Founding Partner
Maria is a highly experienced legal advisor and former partner in the corporate and data protection practice of a leading international law firm, where she was known for leading multidisciplinary teams and managing complex, cross-border transactions from start to finish. With a sharp strategic mindset and deep legal insight, she has successfully coordinated some of the most high-profile deals in Romania and the region.
Her role went far beyond legal analysis—Maria was the central point of coordination, working closely with clients, aligning internal teams, managing timelines, and ensuring seamless communication between jurisdictions and departments. She consistently delivered clarity and control in fast-moving transactions involving strict regulatory oversight and multiple stakeholders.
Maria acted as lead Romanian counsel for the acquisition of a major online payment platform, resulting in the largest payment services company in Romania, and led a complex competition clearance process. She coordinated the legal team in the acquisition of Romania’s largest brewery, and was instrumental in the acquisition of Moldova’s largest generic drug manufacturer by a Swiss investor. Her project leadership also extended to the telecom sector, where she advised one of the main telecom companies on its acquisition of Moldova’s largest cable company, and oversaw the sale of a major Romanian telecom’s cable subsidiary—including due diligence planning, SPA negotiation, and security structuring.
Her ability to orchestrate large-scale legal projects, maintain control over all moving parts, and deliver under pressure has made her a go-to counsel for clients navigating major M&A and regulatory matters.
Corporate & Commercial Law
Maria has acted as general counsel to some of the largest multinational companies operating in Romania and across Europe, overseeing their day-to-day legal operations and strategic legal matters. She supported one of Europe’s leading pharmacy groups, managing legal activities in Romania and multiple foreign jurisdictions. She also served as general counsel to a world-renowned telecommunications company, providing comprehensive legal support across business lines. In the construction sector, Maria advised a major international building materials manufacturer on its entry into the Romanian market, including the development of a greenfield factory, negotiation of joint venture agreements, and structuring of project financing. She has also assisted Romania’s largest shopping mall developer with a complex corporate restructuring, and with negotiating agreements with local municipalities for the development of commercial centers. In the retail sector, she continues to advise one of the world’s largest fashion retailers on corporate governance, regulatory compliance, and other aspects of their Romanian operations.
Mergers & acquisitions
Maria has extensive experience in mergers and acquisitions, having advised on some of the most complex and high-profile transactions in Romania and the region. She has acted for both strategic investors and international private equity clients, leading cross-border deals across sectors including technology, telecom, pharma, and FMCG. Her role spans the entire transaction lifecycle—from legal due diligence, structuring, and risk assessment, to drafting and negotiating transaction documents, and guiding clients through regulatory clearance procedures, including merger control filings. Maria is known for her ability to manage large legal teams and coordinate with business and financial stakeholders to deliver seamless execution, even in highly regulated or multi-jurisdictional environments.
Compliance, ESG & Data Privacy
Certified as a Compliance and Ethics Professional (CCEP-I), Maria has experience in internal investigations, risk mitigation and other compliance matters. She has advised on cases involving fraud, employee misconduct, and potential violations of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA), as well as advised and assisted clients in navigating and complying with various local and international regulatory rules, regulations and recommendations (including anti-money laundering and terrorism financing, anti-modern slavery and human trafficking, international sanctions and so on).
In recent years, Maria has also developed significant expertise in regulatory compliance, with a particular focus on anti-money laundering (AML) and KYC obligations. She has reviewed and analyzed over 1,000 Ultimate Beneficial Owner (UBO) structures to assess compliance with applicable KYC procedures—supporting clients in meeting increasingly strict regulatory requirements. Her thorough, risk-based approach has helped both international groups and local companies strengthen their internal compliance frameworks.
She is a leading expert on data protection and privacy law, assisting clients across various industries and sectors with the implementation of GDPR compliance programs (both on the documentary side, assisting with developing and maintaining robust and tailored data protection frameworks, and on the practical side, including by providing trainings tailored to the specifics of the client), as well as with data breaches.
Maria’s ability to blend legal precision with commercial insight makes her a trusted advisor to businesses navigating complex legal landscapes—locally and internationally.
