Interview with: Radu Nemes, Managing Partner, ONV LAW

What do you see as the main points that differentiate ONV LAW from your competitors?

What truly sets ONV LAW apart is our genuine, hands-on involvement in every project and the close relationships we build with our clients. Our partners don’t just oversee matters from a distance—they are actively engaged from start to finish, ensuring consistency, strategic direction, and real accountability throughout the process.

With over 25 years of experience, we’ve developed a deep understanding of our clients’ industries and the specific challenges they face. This allows us to provide advice that is not only legally sound but also commercially relevant and practical. We pride ourselves on clear communication, responsiveness, and always tailoring our approach to each client’s unique needs. Many of our clients have been with us for more than a decade, which speaks volumes about the trust and results we’ve built together over time.

We also believe that professional services are about much more than just the technical quality of the legal work. For us, it’s equally about the relationship of trust we develop with our clients and ensuring that our deliverables are not just theoretical, but actionable and genuinely useful in their day-to-day business. We want our advice to make a real difference, not just look good on paper.

Another important differentiator is our membership in international networks like LNA and Interlaw. This gives our clients access to top legal expertise worldwide and allows us to collaborate with trusted colleagues – many of whom have become friends—across different jurisdictions.

At ONV LAW, our senior lawyers and partners are directly involved in the day-to-day work, not just in name. This level of attention leads to better coordination, faster decisions, and a real focus on detail. That’s why clients from sectors such as retail, real estate, manufacturing, and technology choose to work with us for the long term.

Ultimately, we believe authenticity comes from how we relate to people, not just how we handle cases. We care about our clients’ results, we’re invested in their success, and we’re proud to be part of their journey.

Which practices do you see growing in the next 12 months? What are the drivers behind that?

Looking ahead to the next 12 months in Romania, I anticipate notable growth in several legal practice areas, particularly digital transformation, cybersecurity, and Corporate M&A.

Digital transformation is set to accelerate as both local companies and subsidiaries of international firms invest in modernizing their operations. This trend is driven by increased EU funding, regulatory reforms, and a strong push for operational efficiency. The adoption of new digital tools, the implementation of the updated CAEN Rev.3 classification system, and recent amendments to Company Law are all designed to foster transparency, streamline procedures, and align Romania with international standards, making digital transformation a top priority for businesses and their legal advisors.

Cybersecurity is also emerging as a critical area, as companies face heightened exposure to digital threats and must comply with evolving data protection and privacy regulations. The growing use of electronic signatures and stricter enforcement of GDPR and related laws are compelling businesses to strengthen their cybersecurity frameworks and seek specialized legal guidance to ensure compliance and manage risk.

Corporate M&A remains a dynamic field, with Romania consolidating its position as one of the most active M&A markets in Central and Eastern Europe. Despite a slow start in Q1 2025, the outlook for the rest of the year is positive, with expectations of continued market maturation and potentially one or two mega-transactions. Key sectors attracting both strategic and private equity investors include IT, healthcare, renewable energy, and real estate. The main drivers here are market consolidation, access to EU markets, and the pursuit of technological capabilities, as well as Romania’s alignment with EU standards and its growing appeal to foreign investors.

In summary, the main growth drivers across these practices are:

• EU funding and regulatory modernization
• The need for operational efficiency and digitalization
• Heightened cybersecurity and data protection requirements
• Market consolidation and increased cross-border investment
• Alignment with EU standards and improved corporate governance

These trends are shaping a more modern, transparent, and competitive business environment in Romania, creating significant opportunities for legal practices specializing in these areas.

What’s the main change you’ve made in the firm that will benefit clients?

In light of the increasing importance of technology and the rapidly evolving business landscape, we have strategically enhanced our firm’s operations by adopting a more technology-driven approach to legal service delivery. We have integrated advanced tools for legal research, document management, and client communication, which have significantly streamlined our internal processes and improved the speed and quality of our advice.

This transformation has enabled us to respond more efficiently to client needs, particularly in complex areas such as compliance and regulatory matters. As a result, we are able to deliver more timely, accurate, and cost-effective solutions, ultimately providing greater value and a superior client experience.

Is technology changing the way you interact with your clients and the services you can provide them?

Technology is fundamentally transforming both the way we interact with clients and the range of legal services we provide at ONV LAW. The integration of digital platforms and advanced communication tools now allows us to engage with clients in real time, offering greater flexibility, efficiency, and responsiveness. This shift enables us to deliver faster, more personalized solutions tailored to each client’s needs.

Moreover, technology empowers us to better understand and anticipate client requirements through data analysis and digital collaboration platforms. These tools not only streamline document management and case tracking but also enhance transparency and accessibility throughout the legal process. In Romania, the legal sector is increasingly embracing digitalization, with innovations such as secure online platforms for client-lawyer collaboration, electronic signatures, and cloud-based document sharing becoming standard practice.

As businesses across various industries adopt automation and artificial intelligence to improve their operations, we are able to leverage these advancements to provide more strategic, data-driven legal advice. This evolution in technology not only changes how we communicate with clients but also allows us to add significant value to our relationships, ensuring our services remain efficient, relevant, and aligned with the demands of a modern business environment.

Can you give us a practical example of how you have helped a client to add value to their business?

A practical example of how we have added value to our clients’ businesses is through our active participation in leading international legal networks, such as Interlaw and Legal Netlink Alliance (LNA). ONV LAW is Romania’s exclusive member of Interlaw—a “Global Elite” network with over 8,000 lawyers in 150+ cities worldwide—and holds the presidency of the European Board of LNA through our partner, Mihai Voicu.

Recently, we assisted a client planning to expand operations across multiple European jurisdictions. Leveraging our strong relationships within these networks, we were able to quickly connect the client with trusted local law firms in each target country. These partner firms not only understood the specific legal and regulatory requirements of their jurisdictions but also shared our commitment to high service standards and responsiveness.

ONV LAW acted as the central point of contact, coordinating all legal work and ensuring consistency in communication and strategy. This seamless cross-border collaboration significantly reduced the time and costs the client would have otherwise spent identifying and managing multiple legal providers. It also gave them the confidence to move forward with their expansion, knowing they had reliable, high-quality legal support wherever needed. Through this approach, we delivered more than just legal solutions—we supported the client’s strategic growth with a global perspective, demonstrating the tangible value that our international affiliations and collaborative mindset bring to their business.

Are clients looking for stability and strategic direction from their law firms – where do you see the firm in three years’ time?

Clients today are seeking far more than transactional legal support—they expect their law firms to provide stability, strategic direction, and a long-term partnership, especially in a landscape shaped by regulatory changes, technological disruption, and global uncertainty. What clients value most is a legal team that not only delivers reliable expertise but also anticipates change, understands industry dynamics, and helps chart a clear path forward. This means offering proactive guidance, strategic foresight, and confidence in navigating complex social and political environments.

Increasingly, clients want advisors who grasp both legal risks and commercial realities, who can tailor their advice to align with business objectives, and who actively contribute to unlocking new opportunities—whether in M&A, investment, restructuring, or innovative business models. Law firms that can deliver this level of insight and partnership, while maintaining efficient communication, transparency, and personalized service, are those that clients will continue to trust and recommend.

Looking ahead three years, I see our firm continuing to evolve in direct response to these client expectations. We will further integrate advanced technologies—such as AI-driven legal research, client portals, and data analytics—to streamline our processes and enhance the client experience, while maintaining the personalized, high-quality service that defines us. Our recent expansion into Chisinau marks the beginning of a broader growth strategy, both geographically and in terms of our areas of expertise.

Our focus will remain on providing the stability, strategic insight, and adaptability that clients demand, ensuring we are not only keeping pace with industry changes but helping our clients stay ahead of them. By embracing innovation, investing in talent, and deepening our understanding of our clients’ industries, we are committed to being the trusted partner that clients rely on for long-term success.