Forvis Mazars announces the launch of the International German-Romanian Desk, focusing on tax and legal services

The Desk combines a highly qualified German team of lawyers with an interdisciplinary Romanian team of experts, including specialists in the fields of tax, law, auditing, financial advisory, and a specialised Romanian law firm, Iablonschi & Associates, part of the Marcalliance network.

This initiative comes as German foreign direct investments (FDI) in Romania are significant. As of December 2023, according to the National Bank of Romania, Germany remained the country’s largest trading partner, holding investments totaling €17.1 billion, which accounts for 14.5% of the closing FDI position.

Dino Ebneter, Country Managing Partner, Forvis Mazars in Romania, commented: “The launch of our International German-Romanian Desk is a strategic move that underscores our commitment to strengthening business ties between Germany and Romania. As Head of the German Desk in Romania, I’ve seen firsthand the growing complexity of cross-border transactions and the increasing demand for specialised expertise that can seamlessly navigate both legal and tax frameworks. The new Desk is designed to provide comprehensive support to German companies operating in or entering the Romanian market, as well as Romanian businesses expanding into Germany.”

Edwin Warmerdam, Partner & Head of Tax at Forvis Mazars in Romania, Alexander Labus, Law Partner at Forvis Mazars in Germany, and Ionuț Iablonschi, Managing Partner at Iablonschi & Associates, will lead the International German-Romanian Desk, with the support of an integrated team of professionals from both countries. Their combined expertise, cross-border experience, and in-depth knowledge of the legal and business environments in Germany and Romania will ensure that clients receive practical, forward-thinking solutions tailored to their specific needs.

The team of this newly launched Desk has decades of experience in both legal systems and the associated economic and tax structures.

“The establishment of our International German-Romanian Desk underscores our commitment to supporting businesses operating in Romania, as well as in Germany, by facilitating cross-border transactions and investments and fostering strong relationships within the German community in Romania. From a tax perspective, the Desk will play a crucial role in helping companies navigate the complexities of cross-border tax compliance. By combining our local expertise with a deep understanding of both German and Romanian tax systems, we can provide businesses with clear, strategic guidance that minimizes risk, ensures compliance, and supports sustainable growth.”, mentioned Edwin Warmerdam, Partner, Head of Tax, Forvis Mazars in Romania.

Alexander Labus, Law Partner, Forvis Mazars in Germany, continues: “For our clients, this means an efficient, flexible, and reliable solution that represents their interests in both countries in the best possible way, offering a solid foundation for long-term success built on years of experience. With over 170 lawyers advising across all areas of German and international commercial and tax law - including transactions, corporate, real estate, labour, energy, health, and public commercial law, IT/IP, as well as financial and insurance regulatory matters - we ensure our clients benefit from comprehensive, cross-disciplinary support tailored to the specific demands of their business.”

Forvis Mazars serves a diverse range of clients, including large and publicly traded companies, privately held businesses, public institutions, non-profit organisations, and individuals. Forvis Mazars is also a founding member of Marcalliance - an international alliance of independent, highly qualified law firms with currently 25 member firms in over 134 locations worldwide. Iablonschi & Associates, the Romanian law firm that supports our Desk, has been a member of the alliance since January 2024.

“Our collaboration with the Forvis Mazars team marks a strategic step toward building a long-term partnership rooted in shared values and a commitment to client service”, says Ionuț Iablonschi, Managing Partner at Iablonschi & Associates. “By combining legal expertise across jurisdictions, we are able to deliver pragmatic and effective legal solutions tailored to the specific needs of German investors and companies operating in Romania. As part of Marcalliance, we are also able to offer our clients access to a global network of trusted legal advisors - a significant advantage for businesses with an international footprint”.

The five largest German investors in Romania are from the retail, energy, and automotive sectors. According to the Romanian-German Chamber of Commerce and Industry (AHK Romania), trade between Romania and Germany reached €42.1 billion in 2024, maintaining Romania’s position as Germany’s 17th-largest trading partner.

In this context of deepening economic ties, the International German-Romanian Desk is not just a service offering, it is a strategic bridge between two of Europe’s key markets. With Germany being Romania’s top foreign investor and a major trading partner, the need for tailored, cross-border advisory is more critical than ever. Companies operating across these jurisdictions face complex regulatory, tax, and legal landscapes that demand localised expertise with international insight.

As an international firm, we have a long history of working with companies to assist their growth and development in foreign markets. In Romania, we already work with many German-based clients, as well as Romanian clients doing business in Germany. If you want to learn more about our International German-Romanian Desk, access this link.

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About Forvis Mazars

Forvis Mazars is a leading global professional services network. The network operates under a single brand worldwide, with just two members: Forvis Mazars LLP in the United States and Forvis Mazars Group SC, an internationally integrated partnership operating in over 100 countries and territories. Both member firms share a commitment to providing an unmatched client experience, delivering audit & assurance, tax and advisory services around the world. Together, our strategic vision strives to move our clients, people, industry and communities forward.  

Forvis Mazars is the brand name for the Forvis Mazars Global network (Forvis Mazars Global Limited) and its two independent members: Forvis Mazars LLP in the United States and Forvis Mazars Group SC. Forvis Mazars Global Limited is a UK private company limited by guarantee and does not provide any services to clients.

Visit forvismazars.com to learn more.

About Forvis Mazars in Romania

In Romania, Forvis Mazars has 30 years of experience in audit, tax, financial advisory, outsourcing, consulting, and sustainability. We empower over 370 people to deliver our promise to clients with confidence.

Visit forvismazars.com/ro to learn more.

About Forvis Mazars in Germany

In Germany, Forvis Mazars is an independent member firm of Forvis Mazars Group SC, represented by more than 160 partners and about 2,500 employees at thirteen locations. With an annual turnover of €335 million, it is one of the leading audit and consulting firms.

Visit forvismazars.com/de to learn more.

About Iablonschi & Associates

Founded by highly experienced professionals with previous roles in some of the most reputable law firms in Romania, Iablonschi & Associates promotes an approach based on their ability to identify and create concrete synergies. They provide legal assistance in multiple practice areas: tax, dispute resolution, transactional (corporate law, mergers and acquisitions, construction and real estate) and regulatory (competition law, energy, banking and finance, data privacy, and consumer protection). Iablonschi & Associates is a member of Marcalliance, an international alliance that brings together 30 independent law firms.

Visit iablonschi-asociatii.ro to learn more.