Romanian lawyers earn as much as their Austrian counterparts

Revenues are no longer a significant criterion between law firms, which now differentiate through organizational culture and development opportunities.

“Considering the different income taxation systems and lifestyles, we can say that a lawyer makes 15-20 percent more in Romania than in Austria,” said Lindinger. This is because the current deficit of lawyers on the local market, estimated at some 30 percent, is forcing international companies to offer increasingly attractive salaries to sustain company growth.

Schoenherr, and other law firms, are presently in full expansion, due to the market’s general growth. The only limit to their development is due to difficulties to recruit good lawyers on the domestic market. “We intend to double the number of our lawyers in the coming three years, up to 80,” mentioned Lindinger, adding that bringing lawyers from abroad is not a profitable method, as they would have to learn local practices from Romanian lawyers.

“Romanian lawyers are very ambitious, and want to advance very fast. Their main advantage for working abroad is to perfect their business law English,” said Lindinger.

 Schoenherr&Asociatii registered a 50 percent annual increase in revenue in the past three years, considering its client portfolio includes mostly Austrian and German companies.

The Romanian business law market was estimated to be worth over €100 million last year, and its main players are Nestor Nestor Diculescu Kingston Petersen (NNDKP), Musat&Asociatii, Tuca, Zbarcea& Asociatii, Bostina si Asociatii, Popovici Nitu&Asociatii, and Linklaters.

“Romania is currently the most interesting market in the region for a law firm Christoph Lindinger Managing Partner, Schoenherr&Asociatii