Bio
APOSTOLOS SYMIAKOS
Apostolos Symiakos is a qualified lawyer in Greece, gaining working experience in Law Firms in London and Piraeus since 2000. He is a member of the Piraeus Bar Association since 2002. He graduated from the Law School of the Kapodistrian University of Athens in 1999, and completed his Masters Degree in Maritime Law at Cardiff University in 2000. He maintains his law office in Piraeus since 2006, providing consulting and litigation services in individuals and legal entities, with respect to civil, commercial and administrative law, as well as mediation services.
He is an Accredited Mediator, graduated from the Piraeus Mediation Centre (KEDIP) and Toolkit Company, Haren, The Netherlands, and certified from the Greek Ministry of Justice (2013). He possesses international education on training of Mediation trainers Course, Professional Trainership, and Certification of Accredited Mediator’s Trainer from Toolkit Company, in cooperation with KEDIP (2014).
He specializes in civil and commercial mediations, as well as in family, school and workplace mediation and managemnet of conflict, having been trained with several educational entities, both in Greece and abroad, such as Toolkit Company, Mikk e.V, Ε.Κ.Δ.Δ.Α., KEDIP, Mediators Beyond Borders, and possesses certification from the latter in Public Dialogues as a trainer and coordinator.
He conducts mediations, co-mediatons and attends mediations as an advocate in commercial and civil disputes, including family disputes.
He cooperates with KEDIP since 2015 as an assessor with respect to certifying mediators, and as of 2016, as a trainer in the Basic Program of Training Mediators.
He is Legal Advisor of the Greek Social Security Fund (e-EFKA) since 2007, dealing with cases concerning Administrative Law, especially in subjects of social security, employment matters, public contracts, and confiscations, as well as Civil Law.
He speaks fluently Greek, English and French, and he is conversational in Spanish.
EDUCATION
Lycée Leonin, Athens.
(7th-10th grade) Pierce College of Athens.
(11th-12th grade) École Européenne des Bruxelles (Baccalauréat Européen).
Introductory Course in Law
Law School, ULB University of Brussels.
LLB Degree
Law School, National & Kapodistrian University of Athens.
Course in Competition Law, Intellectual Property, Technology Law (ERASMUS PROGRAM)
Stockholm University, Sweden.
LLM degree ( Law of Marine Insurance, Law of Carriage of Goods by Sea, Admiralty Law and Practice, International Trade & Transportation Law )
University of Cardiff, Wales.
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Legal Trainee – Institute of General Confederation of Workers
Responsible for workers’ complaints, gained experience in labour issues.
Legal Trainee – Sach Solicitors & Co. Maritime Law Firm – London
Involved in litigation disputes, gained experience in Maritime Law.
Associate – Roditis Ioannis & Partners – Piraeus
Responsible for the litigation department, gained experience in Private Law.
National Intelligence Service
Member of the legal department, involved in matters related to European Cooperation (police and judicial) against terrorism (3rd Pillar), study of antiterrorism laws.
Associate – Vgenopoulos & Partners Law Firm, Athens
Involved in:
– Ship Sale & Purchase, loan agreements, mortgagees.
– Forming companies (S.A., Ltd, Law 89/1967 companies), drafting company’s minutes etc.
– contract preparation
– litigation (case preparation and customer representation in Court)
client consulting and negotiations assistance
– Cases involved in include Maritime Law, International Trade etc.
In house Legal Counsel – Corinthian Maritime S.A., Athens
Head of the legal department, involved in Sale & Purchase, Claims Handling, Opening Bank Accounts, Vessels’ Registration etc.
Law Office in Piraeus
Involved in Civil, Commercial and Maritime Law (litigation, contracts, S&P, client consulting, negotiations assistance etc).
Legal Advisor at I.K.A. (Social Security Fund)
Involved in Administrative Law (insurance matters, employment matters, public contracts, confiscations etc).
Conducting mediations
Trainer in 9 Seminars of Basic Mediation Training (40 hours each) in KEDIP
Active trainer in Seminars of Basic Mediation Training (80 hours each) in KEDIP
ADDITIONAL SKILLS – QUALIFICATIONS
Accredited Mediator of P.M.C. (Piraeus Mediation Centre) and
Toolkit Company
Τrained and Accredited Mediation Course Trainer, trained at P.M.C. (Piraeus Mediation Centre) by Toolkit Company
PAPERS DEVELOPED
- C.I.F., F.O.B. Contracts, A Comparison
- The C.M.R. Convention
- The Onus of Proof for the Charterer in the Bill of Lading
- The statutory framework of employees’ representation on health and safety matters in enterprises of member – states of the E.U.
- The International Convention on Maritime Liens and Mortgages
- Situations of improper dismissal and Employee Rights
- The Lloyd’s Standard Form of Salvage Agreement from 1980 – 2000 : An Analysis (Dissertation – 69%)
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Training & Seminars
- Webinar – Using Videoconference for Conducting Remote Mediations
(JAMS), April 2009 (90΄) - 200 hours Seminar on Protection of Personal Data (G.D.P.R.), EKPA
(2019) - Seminar on Penal Litigation – Athens, 2019 (Union of Greek Penal
lawyers) - 20 hour Training on Workplace Mediation, PMC (2016) – Piraeus
- 20 hour Training on School Mediation, PMC (2015) – Piraeus
- 20 hour Training on Family Mediation, 1st level, PMC (2014) – Piraeus
- 20 hour Training on Family Mediation, 2nd level, PMC (2014) – Piraeus
- 40 hour Training of trainers & post training assessment to become a
trained and accredited mediation course trainer, PMC (2014) – Piraeus - 80 hour Training on coordinating public dialogues – MBB (Mediators
Beyond Borders) (2013) – Athens - 40 hour Training on Mediation, PMC (2013) – Piraeus
- International Convention on Maritime Law (2004, 2007, 2010) – Piraeus
- Seminar in European Law (2003) – European University Institute, Florence
- International Convention of Shipping Agents and Brokers (2003) – Istanbul
Lectures
Invitation by E.L.S.A. (European Law Students Association) for a lecture with topic “Maritime Law and Mediation – A Case Study” (2015) – Athens
Publications
Article in the newspaper “ΠΟΛΙΣ – ΖΩ ΣΤΟΝ ΠΕΙΡΑΙΑ” with respect to Family Mediation (September 2016).