Sorina
Lawyer · Bucharest, Romania
- 94 cases handled
- 8+ years in practice
- Speaks: English, Romanian
- Degree
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5.00(8 reviews)
Unfair Dismissal & Employment Disputes in Romania
Unfair dismissal in Romania is challenged in court against the employer’s written dismissal decision, the contestație decizie de concediere, within a short deadline; the court can annul the decision, award the lost pay and order reinstatement on request. English-speaking employment lawyers act for employees and employers in dismissals, unpaid wages and other labour disputes.
About Unfair Dismissal & Employment Disputes in Romania
Unfair dismissal in Romania — also searched as wrongful dismissal, an employment dispute, or simply an employment lawyer or employment law in Romania — means a dismissal that breaks the Labour Code (Codul muncii) in its grounds or in its procedure. In Romanian the dismissal is concediere, the employer's written decizie de concediere is what gets challenged, and the challenge is a contestație (people search for contestatie decizie de concediere); the wider term for a dispute at work is litigiu de muncă. Some older lists and lawyer pages call this service “Employment Law: Dismissals & Disputes”.
Who it is for
Foreign employees of Romanian companies and multinationals, staff of Romanian branches, workers whose post was abolished or who were dismissed for discipline, people owed wages or overtime, and employers, including foreign companies with Romanian staff, who want a dismissal done lawfully or face a challenge.
How a dismissal is challenged in Romania
- The decision. A Romanian dismissal is a written decision that states the reasons, the legal ground, the deadline and the court where it can be challenged. A decision that lacks these elements is open to annulment.
- The procedure behind it. A disciplinary dismissal requires a prior disciplinary investigation (cercetare disciplinară prealabilă) in which the employee is heard; a dismissal because the post was abolished (desființarea postului) requires the abolition to be real; notice (preaviz) applies in many cases; collective dismissals follow their own consultation rules.
- The claim. The challenge is filed at the tribunal (tribunal) within a short deadline counted from the date the decision was communicated. In labour cases the law puts the burden on the employer to show that the dismissal was lawful, and the employer cannot rely on reasons other than those written in the decision.
- The outcome. If the court annuls the dismissal, the employer pays the wages lost in the meantime, and the employee can ask to be reinstated.
Things to watch
- The deadline for a challenge is short; the date on which the decision was handed over or received matters.
- An agreed termination (acordul părților) or a resignation (demisie) is much harder to undo than a dismissal, so the wording of anything offered for signature deserves care.
- Payment on dismissal is not automatic in every case; it depends on the reason, the contract and any collective agreement.
- Romanian law forbids dismissal in certain situations, such as during medical leave or maternity leave, with narrow exceptions.
- For non-EU citizens, a residence permit for work is usually tied to the job; see the immigration lawyers in Romania.
- A non-compete or confidentiality clause can follow an employee after the job; see NDAs and confidentiality.
What the lawyer does
Reads the dismissal decision, the employment contract and the internal rules, checks the procedure, files the challenge in time, represents the employee or the employer in court in Romanian with an interpreter where needed, and negotiates a settlement when that is the better outcome. For employers, the lawyer plans the procedure before a dismissal. Freelancers working on B2B contracts rather than employment contracts belong under contract disputes.
Questions and answers
Can I challenge a dismissal if I do not speak Romanian?
Yes. The proceedings are in Romanian, but the lawyer explains every step in English and the court can use an interpreter.
Are there court fees?
Labour cases are generally free of court stamp duty; the lawyer's fees are a separate matter.
Can I get my job back?
If the court annuls the dismissal, reinstatement is possible on the employee's request; many prefer a financial settlement instead.
Is a contract in English valid?
Employment contracts are drawn up in Romanian and can be bilingual; a contract review before signing shows what the Romanian text says.
1 lawyer who provides Unfair Dismissal & Employment Disputes in Romania
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What our clients say about our service in Romania
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It was a good experience. The lawyer was very responsive and helpful in ending a contract relationship. We communicated by email and phone, all in English, and he answered all our questions very quickly. He reviewed our contracts and advised us on the impact and on possible improvements. All in all it was very positive, and we can certainly recommend his service.
— Nicola27 Oct 2025Unfair Dismissal & Employment Disputes -
I was facing an involuntary departure from a job of 23 years, and the lawyer's calm, steady guidance was invaluable. She explained the workings of the law, my entitlements and the steps I could expect, then helped me with each of them over several months. She was readily available in person or by phone, and was clear and tactful both with me and when we wrote jointly to my ex-employer. She played a crucial part in reviewing and editing the agreement in its English and Spanish versions, and the company accepted everything she insisted upon. Her unbending professionalism, clarity and patience with my questions were just what was needed to bring an unexpected and difficult situation to a satisfying conclusion. I could not be happier to have found her.
— Frank05 Mar 2025Unfair Dismissal & Employment Disputes -
When my family needed an English-speaking lawyer in Spain, he was a godsend. He took charge straight away, and his professionalism, together with his command of Spanish law, got me through a complicated situation. He is the person to go to if you must work your way through the hard-to-reach rights and obligations of the Spanish legal code. He is also compassionate and understanding, and he was always available and ready to help. I recommend him without any hesitation to anyone who needs effective legal representation.
— Annette13 Sep 2024Unfair Dismissal & Employment Disputes -
The team contacted me promptly and put me in touch with a fitting lawyer straight away, which I really appreciate as my issue was pressing. The lawyer was very helpful too: a preliminary opinion arrived before the call we had agreed on, and more detail followed during the call. I will be sure to get in touch again whenever a lawyer is needed.
— Paulo15 Mar 2024Unfair Dismissal & Employment Disputes -
The lawyer replied very quickly, gave an excellent analysis of the legal matter and proposed changes to the contract clauses that truly reflected my interests. Everything was explained clearly and simply, and I was very satisfied with the outcome.
— Dr.20 Mar 2023 -
If you too are looking for English-speaking lawyers who are good, I doubt you will find a team as professional and diligent. Both lawyers were calm and informative, reassured me and made me feel confident about my employment case. In court they appeared much more professional than the lawyer on the other side, and the result for us was favourable. For anyone who does not speak Spanish and wants good advice, these are the lawyers to turn to. I highly recommend them, lovely people!
— Sammi03 Mar 2023Unfair Dismissal & Employment Disputes -
Fast reply, and a polite lawyer who explained things well and knows the facts. I got just the information I needed, and his English was perfect.
— Elin17 Aug 2022 -
The lawyer was helpful and caring from the very start. My case was with the British Consulate in Malaga and she did not flinch, even though dealing with a government organisation is so difficult, if not impossible. She also supported me emotionally because of the way I was being treated, and I was not in a state to make any decision for myself. She gave me the confidence to face the challenge ahead, explained everything in perfect English, and we finished the case with the compensation and the result that I wanted. The help I received was excellent. I would not hesitate to recommend her service to anyone, and I am truly grateful for her help and support.
— Jean31 Jul 2022 -
Very helpful advice, with a clear explanation of the right course of action.
— Stephen27 Jun 2022 -
I valued how well she explained things and the suitable solutions she offered.
— Sayuri08 Oct 2021 -
I highly recommend this lawyer: great and easy to work with, highly efficient and helpful, and her English is perfect. I will certainly use her again if I ever need to.
— Kate21 Jun 2021Unfair Dismissal & Employment Disputes, Cyprus -
The lawyer is excellent. She was attentive and made sure I got the best possible outcome, and I am very satisfied with it.
— Mark27 Jan 2021