Our Firm regularly advises Greek and international corporations with branch offices in Greece with emphasis on shipping companies operating in Greece and internationally in all aspects of employment law particularly in view of the sweeping changes in the relevant legislation in Greece over the past years (as part of the austerity measures imposed in Greece). Greek employment law is currently a constantly developing area of law and it is essential for any employer (particular corporate employers) to be keep up to date with the developments.
Particularly in the shipping sector, the in-depth knowledge of the specific provisions applicable and inner workings and practice of shipping companies allows our Firm to provide both strategic and practical advice on almost every employment law aspect that may arise particularly in shipping companies operating in Greece.
Our Firm has advised on employment structures, flexible employment schemes, employee equity incentive plans, strategic advice in relation to internal restructuring to take advantage of the new provisions and keeping dismissals as the last resort, advising where necessary on collective redundancies (particularly in respect of a banking client), advising and negotiating the dismissal and/or retirement procedures of higher executives and successfully avoiding court proceedings, on employment settlements (in all stages i.e. from the decision of an employer to dismiss an executive to the actual dismissal and settlement) and providing general advice on the full spectrum of the new employment provisions and on matters of data protection and employment relationships.
Given that one of the core strengths of the Firm is litigation, we have represented and defended employers on various occasions in employment disputes both in respect of out-of-court settlements as well as before all levels of the civil courts and in hearings before public employment authorities (in particular the Hellenic Labour Inspectorate). Our Firm’s particular strength is representing shipping companies in disputes with managing executives (including claims out of incentive plans, shares, redundancy payments etc.) where the amount of the respective claims is unusually high.