Vernon David is an international boutique law firm specialising in complex commercial transactions and disputes, regulatory matters and compliance issues.
Innovative, focused and passionate
The firm provides high-end bespoke legal advice to a wide array of domestic and international clients ranging from start-ups to large multinational companies and foreign governments. Currently, the firm has offices in Bucharest, Romania and Chisinau, Moldova.
The law firm is structured to provide comprehensive, high-quality legal services to serve the domestic and international needs of clients drawing on the combined resources and diverse expertise of lawyers.
By offering a unique and strategic approach, Vernon David’s goal is to accomplish client’s objectives in a succinct and efficient manner.
By offering a unique and strategic approach, Vernon David’s goal is to accomplish client’s objectives in a succinct and efficient manner.
As active members of the local and foreign business community, Vernon David has been involved in a variety of business and legislative initiatives, including drafting the leasing laws of Moldova and taking a leading role in the reform of the Moldovan labour code.
In addition, members of the firm act on various local boards and charities, including being board members of the American Chamber of Commerce and the European Business Association (EBA).
Today the firm has seven partners and over 25 associates and staff located in both Bucharest and Chisinau.
Bucharest
The firm has worked on some of the largest deals and transactions in Romanian history, including:
- Advising TMK with its acquisition of Resita Steel (currently the largest steel producer in Romania).
- Assisting Iulius Mall with the Palas Mall (one of Romania’s largest retail centres).
- Representing Xannat (former Anglo-American group company and Romania’s largest aggregates mining company) with its management buy-out.
12A Dr. Burghelea Street
District 2, 024032
Bucharest, Romania
+40-(0)21-311-5654
+40-(0)21-311-5650
Chisinau
Vernon David’s Chisinau-based team of American and Moldovan attorneys works closely with its Bucharest office in advising clients on a range of investment-related matters, including financings, mergers and acquisitions, real estate issues, labour matters, tax, IP, environmental regulations and general commercial transactions. The firm also has a dynamic commercial litigation practice in Chisinau.
47/1, A. Pushkin St.
MD-2005, Chisinau
Republic of Moldova
+373 (0)22-26-09-22
+373 (0)22-21-04-45
Charles Vernon, Managing Partner
Charles specialises in mergers and acquisitions, real estate transactions and corporate finance. He has extensive experience in M&A matters and during the last several years has completed billions of dollars in such transactions in Eastern Europe.
He has represented major oil companies, retail firms, port operators, hotel and telecommunication companies in relation to a series of mergers and divestiture projects including acquisitions, project financings, competition matters, privatisations, concession agreements, deal structuring, litigation, and post-acquisition operations and activities.
Charles has also advised a variety of borrowers and banks in lending transactions including syndications and bonds. He has represented some of the world’s largest banks and financial institutions in lending and investing matters in Romania, Slovakia and the Middle East.
A Certified Compliance and Ethics Professional (CCEP-I), Charles has worked on numerous compliance matters as well as on fraud and employee malfeasance cases, including investigations of possible violations of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) and matters before the Romanian anti-corruption authority (the DNA). He regularly advises companies and investors on corporate best practices and the “do’s and don’ts” of good corporate governance and behaviour.
Daniela is the head of the firm’s litigation department and has significant experience in labour matters and commercial and civil litigation. Besides being an active arbitrator, she is also a licensed mediator.
Daniela is one of Romania’s leading labour litigation lawyers and has significant experience in complex employment disputes, including advising on senior management misconduct and termination cases. In addition, she is an expert in large collective dismissals and employment issues related to company restructuring activities. Dana was the lead advisor on employment issues for the two largest bank mergers in Romanian history.
During her career, Daniela has represented numerous industries including food & beverage companies, steel mills and quarry operators. Her work has included “bet the company” litigation on environmental and regulatory matters as well as representing oil companies and banks in their commercial disputes.
In the last few years, several of Daniela’s cases have “made law”, including a case which defined and limited the concept of “occupational diseases” as well as the leading case concerning the Romanian Government/Regulatory Authority for Energy regarding State help for promotion of the production of green energy.
Currently she is representing a large manufacturer in contesting a State bid involving an oil pipeline (amount in controversy, Euro 200 Million).
A history founded on honesty, integrity and hard work
With over 20 years in the Romanian market, Vernon David was originally established to be the associated law firm of a Big Four accounting firm, the firm became independent in 2004.
Daniela David, a founding partner of the firm in 2001, was joined by Charles Vernon (an American lawyer working in Romania since 1997) in 2008 to form Vernon David.
Although active in Moldova since 2001, Vernon David opened a full-fledged office in Chisinau in 2009. Over the years, we have become one of Moldova’s leading commercial law firms and have been recognized in all the major directories. Since 2010, we have been considered a leading firm, with rankings by Legal 500 (1st Tier), IFLR (1st Tier) and Chambers and Partners (both Global and Europe).
The firm’s logo suggests strong values. With a Scottish legacy by his mother, Charles learned from his childhood the legend of the family’s crest, a lion holding a sword with the words “fide et fortitudine” (Latin for “faith and fortitude”).
Rankings
For over 20 years, Vernon David and its lawyers in both Bucharest and Chisinau have been mentioned and ranked in all of the major international guides and reference services, including Chambers and Partners Global and Europe, Legal 500, and IFLR 1000.
For over 20 years, Vernon David and its lawyers in both Bucharest and Chisinau have been mentioned and ranked in all of the major international guides and reference services, including Chambers and Partners Global and Europe, Legal 500, and IFLR 1000.
Chamber and Partners’ rankings appreciated the firm’s versatile Bucharest team:
“The experts in finance at this firm have excellent relationships with major international banks and have been involved with impressive corporate files in the banking, real estate and energy sectors. A versatile team handles litigations, employment issues, bankruptcy filings and restructurings in addition to M&A. Loyal clients are impressed by a “trustworthy and client-oriented” set of lawyers led by US-qualified Charles Vernon.”
In Moldova, the firm has been described as follows:
“The Moldovan branch of this Romanian firm is praised by clients for its “robust service” and useful working relationships with the Moldovan business community. It often co-operates with international law firms, giving local law advice on cross-border matters”.
Vernon David’s office in Chisinau, Moldova is highly regarded and over the years is commonly ranked in the 1st Tier.
