Managers under the spotlight - Ioana Hațegan, Hațegan Attorneys

What motivated you to specialize in corporate law, and how did your time in Germany influence this decision?

As a graduate of the Law Faculty of Bucharest University and after the Romanian Revolution in 1989, I had the opportunity to be selected as junior lawyer by one of the pioneer in corporate lawfirms who engaged in international legal advise back 25 years ago. This was the beginning of my career and I moved and developped on this „track” ever since. After few years of practice, when I decided to do an LLM in Business Law and Taxation at the University of Mannheim in Germany, it was a natural further step to broaden my perspective and expertise at international level. For me, supporting companies in their business activities means supporting „all actors” who may have a greater impact on communities and the society. And ultimately, it contributed to the development of our country into a modern competitive European player. The same motivation lead me to set up Hategan Foundation 12 years ago and get involved in charitable activities. Working in corporate law allowed me to inspire our clients to get involved in the past 10 years in our charitable projects (Timisoara Viennese Ball and our campaign - An edelweiss flower for a hot meal, to the benefit of around 700 children from the United Way centers in the western part of the country). With this, a higher purpose was added to our professional collaboration, strengthening it to the benefit of all. So, I humbly say that I am proud to have played a part with my organisations in this development process of Romania. 

What inspired you to return to Timișoara and establish Hategan Attorneys in 2004?

In our legal profession, one is very connected to the system of law of the university of study, at least this was the case 25 years ago. I did a master on a German legal system, with an extended focus on European regulations, but in the end, the real added value was the experience and the know-how that I could bring back in my own country. Furthermore, in 2004, Romania was preparing to become an EU Member and also companies were prepared to consider Romania as alternative in terms of their investment locations. As I worked in the international department of a law firm in Heidelberg for about 2 years as a foreign associate, with my Romanian and German (European) background, both theoretical and practical, I realised I could be much more helpful in Romania than in Germany. I choose Timisoara as a location for my organisation because Transilvania and Banat were historically attractive regions for German speaking companies, and I wanted to be closer to serve better these companies. So I set up our boutique law firm, recruited a team of excelent professionals and have been assisting numerous investment projects in the country.

What is your vision for the future of Hategan Attorneys, and how do you plan to achieve it?

This year we celebrated 20 years of international legal service for multinational companies in Romania. It is a year of celebration and of setting the basis for the next 20 years. Few months ago, we invited few of our clients and collaborators and organised a very interesting conference to discuss the priorities of the businesses for the next 20 years. Our role is to serve companies in their vision and strategies. We cannot exist without this mission. Our vision is to support companies to safely and productively fullfil theirs. Few big areas were highlighted as priorities of the next decades: digitalisation, sustainability, consolidation of the internal production and increase of productivity in Romania. For these purposes, we commit our legal support too, so we support the companies to achieve them in the safest most efficient way possible. Moreover, we are interconnected with professionals from 160 countries arround the world through our global alliance GGI (a Swiss based top alliance of business professionals), and this membership enables us to continue to be involved in international projects at highest level for the next 20 years too.

Internally, the same is valid for the lawyers in our team. I try to support them to develop in their career, work with a team spirit and enhance their professional and human skills.

You have represented multinational clients in complex M&A projects and corporate transactions. Can you describe a particularly challenging project and how you successfully navigated it?

I personally lead the M&A practice in our firm. This practice area is particularly challenging because every transaction has different players, with different characteristics and different goals. The beauty is to try to find the common ground and create a legal structure which is mutually beneficial. It is the best way to ensure a sustainable result. The challenge is to try to bring all the participants to see a transaction in this way. I managed to do this in most of the transactions we came to a successful closing. In order to do that, I believe that lawyers as well as other professionals in our field must see that the future is multidisciplinary and synergetic. In order to find a common ground, we must be open to have knowledge from collateral fields which touch and interract with ours. We must be open the business perspectives and develop our business understanding. Currently, I took another step in this direction and I started an Executive MBA at Bocconi University in Milan. After almost a year and a half I can only confirm that the exposure I have to mindset and goals of the business is immensily usefull for me to be able to bring added value to any project that we are involved in.

How do you perceive the current state of the legal market in Romania, particularly in the business consultancy sector?

I believe that the legal market in Romania developped massively in the past 25 years. It consists of few large lawfirms in the capital, and a lot of boutique firms and individual practices throughout the country. My concern is the current trend brought especially by the social media, which makes recognising real value more difficult. A company must be much more careful these days to identify the right and competent legal partner for its needs. I believe that there are few players who invest in the quality of their performance and a lot of players who invest in their image. In this environment, we at Hategan Attorneys, choose to navigate based on values and principles that we stand for and apply them, sustainably, at any action we take. These are: to create a lasting impact for our stakeholders, to restore trust in the legal profession and to support one another to grow.

What advice would you give young lawyers aspiring to start their own practice or specialize in corporate law?

“Es sind die kleinen Dinge, die die Welt vergrößern.” - It's the little things that make the world greater. These words, attributed to Gottfried Keller, resonate deeply with the pursuit of success in the legal profession, particularly for young lawyers embarking on their journey. While the allure of quick wins and immediate recognition may be tempting, I advise them to build their skills with patience and resilience and with a medium term (and not short term) focus. I keep telling our lawyers that if you want to grow an oak, it takes about 20 years, no matter what trends we see coming and going. Real (professional, but not only) satisfaction comes from perfecting yourself constantly and not from jumping from one experience to another without the chance to grow roots which give us stability and sustainability. So I would tell them: Think OAK and become one!