George Zlati — Cybercrime Lawyer in Romania

I represent clients in complex cybercrime, crypto‑asset and white‑collar cases across Romania and the EU. With 13+ years’ experience, a PhD in Cybercrime, and several teaching roles, I combine courtroom strategy with deep technical understanding of digital evidence, blockchain and MiCA compliance. My academic work has been cited in binding rulings of the High Court of Cassation and Justice (ÎCCJ), and I lecture on cybercrime and electronic evidence. I handle investigations, searches and seizures, crypto tracing and recovery, and extraditions/EAW.

Contact: george.zlati@zic.legal | +40 748 149 840 (WhatsApp/Signal).

Introduction

When your business, data or reputation is at stake, you need defence lawyer who speaks both ‘law’ and ‘tech’. I am a Partner at ZIC.legal, focused on cybercrime, crypto‑assets, digital evidence, white‑collar defence, and extraditions (EAW). I hold a PhD in Cybercrime, teach cybercrime at university level, and serve as an external lecturer to Romania’s National Institute of Magistracy (NIM). My publications — including the first Romanian Treatise on Cybercrime — have been cited by the ÎCCJ in preliminary rulings and appeals in the interest of the law.

What I do (for individuals, founders, tech companies & co‑counsel)

• Cybercrime defence in Romania: illegal access, data interference, system interference, illegal interception, computer fraud, phishing and malware‑related cases. I advise from the first summons through trial, working closely with forensic experts.

• Crypto‑asset cases & MiCA‑ready compliance: tracing on‑chain transactions, contesting seizures, asset recovery, and advisory on MiCA obligations for issuers and CASPs operating in or targeting the EU.

• Searches, seizures & digital forensics: rapid response for home/office and computer searches, device imaging, chain‑of‑custody issues, suppression strategies for unlawfully obtained e‑evidence.

• White‑collar defence & internal investigations: fraud, misconduct, misuse of IT assets, and compliance audits that reduce enforcement risk.

• Extraditions & European Arrest Warrant: defence on surrender, fundamental‑rights objections, and coordination with foreign counsel.

Legal basis (Romania & EU)

Romanian cybercrime offences are primarily set out in the Criminal Code, covering illegal access (art. 360), illegal interception (art. 361), data integrity interference (art. 362) and related offences.

On procedure, the Criminal Procedure Code regulates computer searches and access to a system (art. 168) and the special surveillance methods (art. 138), including ‘access to an information system’. For asset freezing, art. 249–252 CPP set out the general conditions and seizure procedure, which are often relied upon for the indisponibilisation of crypto‑assets in criminal proceedings.

Procedural & evidentiary specifics

• Early intervention during computer searches: Romanian law requires judicial authorisation and safeguards for computer searches and access; challenging scope and execution can be decisive (e.g. over‑collection, integrity of forensic images, hash validation).

• Digital evidence, handled properly: I align forensic work with art. 138 CPP (methods of technical surveillance) and best practice in chain‑of‑custody, to admit the reliable and exclude the tainted.

• Crypto seizure & recovery: Prosecutors and courts may apply arts. 249–252 CPP to freeze assets. Defence focuses on lawful basis, proportionality and precise asset identification (including distinguishing custodial vs. self‑custody).

Typical matters I handle

I represent both individuals under investigation și victims of cybercrime, ensuring that cases are addressed with precision and technical insight. My work spans a wide range of cybercrime offences, including:

• Crypto-asset misappropriation și fraudulent transactions.

• Smart contract manipulation and other blockchain-related exploits, where vulnerabilities are abused to divert assets or trigger unintended outcomes.

• Seed phrase misappropriation și wallet compromises, where stolen keys result in asset loss.

• Illegal access to computer systems și data interference, often involving corporate networks, insider threats or compromised credentials.

• Computer fraud și carding cases, involving phishing, malware, cloned cards or stolen credentials.

• Identity theft in both financial and non-financial contexts, often linked to account takeovers and fraudulent transactions.

• Child pornography.

I also act for victims of investment scams, including fake trading platforms, crypto Ponzi schemes and online fraud networks. In these cases, I file and pursue criminal complaints, work with forensic experts for on-chain tracing, and coordinate with authorities to increase the chance of asset recovery.

Beyond defence and litigation, I provide legal consultancy to companies and founders on cybercrime prevention, MiCA-compliant structures and risk management, helping to mitigate exposure before investigations arise.

To support this work, I collaborate with a specialised OSINT (Open Source Intelligence) and incident response team, enabling rapid identification of digital footprints, threat actors and compromised infrastructure. This multidisciplinary approach means that clients receive not just legal advice, but also forensic and investigative support that can be decisive in court.

FAQ

1) What does a ‘cybercrime lawyer Romania’ actually cover?
Everything from illegal access și interception to computer fraud, device searches and digital forensics. Cases often turn on proper authorisation, logging, and how evidence was obtained.

2) Can crypto‑assets be frozen in a Romanian investigation?
Yes. Prosecutors or courts may order asset‑freezing under arts. 249–252 CPP. Defence examines necessity, proportionality and the technical pathway (custodial exchange vs. non‑custodial wallet).

3) I’ve received an EAW — can you help?
Yes. I defend surrender proceedings, challenge defects and coordinate parallel strategies in the issuing state. The framework is 2002/584/JHA.

4) Do you work with international clients and co‑counsel?
Yes — I routinely coordinate with foreign counsel on EAW, and cross‑border criminal cases.

Disclaimer: This material is for general information only and does not constitute legal advice. For advice on your specific situation, please seek qualified legal counsel.

Jurisdictional focus: Romanian law with EU elements where relevant (MiCA, EAW).