Salans law firm: First quarter was definitely weaker than last year

Representatives of Salans law firm, one of the leading foreign players on the Romanian market, confirm estimates made by most law firms, according to which this year will probably be the first year of decline for the market, after a time of sustained rise in revenues. “The 2008 financial results were satisfactory, although in the last two quarters we could notice a revenue decline. This year, however, will be completely different. The first quarter was definitely weaker than last year,” said Christopher Berlew, one of the firm’s two managing partners. Salans lawyers do not reveal financial data for their local branch but, according to existing data and considering the size of the team – 37 lawyers – the firm is one of the top ten players on the Romanian market. Firms such as NNDKP, Tuca Zbarcea & Asociatii and Stoica & Asociatii announced at the beginning of this year they were even considering a decline in revenues, after the top ten players rose by an average 35% in 2008.