The ‘worldview and values‘ of the employment team at Bondoc si Asociatii SCA make them ‘wonderful long-term partners’ to domestic and international clients, with standout sector strength in automotive, retail, and pharmaceuticals. The firm provides a range of contentious and non-contentious services, including individual employment contracts, the development of internal regulations, collective bargaining agreements and cross-border labour issues. Harnessing the wider capabilities of the firm’s data privacy team, the employment group is well placed to advise clients in the IT sector. Team head Mihaela Bondoc is praised for her ‘multidisciplinary approach‘, collaborating with HR, tax and restructuring. Daniela Gladunea combines employment specialism with corporate and commercial expertise to offer ‘in-depth knowledge of the field, both in terms of legislation and in terms of market practice’.

DLA Piper Dinu SCA‘s employment team pairs ‘excellent knowledge of the domain‘ with ‘high commitment to clients’, drawing on expertise across the technology, life sciences, infrastructure, media, manufacturing and financial services sectors to serve its high-profile, international clients. The unit has notable experience in hybrid work models, workforce retention agreements, and equal opportunity, discrimination and harassment, alongside longstanding expertise regarding both non-contentious, advisory work and employment litigation. Monica Georgiadis heads the team and has experience of working in both the Bucharest and London markets, Georgiadis focuses her practice on complex employment projects. Andra Trantea is also recommended for her ‘exceptional legal support’. Elena Preotescu and Paula Anghel are further key contacts.

The employment team at Filip & Company takes a ‘holistic approach‘, addressing both the matter at hand and clients’ ‘long-term business objectives.’ It handles work for a range of multinational companies, taking on highly challenging projects involving employee negotiation, reorganisations, collective labour agreements, and labour disputes. The team is headed ‘with calm and dedication’ by Ioan Dumitrascu, a specialist in sensitive projects involving regulatory challenges. Cristina Tudoran, who made partner in January 2023, is a specialist in the employment impact of transfers. Razvan Ionescu and Bianca Chera are also recommended, specifically for their litigation work.

Magda Volonciu and Associates has a rich history in employment law in Romania; a boutique offering comprehensive employment and labour support. Its expertise runs from developing internal procedures and policies to prevent and mitigate risk, to representation in court and mediation for clients involved in disputes. Alongside its base in Bucharest, the firm has an office in Constanta which has notable strength in the port operations and shipyards sectors and is headed by Mariana Anastasopol. In Bucharest, founder and coordinator Magda Volonciu is a highly respected employment expert, experienced with clients in the oil and gas, banking, airlines and retail industries. Corina Radu co-leads the firm’s international practice from the firm's Bucharest office; Stefania Stanciu, based in Constanta, is another key contact.

Nestor Nestor Diculescu Kingston Petersen‘s employment team ‘has profound professional knowledge‘ of labour and employment matters, both standalone and as a part of interdisciplinary projects. From its offices in Bucharest, Timisoara and Cluj-Napoca, it serves a number of high-profile multinational clients, providing both ongoing employment law advice and support in complex, sensitive matters such as disciplinary investigations. Team head Roxana Abrasu is recommended for her ‘deep expertise in labour law‘; she is supported by a specialised team including Gabriela Dinu, whose experience runs the gamut of employment matters; Ionut Stancu, who is praised for his ‘strong expertise’ in the area; Flavia Danciulescu, noted by clients for her ‘proficiency and dedication’; and Daniel Stancescu, whose expertise spans both contentious and noncontentious matters.

The employment team at Tuca Zbârcea & Asociatii is praised for its ability to ‘seamlessly blend’ an understanding of Romanian law ‘with a profound grasp of international employment practices‘. Combining employment and labour specialists with the firm’s dispute resolution team, the team covers a broad range of employment issues including matters arising out of mergers and acquisitions, advisory work for high-profile multinationals, and labour disputes. Co-heads of the team Serban Pâslaru and Mihai Anghel are valued for their ‘remarkable ability to navigate even the most complex legal landscapes‘.

The employment and benefits team at bpv Grigorescu Stefanica plays ‘a central role in establishing positive trends in the Romanian employment regime’, assisting both business and individual clients with matters from reorganisations, outsourcings and M&A, to the design and implementation of internal rules and regulations. Founding partner and team head Anca Grigorescu is recommended for her ‘exceptional knowledge of the employment law field‘ and is able to leverage her experience as tax practice head to support clients across a range of industries. Laura Popa is also a key contact.

CMS’ employment practice draws on the wider firm’s sector strengths in financial services, retail, energy and natural resources, and infrastructure, to support a range of multinational clients through both their contentious and non-contentious matters. Its capabilities include complex redundancy cases of senior management members, high-level employee disputes, and major restructurings. The team is co-headed by Horia Draghici and Cristina Popescu. Draghici, who also coordinates the commercial department, combines his commercial and employment expertise to handle commercial litigation for clients both in Romania and globally. Popescu provides ‘invaluable’ assistance to clients, across employment, data protection, anti-bribery and contract advice.

Kinstellar‘s employment team provides ‘seamless, top-quality client service‘ to both local and multinational clients, acting in sensitive matters such as collective dismissals, reorganisations, and investigations. The combined strength of this employment expertise and the firm’s litigation offering makes the team well placed to handle employee disputes, with experience acting in alleged unlawful dismissal and harassment cases. Alongside this contentious work, the team provides day-to-day advisory services for clients across a range of industries. Remus Codreanu, team head for both employment and dispute resolution, is described as  ‘an exceptional legal professional with a deep understanding of the law and its complexities’.

Musat & Asociatii‘s labour and employee benefits team handles the full range of employment matters, both contentious and non-contentious, and has specific experience in negotiating individual and collective agreements, M&A projects, outsourcing, executive immigration and redundancy programs. Its dedicated employment litigation offering makes the practice a popular choice for sensitive matters, including breach of confidentiality, harassment and bullying, and terminations –a speciality of Dragoș Lungu's. Deputy managing partner Mihai Popa heads the team, offering specialist expertise in the termination of individual employment agreements for top management and executive positions.

Popovici Nitu Stoica & Asociatii‘s employment team handles a range of contentious and non-contentious matters and frequently collaborates with the firm’s wider M&A, tax and litigation teams to support clients in industries from insurance to healthcare technology and manufacturing. Its expertise spans day-to-day consultancy and involvement in complex employment matters arising out of M&A transactions, including the handling of employee complaints, collective labour agreements, and disciplinary investigations. The team is co-led by Vlad Neacșu, who has particular experience regarding employee restructuring, and Ioana Cazacu.

The ‘collaborative and proactive’ employment team at Reff & Associates SCA, part of the Deloitte legal network, supports clients across a range of industries, including IT, automotive, transportation, construction and real estate with both contentious and non-contentious employment matters. Employment matters arising out of M&A transactions are a particular area of strength for the team, which is also highly experienced in complex reorganisation processes including those which involve collective dismissals and voluntary leave plans. Team head Florentina Munteanu has longstanding expertise regarding sensitive employment matters: transaction structuring, white-collar dismissals, and mutual agreement separations. Gabriela Ilie is also recommended.

The employment team at RTPR | Radu Taracila Padurari Retevoescu SCA offers knowledge both ‘juridical, but also related to business and business management‘ to its client base of international and local corporates, spanning the media, technology, pharmaceuticals and financial services industries. The team carries out work both domestically and across the CEE region. Alina Stăvaru heads the team. Clients ‘highly appreciate‘ her guidance through complex employment disputes, including collective dismissals, voluntary leave plans, and sensitive high-profile individual dismissals. Diana Dimitriu and Cezara Urzica are also recommended.

Schoenherr si Asociatii SCA‘s ‘outstanding’ employment practice advises multinational and local companies on both their contentious and non-contentious employment matters, with a focus on matters arising out of transactions, workplace and management restructuring, and cross-border postings of employees. It also offers strength in employment litigation, and negotiations with employees, their representatives, and trade unions. The ‘extraordinary’ Mara Moga-Paler heads the team, leveraging extensive experience in the market to assist clients on a full range of employment matters including disciplinary investigations, internal regulations, and pre-litigation advice.

The employment team at STALFORT Legal. Tax. Audit. specialises in advising foreign investors in Romania, acting in particular as ‘the legal bridge between Germany and Romania‘. Alongside its expertise in supporting market entries, the team is also experienced in handling difficult terminations, including collective dismissals, and restructuring. The team collaborates with its in-house tax advisory services, providing a full-service offering for clients. Christian Weident leads the team and is praised by clients for his ‘holistic and to-the-point advice‘. Weident is also a member of the employment practice group of the German-Romanian Chamber of Commerce. Carmen Radulescu is equipped to assist with work arising out of M&A transactions. Lavinia Cioc-Scarlat joined the team in February 2023.

The ‘hard-working and commercial‘ employment team at Stratulat Albulescu Attorneys at Law handles both contentious and non-contentious matters, from regulatory compliance to outsourcing and insourcing operations. Complex employment issues including collective dismissal procedures and collective bargaining agreements are also areas of expertise for the team, which is experienced in litigation both domestically and cross-border. Praised for his ‘strategic thinking’ and ability to guide clients through ‘highly emotive’ matters, team head Andrei Albulescu has extensive experience in the Romanian and EU labour markets. The ‘fantastic‘ Anca Ulea is also recommended.

The employment team at Vernon | David in Romania works closely with its Moldovan office to provide a cross-border service to clients within the region and internationally. Its expertise spans disciplinary terminations, sensitive investigations and disputes involving senior management; the team is skilled at handling day-to-day employment issues and has notable strength in compliance matters and investigations. Daniela David leads the team following the departure of Diana Neagu in January 2023. Described as an ‘extraordinary lawyer‘, David has wide experience in the market including in high-profile disputes involving breaches of internal rules and GDPR policies.

The ‘innovative and proactive’ employment team at Wolf Theiss is experienced in all areas of labour and employment law, providing advice on sensitive matters including restructuring, transactions, data privacy and recurring advice to HR departments. Partners Ileana Glodeanu and Adelina Iftime-Blagean co-head the team; the latter, who was made partner in June 2023, combines employment law experience with knowledge of compliance and personal data protection for clients both domestic and international. Andreea Stan, described ‘an excellent lawyer both in knowledge and client communication’ has additional experience in litigation and M&A.

The employment team at Bancila, Diaconu si Asociatii SPRL ‘provides valuable advice on sensitive matters’. Leveraging its international reach through the EY Law global network, the firm handles labour law matters for multinational clients, such as day-to-day advice, employee transfer and sensitive disciplinary proceedings. Team head Anca Atanasiu is recommended for her ‘deep understanding of complex employment cases‘.

Buzescu & Tomescu SPRL‘s employment team specialises in advice to international clients on cross-border labour matters, covering employee transfer following reorganisation, Romanian employee records, collective labour agreements, and terminations. It is also capable of advising clients on compliance with GDPR and on wage taxation matters. Corina Papuzu heads the team and has cross-practice expertise in corporate, energy and intellectual property matters.

The employment team at D&B David si Baias SCA stands out for its ‘breadth of expertise and exceptional collaborative demeanour’. Collective negotiations are an area of particular strength for the team, which is also experienced in the employment elements of complex restructuring projects, including collective dismissals. The team is co-headed by Dan Dascălu, head of the department, and Anda Rojanschi; Dascalu is particularly recommended for complex employment law disputes.

The employment practice at Dentons in Bucharest combines a longstanding market presence with the wider firm’s global reach to support a number of multinational organisations operating in Romania. Bringing in expertise from the firm’s immigration, data privacy, and cyber security practices, the unit advises clients in industries including manufacturing, technology, and life sciences on the full spectrum of labour-related issues. Team head Tiberiu Csaki‘s advisory work is focused on redundancies, both individual and collective; he is also an experienced litigator, Argentina Rafail is further recommended.

Based in Cluj, Laurentiu, Laurentiu & Asociatii combines its expertise across a range of practice areas to support business clients, who praise its ability to ‘assess the situation from all perspectives‘ and combine ‘employment with tax and fiscal or criminal law’. It carries out both contentious and non-contentious work, including drafting internal regulations and policies, and the negotiation and drafting of collective bargaining agreements. Team head Achim-Sorin Razoare is particularly experienced in employment litigation.

Leroy si Asociatii ‘s employment team runs the gamut of employment-related matters: advising on individual and collective labour issues, management relations and restructuring, and employment dispute resolution. It also has immigration and expatriation capabilities. Clients include banks, retailers, pharmaceutical companies, and major energy groups. Team head Bruno Leroy acts for both domestic and international clients, while employment specialist Mara Dosinescu is a further name to note.

Noerr’s employment team provides a range of advice for strategic investors, international groups and domestic corporates on Romanian employment matters, including those involving immigration elements. Its clients span the automotive, engineering, healthcare, pharmaceuticals and real estate industries. The practice assists with day-to-day employment legal needs including due diligence work, collective bargaining assistance, and terminations. Alexandru Ene-Dragan, a litigation specialist, supervises the team alongside Oana Piticas.

Employment boutique Placintescu Riti & Asociatii carries out a range of work from reorganisation and termination of employment contracts to collective bargaining agreements, including transfer of employees, disciplinary procedures, and telework. Its clients span domestic and multinational companies and NGOs in the IT, retail, waste management, and real estate sectors. Managing partner and department head Ana-Maria Plăcintescu has longstanding experience in the market, and expertise regarding employment litigation, which the firm couples with Bogdan Riti‘s extensive corporate and business experience.

Popescu & Asociatii‘s employment team is particularly experienced in complex, reputationally sensitive matters including corporate transactions, partner disputes, and employee disputes; making it ‘ an inevitable choice for the employment sector of the country’. The unit has extensive expertise of working with the banking and finance sector, both locally and internationally, and is able to advise on regulatory and compliance requirements for the Romanian market. Co-heads Dana Bivol, Anca Simeria and Loredana Popescu bring their extensive corporate experience to the practice.

Employment law boutique Suciu - The Employment Law Firm is ‘a trusted partner in navigating the complex landscape of employment law‘. Offering support in issues from collective redundancies arising out of corporate restructuring to sensitive investigations and collective bargaining agreements, the team’s experience runs the gamut of contentious and non-contentious employment matters. An increasing area of focus for the team is the implications of teleworking for companies with employees working from countries other than their home country both in terms of tax and legal concerns. Team head Andreea Suciu works closely with Teodora Manaila, together they are described as being ‘a pleasure to collaborate with‘.

The ‘responsive, commercial and technically excellent‘ team at Voicu & Asociatii combines strength in employment litigation, immigration formalities, and tax employment issues, with particular experience supporting multinational IT services companies. Team co-head Marta Popa offers notable expertise regarding complex termination projects, including collective dismissals; co-head Raluca Mihai‘s practice straddles consultancy work and litigation, with a focus on compliance matters.

Zamfirescu Racoti Vasile & Partners‘ ‘extremely talented and knowledgeable’ employment team advises a number of large corporate clients across a range of industries. The firm is experienced in both day-to-day advisory work and the organisation of complex disciplinary procedures, alongside immigration and visa assistance for multinational companies operating in Romania. Catalin Micu heads the team and is recommended for her skill in collective bargaining negotiations.