About

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

I am very happy that my daily work includes a lot of variety, this means that there is a constant challenge for both me and my team. We have happily accepted this challenge because it also helps our professional development, it contributes to our continuous growth with every project we’re involved in. One of the biggest projects I was involved in is related to the completion of the sale-purchase contract for one of our former plants, a property Coca-Cola HBC Romania had in Bucharest. Also, I am very proud to have won the litigation against one of the territorial departments of the National Consumer Protection Authority, with respect to some marketing claims included on the labels of one of our products. As a result of our joined efforts, the fine and the interdiction to sell that product were cancelled. Other projects I would also add on the list refer to the completion of the selection process for transport and distribution suppliers, GDPR audit and implementation of the process within Coca-Cola HBC Romania, amendments to commercial policy, etc. We, as a team, manage a variety of projects, of different sizes, and I am very proud of my colleagues in the legal team, they’re highly dedicated professionals.

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?

We are business partners for our colleagues in the other departments, with whom we constantly collaborate to protect the business of Coca-Cola HBC in Romania. Therefore, communication, work ethics, teamwork, honesty and motivation are all very important for a good performance of the team and for the business overall. Personally, I believe that “soft skills” represent around 25% – 30% of a legal professional’s way of being and of working. Of course, in the end, the technical skills are the ones that we use and appeal to for solving the business’ needs. However, in my opinion, it is equally important how you relate both to internal customers and external partners, in order to win. It matters how you build long term, strong partnerships and trust, within the company and also outside of it.

What are the main qualities you look for in a potential new hire?

When I interview a candidate, I like to see the potential in that person. There is a mix of qualities that I look for when meeting candidates. Because our team is not that big, another important thing I take into consideration is how the potentially new colleague would fit in the current team and how he or she would complement it. Among the things that I look for when interviewing a potential colleague in the legal team I would mention strong technical capabilities (legal knowledge and previous experience in the
legal domain, not necessarily in FMCG because we value different perspectives), business-oriented, flexibility in working in different legal areas,
team player, honesty. For me, as manager, it’s important that the new person adds value to the team and to the company, that he or she fits with the company culture. Ideally, that person should have the needed hard skills but also the soft, for a smooth integration in the team and in the company, his or her attitude is also very important and is something I take into consideration into the recruitment process.

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

Never assume you’ve seen it all, learned everything, or anticipated everything. Be flexible and be
ready to act fast [because] Romania is a very challenging market, with a lot of legislative initiatives. As business partner, a legal person should always be up to date and prepared to find proper solutions.

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

The Coca-Cola Group HBC and, implicitly, the Romanian business unit, have a panel of law
firms which they work with on different projects and legal areas. Because we run a complex
business and challenges are constant, there
is a periodical transparent procedure for
selecting the law firms which will be part of
the panel and which will support us in our legal efforts.

In the beginning of 2018, such a procedure was finalised, based on specific criteria: the areas of law in which they can offer legal services, financial offer, market position, previous experience in collaboration with Coca-Cola HBC Romania (if applicable), etc. After analysing the offers received (both locally and centrally), a few law firms were selected and we are currently collaborating with them. Therefore, first step for a law firm to collaborate with us is to go through the selection process, to meet the criteria we have in place and, afterwards, to have a good collaboration. Because we operate in such a dynamic and complex business environment, we look for partners who understand the market, who have a deep knowledge and understanding of our business
and its challenges. I would like to emphasise
on the word partners, because this is truly how
we see them – an extension of the internal team. It is highly important for us that the people with work with are experienced, they share our vision and will to grow, being, at the same time, aware of the risks. What we want from our partners is to be professionals who can find the right ways to help
us protect our company.