Romanian business group warns new lawyer requirement could cost SMEs billions
The Romanian Business Leaders (RBL) says a draft law forcing companies to use lawyers for certain contracts would add huge costs, especially for small firms.
Romanian Business Leaders (RBL) opposes draft legislation B563/2026, which would mandate legal representation for company formation, amendment filings and any contract that must be in written form. RBL estimates the extra burden could exceed €100 million annually for routine corporate documents and standard commercial contracts, and up to €800 million if employment contracts were included. The Union of National Bar (UNBR) counters that the proposal does not require a lawyer for every contract, only for those where written form is a legal prerequisite, and that non-compliance would not automatically void the agreement.
UNBR also calls RBL’s cost projections unrealistic, noting existing legal services and exemptions would limit additional spending. Nonetheless, UNBR acknowledges concerns about procedural costs and suggests the amendment could streamline representation by removing unnecessary powers of attorney. The debate centers on balancing regulatory simplification with the financial impact on SMEs.
