Albu Legal is a boutique law office launched on the market at the beginning of 2020 by attorney Gabriel Albu, one of the well-known pioneers of the white-collar crime niche in Romania. The law office is specialized in white-collar crime, criminal and administrative prevention, internal and anti-fraud investigations, human rights protection procedures, defense of the crime victims’ rights, as well as in any related litigation and non-contentious issues.

After a successful career in multinational law firms (Linklaters, CMS Cameron McKenna and Salans/Dentons), and in context of the then on-going organization and staffing of the elite prosecution divisions within the Prosecution Office of the High Court of Cassation and Justice (PICCJ), notably The National Anticorruption Directorate (DNA) and Directorate for Investigation of Organized Crime and Terrorism (DIICOT), in 2005, founding attorney Gabriel Albu focused his practice on the white-collar crime practice, in what then meant “pioneering” of the more “institutionalized” and sophisticated white collar crime niche, as opposed to the more classical practice of criminal defense, existing in the early 2000s and before. The team led by Gabriel Albu has extensive experience, dating from the beginning of this professional practice in the country, in what was in essence a contribution to the establishment of the "white-collar crime" practice area – at the sophistication level of today - on the Romanian legal market.  

The highly-skilled team of attorneys, cumulating over 50 years of professional experience, was involved in several landmark cases throughout the years, offering legal assistance and representation to high profile companies and individuals involved in criminal investigations and trials - over 1,000 satisfied clients and accounts for more than 1 billion euros saved.  

Significant experience in understanding the judicial system and sophisticated clientele

The substantial advantage of the team consists of the highest level of experience and professional training, understanding the system and sophisticated clientele.

The team has been involved in numerous of the high-level cases processed in Romania, for high-end clientele, a majority of which comprising multinational companies. They assisted e.g. international investment funds, suppliers of industrial equipment, oil companies, pharmaceuticals and public services companies, international infrastructure companies, international management consultancy companies, food industry companies, banks, and insurance companies, telecommunication companies, and construction companies.

This in relation to offences related to the business environment (e.g. embezzlement, fraud, abuse of position, professional misconduct, banking fraud, share market manipulation, insurance fraud, public procurement fraud, fraudulent bankruptcy, fraud against the financial interests of the European Union, tax evasion, environmental offences and copyright infringements).

International experience

The office expands its international reach due to their exposure to high-level clientele and many times cross-border matters, the team benefitting of significant work experience in various types of international cooperation and litigation procedures. The lawyers provided assistance and representation in mutual legal assistance procedures, e.g., in relation to Switzerland, in connection with an oil and gas company investigation, as well as a judicial probe into corrupt practices in the defense industry; in relation to USA, in connection with extradition procedures in a high-profile corruption case, as well as in relation to UK, in connection with matters investigated by the Serious Fraud Office, including as local counsel in proceedings at the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID). We also have significant ECHR practice, as well as strong collaborations with international law firms.

Albu Legal lawyers cooperated effectively with all important regulatory and control agencies. In addition to police, prosecution and criminal courts, the team is experienced in interacting with various regulatory bodies, such as the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) and its Romanian counterpart, the National Anti-Fraud Department (DLAF); the European Court of Auditors; the Agency for National Fiscal Administration (ANAF); the Competition Council; the Romanian Anti-Money Laundering and Financial Intelligence Unit (ONPCSB); the Personal Data Protection Authority (ANSPDCP); the Authority for Citizenship (ANC).

From defense in criminal proceedings to prevention work  

• Defense in criminal proceedings, both in pre-trial investigations, as well as before courts
• Defense of rights and legitimate interests of crime victims, both concerning criminal and civil/ pecuniary side
• Internal investigations/ forensic
• Criminal law and regulatory prevention
• Defense of fundamental rights and freedoms, both before local and international jurisdictions, including the European Court for Human Rights

Albu Legal’s goal is to act so as to ensure proper understanding between all actors involved in such cases - judicial authorities, companies and entities involved, shareholders, management, other stakeholders, in-house and external corporate counsel, as well as the optimal outcome for its clients.

Show more +

Gabriel Albu is the founder of ALBU LEGAL Law Office, with a strong professional experience acquired in multinational law firms, as well as in independent practice.

Prior to being a criminal defense attorney, he had a successful career in multinational law firms - Linklaters, CMS Cameron McKenna and Salans/Dentons – where he worked mostly as a commercial, tax and regulatory litigator, but also strongly involved in consultancy. He has a solid and diverse experience related to the corporate field, assisting and representing a large number of companies - multinational and local - and also individuals within them, in complex criminal proceedings, under national jurisdiction and also with international elements.

Since 2005, Gabriel has begun the practice of criminal business law/ white-collar crime. Starting with 2008, in an independent environment, Gabriel has dedicated himself to this field of activity, being one of the pioneers of this practice area in Romania - white-collar crime, practiced at the professional level of sophistication to which it is understood today.

Over the years, Gabriel Albu has been involved in a large number of high-level criminal cases in Romania. He managed complex cases, at the highest level of representation, involving mainly accusations of tax evasion and fraud against the financial interests of the European Union, accusations of corruption, financial fraud, work related crimes, capital market and public procurement fraud, abuse of position, professional misconduct, banking fraud, share market manipulation, insurance fraud, public procurement fraud, fraudulent bankruptcy, environmental offences and copyright infringements.

The most recent high-profile success achieved by Gabriel Albu was the case publicly known as "Rompetrol II", where his team managed to obtain the dismissal of the criminal charges and release of significant assets from under freezing orders.

Show more +