Team Size: Three

Cătălina-Daniela Ionescu serves as the head of legal at Premier Energy Romania, part of the Premier Energy Group. With over 12 years of legal expertise in corporate law, M&A, energy law, and strategic business transactions, she has been instrumental in the company’s rise as a key player in Southeastern Europe’s energy sector. Premier Energy Group boasts over 1,000 MW of renewable electricity generation capacity across Romania and Moldova, alongside one of the fastest-growing electricity and gas supply businesses in the region.

Her expertise extends to advising on and overseeing transactions in numerous jurisdictions, including a €170mn acquisition in Moldova’s electricity sector and the acquisition of Romania’s third-largest natural gas distributor.

More recently, Cătălina has been involved in some of the largest energy sector transactions, playing an important role in the 2024 acquisition of CEZ Vânzare, the largest energy transaction in Romania, which added 1.4 million customers to Premier Energy’s portfolio and strengthened its position on the energy market.

Cătălina was also integral to Premier Energy’s successful initial public offering (IPO) on the Bucharest Stock Exchange (BVB), ensuring regulatory compliance and navigating complex legal frameworks, thus marking a milestone in Romania’s energy market.

With 18 years of experience in high-profile legal roles, Cătălina coordinates corporate and commercial legal matters across multiple jurisdictions, covering due diligence, M&A agreements, competition law compliance, and regulatory investigations. Her portfolio also includes labor law, intellectual property rights, and the structuring of complex financing arrangements, as well as intra-group loans and corporate guarantees.

Under her guidance, Premier Energy has not only achieved critical operational milestones but also aligned its strategy with rigorous legal and ethical standards.

Cătălina’s qualifications include an LL.B. in Romanian Law from the University of Bucharest and specialized training from the National Institute for the Training and Development of Lawyers. She is a qualified attorney, a member of the Bucharest Bar Association, and fluent in Romanian, English, and French, with proficiency in Spanish.

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?
In times of crisis or rapid change, managing legal issues thoughtfully becomes essential to maintain resilience across the organisation. My approach prioritises proactive risk assessment, which means staying alert to potential risks early on and working closely with other departments to anticipate challenges before they fully emerge. This collaborative approach lets us keep a pulse on what’s happening both within the organisation and in the external environment.

Staying on top of regulatory changes is particularly critical during unstable periods, as shifts in laws can have an immediate impact on compliance requirements and even on core aspects of our operational strategy. For instance, recent changes to energy regulations required us to quickly adjust internal policies and workflows to stay aligned with new standards, ensuring the organisation’s compliance was never compromised. By integrating our legal strategies with the company’s broader goals, we stay agile and prepared to pivot when needed.

Flexibility and open communication are key throughout this process, enabling timely, well-informed decisions. These qualities foster a strong sense of resilience within the team and create confidence across departments that we’re equipped to handle challenges as they arise, keeping our organization steady amid uncertainty.

What measures has your company taken to embed sustainability practices into its core business operations, and how does the role of the general counsel contribute to driving and ensuring sustainable practices within the company?

Sustainability is at the core of our company’s values, shaping how we operate every day and guiding our relationships with partners. As part of a group focused on renewable energy, we’re deeply committed to reducing our environmental impact and maintaining ethical standards in all our activities. A key focus of ours is an ambitious decarbonisation plan, designed to cut our carbon footprint significantly over the next decade. This effort is aligned with global climate goals and reflects our commitment to creating positive, lasting change.

In my role as general counsel, I work closely with the sustainability team to ensure our initiatives are not only impactful but also fully compliant with evolving regulations. The landscape for renewable energy laws and environmental standards is always changing, and it’s essential for us to stay ahead of these shifts. My role involves helping the team adapt quickly to new regulations so that compliance doesn’t hinder us but instead strengthens our position as a responsible leader in our industry.

I’m also a strong advocate for deeper, long-term commitments that go beyond basic legal requirements. We want our efforts to leave a real mark, benefiting both the environment and the communities we serve. This means focusing on practices and projects that have genuine, lasting impact rather than just meeting minimum standards.

By aligning our legal strategy with the company’s sustainability goals, we’re not only safeguarding our organisation’s future but also ensuring that we’re contributing meaningfully to the world around us. This integrated approach lets us grow in a way that respects both our business objectives and our responsibility to society, creating a foundation for long-term success.

What emerging technologies do you see as having the most significant impact on the legal profession in the near future, and how do you stay updated on these developments?

Merging technologies like AI and data analytics are undoubtedly transforming the legal profession, offering significant opportunities to enhance the way we work. These tools streamline processes such as legal research, contract review, and case analysis, allowing for faster, more accurate results. They also help in identifying trends and insights that might otherwise go unnoticed, ultimately improving decision-making and efficiency across the legal function.

I stay up to date with these developments by continuously learning and attending industry seminars, where I can explore the latest innovations and best practices in the field. This ensures our team is well-equipped to leverage these technologies effectively and implement them in ways that benefit our overall operations.

However, while embracing these technologies, it’s important to remain mindful of their potential risks, especially when handling sensitive data. AI and other digital tools can provide great value, but we must ensure that their use doesn’t compromise confidentiality or violate data privacy regulations. It’s essential to adopt technologies that comply with legal and ethical standards and protect the privacy of our clients and stakeholders. By balancing innovation with caution, we can harness the power of emerging technologies while safeguarding the integrity of our work.