Bio

Alexandra Padurariu is a highly respected legal professional with over 13 years of corporate experience overseeing legal, compliance, and public affairs for Samsung Electronics in Romania and Bulgaria. Her contributions have garnered multiple prestigious recognitions, including two Samsung Europe President Awards, a Samsung Electronics Corporation Compliance Award, and a Ziarul Financiar Award for excellence in business practices.

How do you approach managing legal aspects during periods of instability or crises, and how does your legal strategy align with the broader business strategy to ensure the organisation’s resilience?

Periods of crisis and instability have become increasingly common, making ‘crisis mode’ the new normal for many organisations. How a company manages these challenges profoundly impacts its market value and reputation.

As general counsel, my role extends beyond legal advisory to encompass crisis management, balancing legal, business, and public affairs considerations.

With over 15 years of experience in corporate legal management, I have seen that proactive and flexible organisations are best positioned to address crises effectively.

This begins with a thorough, timely assessment of potential vulnerabilities and preparation of a contingency framework that, while it may not cover every risk, enables agile responses to sudden environmental shifts. Early risk identification is essential, particularly as crises often heighten these risks’ volatility.

Achieving resilience in such times depends on robust collaboration across team members with diverse expertise to ensure alignment with broader business strategies and continuity of operations.

At Samsung Romania and Bulgaria, we have established a cross-functional collaboration project, engaging all stakeholder departments in early risk detection and allowing Legal to add value from project design through to implementation. This unified approach supports real-time, practical solutions, safeguards operational continuity, and reinforces stakeholder confidence.

In your opinion, what are the main trends that are salient in your country currently (these can be legal, political, economy or business-based)?

In my view, one of the most pressing trends affecting businesses today is the increasing regulatory scrutiny coupled with legislative and taxation unpredictability, which has substantial implications for economic activity and business planning across sectors.

Organisations are facing mounting challenges due to the rapid and unpredictable nature of regulatory changes. Frequently, new laws and tax regulations are introduced or amended with minimal notice, creating a complex and costly compliance landscape. This instability often deters investment, especially for international companies seeking a stable environment for strategic planning.

The heightened pace of regulatory changes and the intensifying focus on compliance are reshaping how businesses operate, driving up costs and limiting flexibility, which, in turn, can inhibit economic growth and innovation.