Advised Geely Holding Group and Geely Automobile Holdings Limited (collectively referred to as “Geely”) on the Romanian legal aspects of a binding 50/50 joint venture agreement with Renault Group to launch a new powertrain technology company that aims to become the global leader in developing, manufacturing, and supplying best-in-class hybrid powertrains and highly efficient ICE powertrain. A powerhouse client of the firm, China-based Geely is an automotive company, ranked in the Global 500 with annual revenue exceeding $60 billion.

Assisted Naxxar Renewable Energy, one of the largest wind farm developers for the development and sale of a 685.6 MW wind project consisting of +110 Wind turbine Generators (WTG), clustered under 7 SPV to Polenergia. This is arguably the largest privately owned renewable energy (wind farm) project that is currently being developed on the Romanian market and, if  completed, will be regarded as a milestone and reference point both from a standalone installed capacity/project (MW/project) as well as from an absolute value (price/MW) perspective.

The firm’s team advised Adesgo, an European market leader in the production of women’s underclothing, with a tradition of almost a century on this market, on the sale of its factory and related business in Romania – transaction  structured on two layers: sale of the property and transfer of its business related to the manufacturing, marketing and selling of seamless apparel to Tefron (an Israeli investor with global presence).

Advised Sika AG (leading specialty chemicals company in the development and production of systems and products for bonding, sealing, damping, reinforcing, and protecting in the building sector and motor vehicle industry), on all Romanian legal aspects of its €5.3 billion acquisition of MBCC Group (Master Builders Construction Chemicals) from Lone Star Funds, a global private equity firm. Sika is a leading Switzerland-based chemicals company, with revenue of approx. $13 billion, subsidiaries in 100 countries and 25.000 employees.

The law firm is currently advising Ecolab in all post-closing matters concerning the acquisition of the Romanian subsidiary of Purolite, following the acquisition of the Purolite Group, a complex transaction involving around 20 jurisdictions over six continents. Jurisdictions involved include USA, UK, France, Singapore, Germany, China, Poland, New Zealand, Tunisia, Czech Republic, Jersey, Turkey, India, Korea, Japan, South Africa, Mexico, Australia, Israel, and Romania. Ecolab is a US-based market leader in water treatment, as evident by its $80 billion+ market cap.

Specialist lawyers: Gheorghe Musat, Paul Buta, Razvan Stoicescu, Iulian Popescu, Andrei Ormenean, Monia Dobrescu, Ana Maria Abrudan, Manuela Lupeanu, Madalina Trifan, Julieta Sfecla, Robert Urmosi, Simona Anton, Dragos Lungu, Alina Man, Cristian Cepesi, Sirin Stan (Omer), Dumitru Varzari, Evelina Stoian, Denisa Ceorcan, Adina Enache.

Advising BCR Banca pentru Locuinte - a division of BCR, one of the biggest banks in Romania, specialized in collective saving and lending for housing, on regulatory issues of the financing system, of which representative is the EUR multimillion litigation with the Ministry of Development, Public Works and Administration, concerning Bauspar matters and the implementation of the system in Romania.

Advising Hili Properties, one of the largest property investors active in Romania with a portfolio valued at approx. €240 million, with respect to a EUR multi million facility agreement for the acquisition of the minority shareholding in Baneasa Real Estate. The work includes structuring of the financing and security package as well as negotiation of the necessary finance documents.

Advising several of the largest international banks on a long-term basis - HSBC, JP Morgan, RBC, Citibank, Northern Trust, State Street, The Bank of New York Mellon, in connection with their 2024 provision of securities custody services in Romania and related risks in insolvency of local custodians.

The law firm provides advice a giant multinational payment card services corporation offering a range of payment transaction processing and other related payment services, in relation to a wide range of legal and regulatory aspects.

Advised Switzerland’s construction chemicals group Sika AG on all Romanian legal aspects of its €5.2 billion acquisition of MBCC Group (Master Builders Construction Chemicals) from Lone Star Funds, a global private equity firm. With revenue of $13 billion, subsidiaries in 100 countries and 25.000 employees, Sika is a leading specialty chemicals company. The law firm advised the client in respect to all Romanian law aspects of the acquisition (which involves, among others, the divestment of the business of MBCC Group), including with the legal due diligence, as well in respect of structuring the relevant financing streams for the implementation of the project.

Specialist lawyers: Razvan Stoicescu, Iulian Popescu, Monia Dobrescu, Angela Porumb, Andrei Ormenean, Ana Maria Abrudan, Madalina Trifan, Dragos Lungu, Oana Lupu, Liviu Viorel, Robert Urmosi, Cristian Cepesi, Sirin Stan (Omer), Dumitru Varzari, Elena Nitu.

Providing comprehensive assistance to Solar Turbines Europe throughout all stages of bid preparation, encompassing the drafting of requests for clarification and proposals for the amendment of specific contractual terms, as well as establishing a proper participation structure for the sectoral procurement organized by Transgaz having as scope Preventive and Reactive Maintenance Services on Compressor Units produced by Solar Turbines in Natural Gas Compressor Stations with an estimated value of $18 million.

Assisted Naxxar Renewable Energy, one of the largest wind farm developers for the development and sale of a 685.6 MW wind project consisting of +110 Wind turbine Generators (WTG), clustered under 7 (seven) SPV to Polenergia, the largest private Polish energy group, one of the landmark transactions in energy in recent years.

Assisted and represented Transenergo COM, a major Romanian energy supply and trading company, in three complex international arbitrations before the German Arbitration Institute (seat of arbitration: Paris and Bonn) and the Court of International Commercial Arbitration attached to the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Romania (seat of arbitration Bucharest) deriving from EFET international agreements for the sale of electricity and involving multiple claims in excess of €3.5 million. The disputes involve parties from multiple jurisdictions (e.g. Romania, Bulgaria, Austria, Switzerland and Hungary) and the applications of different laws (lex arbitri, lex contractus, and law governing the parties’ capacity to arbitrate).

Assisting Hidroelectrica, the leading Romanian energy provider in connection with a complex arbitration dispute arising in connection with a complex infrastructure project of national importance regarding the rehabilitation of one of the largest hydropower plants in Romania and initially involving multiple claims and counterclaims with an amount in dispute in excess of €30 million.

The law firm is advising and representing one of the largest distributors of electrical power in Romania, in various complex multimillion EUR disputes. The Energy and Natural Resources department has provided legal and technical insight required for the evidentiary material used in this case and assisting the accountancy and fiscal expertise. By performing an analysis of the regulatory and compliance aspects of the energy distribution business and auditing its conformity they are required to provide lines of specialised argumentation for litigators.

Specialist lawyers: Iulian Popescu, Ana Maria Abrudan, Angela Porumb, Razvan Graure, Andrei Ormenean, Iuliana Iacob, Madalina Trifan, Cristian Cepesi, Alina Man, Liviu Viorel, Sirin Stan (Omer), Cristina Solcan, Sorina Baroi, Adina Enache, Carolina Mitea, Andrei Popa.

Assisted Naxxar Renewable Energy, one of the largest wind farm developers for the development and sale of a 685.6 MW wind project consisting of +110 Wind turbine Generators (WTG), clustered under 7 (seven) SPV to Polenergia, on the Romanian legal aspects regarding potential merger control assessment and analysis of meeting of foreign direct investment conditions for notification and authorization by the Romanian authorities. The transaction involved a passed acquisition by Naxxar from local developers of the project rights along with a B2B sale thereof to Polenergia under an SPA and co-development agreement to be entered into and expected to span over 4 years. This project is arguably the largest privately owned renewable energy (wind farm) project currently being developed on the Romanian market.

Assisted Geely Holding Group, a global mobility technology group, and Geely Automobile Holdings Limited, an automobile manufacturer, focusing on development, manufacturing and sales of passenger vehicles, (collectively referred as “Geely”) on the Romanian legal aspects of a binding 50/50 joint venture agreement with Renault Group to launch a new powertrain technology company that aims to become the global leader in developing, manufacturing, and supplying best-in-class hybrid powertrains and highly efficient ICE powertrain.

Assisting Electrolux, one of the world’s largest manufacturers of domestic appliances, through its local subsidiary, with complex analysis of Electrolux Romania’s distribution relations and day-to-day competition law related activities. They assisted the client with a range of assessments with regard to the distribution framework, relations with downstream service and products suppliers, advertising and marketing initiatives, overall conduct of business in Romania and competition compliance trainings.

Assisting and representing Electromagnetica, one of the oldest and most reputed Romanian producers of electronic apparatus, in an investigation procedure undertaken by the Competition Council on the market for electricity meters and energy measuring systems in Romania. The investigation’s aims were to identify eventual bid rigging and other collusive/market sharing practices on the respective market, between suppliers of measuring systems and electricity distribution operators in Romania. They represented the client before the Bucharest Court of Appeals and pursued the appeal before the High Court of Cassation and Justice.

Assisting the Cluj Avram Iancu International Airport, one of the fastest growing and dynamic airports in Romania, in connection with the investigation launched by the Romanian Competition Council regarding the airport’s alleged abuse of a dominant position on the market for access to the airport infrastructure to ground handling companies. The mandate included structuring the defence against the investigation report issued by the Competition Council in this case and representing the client in various judicial proceedings before the Bucharest Court of Appeal and the High Court of Cassation and Justice concerning the sanctioning decision issued by the Competition Council, one of which being finalised with the stay of enforcement of the Competition Council’s decision until the final settlement of the action for annulment of said decision.

Specialist lawyers: Paul Buta, Iulian Popescu, Ana Maria Abrudan, Angela Porumb, Andrei Ormenean, Manuela Lupeanu, Julieta Sfecla, Sirin Stan (Omer), Diana Panoiu, Constanta Duta (Carbune).

The team advises Kaufland, retail giant with 170 stores in Romania, on various real estate acquisitions in Romania during its expansion process. The client is one of the largest supermarket chains in Europe, with €34 billion of annual revenue. Typically, they are advising the client in connection with land purchases in different areas of the country, including on finalizing development on several projects, in each case performing complex legal work, from preliminary due diligence on the current title to in-depth analysis of the ownership chain, legal assessment on the urbanistic parameters and the compliance of the permitting procedure, reviewing and negotiating the PreSPAs, SPAs etc., handling litigation matters concerning the envisaged properties.

Assisted Naxxar Renewable Energy, one of the largest WF developers from the “new wave” of the renewables sector, in relation to the conditional sale of a +600 MW Wind Farm (WF) project consisting of +110 Wind turbine Generators (WTG), clustered under 7 (seven) SPV to one of the largest private energy group in CEE. Also, their work is currently related to the fulfilment of post-closing obligations and on ongoing development of the project.

Advising Havi Logistics on various aspects related to their activity and business model, as well as on the upgrading of its new distribution centre in Chitila (near Bucharest) by installing a photovoltaic power plant on such property, designed to cover part of the energy supply required for the operation of the distribution centre. The mandate included revisions and negotiations of (i) the addenda to the lease agreement for the property, covering such development, (ii) the maintenance agreement for the photovoltaic power plant, (iii) matters incurred during implementation of the project.

Advising Vision Housing, which operates over 1800 apartments across Europe, on its extremely difficult negotiation and currently ongoing litigation with its constructor in relation to the overall refurbishment works performed at one of its hotels located in centre Bucharest (the former Ramada Majestic Hotel). This is one of Bucharest's most emblematic buildings, located on the historic Calea Victoriei in the heart of Bucharest, consisting of over 106 rooms fully furnished, an interior swimming pool, a restaurant, a ballroom, gym & wellness area, conference room & much more.

Currently assisting Ubitech on the expansion of its real estate portfolio, via various acquisitions in different parts of Romania, such as Prahova County, Neamt County, Ilfov County etc. The envisaged development of these sites varies from factories to residential to environmentally conscientious green areas/parks.

Specialist lawyers: Iulian Popescu, Monia Dobrescu, Andrei Ormenean, Ana Maria Abrudan, Madalina Trifan, Liviu Viorel, Cristian Cepesi, Sirin Stan (Omer), Evelina Stoian, Adina Enache, Carolina Mitea.

Continues to represent KMG International NV and its affiliated companies in relation to €1.6 billion civil liabilities and commercial claims following the investigation performed by the Romanian authorities regarding the conditions for the privatisations procedures of one of the most important companies currently owned by KMG Group International NV (Rompetrol, Petromidia, Vega etc.); the taking over of these companies by the Romanian state debs derived from the petroleum exploitation from Libya; the negotiations with the Romanian Government of the instalment conditions of the historical debts due by part of the companies etc.; and consequently engaging civil responsibility of the legal persons involved in the above mentioned procedures.

Representing Damen Schelde Naval Shipbuilding BV before the Romanian Courts for claims aimed at cancelling the military public procurement acquisition of military ships for breaches of law, one filed with the Bucharest Tribunal and one filed with the National Council for Solving Complaints both in front of the Bucharest Court of Appeal. The initial case led to another three litigation cases - one for the annulment of the Government ordinance regulating the public procurement procedure, another criminal case related to the access to classified information, and a dispute concerning access to data classified as confidential information, the procedure for their declassification.

Assisting Hidroelectrica, the leading Romanian energy provider in connection with a complex arbitration dispute arising in connection with a complex infrastructure project of national importance regarding the rehabilitation of one of the largest hydropower plants in Romania and initially involving multiple claims and counterclaims with an amount in dispute in excess of €30 million.

Advising and representing BCR Banca Pentru Locuinte in relation to the mitigation and cancellation of the effects of a High Court of Cassation and Justice’s decision by which the BCR BpL was held in breach of certain highly interpretable banking provisions. They are handling several disputes and negotiations in relation to the regulatory issues of the financing system, including legislative amendment discussions, preparing several constitutional challenges and preliminary references to the Court of Justice of the European Union regarding relevant regulatory matters and constant dialogue and negotiations with the public authorities in view of addressing the outstanding implementation problems of this particular financing system.

Successfully representing Leoni Group (Leoni AG and its Romanian affiliate) in various court cases related to the investigation of a transnational informatics fraud, which led to a series of fraudulent transfers in the amount of €40 million. Their work on this matter has involved complex legal assistance and representation services before all relevant Romanian court regarding the applicability of business and commercial law. 

Specialist lawyers: Gheorghe Musat, Paul Buta, Razvan Stoicescu, Iulian Popescu, Angela Porumb, Alexandru Terta, Iuliana Iacob, Andrei Ormenean, Ana Maria Abrudan, Stefan Diaconescu, Liviu Viorel, Alin Sinocicu, Ana Maria Burada, Cristina Solcan, Sorina Baroi, Georgiana Negulescu, Iuliana Negura, Cristina Ciobanu

Advising Amazon, one of the largest companies in the world, upon extending its local presence in Romania, with respect to various day-to-day activities, including a demerger process and the implementation of various systems implemented by local tax authorities.

Advising HAVI, one of the largest players in the logistic field in Romania, with respect to restructuring of the activities performed and changing the business model from distribution model to agent model.

Advising Ferring Pharmaceuticals, a multinational specialty biopharmaceutical group, on the tax legal aspects related to the company’s activities in Romania. They advised the client on issues such as taxation of the revenues paid by the company to  foreign speakers attending educational events and revision of the related agreements, as well as on the COVID-19 related tax incentives and government relief.

Advising Disney in connection with the local taxes imposed by Romanian National Center of Cinematography, by providing relevant legal steps to fulfil their local obligations. Also, the law firm assisted the client with submission of challenges related to the computation of the amounts due to the Romanian National Center as well as drafting clarification letters on the obligations imposed to the company. To this extent, they assisted the company also with the payment and declarative obligations towards the Romanian National Center.

Assisting Kaufland Romania in relation to a tax auditing process, including assistance with procedures during the audit, as well as subsequent tax challenge exercises. They have previously assisted this long-standing client with other tax matters, such as: restructuring of the retail business, compliance with various regulatory obligations, implementation of electronic cashiers, and tax aspects in relation to various supplier damages. Their work on this matter has involved assistance during the court challenges for the annulment of the additional tax obligations set by the tax inspectors, as well as performing tax due diligence regarding the acquisitions of real estate by the company.

Specialist lawyers: Iulian Popescu, Dan Minoiu, Razvan Graure, Monia Dobrescu, Angela Porumb, Roxana Bujoreanu, Alina Man, Adriana Popovici.

Assists Nurol Insaat, a major Turkish leading group, active at international level in the areas of construction and infrastructure (e.g., highways, tunnels, bridges etc.), currently participating in public construction works sector in Romania. Founded as an international general contracting company in 1966, Nurol is now present in 15 countries on three continents, with over 10,000 technical and administrative staff.

Assists Makyol Insaat, a Turkish leading contractor firm, active in the areas of construction and infrastructure (e.g., highways, airports, dams, tunnels, bridges etc.), currently participating in public construction works sector in Romania, in connection with various contractual issues deriving from public procurement contracts concluded with public authorities, e.g., the National Railway Company (in Romanian, “CFR”), Metrorex, National Road Infrastructure Management Company, National Company for Investment and Inter-Community Development Association For Metropolitan Infrastructure.

Assisting Ubitech (an important local leading company that offers technical and engineering services and construction works) in various high-stakes public procurement projects with high-security requirements, such as those for the Romanian Ministry of Defence.

Assisting Leviatan Design, an important local company that offers technical and engineering services, in connection with various contractual issues deriving from public procurement contracts, especially concluded with the Romanian Ministry of Defence, but also with other civil public authorities.

Assisted and represented Copraag Entrepreneur (a company providing maintenance services, building materials for sustainable projects and high-performance machinery and equipment for hire). They are currently assisting the Client in relation to its participation in the above civil procurement tenders, and specifically, in establishing a proper participation structure, clarifying tender requirements, fulfilling and preparing the qualification/eligibility documentation, as well as the agreements and commercial contracts with the other members of its participation structures.

Specialist lawyers: Iulian Popescu, Ana Maria Abrudan, Andrei Ormenean, Angela Porumb, Ana Maria Burada, Georgiana Negulescu, Iuliana Negura, Adina Enache, Carolina Mitea, Andrei Popa, Cristina Ciobanu.

Assisted EightCap EU Ltd. (formerly R Capital Solutions Ltd.), an important European stock exchange and foreign exchange company, in connection with an extremely complex case regarding charges of economic crimes.

Successfully represented Leoni Group (Leoni AG and its Romanian affiliate) in various court cases related to the investigation of a transnational informatics fraud. Their work on this matter has involved complex legal assistance and representation services before all relevant Romanian court regarding the applicability of business and commercial law.

The law firm assists a politician, former minister, in a complex and highly publicized criminal investigation regarding allegations of corruption crimes, embezzlement and forgery of documents, in front of the High Court of Cassation and Justice.

The law firm continues to assist the former manager of a major healthcare unit, in several complex criminal cases with accusations of abuse in office and corruption, allegedly committed while serving as President of the National Health Insurance House, related to the execution of the contract concluded for achieving a partnership for designing, building and operating an integrated health insurance system in Romania.

The firm has provided legal assistance and representation to Banca Transilvania, one of the most important banks in Romania, in a highly complex case. Due to the longstanding litigation between the parties the Criminal law firm’s department has worked closely with other key departments, such as the insolvency and restructuring department or the litigation department in order to obtain a favourable solution for the client.

Specialist lawyers: Gheorghe Musat, Paul Buta, Razvan Stoicescu, Alexandru Terta, Angela Porumb, Stefan Diaconescu, Alin Sinocicu, Ana Maria Burada, Georgiana Negulescu, Iuliana Negura, Cristina Ciobanu.

Assisting US-based company Transocean, world’s largest offshore drilling contractor, with 5500 global employees and approx. $3 billion of annual revenue. They advised in connection to the Neptun Deep project, the largest natural gas project in the Romanian Black Sea and valued at an approx. €4 billion investment, signed with OMV Petrom for Transocean Barents semi-submersible drilling rig.

Advised Geely Holding Group and Geely Automobile Holdings Limited on the Romanian legal aspects of a binding 50/50 joint venture agreement with Renault Group to launch a new powertrain technology company that aims to become the global leader in developing, manufacturing, and supplying best-in-class hybrid powertrains and highly efficient ICE powertrain.

The law firm was assisting Sika AG in connection with several employment matters regarding the EBA/EBC separation of MBCC Group (following the €5.2 billion acquisition of MBCC Group from Lone Star Funds, a global private equity firm; on which they also advised on all Romanian legal aspects of the acquisition), one of the leading suppliers of construction chemicals and solutions worldwide, with special focus on the automatic transfer of employees and other employment issues which may impact the transaction. In addition, they have advised Sika on various employment documents and policies, such as the employee’s handbook, compensations.

Assisted Purolite - an Ecolab company (global leader in water, hygiene and infection prevention solutions and services), a chemical manufacturing company, on various postclosing matters (i.e., the acquisition of Purolite by Ecolab, on which their mandate covered extensive due diligence on all matters of Romanian law regarding the deal, including employment, regulatory and compliance, data privacy, and tax related matters).

The law firm continues to provide Open Text (former Microfocus), one of the largest software companies in the world with 4400 employees and $5 billion in annual revenue, and its local entity with customized advice on a wide range of employment matters, such as the implementation of teleworking policies, withdrawal of employment offer, together with day-to-day employment advice.

Specialist lawyers: Mihai Popa, Oana Lupu, Dragos Lungu, Evelina Mieisor-Grecu, Simona Anton.