About

What are the most important transactions and litigations that you have been involved in during the last two years?

At the beginning of the year I took over the role as general counsel of E-Infra, a group of five subsidiaries, acting together as one of the most powerful infrastructure players in the field. We are and a national leader in cross-sector integrated services, building critical infrastructure, with essential and visible impact in a better quality of life, both in Romania and in the region.

As part of the newly appointed management team, one of our top priorities is to align the five companies to a common vision, to consolidate the Group and move our business forward, to a well-deserved higher level. I find this mission extremely motivating and a great opportunity to build on this success story and leave our mark, to the benefit of our society.

My role is, on one hand, to consolidate the team, to develop new practice areas and, at the same time, to achieve synergies that would help us work better and more efficiently, as one voice. The first steps were already made, by designing a strong corporate governance structure for the holding. Nowadays corporate governance plays an increasing role in the life of an organisation, as the government wants to see responsible players, who put the environment and society first, prior to their profits. This is also in line with our company’s goal and core values, and I am thrilled to give a hand in maintaining and strengthening our presence and reputation.

I am also focusing on ethics and responsibility at all levels, and thus dealing with Group alignment to FCPA standards, by implementing the full package of practices and policies. This, in my view, plays a central role in shaping the organisation’s culture and moving us beyond compliance. In doing that, we ensure that ethical principles, to which the company adhered in carrying out its activity, are transposed in viable solutions to our business partners, and that we also reducing our company’s vulnerabilities in today’s environment.

At the same time, I am advising our companies’ management on multiple high-profile transactions, with a significant impact in our business, ranging from €50m to more than €300m-valued infrastructure projects.

Also, as until the beginning of this year I was the legal director at the Romanian project company of Gabriel Resources – Rosia Montana Gold Corporation, I would mention, as well, the US$4.4bn arbitral proceedings of Gabriel Resources in relation to the Rosia Montana Gold Mining Project which has been a pivotal project in my recent activity. Being part of this project meant a full package experience, that is not business as usual activity from a single project for an in-house legal. This added significant experience to my “professional portfolio” of 16 years, but also as to me, as a person.

How important are “soft skills” or personal attributes outside of technical legal skill, and which “soft skills” do you feel are most important for an in-house lawyer to possess?

I think that just being a brilliant professional doesn’t automatically put one at the top of the line, both in leadership and as a business asset, though it does help. Since one of the most important ingredients of success is trust, a construction centring trust ensures protection of the company on multiple levels. However, in order to become that trustworthy and wise partner for the business, one needs the full package, including empathy, integrity, but also the ability to remain objective in a “hot” environment.

Our management expects us to deliver the most innovative, yet the simplest solution, that allows the company to evolve, but which it keeps the business safe, and there is no way in providing such without the support of our business partners.

Do you utilise any legal tech products, and if so, how do these assist you in your role?

In our department’s day activity I am putting robots (RPA) to our service, and I am seeking to expand their contribution further not only to our work, but
to our organisation’s benefit generally. I find technology greatly beneficial to our work, since it allows us to focus on more specific and complex tasks, which allow us, at the end of the day, to constantly grow.

It is utterly important for me that we, the legal team, bring true added value to our company business, in the context where management demand increased efficiency. Time is such a precious asset, that we cannot afford waste, we are, after all, living in the high-speed tech era.

What advice would you give to any peers or colleagues working in the Romanian market for the first time?

Setting the correct expectations is very important, since the current business and legislative environment in Romania can bring multiple challenges for an in-house lawyer. The rapidly changing legislation we have faced in recent years made us a very needed resource, yet our job was never easy, since keeping the balance between risk management and running a business can get tough sometimes.

Nevertheless, this should not be a stopper, but represent an opportunity for those who are willing to stay active and “fit” at their job. In the end, constant development is what defines our profession.

What can law firms in Romania, and the wider CEE region, do to win more business from you?

Our group is active in Romania and abroad, with established presence in countries like Poland, Greece, Germany, Ireland and the US, and is seeking to expand further.

In this great expansion context, I concentrate my efforts in delivering the best tailored advice, both through the in-house legal team, and through external consultants. Part of my goal, as a team leader, is to have top-quality in-house colleagues, and this is why, when seeking for external advice, I value the ability of an advisor to see the big picture and go straight to the point.

Advisors need to keep the fast pace imposed by the market, to deeply understand the industry, but also the political and economic environment. Therefore, being present, well informed, proactive and to the point is, in my opinion, a winning card.