Following the events of 1989, Hall Dickler Kent Friedman & Wood LLP was the first Western law firm to open permanent offices in Romania. In 1992, after being involved in Romania as early as 1990, the New York law firm established Hall, Dickler (Romania) as a Romanian legal entity. Mr. Gilbert Wood was assigned to the Bucharest office in 1992 and agreed to stay only one year to put a "Western style" on its local operations. He has been a permanent resident ever since.

During the past fifteen years, he has managed a law firm that specializes in foreign direct investment in Romania by multi-national corporations. His firm participated in the joint ventures of the early 90s, the privatization which began in the mid-90s until today, and extensive litigation in Romania's courts related to commercial disputes. As a result, Mr. Wood has witnessed great changes, especially in the business climate.

Mr. Wood is a founding Member of the Foreign Investors Council, and current Vice President.

He also chairs the FIC's Legal Taskforce which focuses on "The Rule of Law" and a level playing field, important concepts that provide the foundation for proper and healthy competition in a functioning market economy.

Before coming to Romania, Gilbert Wood worked with General Electric in various military projects and spent 22 years in New York City as President of two engineering firms involved in high power servomechanisms. Mr Wood was educated at Cornell University, Syracuse University and the University of California.