September 2025

We are pleased to share with you the voices of our colleagues in the context of the WOMEN IN LAW initiative curated by Alina Matei on JURIDICE.ro.

These conversations go beyond professional achievements. They are about values, about balance, about how personal journeys shape professional paths. At BACIU PARTNERS, we believe that questioning the status quo and searching for better answers to our clients’ needs must go hand in hand with recognizing the individuality, passions, and aspirations of each of our team members.

We find inspiration in the exchange of ideas, in the courage to stay authentic, and in the power of knowledge when amplified by diverse perspectives. Through these interviews, we celebrate the stories, the values, and the unique voices of our very own lady-lawyers.

Here is the interview with Irina Văleanu, Counsel and coordinator of the Dispute Resolution practice.

Alina Matei: Thank you, dear Ms. Irina Văleanu, Counsel at BACIU PARTNERS, for taking the time to speak with the readers of JURIDICE.ro. Women in Law is about women, about what they achieve in their professional lives and beyond. May I kindly ask you to share what defines you as a professional?

Irina Văleanu: Thank you as well for the invitation and for the opportunity to share my thoughts on the same “page” with remarkable voices of contemporary law – a field where more and more extraordinary women continue to shine. It is truly an honor.

I believe I have always been defined by the balance between rigor, integrity, and the enthusiasm to transform professional effort into meaningful results for others. My more than 10 years of experience in litigation, handling a very diverse range of cases, has offered me countless lessons and shaped me into the professional I am today. At the core of my inner drive, however, remain the same pillars: fairness, perseverance, empathy, and the desire to build relationships based on trust and mutual respect. I believe it is this harmony between values, passion, and approach to work that both guides and defines me. It also provides me with the balance that makes my work not only an outcome but an authentic contribution to the growth of a profession founded on trust, respect, and integrity.

Alina Matei: In your opinion, is the involvement of women in legal professions limited or unlimited?

Irina Văleanu: I believe women’s involvement in the legal professions is not limited: the conditions of entry are the same for all candidates, regardless of gender. The only real limitations are those we impose on ourselves – whether through perceptions or personal hesitations. Once we overcome these inner barriers and embrace opportunities with confidence, our professional potential becomes limitless.

Alina Matei: For women lawyers, the shift from the role of wife/partner/mother to that of legal professional – what “filters” should be applied to ensure that neither role suffers significant harm?

Irina Văleanu: In my view, balance is key. However, I don’t believe there is a universal recipe – what works for one woman may not apply to another. It is no secret that law is a demanding profession, and the risk of practicing it at the expense of work-life balance is very real.

I think the only truly relevant “filter” is taking responsibility for all the roles we hold – whether as legal professionals, wives, partners, or mothers. This responsibility involves being aware of our priorities, knowing when and how to say “no,” and allowing ourselves to ask for help when needed.

Ultimately, maintaining harmony among these roles is not about an equal division of time and energy, but about consciously managing them so that neither profession nor personal life is lived halfway.

Alina Matei: Does the legal environment offer women the opportunity to be what they want to be?

Irina Văleanu: I strongly believe the legal environment offers women the opportunity to be whatever they want to be, as long as they know their goals and have the courage to pursue them. At the same time, I believe what truly suits us is often discovered over time, through experiences, trials, and even changes of direction. The important thing is to remain open to learning and to trust our own journey, because in the profession, as in life, fulfillment comes from the alignment between who we are and what we do.

Alina Matei: From every perspective, I don’t know of a time more favorable to women’s development than the one we are living in. Every right, like every prejudice, has consequences. What role can women lawyers play in fostering the understanding that everyone is responsible for their own choices, both professional and personal?

Irina Văleanu: Even in the present context, I believe women lawyers can play an essential role by leading through example – showing, especially to younger generations, that success is not a matter of luck, but of deliberate choices and perseverance. We can inspire through the way we shape our paths, always aware that every step, whether personal or professional, is the result of our own will and of the balance we maintain between what we want and what we are willing to do to achieve it.

Alina Matei: Have you had a female role model who inspired you over the years?

Irina Văleanu: I must admit that I did not have a single female role model who guided my professional journey. From the very beginning, I chose to work in collaborative environments, in mixed teams, and I look back with gratitude at every collaboration I’ve had. I sincerely believe that every quality I have developed over time is the result of the people I have worked with – mentors, colleagues, or even adversaries – each of whom has added an important nuance to my growth as a professional. More than a singular model, I have been inspired by values and attitudes I encountered in many of those I have interacted with, and I have sought to integrate them into my way of practicing law: with passion, respect for people, and integrity.

Alina Matei: We have lived through the pandemic and COVID-19 strains. How was that period for you, both personally and professionally?

Irina Văleanu: It was a time of uncertainty, marked by anxiety and distance from loved ones – family, colleagues, friends. Professionally, as a litigator, it was the first time I worked predominantly remotely, in a context where court activity was significantly restricted, and the dynamics of mandates visibly diminished. Yet, in retrospect, the pandemic also offered me an unexpected opportunity: to reflect more deeply on my priorities, to find new ways of organizing, and to cultivate patience and resilience. It was an intense lesson in adaptability – both personally and professionally.

Alina Matei: A message, please, for all women in the legal world.

Irina Văleanu: Stay authentic and courageous, even when the road seems difficult. Never forget that professionalism is not only about competence, but also about how we manage to remain human in everything we do. In a legal world that is constantly evolving, the balance between rigor and empathy may very well be our greatest strength.

Alina Matei: Thank you for this conversation!

Irina Văleanu: Thank you as well – it has been a pleasure to take part in this project that highlights the voices and contributions of women in the legal profession.

The original version of the interview, in Romanian, is available HERE.

Promoting this initiative is part of our ongoing commitment: to create a space where professionalism is enriched by empathy, rigor is balanced with authenticity, and growth is shared.