Team size: 25

What are the most significant cases, projects and/or transactions that you and/or your legal team have recently been involved in?

Over the past year, I have led several high-impact legal and regulatory projects at Agricover Credit IFN, including a comprehensive analysis of the DORA (Digital Operational Resilience Act), the negotiation and execution of the InvestEU guarantee facility with the European Investment Fund, and support for the development of new digital products such as Agricover Pay and MyAgricover — platforms integrating e-signature, remote KYC/AML, and digital onboarding solutions.

In addition, I have coordinated complex restructuring and recovery transactions involving agricultural producers and financial institutions, as well as strategic partnerships with fintech and payment providers, including DiPocket UAB and Nexi Central Europe. These initiatives have strengthened our digital transformation, enhanced operational resilience, and ensured that Agricover’s legal framework is fully aligned with EU best practices.

How do you approach managing legal aspects during periods of instability or crisis to ensure the organisation’s resilience?

During periods of instability or crisis, I focus on maintaining clarity, structure, and proactive communication. My approach combines rapid legal risk assessments with practical planning and close coordination between the legal, risk, and business teams. I prioritise ensuring business continuity through adaptable contractual frameworks, clear governance, and regulatory compliance.
At Agricover Credit IFN, this has involved anticipating legislative or market disruptions by staying closely connected to developments in our environment — through participation in the professional association Asociația de Leasing și Credit de Consum din România (ALCCR), attending conferences organised by supervisory bodies and Big Four firms, and completing specialised training courses offered by the Romanian Banking Institute. Ultimately, I regard the legal function as both a stabilising force and an enabler of strategic decision-making in times of uncertainty.

How can general counsel foster a corporate culture that supports ESG principles and compliance across all levels of the organisation?

For me, ESG extends beyond the inclusion of ESG-compliant clauses in our contracts. It represents a broader personal and professional commitment to sustainability and social responsibility. In addition to promoting ESG awareness within Agricover Credit IFN, I also serve as President of an environmental NGO that operates Romania’s first environmental radio station, Radio Eco Natura – a platform dedicated to education, community engagement, and environmental awareness.
This dual perspective enables me to translate ESG principles from policy into practice, ensuring that they are not only formally embedded within governance and compliance structures, but also genuinely reflected in our organisational culture and external initiatives.

What factors influence your team’s decision to use external legal services versus handling matters in-house, and what criteria are used to evaluate their performance?

We typically manage most legal, regulatory, and contractual matters in-house to ensure speed, alignment, and cost efficiency. External counsel are engaged primarily for complex or cross-border transactions, highly specialised regulatory issues, or matters requiring independent opinions or litigation representation.

When selecting and evaluating external firms, we focus on the quality and clarity of their advice, responsiveness, commercial understanding, and their ability to provide practical, solution-oriented support. Long-term collaboration is built on trust, consistency, and the capacity of external teams to integrate seamlessly with our internal teams and business objectives.

Looking forward, what trends do you foresee in the legal landscape over the next 5–10 years that companies should prepare for?

Over the next decade, I anticipate that the legal landscape will be shaped by three key forces: digitalisation, regulatory expansion, and sustainability. Technology will continue to transform legal and compliance functions through AI and automation, as well as data-driven decision-making. Regulatory frameworks – particularly in areas such as digital finance, cybersecurity, and operational resilience – are likely to become increasingly complex and interconnected across jurisdictions.
At the same time, ESG considerations will exert a growing influence on governance, financing, and risk management decisions. Companies that invest early in digital infrastructure, regulatory agility, and a strong ethical culture will be best positioned to navigate this evolving environment.