John Filiotis is the senior partner at Lambadarios and heads up our Litigation & Dispute Resolution practice. He is a hugely experienced litigator, having spent more than 40 years representing domestic and international clients at all levels of civil and administrative courts, including the Supreme Court, the Conseil d’Etat and the Court of Justice of the European Union.

John has played a key role in numerous high-profile and pioneering litigation and arbitration cases, including cases that have set new precedents in labor law and intellectual property, particularly in relation to content uploaded to internet platforms.

He is recommended by both Chambers Europe and Chambers Global as a band 1 leading lawyer in Dispute Resolution.

Areas of expertise

Arbitration & Dispute Resolution

As the leader and most senior member of our Litigation & Dispute Resolution team, John has played a critical role in many high-profile and influential cases. He has represented clients in a range of industry sectors at every level of court in Greece, including multiple cases each year at the Supreme Court.

John has played a leading role in shaping legal precedent in Greece, most recently representing Goodyear Tires and Athens Paper Mill in labor law cases relating to the application of EU law and collective redundancies following the companies’ closure of factories in Greece.

He also operates at the leading edge of evolving internet law and has successfully represented the leading US search engine in cases against artists, politicians and businessmen over the removal of allegedly defamatory content, IP-owned content and personal data from the internet. He has also represented YouTube in a first-of-its-kind case over liability for IP content uploaded by users, in which a collecting society turned against both the infringer and the platform. The Court rejected the claim in its entirety against the platform.

He led the critical hearing in a free speech case brought by Greek politician Theodore Katsanevas against the Greek Wikipedia user and administrator, Diu. The Court of First Instance of Athens denied the preliminary injunction requested by Mr. Katsanevas, which would have required Diu, along with co-defendant Greek Free / Open Source Software Society (“ELLAK”), to provisionally remove statements from the Greek language Wikipedia article about Mr. Katsanevas.

John has wide-ranging experience of representing clients in the Conseil D’ Etat in cases relating to challenges by the State or corporations against tender procedures and public procurement rules.

Notable Arbitration & Dispute Resolution cases

  • Advising Goodyear Dunlop Tires Hellas in disputes with clients, suppliers and other claimed payments.
  • Retained by Linde AG, a leading German conglomerate, handling the lawsuits against Greek hospitals.
  • We acted for Googlein handling numerous removals requests filed by data subjects per CJEU decision on the operator’s obligations and the data subjects’ right to be forgotten (Case C-131/12), as well as in relevant court disputes.
  • Advised Envitec, a renewable energy company, on an appeal for error of law, following an arbitration award, regarding the possibility of substitution of the contractor pursuant to the EU Public Procurement legislation.
  • Advising Kavala Oilon litigation case against Hellenic Grid Operator (ADMIE) regarding multimillion-euro claims.
  • Advising Kavala Oilin defense of a number of lawsuits by its minority shareholders regarding the annulment of its general shareholders’ meetings.
  • Representing Kavala Oil, an oil producer, in litigation against the Greek Independent Power Transmission Operator regarding charges with respect to public utility services (currently before the Supreme Court).

Arbitration

John is experienced and highly accomplished in arbitration and has represented clients in a variety of industries in high-value arbitrations against the Greek State, including a €1 billion claim for a gaming operator. He has acted in numerous ICC and LCIA arbitrations, including a €200m claim against a Greek/Italian telecommunications company by its former exclusive distributor and a multimillion-euro claim by Mercedes Benz Hellas against its distributor.

Notable Arbitration cases

  • Advised Hellenic Public Properties (HPPC), the largest company for the management and development of private real estate assets of the Greek State, before the Greek Supreme Court in proceedings for the reversal of decisions by the Court of Appeal withholding certain arbitral awards.
  • Won a critical hearing in a defamation case, prompted by the #MeToo movement in Greece, brought by a well-known Greek actor against Google for the removal of allegedly defamatory content uploaded online, regarding the commission by him of sexual offences against his female coworkers.
  • Successfully represented Google in a case over the removal of allegedly defamatory content and personal data from the internet by a doctor who was claimed to have been leading a double life, including committing bigamy.
  • Represented OPAP, the leading gaming company in Greece and a former state monopoly, to litigate a series of cases involving its gambling outlets around the country for a €1 billion arbitration claim against the Greek State.
  • Representing Leidos (former SAIC) in the Supreme Court in a litigation matter on annulment of an ICC arbitration award.
  • Won a significant ICC case for Leidos (former SAIC) in a multimillion-euro claim against the Greek State for the security of the Olympic Games of Athens 2004.
  • Represented the Bolton Group in a €50m ICC arbitration against the Greek State arising out of the privatization of Athens Papermill S.A.
  • Represented Stet Hellas, one of the first mobile telecommunications companies in Greece, and as subsidiary of Telecom Italia in an ICC arbitration brought against its exclusive distributor claiming amounts up to €150m.
  • Represented Stet Hellas, one of the first mobile telecommunications companies in Greece, against a claim brought by its distributor for €30m.
  • Represented Levis Straus and Co in an ICC arbitration in London defending against claims by local distributors for unfair termination of contracts.
  • Represented Space Imaging Europe in an ICC arbitration in London against its supplier for a total of €10m.
  • Represented Whessoe Gas on an ICC arbitration against the Greek State for the construction of the infrastructure for a major oil and gas refinery in Greece.
  • Represented Lockheed Martin Aeronautics in an ICC arbitration against the Greek State for the procurement of F-16s to the Greek Ministry of Defense.

John has wide-ranging experience in representing clients in these fast-changing sectors, particularly in in the area of IP rights and liabilities for content posted or uploaded to some of the world’s largest internet platforms.

He represented a global internet video platform in a first-of-its-kind case over liability for IP content uploaded by users, in which a collecting society turned against both the infringer and the platform. The Court rejected the claim in its entirety against the platform.

John has successfully represented the leading US search engine in cases against artists, politicians and businessmen over the removal of allegedly defamatory content, IP-owned content and personal data from the internet.

He also led the critical hearing in a free speech case brought by Greek politician Theodore Katsanevas against the Greek Wikipedia user and administrator, Diu. The Court of First Instance of Athens denied the preliminary injunction requested by Mr. Katsanevas, which would have required Diu, along with co-defendant Greek Free / Open Source Software Society (“ELLAK”), to provisionally remove statements from the Greek language Wikipedia article about Mr. Katsanevas.

Notable TMT & Intellectual Property cases

  • Successfully advised Google on a critical hearing in a defamation case, which was a result of the #MeToo movement in Greece, brought by a well-known Greek actor against Google for the removal of allegedly defamatory content uploaded online, regarding the commission by him of sexual offences against his female coworkers.
  • Successfully advised Google on in a preliminary injunction over liability for content published online by users for a famous Greek cardiologist and Professor of Medicine.
  • Successfully advised Google on a case regarding the request of an archbishop to remove a number of YouTube videos, which, according to the Claimant, violated his personality rights as the videos were posted without his consent.
  • Successfully advised Google on a defamation case, in which the Claimant alleged that defamatory content appeared on web search in relation to a sex crime.
  • Successfully advised Google in a challenging case in which the Claimant requested that Google is ordered to disclose information in relation to YouTube.

John has been involved in a number of high-profile litigation and arbitration cases focusing on labor law. Most recently he successfully represented Goodyear Tires and Rubber Company, and Athens Paper Mill in two precedent-setting cases relating to the application of EU law and collective redundancies following the companies’ closure of factories in Greece.

Notable Employment & Pensions cases

  • Advising the Bolton Group on employment law mattes and collective redundancies.
  • Advised on the closing down of a major factory owned and operated since the 1960’s by Goodyear Tires and Rubber Company. This project involved the dismissal of approximately 320 employees and the closure of the facility. In this case we faced significant union opposition, which finally led to a court battle that lasted several years and ended following a judgment by the European Court of Justice.
  • Advised on the closure of a major factory owned by Athens Paper Mill S.A. after its acquisition by a group of investors following privatization. This case resulted in the dismissal of approximately 430 employees who then filed a lawsuit in court which took several years to be settled.
  • Provided advice to a travel industry client on disciplinary measures for employees.
  • Advised Baker McKenzie on the labor aspects of the asset acquisition of TNT by Federal Express.
  • Advised Diamond Resorts Inc. on a recent attempt to acquire a Greek company including the transfer of its employees.
  • Advised Juniper Networks on the drafting and harmonization of its employment contracts with Greek Law for hiring Greek personnel.
  • Advised Baker McKenzie’s Amsterdam office for IGT, a global company engaged in the design, development, manufacturing, distribution and sales of computerized gaming equipment, software, and network systems worldwide.
  • Advised a US search engine on changing its country manager, hiring of personnel, employee handbook, issuing of employee credit cards and other matters.
  • Advised a Japanese multinational on a major restructuring, including the application of the ARD Directive, employment redundancies and a European Works Council.
  • Advised on Ceva Logistics’ HR compliance program, including advising the HR department on putting together the employment contracts and benefits for the company employees.
  • Advised on several employment law cases involving the transfer of employees under the Acquired Rights Directive and Presidential Decree implementing the directive in Greek law.
  • Advised on the employment law aspects of a number of restructurings including a Japanese electronics equipment maker, Sony Music, a US multinational active in the Paper industry, and Diversey Inc., as well as the acquisition of Shell Lubricants by Petros Petropoulos.

Related News & Events

Lambadarios is top-ranked in Chambers Global 2024 guide

06-Mar-2024

Ranked Band 1 in 2023

15-Apr-2023

17 consecutive years of top rankings!

14-Apr-2023
More related news for John Filiotis
  • Athens Bar Association
  • Greek Union for Arbitration
  • Greek Union of Civil Procedure
  • LLB, School of Law, University of Athens – 1967

John Filiotis is a well-respected practitioner who advises blue-chip companies from industries such as the energy and technology sectors on litigation proceedings. He also handles matters pertaining to ICC arbitration.
Chambers Europe

Recognized among market commentators as a "fantastic litigator," John Filiotis has a solid track record in a huge range of disputes mandates. His practice spans shareholder disputes, challenges to arbitral awards and defamation cases.
Chambers Europe

Lambadarios Law Firm is credited for its 'always to the point' and 'human-oriented' advice, as well as for being 'familiar with the market'. John Filiotis is a key member of the team, which has a strong track record in litigation and collective redundancies. Major clients include Diamond Resorts International, Medtronic, Goodyear and Diversey.
Legal 500

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