On July 1, 2014, Melina Pyrgou, together with Demetris Vakis and Despo Andreou, decided to join forces, combining their knowledge, strengths, and experiences under the brand name Pyrgou Vakis Law Firm. It has been 10 years since then—10 years of hard work, endless hours, shared concerns and joys, with mutual trust and respect as the partnership’s cornerstone. Each brought their own character to the office. Three completely different individuals who aligned on principles and together managed to provide and continue to provide their services to the clients of Pyrgou Vakis LLC.
These past ten years have not been without challenges. Changes in regulations and stricter enforcement in combatting the laundering of proceeds from illegal activities have reshaped the landscape of professional services in Cyprus. As a result, business models had to be reassessed, changed and posing a challenge to the service sector, and a challenge for us.
The Covid-19 pandemic turned things upside down, limiting us and pushing us to see things differently. At Pyrgou Vakis, we were fortunate to be ready for remote work from day one, having invested in technology.
Furthermore, the war in Ukraine has changed the entire scenario not only in Cyprus but also in Europe, where businesses, especially banks, avoid any risk associated with anything Russian, even if not under sanctions, forgetting that for many years, European countries exploited Russian income sources for investments. Undoubtedly, politics is an external factor influencing our work.
Against this backdrop, Pyrgou Vakis has enhanced its service offering to maintain its competitiveness.
This includes adopting stringent transparency standards and becoming the first law firm to join the Business Integrity Forum. Continuous staff training in these areas has also been prioritized. Moreover, recognizing the importance of attracting a new generation of talent, the firm has established clear pathways for advancement within the organization, culminating in the recent promotion of Georgia Papa and Nota Pelekanou to director roles.
Looking ahead, Pyrgou Vakis is committed to embracing new challenges and exploring strategic partnerships with both local and international firms to foster continued growth.
With artificial intelligence becoming fully integrated into our lives and businesses, we expect and promise to continue providing efficient, effective, and responsive legal services, which respond to new challenges.
