In a dynamic legal market driven by innovation, global integration, and increasing client expectations, KPMG Legal – Toncescu și Asociații has emerged as one of Romania’s most forward-thinking law firms. Combining deep-rooted legal expertise with a multidisciplinary approach, the firm delivers high-impact solutions across sectors such as litigation, public procurement, infrastructure, energy, corporate law, and compliance.

What sets KPMG Legal apart is not only its high standards and integrated service model but also its strong commitment to building a collaborative and resilient legal culture. The firm has grown into a preferred choice for local and international clients seeking both precision and pragmatism—particularly when navigating complex, high-stakes matters that require cross-practice collaboration and international perspective.

Since its strategic restructuring in recent years, KPMG Legal has evolved into a full-service law firm with a diversified team of legal professionals. Drawing from the strength of the KPMG global network, it integrates legal, tax, financial, and advisory capabilities to provide clients with 360-degree solutions—a model that is increasingly in demand.

Reinvention, Growth, and Team-Led Transformation

One of the key turning points for KPMG Legal came with its focus on expanding and deepening its Litigation & Dispute Resolution (L&DR) practice, along with complementary sectors like infrastructure, energy, public procurement, and crisis management. This renewed vision brought new leadership and new energy to the team, leading to a reshaping of the firm’s legal offering.

Under the guidance of its leadership team—including Partner Vlad Peligrad, who joined in 2019 with extensive experience in dispute resolution, insolvency, and high-level transactions—the firm undertook a comprehensive transformation. The emphasis was on building a sustainable legal business that prioritizes long-term value, not just short-term wins.

The team-driven restructuring paid off. KPMG Legal has since grown both in size and capability, with the Litigation & Dispute Resolution practice becoming one of the firm’s central pillars. The practice has helped position the firm as a go-to legal advisor in Romania for complex commercial litigation, arbitration, and regulatory disputes.

Today, KPMG Legal houses a team of 28 lawyers—educated in top-tier institutions across Romania, the U.S., U.K., France, and South Africa—with practical experience gained from leading international law firms, including Magic Circle firms. This diverse and internationally trained group enables the firm to address legal challenges from a global perspective while remaining grounded in the Romanian legal landscape.

A Practice Built on Collaboration and Expertise

KPMG Legal stands out not only for its technical knowledge but also for its operational mindset. The firm works closely with other KPMG functions—such as tax, risk, and advisory—to ensure clients benefit from a truly integrated approach to problem-solving. Whether it’s navigating a high-stakes arbitration, advising on PPP contracts, or responding to a corporate crisis, clients rely on KPMG Legal for coordinated, interdisciplinary responses.

With expertise spanning FIDIC contracts, infrastructure projects, corporate governance, fraud investigations, and real estate finance, the firm has carved out a niche in sectors that require legal sophistication and strategic agility.

Much of the firm’s success can be attributed to a strong internal culture focused on continuous learning, accountability, and openness. Lawyers at all levels are encouraged to contribute actively to the firm’s development, while also being supported through mentorship, coaching, and leadership development.

Investing in People and Legal Innovation

One of KPMG Legal’s defining features is its long-term investment in people. The firm places high value on professional development and encourages its lawyers to pursue academic and international experiences, ensuring a steady pipeline of future leaders.

In particular, the firm has maintained strong ties with academia, legal institutions, and arbitration bodies. Several team members, including senior leadership, contribute to legal scholarship, participate in arbitration panels, and regularly speak at legal conferences.

The approach is rooted in the belief that legal excellence must go hand in hand with a broader understanding of the world—and that collaboration outperforms competition. As one partner described, “You can’t grow a high-performing team without giving people space to challenge themselves—and the safety net to support them while they do.”

The Role of Leadership: Steady, But Shared

While the firm emphasizes collective achievement over individual spotlight, the contributions of key partners like Vlad Peligrad have been instrumental in navigating its evolution. With over two decades of experience, Vlad brought a global outlook and a focus on integrated legal service delivery that aligned perfectly with the firm’s long-term goals.

Educated at the George Washington University Law School (LL.M.) and holding a Ph.D. in law, Vlad’s background spans both transactional and dispute resolution domains. His career includes over a decade at a Magic Circle firm, significant work in cross-border transactions, and leadership in complex litigation cases in Romania and abroad.

Beyond client work, he has contributed to legal education through 12 years of teaching at the University of Bucharest and holds roles as arbitrator at two prominent arbitration institutions affiliated with the Romanian Chamber of Commerce.

However, within KPMG Legal, Vlad sees his most meaningful achievements reflected not in awards or accolades, but in the development of the firm’s people and practices. For him, success is defined by the growth of younger colleagues, the firm’s impact on the community, and the resilience it has built through collaboration.

A Legal Business Positioned for the Future

KPMG Legal is not resting on its success. The firm’s long-term vision is to become the top Big Four-affiliated law firm in Romania, while continuing to play a vital role in KPMG’s overall growth strategy. This includes expanding its footprint in high-value advisory services, reinforcing its role in complex cross-border deals, and continuing to evolve in response to changing regulatory environments and client expectations.

With a diverse, motivated team and a business model that balances innovation with rigor, KPMG Legal is well-positioned to navigate the future of the legal profession—not just as practitioners of the law, but as strategic partners in transformation.

Company Name: KPMG Legal
Partner: Vlad Peligrad