TechIsland's decision to establish a Legal Community stems from a clear and growing need within Cyprus’ tech ecosystem, and aims to unlock the full potential of the country's legal community, explain three members of the island's biggest tech association.
Memnia Papadopoulou, Head Legal Counsel at SPORTSOFT; Roman Zanin, General Counsel, Tax & Compliance at Wargaming; and Olga Demidova, Founder and CEO at PRO Talents Global, Co-founder, Head of strategy at SC Advisors tell CBN the reasons that led to the Community's creation and warn that the local legal industry needs to step up its efforts to transform beyond the traditional, siloed way of working.
As they say, the legal sector, both globally and in Cyprus, is undergoing profound disruption. The rise of AI and LegalTech is transforming everything from contract drafting to compliance — yet adoption in Cyprus remains slow, widening the gap between local firms and their international counterparts.
Memnia Papadopoulou
Can you tell us more about the reasons that have led to the creation of the Legal Community and what its main goals will be?
Memnia Papadopoulou: The creation of the Legal Community of TechIsland stems from a clear and growing need within Cyprus’ tech ecosystem. While the island is rapidly evolving into a major hub for tech, fintech, and innovation companies, there is still a significant lack of open, structured dialogue among legal professionals that is truly tailored to the specific needs of these industries. Most existing forums tend to focus on broad or generic legal topics, without addressing the unique regulatory, contractual, and operational challenges these fast-moving sectors face. This community was formed to close that gap—providing a space for targeted, industry-specific legal discourse, collaboration, and problem-solving.
Roman Zanin
Who, specifically, is the Community aimed at?
Roman Zanin: Legal Community aims in-house counsels of TechIsland members and law firm counsels who work with tech industries. At the first stage, the community will welcome in-house people and outside counsels who work with tech industries in Cyprus and have a reference from TechIsland members. We hope that it will create a professional, close community and will keep relevant people in one forum. In the future, as the tech sector grows and expands locally, the Community may widen its membership requirements. Now the community focuses on in-house, relevance and actual confirmed expertise and experience in tech which outside counsels might bring in.
Olga Demidova
What are some of the activities members can look forward to? Will there be both online and in-person activities?
Olga Demidova: Our community is built around people, not just their professional titles. We believe that the legal profession is evolving — from being a reactive function to becoming a strategic, human-centric partner in business. Lawyers today are not only risk managers — they are sparring partners for founders, sounding boards for CEOs and cultural anchors in their companies. And because of that — we need to take care of our lawyers.
In practice, we’ve created a Telegram chat where all members can connect, ask questions, and share valuable insights — it’s a dynamic space for real-time engagement. Beyond that, we’re planning a series of Meetups offering members a combination of educational content with networking. During the Meetups, we will host interesting panel discussions and presentations with experts in the field on hot topics interesting to legal professionals within the tech sector. These Meetups will take place in person, allowing everyone to actively participate, meet peers and learn from each other in a casual after-work drinks set up.
More widely, what is your view of the legal scene in Cyprus? Are there prospects for further growth?
M.P.: In my view, the legal scene in Cyprus has a solid foundation and some truly talented professionals. But despite the expertise that exists, mediocrity often prevails—not because of a lack of capability, but because we don’t have enough forums that challenge legal professionals to think bigger, collaborate, and truly reach their potential. There’s a real need for spaces that push us beyond the traditional, siloed way of working.
As someone deeply involved in the tech and innovation space, I believe it’s time to redefine the role of the legal professional. Too often, we’re seen as the “stop the process shop”, brought in at the last minute to highlight what can’t be done. I see things differently. I believe lawyers should be early-stage partners—strategic, commercially minded, and solutions-driven. We should be helping build, not just protecting.
That’s why I’m passionate about the Legal Community of TechIsland. It’s an opportunity to reshape the narrative, promote proactive and out-of-the-box legal thinking, and create a space where legal professionals can evolve alongside the tech, fintech, and innovation companies we support. For me, it’s about unlocking the full potential of our legal community—and being a driving force in the future of Cyprus’ tech ecosystem.
What are some of the main challenges to the sector both in Cyprus and globally?
O.D.: The legal sector, both globally and in Cyprus, is undergoing profound disruption. The rise of AI and LegalTech is transforming everything from contract drafting to compliance — yet adoption in Cyprus remains slow, widening the gap between local firms and their international counterparts. At the same time, lawyers are facing growing regulatory burdens, particularly in Cyprus’ fintech and energy-driven economy where EU compliance, data protection, and sanctions frameworks are rapidly evolving.
Talent retention is another major concern. Globally, young legal professionals are turning away from traditional law firms, favouring in-house roles and tech companies that offer flexibility and purpose. Cyprus is experiencing the same trend, but with added difficulty in offering the digital culture and career mobility that today’s lawyers seek.
Client expectations are also shifting dramatically. Efficiency, fixed-fee billing, and tech-enabled services are now standard demands — but many smaller firms, especially in Cyprus, struggle to break away from legacy models. Add to this the pressure on lawyers to navigate ESG compliance and geopolitical risk, and the profession’s role becomes increasingly strategic.
Finally, hybrid work has diluted traditional mentorship, which remains crucial in smaller jurisdictions like Cyprus. The next generation of lawyers wants modern leadership and emotional intelligence — not just legal training. Those firms that embrace change, invest in tech, and nurture adaptable talent will be the ones to lead the legal profession into its next chapter.
What are some of the ways technology is impacting the legal sector?
R.Z.: As my colleagues mentioned above, there are many ways in which technology is changing the legal profession, as well as how we do our job and support our businesses to be successful, deliver better results, and prepare for future challenges.
In addition to what has already been said, I’d highlight two aspects:
First, both in-house teams and law firms now view a legal tech stack as a must-have and a competitive advantage.
Second, the transition to modern technology is critically important not only for businesses but also for the government and courts in Cyprus. The President of the Republic of Cyprus and the government have emphasised the importance of electronic governance and modernising the courts’ tech systems, which, in our view, should foster the creation of and attract new tech businesses to Cyprus.
