ACI Partners Legal Manager Carolina Parcalab and Competition Manager Emil Gutu discuss Competition in Moldova in the year past and the one ahead.

Energy reforms, EU alignment, a cooling real estate market, and ongoing judicial vetting are reshaping Moldova’s investment climate and legal workload, according to Cerbu Balta Founding Partner Marin Balta.

PRK Partners Partner Radan Kubr, ACI Partners Senior Associate Doina Doga, Schoenherr Bulgaria Co-Head of Competition Yoana Strateva, Tuca Zbarcea & Asociatii Partner and Head of Competition & Antitrust Raluca Vasilache, Zornada Law Office Attorney at Law Ivan Zornada, and DLA Piper Hungary Country Managing Partner Andras Posztl explore how, respectively, the Czech Republic, Moldova, Bulgaria, Romania, Croatia, and Hungary approach foreign investment screening: the differences in strictness, the sectors regulators watch most closely, the impact on deals, and the practical challenges investors run into on the ground.

An in-depth look at Oleg Efrim of Efrim Rosca Asociatii, covering his career path, education, and top projects as a lawyer, as well as a few insights about him as a manager at work and as a person outside the office.

The year 2025 brought significant changes to the Moldovan merger control regulations.

In our Looking In series, we talk to Partners from outside CEE who are keeping an eye on the region to learn how they perceive CEE markets and their evolution. For this issue, we reached out to new Jones Day Partner Veronica Dragalin, who recently joined the firm’s Washington office after working as the Chief Anti-Corruption Prosecutor in Moldova since 2022.

Moldova’s Insolvency Law (No. 149/2012) provides for two categories of procedures that could apply to debtors facing financial distress: the bankruptcy procedure (including the simplified bankruptcy) and the restructuring procedure (including the accelerated restructuring). In 2020, the accelerated restructuring procedure was redesigned to make it more accessible for companies. Rather than facing the insolvency court within a formal and complex process, a company can quickly negotiate with its main creditors a restructuring plan aimed at preserving the business and paying creditors at least part of their claims. A modernized framework is intended to provide a second chance but carries the risk of being misused for opportunistic purposes.

Filip & Company has advised on the establishment of the International Stock Exchange of Moldova.

Cerbu Balta has opened its doors in Moldova, founded by Sabina Cerbu and Marin Balta.

Moldova’s renewable energy sector has taken a decisive step forward in 2025 with the completion of its first competitive auctions for the designation of Large Eligible Electricity Producers. The process, launched under Government Decision No. 690/2018, demonstrated the growing maturity of the country’s regulatory framework and its alignment with EU-style competitive mechanisms for renewable development.

The Republic of Moldova has positioned itself as a digital frontrunner in the region and an increasingly attractive destination for foreign investors.

In The Debrief, our Practice Leaders across CEE share updates on recent and upcoming legislation, consider the impact of recent court decisions, showcase landmark projects, and keep our readers apprised of the latest developments impacting their respective practice areas.

On October 6, 2025, Filip & Company announced that Victoriabank's acquisition of Microinvest (as reported by CEE Legal Matters on April 15, 2025) has now closed.

Vernon | David has advised Bolt on its expansion into Moldova.

The Moldovan legal market might be relatively static at the moment, but beneath the surface, notable trends are reshaping its dynamics, according to Melnic | Bercu Partner Vlad Bercu, who points to the rise of AI-driven smaller firms, political turbulence around the legal profession’s independence, growing interest in IT, renewables, and labor leasing as developments worth watching. 

Former Chief Prosecutor of the Anti-Corruption Prosecution Office of the Republic of Moldova Veronica Dragalin has re-joined Jones Day's Washington Office as a Partner in the Investigations & White Collar Defense practice.

Efrim, Rosca & Asociatii has advised Vienna Insurance Group on its acquisition of an 80% stake in Moldasig.

In the context of the Republic of Moldova’s commitments under the Association Agreement concluded with the European Union in 2014 and its designation as an EU candidate country granted in 2022, the national legal framework is undergoing substantial reform. A large part of the legislative transposition agenda relates to environmental protection, which includes the adoption and implementation of numerous regulatory acts at the national level.