An accomplished career is built through sustained effort, with hard work being the cornerstone of success. Competence and expertise truly make the difference. | Interview with Andreea Bende

“Women in the legal profession often face challenges in balancing professional and personal life. However, these challenges also enable them to bring diverse perspectives and unique skills to negotiations and legal strategies” says Andreea during a recent interview for Bizlawyer.

She believes that empathy, communication skills, and collaboration are often remarkable traits of women lawyers, which can enhance business outcomes. Furthermore, Andreea notes that many women in the legal field are currently forming support and mentoring networks to help one another, thereby fostering greater solidarity and career success.

“Last but not least, women lawyers play an important role in promoting ethics and social responsibility in business, having a positive impact on communities and society as a whole” Andreea Bende adds.

Competence and expertise make the difference

What makes a difference in the legal profession—as in any other field—are qualities such as competence and expertise. These are also the criteria that clients should consider when choosing the specialist they want to work with.

“In my view, a client should choose a lawyer—whether a man or a woman—primarily based on their competence and expertise in the specific area of the case. It’s essential to choose someone with a deep understanding of the law and relevant experience,” emphasizes the BACIU PARTNERS Partner.

Trust also plays a major role, as clients seek lawyers who communicate clearly, are transparent, and demonstrate integrity and professional ethics. “In some cases, the specific nature of a matter may justify a preference for a female lawyer. I’ve encountered such situations, where clients preferred a woman due to the nature of the conflict being more closely related to feminine interests (e.g., cases involving cosmetic products, the beauty services market, the fashion industry, etc.)” Andreea explains.

Projects that bring professional fulfillment

Andreea Bende’s professional path was decisively influenced by an early decision: the courage to change course and choose a legal career over one in finance and banking marked a turning point in her professional life. “All the decisions that followed only contributed to my ongoing professional development and to the success I feel I’m experiencing today.”

As for her current team, Andreea shares that it was BACIU PARTNERS that chose her.

“I had the privilege of being among those who laid the foundation for what BACIU PARTNERS is today, contributing to its very core through trust, collaboration, and mutual respect” she notes.

Being part of BACIU PARTNERS gives her the opportunity to work on a wide range of complex projects.

“It’s always difficult to select just a few. The variety of cases we handle—from the simplest to the most complex—makes each project feel emblematic, as each involves collective effort, a clear vision, and attention to detail that transforms it into a meaningful achievement, regardless of its complexity” concludes Andreea.

She highlights the recent case in which she defended the unrestricted use of the name ADA-KALEH by a historic café in Drobeta-Turnu Severin—a project and a place close to her heart due to her family’s origins.

She also points to the projects in which she advised, throughout this year, the largest cybersecurity software producer in Romania, managing the company’s trademark portfolio worldwide. This project involves carefully coordinating the client’s rights protection strategy across international markets, with lawyers ensuring compliance with the legal specifics of each country.

Such a mandate requires continuous adaptation of strategy and coordination of instructions for all lawyers the Romanian team works with globally.

The woman leader she admires most

“My business partner, Ana-Maria Baciu, is always the first person I think of when asked this question. Not only because she has been a mentor to me throughout my career, but because she did so with vision, the ability to inspire and motivate, with integrity and empathy. Ana-Maria is an effective leader, a strong communicator, capable of building trust and maintaining a positive, productive team environment—qualities I have always deeply valued” Andreea explains.

Relationship with technology

The reality is that technological skills aren’t determined by gender, but by education, interest, and practice. “More and more women are excelling in tech fields, showing that talent and skills in technology are accessible to anyone, regardless of gender,” says Andreea Bende.

In everyday practice, technology helps lawyers by automating standardized, repetitive tasks, improving efficiency and saving valuable time. All these tech-based tools allow legal professionals to access information more quickly, collaborate more efficiently, and stay updated with the latest legal regulations and trends.

“Moreover, technology supports work-life balance by enabling remote work and offering apps that optimize workflows and communication with clients and colleagues,” Andreea adds.

The interview was published by Bizlawyer and is available (in Romanian) in full HERE.

Andreea Bende is a Partner with BACIU PARTNERS. Details about her professional career are available HERE.