This month’s FACES is dedicated to our Legal and Risk Counsel, Angeliki Sidirokastriti. Angeliki has over nine years of experience in providing legal counsel, both freelance and as part of corporate legal teams. Angeliki specializes in data protection, intellectual property, and administrative law, among others. Currently, she is a PhD candidate at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, focusing on the Taxation of the Digital Economy. She holds a Bachelor of Law from the same institution and two master's degrees: one in Transnational Commercial Law, ADR, and Energy Law from the International Hellenic University, and another one in Public Law from the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki. Angeliki is a qualified lawyer and a member of the Thessaloniki Bar Association in Greece. Welcome Angeliki!
1. Welcome to FACES Angeliki! Could you share some insights into your role at NET2GRID?
Thank you for inviting me. It is always a pleasure to read the FACES interviews and get to know our colleagues better. I am the Legal and Risk Counsel of NET2GRID. I am assigned the duty of monitoring the legal and risk grounds of the company. This means that my role comprises many flavors of duties since I am involved with our teams in the Netherlands and in Greece, and in many areas at the same time; this includes contracting, company issues, IP, privacy, and any other legal issue that may arise.
2. Could you share with us your journey, including your professional experience abroad, and what drew you to join NET2GRID?
My journey starts with me arriving in Thessaloniki to study Law at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki; after the completion of my studies, I pursued two master’s degrees: one in Transnational Commercial Law, ADR, and Energy Law at the International Hellenic University and one in Public Law at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki. Then, I started working as a trainee lawyer, and, as soon as I got my license and joined the Bar Association of Thessaloniki, I began working as a freelance lawyer, involved mostly in contracting and company law. In this way, I got the chance to get in touch and cooperate with other colleagues and customers from abroad. I worked for some years in the field of data protection with a German firm, providing data protection and privacy services. This was a valuable and formative experience for me as it brought me closer to an international working environment.
And then, comes NET2GRID! I have known the company since the Greek branch was established; so, I did not think twice before applying for the Legal Counsel position. I can say that what drew me to NET2GRID was a combination of two things: the people, admiring and sharing the company’s cause, and the opportunity to work with an international team in a friendly, cross-functional working environment.
3. With over nine years of experience in legal counsel, what has been the most rewarding aspect of your career so far?
The most rewarding aspect of my career so far is getting in touch with different legal fields, and, thus, facing different legal issues and gaining experience. At NET2GRID, specifically, I feel rewarded by the fact that I am part of a team with much more experienced people that share with us their experience and who gave me the opportunity to personally participate in the company processes.
4. How do you juggle a full-time job, being a mum, and pursuing your PhD studies? How does NET2GRID help you in that regard?
Each of these aspects is a project in its own right. I am trying to navigate through them step by step, day by day sometimes. Ideally, I would like to be able to dedicate enough time to all of these, but, practically, being a parent sets the pace for all the others. My job (which I really like, but is also a necessity), and it gives me the balance I need. I started my PhD studies before becoming a parent and before joining NET2GRID, and, then, it had to be put on hold for some time. Hopefully, I will manage to take it from where I left off and finish it (with some delay). If it weren’t for NET2GRID’s flexible working schedule, I would have to sacrifice much more than I would like for myself and this would have an impact on my stress levels and my productivity.
5. How do you foresee the role of a legal and risk counsel evolving in the energy sector, particularly with the increased focus on digital transformation and data protection?
You have insightfully mentioned two important aspects of a Legal and Risk Counsel’s work in the energy sector, i.e. digital transformation and data protection. In the energy sector, data has become a valuable asset and, as a result, it is of utmost importance to be familiar with the legal aspects of cloud computing, ΑΙ, and new service models, such as Software-as-a-Service. Data and digital technology also stress the issue of protecting the personal data of natural persons from which energy insights are derived. For this reason, following the developments in data protection and privacy legislation is equally necessary.
6. What do you enjoy doing in your free time when you're not immersed in legal work or your PhD studies?
Well, besides being on “parent duty”, I enjoy exercising and going to the movies. I would also like to have more time for traveling.
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