When your business is under threat in Romania, the quality of your defence defines the outcome.
We represent international companies, foreign investors, and directors in commercial disputes, employment litigation, tax controversies, and arbitration before Romanian courts. English‑speaking. Senior‑partner led.
Numbers that define Romanian litigation for foreign companies.
Understanding these figures is the first step to mounting an effective defence.
What international companies face when litigation begins in Romania.
You receive a court summons — in Romanian. Your 25-day deadline to file a statement of defence has already started. The opposing party may have applied for a freezing injunction over your bank accounts without notifying you. Your local accountant cannot help. Your international counsel has never appeared before a Romanian tribunal.
Romanian civil procedure is document-intensive, deadline-driven, and unforgiving. There is no US-style discovery. There is no common-law tradition of oral advocacy. The written phase determines the shape of the case before the first hearing takes place. If your statement of defence is incomplete, the evidence you failed to propose is lost permanently.
This is the environment in which we operate every day. We translate it into clear strategic advice — in English, within hours — so that you can make informed decisions about your business, not just react to procedural deadlines.
Litigation and dispute resolution across every area that affects international businesses in Romania.
Each practice area is led by experienced trial lawyers who combine courtroom capability with commercial judgement.
Commercial Litigation & Contract Disputes
Breach of contract, supplier disputes, joint venture conflicts, fraud, misrepresentation, and enforcement actions. When a commercial relationship fails, we move quickly to protect your position and recover what is owed.
Employment Litigation
Romanian labour courts interpret the law in favour of employees. We defend international employers in wrongful dismissal claims, discrimination cases, collective redundancy challenges, and executive contract disputes. We have shaped precedent in this area.
Employment Law Practice →Shareholder & Corporate Disputes
Deadlocks, oppression, breach of fiduciary duty, valuation disputes, and forced buy-outs. We represent both majority and minority shareholders when governance breaks down.
Corporate Law Practice →Intellectual Property Litigation
Trademark, patent, and copyright infringement. Trade secret misappropriation. Unfair competition. Preliminary injunctions to stop infringing activity immediately. Domain name recovery.
IP Practice →Tax Litigation & ANAF Disputes
Transfer pricing adjustments, VAT assessments, corporate income tax controversies, withholding tax disputes, penalties, and administrative appeals. We challenge ANAF decisions that lack legal basis before Romanian fiscal courts.
International Arbitration & ADR
ICC, LCIA, Vienna, CICA (Bucharest). We act as counsel in institutional arbitration and enforce arbitral awards in Romania. When court litigation is not the best path, we pursue mediation, negotiation, and settlement with the same strategic rigour.
Real Estate & Construction Disputes
Property ownership conflicts, easement disputes, construction defects, contractor claims, and lease termination litigation. We protect the interests of foreign investors in Romanian real estate assets.
Real Estate Practice →Debt Recovery & Enforcement
Payment orders, garnishment proceedings, asset tracing, and enforcement of domestic and foreign judgments. When negotiation fails, we pursue recovery through every available legal channel.
Administrative Litigation
Challenges to decisions by Romanian governmental agencies, regulatory bodies, and local authorities. Annulment of administrative acts, claims for damages caused by public institutions, and public procurement disputes.
Litigation as a business decision — not a legal reflex.
Before recommending court proceedings, we conduct a structured cost-benefit assessment. We quantify your exposure, map out the realistic timeline, estimate total costs, and evaluate every alternative — negotiated settlement, mediation, arbitration.
Case Assessment & Strategy
Within 72 hours of engagement, you receive a written assessment covering: claim merit, financial exposure, estimated costs, realistic timeline, and recommended strategy. We present your options clearly — defend, settle, counterclaim, or pursue ADR.
Preparation & Filing
Romanian procedure is won in the written phase. We prepare comprehensive submissions — statement of defence, counterclaim where applicable, evidence requests, and jurisdictional objections. Every document is exhaustive because anything omitted at this stage is lost permanently.
Trial & Advocacy
We appear before Romanian courts at every hearing. We manage witness examination, cross-examine opposing witnesses, challenge expert reports, and argue procedural motions. After every hearing, you receive a written update in English with next steps and revised risk assessment.
Settlement Evaluation — At Every Stage
We explore settlement opportunities continuously. The optimal moment to settle is often after the evidentiary phase, when both sides have seen the strength of the other's position. We negotiate from a position of preparation, never from a position of weakness.
Appeals & Enforcement
If the first-instance judgment is unfavourable, we advise on appeal strategy with the same rigour. If you prevail, we handle enforcement — garnishment, asset seizure, and execution through Romanian bailiffs. For cross-border enforcement, we coordinate with counsel in the relevant jurisdiction.
You do not need to be in Romania to defend a case in Romania.
Your Romanian lawyer represents you through an împuternicire avocațială — a lawyer's power of representation issued under the legal assistance contract. No notarisation. No apostille. No consulate visit. You sign the contract electronically or by scanned copy, and we can appear in court the same day.
All communication takes place in English. We translate procedural requirements into plain language, handle all filings in Romanian, and provide written case updates after every hearing. You receive the same quality of representation as if you were sitting in our Bucharest office.
This is the same process we use across our entire practice — from company incorporation and corporate secretarial services to share transfers and Trade Register operations.
Research your case before you call us.
Open-access tools that give you immediate visibility into Romanian court records and business risk.
Romania Court Records Search →
Search upcoming and past hearings across 250+ Romanian courts. Free, instant, no registration. Track active litigation and monitor case progress.
Business Partner Screening →
AI-powered risk detection — check for litigation, insolvency, and fraud risks in 60 seconds. Generate a 0–100 risk score with source links.
ANAF Company Verification →
Check VAT status, fiscal activity, e-Invoice registration, and company details using official ANAF data. Instant results, completely free.
Further reading for international businesses in Romania.
Sued in Romania — The 72-Hour Guide →
Step-by-step guide covering the 25-day deadline, court fees, asset freezing, court structure, and what foreign companies must do immediately.
How to Check a Romanian Company →
Six verification methods — from free ANAF checks to €12 Trade Register certificates and AI-powered risk screening. Due diligence essentials.
7 Red Flags in a Trade Register Certificate →
Common problems hiding in a Certificat Constatator — and what they mean for your money, your contract, or your acquisition.
Fiscal Inactivity in Romania 2026 →
How ANAF declares companies inactive, what triggers it, and how it leads to dissolution. Consequences for companies facing concurrent litigation.
Employment Law Practice →
Labour court defence for international employers — wrongful dismissal, discrimination, collective redundancy, and executive disputes.
New Share Transfer Rules 2026 →
ANAF notification, tax clearance certificates, and bank guarantees — the new procedure for controlling stake transfers since December 2025.
Litigation in Romania — answered.
Facing a legal dispute in Romania?
Contact our litigation team for a confidential case assessment. We respond to all inquiries within 12 hours.
Or email us directly at alin.mihai@mihaiattorneys.com