English-speaking criminal lawyer in Romania

Criminal law is the core practice area of this office: from the first contact with the investigating authorities to the final level of jurisdiction.

What criminal defense actually involves

A criminal case does not begin in the courtroom. It begins with a summons, a search, an interview — moments in which decisions taken without legal assistance can weigh more heavily than everything that follows. The role of the defense is to be present from the very first moment.

I provide assistance and representation at every stage of Romanian criminal proceedings:

Criminal investigation — assistance during questioning (including before the DNA, DIICOT and the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO)), filing motions and memoranda, challenging preventive and precautionary measures;
Preliminary chamber — verifying the lawfulness of the indictment, the evidence and the investigative acts; exclusion of unlawfully obtained evidence;
Trial and appeal — evidentiary strategy, examination of witnesses, written and oral submissions;
Extraordinary remedies — annulment appeals, revision, appeal in cassation.

Areas of specialization

The practice covers corruption offenses, tax evasion, money laundering, cybercrime, offenses committed in office, fraud against creditors, embezzlement and organized crime.

Corruption→ Tax evasion→ Money laundering→ Cybercrime→ DNA cases→ DIICOT cases→

For foreign clients

If you are a foreign national or a company facing criminal proceedings in Romania, the earliest possible involvement of counsel matters even more: procedural deadlines are short, documents are in Romanian, and the first statements often shape the entire case. Communication in English is available throughout, including for confidential channels.

Practice areas

DNA anticorruption proceedings, including competence thresholds and preventive measures.
Corruption offences under the Criminal Code and Law no. 78/2000.
Tax evasion under Law no. 241/2005, including the mandatory expert report.
Money laundering under art. 49 of Law no. 129/2019.
EU funds and EPPO cases under art. 18 index 1 and following of Law no. 78/2000.
Embezzlement under art. 295 of the Criminal Code.
Cybercrime and digital evidence.
DIICOT proceedings, organised crime and drug offences.
Traffic offences, including drink driving and drug driving.

The stages of a Romanian criminal case

Investigation. Conducted by the prosecutor, with the police acting under supervision. You may be summoned as a witness, a suspect or a defendant, and the difference determines your rights. Preventive measures may be ordered: detention for 24 hours, then judicial supervision, house arrest or pre-trial detention.

Preliminary chamber. After the indictment, a judge examines the lawfulness of the referral, of the evidence and of the investigative acts. This is the only stage at which unlawfully obtained evidence can be excluded before the trial court sees it, and most deadlines that matter expire here.

Trial and appeal. First instance, then appeal, which in Romania is a full rehearing on both facts and law. Extraordinary remedies exist but are narrow.

What differs for a client based abroad

Proceedings are in Romanian and the authorities provide an interpreter, but the working relationship is in English: documents, correspondence and strategy are handled with you directly, then filed in Romanian.

A lawyer holding a mandate can represent you at most procedural stages, so not every hearing requires travel. Where a preventive measure imposes an obligation not to leave the country, that obligation is challengeable and can be modified during the case, which for a non-resident is usually the first priority.

A Romanian conviction is entered in the Romanian criminal record and exchanged with other EU member states through the ECRIS system. Where a European Arrest Warrant is involved, or where the case concerns the EU budget and may be taken over by the European Public Prosecutor, the cross-border dimension changes both procedure and timing.

How I work

The file is read in full before any position is taken, not summarised. The real accusation is identified, which does not always match the legal classification in the order. The procedural position is then agreed with you in advance: silence, a prepared written statement, or full questioning, each with costs and benefits discussed before, not in front of the prosecutor.

From there the defence runs on four parallel tracks: challenging preventive and precautionary measures, checking the lawfulness of the evidence for the preliminary chamber, proposing defence evidence while the investigation is still open, and preparing the case on the merits.

Frequently asked

Romanian criminal procedure.

Not for every step. A lawyer holding a mandate can represent you at most procedural stages, although the court may require your presence for specific hearings. Dates are known in advance, so travel can be planned.

No. Romanian criminal proceedings are conducted in Romanian, and the authorities provide an interpreter. The working relationship with your lawyer, however, including documents, correspondence and strategy, is handled in English.

No. An obligation not to leave the country or a specified area is part of judicial supervision. It is challengeable, and a request to modify it can be made during the proceedings. For a non-resident client this is usually the first issue to address.

A conviction is entered in the Romanian criminal record and exchanged with other EU member states through the ECRIS system. The practical effect in your own country depends on its law.

A judge examines the lawfulness of the referral, of the evidence and of the investigative acts. It is the only stage at which unlawfully obtained evidence can be excluded before the trial court reads it, and several objections are time-barred to this stage.

The content of this page is for information purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. For your specific situation, please arrange a consultation.

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