I am Dan-Sebastian Chertes, a member of the Cluj Bar Association since 2007, working exclusively in criminal law. My office is in Cluj-Napoca, and I work in English with foreign clients facing criminal proceedings in Romania.
If the situation is urgent — you have been detained, searched, or summoned for questioning in the coming days — call +40 742 833 784 directly. For emergencies I arrange meetings outside office hours.
What foreign clients usually face here
- Drug cases. Cluj-Napoca is the largest university centre in Transylvania, with several thousand international students. Many defendants are young, with no record. See the drug offences page.
- Driving offences. Alcohol, psychoactive substances, driving without a licence. Romania treats these as criminal offences, not administrative ones, which surprises most foreign drivers.
- Road accidents, whether you are the driver charged or the injured person.
- Fraud and cybercrime. Cluj concentrates the regional IT industry, and these files are disproportionately frequent here.
- Business and tax cases involving companies with foreign shareholders or management.
Rights that matter if you are not Romanian
- Interpretation and translation. You are entitled to an interpreter at every procedural step and to translation of the essential documents. Do not sign anything you have not understood in a language you speak.
- Consular notification. If you are detained, your embassy or consulate can be informed at your request.
- The right to silence. It applies to you exactly as it applies to a Romanian citizen, and silence cannot be interpreted against you.
- Travel and residence. Judicial control can include a ban on leaving the country, and a conviction can affect your residence rights. These consequences should shape the strategy from the beginning.
The courts and prosecutor offices in Cluj county
- The district courts of Cluj-Napoca, Turda, Dej, Gherla and Huedin — competent at first instance for most offences.
- The Cluj Tribunal — hears at first instance the offences assigned to it by law, as well as cases investigated by D.I.I.C.O.T. or D.N.A., under art. 36 of the Code of Criminal Procedure.
- The Cluj Court of Appeal — hears appeals. Its district covers the counties of Cluj, Bistrița-Năsăud, Maramureș and Sălaj.
- The prosecutor offices attached to each of these courts, plus the specialised territorial services: D.I.I.C.O.T. Cluj for drugs and organised crime, and D.N.A. Cluj for corruption.
Gherla Penitentiary is also located in Cluj county, where I assist clients in enforcement proceedings: conditional release, challenges to enforcement, applications to postpone or interrupt a sentence.
How we start
- You call or write. Tell me briefly what happened and at what stage matters stand. If it is urgent, say so at the start.
- We arrange an initial consultation. It costs a fixed 500 RON, told to you in advance. Details on the fees page. It can be held by video call if you are not in Romania.
- We discuss the case in detail. Be as candid as possible — communication between client and lawyer is covered by professional privilege and cannot be used against you.
- We agree a strategy and a fee, in writing, in the legal assistance contract.
Frequently asked questions
Do you handle civil or family matters?
No. I work exclusively in criminal law. If your problem is of a different nature, I will tell you at the first conversation and, where I can, point you to someone suitable.
I am outside Romania. Can you act for me?
In most situations, yes. Representation is based on a legal assistance contract, and many steps do not require your presence. Certain acts do. I will tell you at the outset which hearings you must attend, so you can plan.
How good does my English need to be?
We can work entirely in English. For official procedural steps, an authorised interpreter is appointed where the law requires it; that cost is separate and explained in advance.
Can I be arrested before trial?
For certain offences, yes, but it is not the rule. Police custody lasts at most 24 hours, and pre-trial arrest is ordered by a judge for at most 30 days at a time. See the page on arrest and preventive measures.
Where to find me
The office is at Str. Andrei Șaguna 34-36, ap. 29, Cluj-Napoca. Hours: Monday to Friday, 09:00 to 18:00. For emergencies, call +40 742 833 784 and we will arrange a meeting, including outside office hours.