List A Barristers
Joseph is a Barrister at List A Barristers. He was admitted to practice in 1983 and to the Bar Roll in 1986. Joseph specialises in corporate and commercial litigation. He provides sound and strategic advice in complex commercial disputes.
Joseph is briefed in a wide range of commercial matters including banking, contract, corporate and shareholder disputes, equity and trusts, property, mortgages and securities, professional negligence, wills and probate.
He has appeared in many commercial cases in superior courts at trial and appellate level. Joseph is also a nationally-accredited mediator and has conducted mediations in most areas of the law including pre-litigation mediations.
Before joining the Victorian Bar, Joseph worked as Parliamentary Counsel drafting legislation and was an Associate to Sir Daryl Dawson in the High Court of Australia.
Joseph is respected by his colleagues, instructing solicitors and Judges for his preparation of cases, clear and direct advice and fearless representation of clients.
Challenges to Judicial Legitimacy: The Impact of Social Media and AI on Public Trust in the Judiciary and Government Institutions
THE HON PETER QUINLAN
CHIEF JUSTICE OF THE SUPREME COURT OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA AND LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA (HAL WA CHAPTER PATRON)
Peter Damien Quinlan was appointed to the Supreme Court of Western Australia on 13 August 2018. He was appointed as a Judge of the Court, a Judge of the Court of Appeal and as the Chief Justice of Western Australia. He was born in Perth on 16 June 1970 and attended John XXIII College.
He graduated with a Bachelor of Commerce in 1992 and a Bachelor of Laws (First Class Honours) in 1995 from the University of Western Australia. Chief Justice Quinlan was Professional Assistant to K H Parker AO QC, Solicitor General for Western Australia, from 1993 – 1994, and Judge’s Associate to the Hon Justice Parker, Supreme Court of Western Australia in 1995.
From 1996 to 2001, he was a Legal Officer (and ultimately Assistant Crown Counsel) at the WA Crown Solicitor’s Office before joining the Independent Bar in 2001. He was appointed Senior Counsel in 2010.
The Chief Justice was appointed Solicitor General for Western Australia on 1 July 2016 and served in this role until his appointment to the Bench.
He served as President, WA Bar Association from 2012 to 2015, Board of Governors at the University of Notre Dame from 2008 and Director of the Law Council of Australia from 2012 to 2014.
Louiza Protopapa
President of the Limassol Bar Association
Louiza Protopapa studied law at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece, and was admitted to the Cyprus Bar Association in 2002 after being employed in one of the leading Brokers of Cyprus for almost 2 years.
Louiza, before establishing her legal practice L. Protopapa & CO LLC, began her career in a well-respected law firm where she ultimately became a partner. During her work experience, which spans over almost 25 years of practice both as a litigator and corporate lawyer, she has acquired extensive experience in civil, commercial, and corporate matters as well as in family law. Louiza has appeared at court in all jurisdictions of Cyprus and has assisted in the handling of arbitration cases at the ICC International Court of Arbitration in Switzerland. She has acted on behalf of high-profile sponsors, reviewing and composing multi-million euro sponsorship contracts for the World Rally Championship, Formula 1 Racing and UK Premier League teams, as well as for marketing contracts with online and media giants such as Google, Yahoo, and Bloomberg.
In the last years, she has carried out specialised consulting for licensed investment firms and specifically relating to retail forex currency trading and CDFs (contracts for differences), as well as being part of a specialised team that has consulted the Montenegrin government in setting up their own investment firms’ legislation. She was the legal advisor to one of the major European MIFID compliant Forex Brokers established in Cyprus and has assisted the company to obtain, besides its Cyprus regulatory license, its U.K. FCA license and Australian ASIC license by steering the committee of professionals involved in the process. She also advised eMoney Institutions on licensing and regulatory matters, as well as currently offering regulatory compliance and anti-money laundering compliance advise to several investment firms in Cyprus.
Her extensive business experience, having to deal with operational issues of large-scale companies over the years, has helped her to advise some of the largest trading companies in commerce, construction, financial technology, and investment services with high recommendations. She is an Insolvency Practitioner and has completed the Programme on Negotiation for Executives at Harvard Law School. Since 2023, she has been the President of the Limassol Bar Association.
MODERATOR:
Konstantinos Vouterakos
Senior Partner at KG Law Firm, Chairman of the Hellenic Association of Law Firms
Konstantinos Vouterakos is a Senior Partner and Executive Committee member, heading the Banking, Finance and Capital Markets Group of KG Law Firm. During his over 30-year practice, Konstantinos has worked as leading partner in complex high-value international projects in his field of expertise and has advised Greek and international banks, institutional investors, large corporates and other high-profile clients.
He is ranked as a leading lawyer in all major legal directories. He is a regular contributor to legal publications and conferences. Konstantinos has served as member in law-drafting committees. Konstantinos is the current Chair of the Hellenic Association of Law Firms (2022-2025).
Panel Discussion - Q&A: Best Practices in Safeguarding the Rule of Law Domestically and Internationally in the Face of Global Threats
H.E. Alison Duncan
Australian Ambassador to Greece
Alison Duncan is Australia’s Ambassador to Greece, Bulgaria, and Romania, appointed in July 2023 as the first woman to hold this post. A senior career officer with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), she brings over two decades of diplomatic experience and a deep commitment to strengthening Australia’s ties with Europe and the global Hellenic community.
Prior to her ambassadorial appointment, Ms. Duncan served as Assistant Secretary of the Consular Communications and Policy Branch at DFAT. Her overseas postings have included Indonesia, New Zealand, and the Solomon Islands, where she held senior roles advancing Australia’s foreign policy, regional cooperation, and public diplomacy.
She holds a Bachelor of Laws and Bachelor of Arts from the Australian National University and an Executive Master of Public Administration from the Australia and New Zealand School of Government. Her leadership reflects a blend of legal training, strategic policy insight, and cross-cultural engagement.
Ambassador Duncan’s tenure in Greece has been marked by a focus on cultural diplomacy, diaspora engagement, and shared democratic values. With ancestral ties to the ANZAC legacy in Lemnos and Gallipoli, she brings a personal connection to the region’s history and a forward-looking vision for bilateral cooperation in education, innovation, and global affairs.
Panagiotis Perakis
former President of the Council of Bars and Law Societies of Europe (CCBE)
Panagiotis Perakis is a distinguished Greek attorney and former President of the Council of Bars and Law Societies of Europe (CCBE), the leading representative body of over one million European lawyers. Elected to the CCBE Presidency in 2023, he was the first Greek to hold this prestigious position, reflecting his longstanding commitment to the legal profession, access to justice, and the rule of law across Europe.
A practicing lawyer in Athens, Mr. Perakis specializes in economic law and data protection, with a career that bridges legal advocacy, European policy, and digital transformation. He has served as an independent legal expert to the European Commission, advising on emerging legal challenges posed by rapidly evolving technologies. His academic background includes postgraduate studies in Information Law and Legal Informatics in France—fields in which he was an early pioneer.
Since 2011, he has been an elected member of the Executive Board of the Athens Bar Association and chaired the CCBE Access to Justice Committee. As head of the Greek delegation to the CCBE and later as President, he championed legal education, digital rights, and the ethical responsibilities of the legal profession in a changing world.
Mr. Perakis is a passionate advocate for civic education and democratic dialogue. Fluent in Greek and French, he continues to contribute to European legal discourse through public speaking, advisory roles, and thought leadership on the future of law in the digital age.
The Hon Helen Voutsinas
Associate Justice, New York Appellate Division, Second Department
Justice Voutsinas started her career at a private law firm handling various types of civil cases including, personal injury, contracts and commercial litigation from inception to trial. Thereafter, she decided to devote her life to public service and government as an Assistant Town Attorney and Counsel to the Board of Zoning Appeals for the Town of North Hempstead handling all types of litigation. She later served as Deputy Majority Counsel to the Nassau County Legislature advising the Majority Caucus on the implementation of policies and laws in Nassau County. From 2005 to 2011 she served as Principal Law Clerk to the Honorable Steven M. Jaeger, in the County, Family, and Supreme Courts. In her role as law secretary, she handled Family Court proceedings, civil cases, criminal felony cases and other specialized cases in the Domestic Violence Part. As a law secretary she also took part in forming the first Judicial Drug Diversion Part in Nassau County.
Thereafter, Justice Voutsinas was elected to the Nassau County District Court from 2011-2018 where she was initially assigned to arraignments and small claims matters. In January of 2012, she was assigned as the presiding judge of the Misdemeanor Domestic Violence Part until July 2015, when she was assigned to the Misdemeanor DWI Part. In 2017 she was assigned to a general Criminal Trial Part. Justice Voutsinas was elected to the Supreme Court, Tenth Judicial District from Nassau County in 2018 and served in a Matrimonial Part, until her assignment to a Civil IAS Part where she handled hundreds of cases until their resolution through the Pandemic. In January of 2021, Justice Voutsinas was appointed to the Appellate Term, 9th and 10th Judicial Districts, where she presided over civil and criminal appeals from the lower courts. In May of 2022, Justice Voutsinas was appointed by Governor Kathy Hochul to the Appellate Division, Second Department.
Justice Voutsinas graduated from Our Lady of Mercy Academy High School. After graduation, Justice Voutsinas attended St. John’s University where she earned a bachelor’s in science in accounting from the College of Business Administration. She attended St. John’s University School of Law where she earned her Juris Doctor degree in 1999. In addition to her work as a Justice of the Appellate Division, Justice Voutsinas is an active leader in her community and several bar associations. Justice Voutsinas currently serves in the Nassau County Equal Justice in the Courts Committee. She is the immediate Past President of the Theodore Roosevelt American Inn of Court. Justice Voutsinas previously served as an Advisor to the Franklin H. Williams Judicial Commission (2021-2022). Justice Voutsinas had previously served as a member of the Board of Directors and President of the Long Island Hispanic Bar Association (2017 2019), the Nassau County Women’s Bar Association (2006-2007), the Nassau County District Court Judges Association (2014-2015. She is a founding member of Nassau Women’s Bar Foundation, which is dedicated to promoting the advancement of women in the law. She had previously served as a member of the Board of Directors of the NYS Latino Judges Association (2015-2017) and is also a member of other bar associations, including the Dominican Bar Association, Hellenic Lawyers Association and Amistad Long Island Black Bar Association.
In 2023, Justice Voutsinas received the Judicial Excellence Award from the Long Island Hispanic Bar Association and the Hellenic Lawyers Association. In 2021, Justice Voutsinas received the Judicial Excellence Award from the Dominican Bar Association. In 2019, Justice Voutsinas received the President’s Award from the Network of Bar Leaders. In 2014 she was the recipient of the “Virginia Duncombe, Esq.” award from the NCWBA for her work and commitment to enhancing legal education for women in the law.
Nicolas St. Constantinides
President of Kyrenia Bar Association
Nicolas St. Constantinides is an advocate and President of the Kyrenia Bar Association.
He is a member of the Council of the Cyprus Bar Association (CBA) and is a member of the Delegation of the CBA to the Council of Bars and Law Societies of Europe (CCBE).
He is a Partner at Tassos Papadopoulos & Associates LLC based in Nicosia. His principal areas of practice focus on commercial law, company law and construction law in the context of which he advises international and local clients from a wide range of industries and represents parties to arbitration and litigation proceedings.
Nicolas is also currently serving as a Director of the Cyprus Arbitration and Mediation Centre (CAMC) and is accredited as a Mediator in civil and commercial disputes. He is also a member of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (MCIArb) and sits as an arbitrator.
Prior to practising law, Nicolas served as a diplomat at the Permanent Representation of the Republic of Cyprus to the EU in Brussels for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, where he was responsible for the Government’s relations with the European Parliament and also represented Cyprus at the EU Council Working Party on Transatlantic Relations (COTRA). During the first Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the EU in 2012, Nicolas coordinated inter-institutional relations, dealing with an array of legislative dossiers.
Nicolas graduated with a degree in Law (LLB Hons) in 2008 and an LLM in International Law with Distinction in 2009 from the University of Surrey. He then undertook his vocational training at the College of Law of England & Wales, London Bloomsbury, completing the Bar Vocational Course (BVC) and was Called to the Bar by the Honourable Society of the Middle Temple in 2010.
MODERATOR: George Papadopoulos
Advocate, Legal Counsel (Athens Bar Association), Lecturer (HEAD Law School)
George Papadopoulos serves as a Supreme Court advocate, legal counsel at the Athens Bar Association, and lecturer at HEAD (École des Hautes Études Appliquées du Droit), where he teaches IT litigation and Data Protection law.
He was admitted to the Athens Bar in 2006. His previous appointments include teaching Medical law at the University of Piraeus and serving as a legal advisor at the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Administrative Reform and E-Government.
In his scholarly contributions, he has published a book on the “Kallikrates” legislative reform (with P. Zygouris), has authored sections in major legal publications (Civil Code Commentary & Copyright Law) as well as numerous articles, papers and expert notes on a variety of legal issues.
His academic credentials include a bachelor’s and master’s degree in Law from the University of Athens, where he graduated as valedictorian, and a master’s degree from the University of Cambridge.
He has been recognized with the “Award of Excellence” from the University of Athens, and has been awarded scholarships from the Cambridge European Trust, the Lilian Voudouris Foundation and the State Scholarship Foundation.
George was recently elected as an International member of the American Board of Trial Advocates and holds the position of member of the Advisory Board of the European Lawyers Foundation.
Legal Developments in Areas of Challenge: Migration/Asylum Governance and Climate Change
Dr. Markos Karavias
Director of the Mediterranean Migration and Asylum Policy Hub, EPLO
Dr Markos Karavias is the Director of the Mediterranean Migration and Asylum Policy Hub. Dr Karavias practises law at the Athens Bar Association, having led counsel on human rights and asylum law cases before domestic and European courts.
Dr Karavias has served as the lead negotiator on the EU Migration and Asylum Pact on behalf of the Ministry of Migration and Asylum. Between 2018 and 2021, he served as the Director, then Governor, of the Asylum Service of the Hellenic Republic, and in this capacity, as a Member of the EUAA Management Board. Between 2014 and 2018, he held various academic positions at the Faculties of Law of the Universities of Amsterdam and Utrecht. Dr Karavias has further acted as a Member of the Asylum Appeals Committees of the Ministry of Citizen Protection (2011-2012). Markos Karavias studied law at the Universities of Athens and Oxford, where he completed his doctoral dissertation. He is the author of Corporate Obligations in International Law (Oxford University Press, 2013), as well as of numerous academic publications in international law.
Christina Hioureas
Global Co-Chair, International Litigation & Arbitration Department, Chair, United Nations Practice Group, at Foley Hoag
Christina G. Hioureas is a leading Greek-American international lawyer and arbitrator who serves as Global Co-Chair of the International Litigation & Arbitration Department and Chair of the United Nations Practice Group at Foley Hoag LLP. She represents sovereign States, state-owned enterprises, and private entities before all major arbitral and judicial bodies—including the International Court of Justice, ICSID, UNCITRAL, ICC, and ITLOS—on matters involving sovereignty, investment, energy, and human rights.
Recognized for her sharp legal mind and dedication to the rule of law, Ms. Hioureas also regularly serves as an arbitrator in complex commercial disputes and advises on proceedings before the UN General Assembly and Security Council. In 2024, the Financial Times named her among the “Top 10 Most Innovative Lawyers—North America.”
Fluent in Greek and English, she brings a transatlantic perspective rooted in legal excellence and cultural awareness. Ms. Hioureas earned her J.D. from UC Berkeley School of Law, studied at The Hague Academy of International Law, and now teaches international law at UCLA School of Law.
Her notable cases include representing the Republic of Mauritius before the ICJ in its landmark decolonization proceedings and serving as counsel to Greece’s state-owned gas company in cross-border energy disputes. She currently sits on Foley Hoag’s Management Committee and remains a steadfast advocate for democracy, international justice, and Hellenic values on the world stage.
Navigating Issues of Common Interest for the Greek Diaspora: Inheritance, Identity, Citizenship, and Investing in Greece
Professor Lambros Kitsaras
Associate Professor of Civil Law, Democritus University of Thrace, Managing Partner, KPlegal Law Firm
Professor Lambros Kitsaras is a leading Greek civil law scholar and litigator, known for his dynamic presence in both academia and high-stakes legal practice. As Associate Professor of Civil Law at the Democritus University of Thrace, he has shaped legal education in Greece through rigorous scholarship, influential publications, and mentorship of future jurists. His academic work spans property law, contract law, medical liability, and procedural law, with contributions to legislative committees and the National School of Judges.
In parallel with his academic career, Professor Kitsaras is the Managing Partner and founder of KPlegal, a litigation and arbitration boutique based in Athens. He is widely regarded as a preeminent trial lawyer, having led landmark cases before the Greek Supreme Court (Areios Pagos) and served as arbitrator in both national and international disputes. His legal acumen is particularly sought after in complex property, ecclesiastical, and public law matters.
He previously served for over a decade as Director of Legal Services and Vice-Chairman of the Board at Ktimatologio S.A. (Hellenic Cadastre), where he played a pivotal role in shaping Greece’s land registration system. He currently advises major public and private institutions, including the Public Properties Company S.A. (ETAD) and ecclesiastical legal entities.
Fluent in Greek, English, and German, Professor Kitsaras bridges academic depth with courtroom excellence, embodying the Hellenic legal tradition in both thought and action.
Vasiliki Anyfanti
Attorney at law, Managing Partner "Abroad Law-Anyfanti and Partners Law firm"
Vasiliki Anyfanti is a Greek attorney and the Managing Partner of “Abroad Law – Anyfanti & Partners”, a boutique law firm based in Athens with a strong international orientation. With over a decade of legal experience, she has built a reputation for delivering pragmatic, business-focused legal solutions to both domestic and international clients.
Ms. Anyfanti’s practice spans civil and commercial law, with particular emphasis on real estate, inheritance, immigration, and corporate advisory. Her firm is known for its client-centered approach, offering tailored legal services in areas such as Greek citizenship, Golden Visa applications, estate planning, and cross-border property transactions. She has also advised on complex matters involving insolvency, restructuring, and international arbitration.
A graduate of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki School of Law, Ms. Anyfanti is a member of the Athens Bar Association and has previously worked with several prominent law offices in Greece. Her multilingual capabilities and deep understanding of both Greek and international legal systems make her a trusted advisor for expatriates, investors, and multinational entities navigating the Greek legal landscape.
Under her leadership, Abroad Law has grown into a dynamic legal hub committed to excellence, responsiveness, and long-term client relationships. Ms. Anyfanti continues to champion legal innovation and cross-border collaboration, reflecting the values of integrity, accessibility, and global perspective that define the modern Hellenic legal community.
Chara Zerva
Managing Partner “Nicolas Kanellopoulos – Chara Zerva & Associates Law Firm – NKLaw Firm”, General Legal Counsel and BoD Legal Advisor at Enterprise Greece S.A.
Chara Zerva is a distinguished Greek attorney and legal strategist with over two decades of experience in public and private sector law. As Managing Partner of NKLaw Firm, she leads a multidisciplinary team providing high-level legal counsel across commercial, tax, administrative, and investment law. She is also General Legal Counsel and Board Advisor at Enterprise Greece S.A., the national agency for investment and trade promotion, where she has played a pivotal role in advancing Greece’s strategic investment framework.
Ms. Zerva holds a D.E.A. in Criminal Law and Business Contracts from Université de Montpellier I and an LL.B. from the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens. She is a Supreme Court lawyer, an accredited mediator since 2014, and a recognized expert in GDPR compliance and data protection law.
Her career includes senior advisory roles to multiple Greek ministries, including Development, Citizen Protection, and Infrastructure, where she contributed to legislative reforms, privatization projects, and the implementation of EU structural funds. She has also served as legal counsel to the Greek Tourism Confederation (SETE), banking institutions, and the Hellenic Investment Bank initiative.
Fluent in Greek, English, and French, Ms. Zerva is known for her business-oriented legal approach, combining efficiency, ethical rigor, and strategic insight. Her leadership at NKLaw Firm reflects a commitment to client-focused service, innovation, and the modernization of legal practice in Greece.
Panel Discussion - Q&A: Navigating the Future – Challenges and Innovations for Modern Advocacy, Bar Associations & Courts, by the Εmerging Ιmpact of AI
Dr. Christos Papastylianos
Associate Professor, University of Nicosia School of Law
Dr. Christos Papastylianos is a distinguished Greek constitutional scholar and Associate Professor of Public Law at the University of Nicosia School of Law. With a career spanning academia, public service, and legal advocacy, he is widely recognized for his expertise in constitutional theory, human rights, and the rule of law in times of democratic stress.
He holds a Ph.D. in Law from the European University Institute in Florence, where his doctoral thesis examined the constitutional limits of free speech. He also earned an LL.M. in Public Law and Political Science and an LL.B. from the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki. His academic work focuses on constitutional identity, populism, emergency powers, and the justiciability of social rights, with publications in leading journals and volumes by Cambridge University Press, Springer, and Intersentia.
Dr. Papastylianos previously served as Senior Investigator at the Greek Ombudsman, where he addressed systemic issues in public administration and human rights protection. He has also contributed to constitutional commentary projects in Greece and Cyprus and co-authored chapters on citizenship, constitutional amendments, and the doctrine of necessity.
Fluent in Greek and English, he is a frequent speaker at international conferences and a contributor to legal reform debates in Greece and Cyprus. His work bridges academic rigor with civic engagement, reflecting a deep commitment to democratic values and the evolving challenges of constitutional governance.
Nicholas Tsardellis
Vice President of the Cyprus Bar Association
Nicholas Tsardellis is a leading Cypriot litigator and the current Vice President of the Cyprus Bar Association, elected in October 2023. A Partner at Elias Neocleous & Co LLC, he heads the firm’s Nicosia Litigation and Dispute Resolution Department, where he is widely recognized for his expertise in complex cross-border disputes, commercial litigation, and white-collar crime.
With over two decades of legal experience, Mr. Tsardellis has represented high-net-worth individuals, international corporations, and financial institutions in high-stakes shareholder disputes, trust litigation, and contractual conflicts. His practice also includes asset tracing, injunctive relief, and the enforcement of foreign judgments and arbitral awards. He has successfully advised on landmark transactions and litigation involving international trusts, collapsed financial institutions, and high-value real estate and mining ventures.
Mr. Tsardellis is a frequent speaker on Cypriot procedural law and has contributed to EU-funded legal education initiatives aimed at fostering a European judicial culture. He is fluent in Greek and English and is deeply committed to upholding the rule of law, judicial integrity, and the modernization of legal practice in Cyprus.
As Vice President of the Cyprus Bar Association, he also serves on the Legal Council and the Advocates’ Pension Fund, playing a key role in shaping the future of the legal profession in Cyprus and representing the interests of lawyers at the national and European levels.
THE HON DR MELISSA ANNE PERRY AC
JUSTICE OF THE FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA (HAL NSW CHAPTER PATRON)
Justice Melissa Perry was appointed to the Federal Court of Australia in 2013 and also serves as the Deputy President of the Defence Force Discipline Appeal Tribunal. Her Honour graduated in Law from Adelaide University with 1st class honours, and was awarded a prize-winning PhD in public international law from the University of Cambridge. She practiced at the Bar in Australia from 1992 to 2013, being appointed Queen’s Counsel in 2004. Her Honour was also admitted to the Bar of England and Wales in 2012 as a member of Inner Temple and was a non-resident member of Twenty Essex.
Justice Perry serves with the RAAF Legal Specialist Reserves holding the rank of Air Commodore and was appointed as Deputy Judge Advocate General – Air Force in 2023. Among other roles, her Honour is a Foundation Fellow and former director of the Australian Academy of Law, and a member of the advisory boards for the Centre for International and Public Law (Australian National University), the Gilbert + Tobin Centre of Public Law (University of New South Wales), and until recently, the UNSW Allens Hub for Technology, Law and Innovation. She served for many years on the Administrative Review Council (ARC) which was responsible for monitoring the health of the federal administrative law system, reporting to the Commonwealth Attorney-General. Following judicial appointment, Justice Perry was the Federal Court appointee to the (then) Judicial Council on Cultural Diversity. In that role, her Honour chaired the expert committee which prepared the first and second editions of the Recommended National Standards for Working with Interpreters in Courts and Tribunals and was a member of the Editorial Working Group which reviewed Modern Slavery: Guidance for Australian Courts, published by the JCCD in 2021.
Among other subjects, Justice Perry has spoken and published extensively on issues pertaining to technology and the rule of law since 2006, including automated decision-making, autonomous weapons, and AI.
Niovi Christopoulou
Partner at AI.Fund (Hamburg), Adjunct Law Professor at City University of NY, Christopoulos & Partners, of Counsel
Niovi Christopoulou is a Greek-American attorney, investor, and thought leader at the intersection of law, technology, and transatlantic policy. She currently serves as Partner at AI.Fund, a Hamburg-based venture capital firm investing in cutting-edge artificial intelligence and digital technologies. She is also Adjunct Professor of Business Law at the City University of New York and Of Counsel at Christopoulos & Partners.
With a career spanning New York, Washington, DC, London, and Athens, Ms. Christopoulou has advised multinational corporations, including Amazon, where she led global legal strategy for innovative fintech products. Her legal expertise includes mergers & acquisitions, private equity, and digital policy, with a focus on AI governance and data protection across U.S. and EU frameworks.
A graduate of Columbia Law School (J.D. and LL.M., Harlan Fiske Stone Scholar) and the University of Athens Law School, she is fluent in Greek, English, French, German, and Spanish. She has served on the Boards of the Hellenic Lawyers Association, the Carnegie Council for Ethics in International Affairs, and the Hellenic American Chamber of Commerce.
In 2024, she run for the European Parliament, advocating for the Greek diaspora, digital innovation, and transatlantic cooperation. A mother of two, she lives in New York and remains a passionate advocate for ethical tech, inclusive policy, and Hellenic values in global leadership.
MODERATOR: Panayotis Bernitsas
Attorney at Law, Managing Partner of Bernitsas Law
Panayotis is the Managing Partner of the Bernitsas Law and a leading legal practitioner, with an active, broad-based commercial practice incorporating more than 35 years of experience in transactional, advisory and litigation work.
Panayotis Bernitsas is an authority in EU, competition and antitrust law and has represented clients in prominent cartel cases before the Hellenic Competition Commission. He is a senior litigator, with vast experience in all types of dispute resolution, and represents clients in complex, high stake civil and administrative actions before the high courts and arbitration boards. He has also acted as arbitrator at the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC).
He is an expert in concession projects and privatisations, with an unsurpassed track record of playing a key role in many of the pioneering, groundbreaking transactions to have taken place in Greece. He advises extensively on major renewable and conventional energy and infrastructure projects and investments in energy property development companies. His real estate practice is focused on large scale developments and real property asset portfolio investments. Within the framework of his private practice, Panayotis has acted on a number of occasions as advisor to the Government on European Union, State Aids and Privatisation issues.
He also advises companies and individuals on complex tax structuring and wealth planning matters and has acted extensively in high stakes tax controversies. Panayotis has been widely published in legal journals, books and other publications in his areas of expertise and is a participant in the annual Forum on International Wealth Disputes.
He held the position of Associate Professor in International Economic Law, Law of International Business Transactions, European Community Law at the University of Thrace from 1983-2007. Panayotis Bernitsas holds a Degree in Law from the National & Kapodistrian University of Athens, a DES in Public Law from the University of Paris and a PhD from Aristotle University of Thessaloniki. He is admitted to the Athens Bar (1974) and the Supreme Court of Greece (1984).
UNDER THE AUSPICES
OF H.E. THE PRESIDENT OF THE
HELLENIC REPUBLIC
Mr. CONSTANTINE AN. TASSOULAS
WITH THE SUPPORT OF
