Court cases are won on facts, and facts have to be found, verified and presented properly. Lawyers know what they need to prove; what they often lack is the time and the field resources to establish it. A licensed private investigator in Greece fills that gap: locating witnesses and parties, gathering lawful evidence and checking the background of people and companies involved in a dispute.
Petros Drolias has worked as a licensed private investigator in Athens since the early 1990s, handling more than 1,500 cases in 14 countries. Much of our work is commissioned by lawyers, both Greek firms and international firms whose clients have a matter in Greece. We understand the procedural context, write reports that are usable in proceedings and keep the instructing lawyer in control of strategy.
What litigation support covers
The six services below are the ones lawyers ask for most often. They apply across civil, family, commercial, employment and criminal matters, and they can be combined as a case develops.
Evidence gathering
Many disputes turn on what someone actually does rather than what they say: whether a person claiming incapacity is working, whether a tenant really lives in a property, how a child's daily routine is organised in a custody dispute. We observe and document in public places, keep dated records and, where appropriate, provide photographs or video from public spaces. Every step is planned with the instructing lawyer so it fits the case strategy.
Witness location
A key witness may have moved house, changed number, emigrated or simply stopped responding. We trace witnesses through public sources, registries and lawful field enquiries, in Greece and abroad, and confirm current contact details so your lawyer can approach them. We do not pressure or coach witnesses; our role is to find them.
Criminal record checks
Clients often ask whether we can check someone's criminal record. In Greece, a criminal record certificate is issued only to the person concerned or to a party with legal standing through the proper procedure, and we explain that route clearly. Alongside it, we carry out lawful background research using public court information, press archives, registries and field enquiries.
Witness protection
Witnesses sometimes feel intimidated before giving evidence, particularly in family, employment or criminal matters. We assess the risk, advise on practical precautions, and can provide discreet support and accompaniment at key moments. Where there is a real threat, the police must be informed, and we help the witness and their lawyer document what is happening.
Records and information research
Serving papers, enforcing a judgment or building a claim often depends on information that is hard to pin down: a current address, the registered seat of a company, ownership of a property, links between businesses. We research public registries, cadastral and commercial records and open sources, and combine them with on-the-ground verification. We do not access bank, tax, telecom or police data.
Background checks
Before a settlement, an expert appointment or cross-examination, it helps to know who you are dealing with. We verify identity, professional and academic claims, company roles, litigation and insolvency history and public reputation. For companies, our corporate investigations team adds deeper due diligence where needed.
Working with the instructing lawyer
We prefer to be instructed by, or work closely with, the client's lawyer. The first meeting defines the facts that need establishing, the procedural deadlines and the confidentiality arrangements. You then receive a written plan and cost estimate before work begins.
Reports are structured for legal use: an executive summary, a chronology, methods used, sources and supporting material. If needed, the investigator who carried out the work can give evidence. For foreign firms, we report in English and can coordinate with your Greek co-counsel.
Typical instructions
Litigation support takes many forms. Some instructions are narrow and quick, such as confirming an address for service; others run alongside a case for months. Typical examples include:
- family proceedings, where the daily care arrangements of a child or the cohabitation of a former spouse are in question
- employment disputes, where an employee on sick leave may be working elsewhere, or a former employee may be breaching a non-compete clause
- commercial disputes, where a counterparty's real trading activity, premises or links to other companies need establishing
- enforcement of judgments and arbitral awards, where the debtor and their assets must be found
- personal injury and insurance claims, where the extent of a claimed injury is disputed
- estate and property disputes, where occupation, use or condition of real estate is relevant
For foreign law firms, a recurring need is a reliable, English-speaking investigator in Greece who understands both the local landscape and what an overseas court or arbitral tribunal expects to see. We regularly prepare reports that can be translated, exhibited to witness statements or used in proceedings outside Greece.
Why lawful evidence matters
Under Article 19(3) of the Greek Constitution, evidence obtained in breach of the privacy of communications is inadmissible. Article 370A of the Penal Code criminalises illegal interception and recording, and the GDPR and Law 4624/2019 govern the processing of personal data in investigations. An unlawful shortcut can sink an otherwise strong case. We never intercept communications, access devices or accounts, or obtain confidential records outside the proper procedures.
How to instruct us
Lawyers and their clients can arrange a free, confidential consultation by phone, video call or at our office in central Athens. Call 24/7 or write to us through our contact page. Read more on our page for law firms, or see how private investigations such as debtor tracing support enforcement.