Bio

Victor Savi-Nims currently acts as the chief legal officer of One United Properties, the leading green investor and developer of residential, mixed-use, and commercial real estate in Bucharest, Romania listed on the main market of the Bucharest Stock Exchange. Victor also serves one ONE’s behalf as a non-executive member of the Board of Directors for Bucur Obor, a company listed on the Aero market of the Bucharest Stock Exchange.

Victor graduated from Nicolae Titulescu Law School in Bucharest in 2000 and was admitted to the Bucharest Bar Association in 2003. He holds a master in Ecology and Sustainable Development from the Bucharest University – UNESCO Cousteau Chair, as well as a LLM In Business Law from Titu Maiorescu University.

Victor acted as a managing Associate with the leading Romanian law firm Mitel & Partners, and, before joining One United Properties, he coordinated the legal department of NSS Global Investments and Alexandrion Group Romania, with a presence in Romania, Cyprus, Brazil and the United States of America. During part of his tenure there, he also joined the board of Directors of Cramele Halewood, as a non-executive director and vice-president of the board.

With over 20 years of experience, Victor oversees a broad spectrum of business and legal work in real estate, construction, M&A, corporate affairs, regulatory and banking, with a hands-on involvement in all aspects of complex, cross-jurisdictional, and multidisciplinary transactions.

Victor’s core competencies include negotiating and drafting a wide range of complex deals, with a broad overview and experience in real estate and construction law, managing the acquisition, development, and sale of residential, office and commercial real estate projects, as well as public-private partnerships, concessions, infrastructure, and public procurement.

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?

Managing the legal aspects of an organisation during periods of instability or crises requires a proactive, adaptable, and business-aligned approach. As chief legal officer at One United Properties, my strategy goes around risk mitigation while supporting the company’s long-term resilience and growth in a volatile market like Romanian real estate. Risk mitigation must also be aligned to very dynamic business requirements, focusing on maximum results in the shortest time possible, dealing with aggressive deadlines and creative strategies to tackle acceptable risk.

During crises or periods of intensive projects, my team focuses on ensuring regulatory compliance, effectively handling contract negotiations and safeguarding the company’s liquidity. This is particularly important as we navigate challenges like economic downturns or shifts in market demand, most notably in the context of the administrative nightmare created by the Bucharest Municipality in the last four years in the permitting area of development. For instance, One United Properties’ continuous adaptation to market conditions, like the “One 2030” strategy which aims to reshapes Bucharest’s real estate sector, showcases our commitment to both sustainability and growth, even during periods of uncertainty.

Legal strategy must also be integrated with broader business objectives. At One United Properties, this means aligning legal risk assessments with our sustainability goals and investment strategies, such as increasing our focus on green, energy-efficient real estate development. This ensures that legal oversight complements the company’s mission to deliver high-value, sustainable real estate while securing long-term investor confidence.

Moreover, being listed on the Bucharest Stock Exchange adds another layer of complexity, especially in times of market fluctuations. Compliance as a general concern plays a crucial role in maintaining investor trust and transparency. By overseeing legal compliance in capital markets, my team ensures that our financial strategies, including capital increases, are executed in a way that reinforces One United Properties’ resilience.

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

Primarily, I have in mind the potential of economic and real estate growth. Romania has seen significant growth in the real estate sector, particularly in urban areas such as Bucharest. Companies like One United Properties are leading the charge with sustainable, premium real estate developments. The country, and most notably, the capital, are growing, as such demand for both residential and office spaces signals a broader economic shift towards urbanization and the modernisation of infrastructure. Romania’s estate market has a significant thrive potential despite global economic pressures, driven by investment in sustainability and innovation.

However, most notably in Bucharest, the last four years proven to be difficult for most developers as the municipality showed to be an increasingly more and more difficult and complex barrier, practically acting as a break to real estate development irrespective whether a developer chooses to be compliant or not. In practical terms, we are facing severely damaging economic effects of such actions that will ultimately lead to an increase of prices (lacking supply of new units) and a reduction in Bucharest economic power overall, in case real estate investment will prove to decline and move out of the city.

Secondly, Romania’s alignment with European Union regulations continues to be a major legal trend. From environmental standards to financial compliance, businesses are increasingly tasked with meeting EU directives and standards. This is especially evident in sectors such as real estate, where energy efficiency and green certification standards are becoming critical to attracting both foreign and domestic investments.

On a last note, I also notice that across industries, digital transformation is a major trend, with companies increasingly adopting new technologies such as AI, fintech, and data analytics. This trend will push further data privacy and cybersecurity concerns, as Romanian businesses navigate the complexities of GDPR compliance and other EU regulations.