Legal assistance services to Broadcom Inc. in relation to the indirect acquisition by Broadcom Inc. of the 100% shares of VMware International Marketing Limited – Bucharest Branch further to a $61 billion transaction. The firm advised Broadcom Inc. on the Romanian legal issues relating to the global acquisition which involved the takeover of VMware International Marketing Limited – Bucharest Branch. Their services included performing an extensive due diligence on the target and drafting the transaction documents, as well as assistance on all subsequent employment, corporate etc issues impacting on the deal.

Legal assistance services on all Romanian law issues regarding the sale by Emerson Electric Co. of its Climate Technologies Business to the US global asset manager Blackstone Inc. further to a $14 billion transaction. The firm advised on the Romanian law aspects incident to the sale, considering that Emerson has a strong presence in Romania. Their services included assistance with respect to the transaction structure and drafting the transaction documents, as well as assistance in relation to the transfer of employees.

Legal assistance services in relation to the indirect acquisition by Emerson of the 100% shares of National Instruments Romania and Digilent RO further to a €7.6 billion transaction. The firm advised in relation to the acquisition, performing due diligence on the target (corporate, employment, real estate) and drafting the transaction documents, since both Emerson and National Instruments are present in Romania.

Advising Carrefour Romania, Carrefour France and Carrefour Netherlands in connection with the acquisition of Romania Hypermarche, the local division of Louis Delhaize Group that operates CORA hypermarket chain. Their services included assistance during the legal due diligence process regarding the assets located in Romania, as well as advice in connection with the negotiation and signing of the transaction documents and assistance in relation to the fulfilment of the conditions precedent. In Romania, the deal includes 10 CORA hypermarkets and 8 CORA Urban stores, as well as nearly 2,400 employees.

Advising OMV Petrom in relation to a very complex transaction with Renovatio, an infrastructure asset owner, manager and development group of companies focused on the renewable energy sector. The transaction involves (i) the acquisition of a 50% stake in the largest portfolio of wind power in Romania (operated by Electrocentrale Borzesti) from RNV Infrastructure and (ii) the acquisition of a 100% stake in Renovatio Asset Management. Also, both parties entered into (iii) a complex JV agreement for the development of photovoltaic and wind power plants in the coming years. According to OMV Petrom, through this newly formed partnership, OMV Petrom together with Renovatio plan to invest by 2027 approx. €1.3 billion, including project financing, in renewables in Romania.

Specialist lawyers: Stefan Damian, Cornel  Popa, Razvan Gheorghiu-Testa, Catalin Baiculescu, Horia Ispas, Silvana Ivan, Dragos Apostol, Ciprian Timofte, Raluca Vasilache, Andreea Oprisan, Veronica Aman, Sergiu Cretu.

Assisting APS Investments on the takeover of a €400 million primarily non-performing exposures portfolio from Piraeus Bank. The team advised APS Investments in relation to the takeover of a non-performing loans portfolio from Piraeus Bank, consisting of approx. 2,000 unsecured loans and loans secured with real estate collateral in Romania, covering the specific banking/finance, real estate, competition issues (related to the merger control before the Romanian Competition Council and FDI clearance) and M&A issues impacting on the deal.

Advising BCR Social Finance IFN in relation to a loan granted by Romanian American Foundation to be used for the purpose of making available certain facilities to small-sized enterprises. These products are intended to support the growth of smallsized enterprises operating in the agriculture and tourism sectors, irrespective of their organizational structure. Romanian American Foundation will make available to the client funds that the latter will use to grant loans to such enterprises, regardless of the form of organization, under certain condition. 

Advising BRD Finance IFN on the selling of a portfolio of performing and nonperforming receivables. Their advice covered all steps of the transaction, including the negotiation phase and signing assistance.

Advising a club of local and regional banks (led by OTP Bank Romania) regarding two syndicated facility agreements for Aaylex One group. The team advised a club of local and regional banks led by OTP Bank Romania as arranger, facility agent and security agent in relation to the extension and restructuring of approx. RON 120 million and approx. €63 million syndicated facility agreement for the financing of Aaylex One group, a Romanian based leading player in the food industry. Furthermore, the team also advised the same club of local and regional banks led by OTP Bank Romania in relation a €15 million syndicated facility made available for the financing of certain financial indebtedness of the Aaylex group, as well as the payment of dividends and repayment of shareholder loans.

Assisting Raiffeisen Bank International AG in connection with various corporate, regulatory and GDPR compliance matters related to the launch of a new banking product in Romania. Their services also covered VAT and transfer pricing advice.

Specialist lawyers: Stefan Damian, Gabriela Anton, Silvana Ivan, Catalin Georgescu.

Ongoing procedures in file cases initiated by several companies in the energy field having as subject matter the annulment of administrative acts and/or for the recovery of the damages caused to electricity producers, as a result of the fulfilment of the obligations established and successively amended by Law No. 259/2021, Emergency Ordinance No. 27/2022, Law no. 206/2022 approving Emergency Ordinance no. 27/2022, Emergency Ordinance no. 119/2022, Law no. 357/2022 approving Emergency Ordinance no. 119/2022 concerning the tax consequences arising from the aforementioned legislative acts as regards the 80%-100% taxation of additional income and the payment of the Contribution to the Energy Transition Fund.

Advising OMV Petrom in relation to a very complex transaction with Renovatio, an infrastructure asset owner, manager and development group of companies focused on the renewable energy sector. According to OMV Petrom, through this newly formed partnership, OMV Petrom together with Renovatio plan to invest by 2027 approximately €1.3 billion, including project financing, in renewables in Romania.

Advising OMV Petrom in relation to a complex agreement for the acquisition of several projects for the construction of photovoltaic parks in Teleorman county. The team advised on the due diligence on the target companies, reviewing and negotiating all the transaction documents (SPA and Shareholders Agreement).

Legal assistance services in connection with a landmark project in the Republic of Moldova whereas the Romanian gas transmission company Transgaz, via its Moldovan subsidiary Vestmoldtransgaz (VMTG) took over the operation, maintenance, gas transmission and dispatching activities from state-owned Moldovatransgaz further to the conclusion of a 5-year lease agreement.

Legal assistance to an international company regarding the licensing procedures in the electricity and the natural gas markets. The team advised on all legal issues regarding the granting of trading licenses both for electricity and gas, including drafting the application files to be submitted before Romania’s energy regulatory authority (ANRE).

Specialist lawyers: Sorin Vladescu, Cornel Popa, Nisa Jecu.

Legal assistance services regarding the competition/antitrust issues further to the indirect acquisition by Colt of the 100% shares of Lumen Technologies Romania, further to a $1.8 billion transaction. The Competition/Antitrust team assisted the client in relation to obtaining the Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) clearance from the Romanian authorities.

Advising OMV Petrom on all competition/antitrust issues regarding a very complex venture with Renovatio, an infrastructure asset owner, manager and development group of companies focused on the renewable energy sector. The team assisted with all competition/antitrust issues (merger control etc) regarding each stage of cooperation as part of the JV agreement concluded by OMV Petrom with Renovatio for the development of photovoltaic and wind power plants in Romania. According to OMV Petrom, through this newly formed partnership, OMV Petrom together with Renovatio plan to invest by 2027 approx. €1.3 billion, including project financing, in renewables in Romania.

Advising Carrefour Romania, Carrefour France and Carrefour Netherlands in connection with the competition/antitrust issues regarding the acquisition of Romania Hypermarche, the local division of Louis Delhaize Group that operates CORA hypermarket chain. The team assisted in connection with the merger control process, consisting of (i) a referral request procedure before the European Commission and (ii) a merger filing before the Romanian Competition Council subsequent to the approval of the referral. The European Commission referred the merger review to the Romanian Competition Council that cleared the transaction in Phase I without the need for commitments. In Romania, the deal includes 10 CORA hypermarkets and 8 CORA Urban stores, as well as nearly 2,400 employees.

Assisting APS Investments on the competition/antitrust issues regarding the takeover of a €400 million primarily nonperforming exposures portfolio from Piraeus Bank. The team advised APS Investments in connection with the merger control before the Romanian Competition Council and FDI clearance of the takeover of a nonperforming loans portfolio from Piraeus Bank, consisting of approx. 2,000 unsecured loans and loans secured with real estate collateral in Romania.

Legal assistance to an insurance company regarding the annulment of a sanctioning decision issued by the Romanian Competition Council related to an alleged infringement of Article 5(1) of Competition Law and article 101(1) TFEU by the players on the MTPL insurance market.

Specialist lawyers: Raluca Vasilache, Andreea Oprisan.

Advising Carrefour Romania, Carrefour France and Carrefour Netherlands in connection with the acquisition of Romania Hypermarche, the local division of Louis Delhaize Group that operates CORA hypermarket chain. Their services included assistance during the legal due diligence process regarding the assets located in Romania, as well as advice in connection with the negotiation and signing of the transaction documents and assistance in relation to the fulfilment of the conditions precedent. In Romania, the deal includes 10 CORA hypermarkets and 8 CORA Urban stores, as well as nearly 2,400 employees.

Advising Adobe System in relation to the lease of 20,000 sqm office space in U Center Office Building, developed by Forte Partners. Their services included assistance in connection with the negotiation and signing of the master lease agreement, as well as in connection with the selection of the project management team and the general contractor and the negotiation and signing of the Project Management Agreement and the General Contractor Agreement.

Advising WDP in connection with acquisition of Expo Market Doraly, a retail scheme (wholesale center) owned by ARA Europe and Mr. Gheorghe Iaciu. The team advised WDP in connection with all stages of the transaction, including a complex legal due diligence process on the target (covering an area of approx. 110,000 sqm, 37 pavilions and over 400 tenants), the negotiation of the transaction documents and closing the transaction, including the fulfilment of all conditions precedent and the clearance of the transaction by the antitrust authority.

Advising Amethyst Group in a sale and lease back of its Romanian clinics located in Cluj (Floresti), Timis (Dumbravita) and Ilfov (Otopeni) to BT Property Alternative Investment Fund (managed by BT Asset Management SAI, a company part of the Banca Transilvania Financial Group). Their services include advice on the transaction structuring, the negotiation, signing and closing of the sale agreements regarding the real estate assets, the aggregate value of which is €12 million, as well as in relation to the long-term lease agreements.

Advising Jones Lang LaSalle Services, the Romanian subsidiary of JLL, on the Romanian law matters regarding the transfer of its Capital Markets, Valuations Advisory, Consulting and Project Management to iO Partners, as part of a multi-jurisdictional project. JLL and iO Partners have entered into a complex transaction to transfer the JLL existing Leasing, Capital Markets, Valuations Advisory, Consulting and Project Management delivery businesses to iO Partners in Romania, Czech Republic, Hungary and Slovakia.

Specialist lawyers: Razvan Gheorghiu-Testa, Dan Borbely, Dragos Apostol, Alexandra Peres, Oana Ureche, Raluca Misu, Veronica Aman, Ioana Marculet, Amalia Dumitru.

Representing Webuild S.p.A. (the former Astaldi S.p.A.) in various disputes arising mainly from the execution of works further to public procurement procedures worth €500 million.

Legal assistance and representation for Santierul Naval 2 Mai (Naval Shipyard 2 Mai Mangalia), a JV between the Romanian Government (owning 51% of the shares) and Damen Holding BV, specialized in ship building and ship repairing activities.

Assisting and representing the client, along with the Romanian State, and the Romanian Ministry of Economy, Entrepreneurship and Tourism (as respondents) in arbitration proceedings under the Rules of the International Chamber of Commerce, arising out of the JV agreement between the Romanian Government and Damen Holding BV. Also, the team is acting in the insolvency file opened by the parent company Damen Holding BV regarding outstanding debts.

Legal assistance and representation for a company specialising in waste management in several public procurement litigations related to procurement procedures for lots of contracts for delegation of the sanitation service management, carried out by several intercommunity Development associations etc.

Legal assistance and representation to a local bank in various disputes with its retail clients, as well as in disputes regarding the bankruptcy file against a Romanian insurance-reinsurance company and in a series of contentious-administrative disputes with a national authority.

Assisting and representing the Romanian Commodities Exchange in European case challenging a State monopoly on the national licensing for trade platforms regarding energy as opposing the EU Treaties. The ruling in this casefile is groundbreaking. Assisting and representing a private railway company in over 70 commercial disputes having as object the claims submitted by the Romanian administrator of the railway infrastructure arising from the railway infrastructure access contracts concluded with the client.

Specialist lawyers: Robert Rosu, Ioana Hrisafi, Cornel Popa, Anca Puscasu, Ionut Serban, Christina Vladescu, Dan Cristea, Catalina Mihailescu, Oana Gavril, Alina Ungureanu, Ana Popa, Cornelia Tabirta, Gabriel Vasii, Ioana Radu, Irina  Raileanu, Mihai Moisescu, Oana Mares, Valentin Moga.

Tax and legal assistance on a variety of windfall tax matters with which Evryo Group (formerly known as CEZ) is confronted in its ongoing operations on the Romanian energy market, including representation in front of the tax authorities and in Court.

Providing tax consultancy services to Alstom Romania in relation to the client’s obligations of complying with the newly introduced Standard Audit File for Tax (i.e. SAF-T) reporting, as well as providing ongoing tax consultancy services derived from the client’s business.

Legal assistance and tax advisory services to Amromco regarding a VAT assessment imposed by the Romanian tax authorities in relation to complex agreements specific to the energy & resources industry.

Providing tax assistance to Amethyst group on various matters further to the reorganisation of the group entities Also, they assisted the client in many VAT related matters which are important for Amethyst entities as they provide medical services which are VAT exempted without deduction right.

Tax and legal support to Continental Automotive Group throughout the implementation of a complex restructuring process, which involved two Romanian companies from the group.

Specialist lawyers: Razvan Gheorghiu-Testa, Alexandru Cristea, Ramona Chitu (Moisa), Cristian Velcu, Narcisa Ichim, Vlad Tanase, Alexandra Barbaiani.

Assisting the European Investment Bank (as member of a broader consultancy team) in relation to a technical assistance project to the benefit of the Romanian authorities consisting in the development and implementation of 3 regional emergency hospitals in Romania (with a total value of approx. €2.06 billion) which entails the establishment of a project management entity in the form of a public agency with roles and responsibilities in relation to the development of health infrastructure (i.e., the National Agency for Development of Health Infrastructure - ANDIS), as well as legal assistance in relation to the preparation and carrying out of the public procurement procedures and performance of contracts regarding the supervision of the works and the construction of the Iasi, Cluj and Craiova regional hospitals.

Legal assistance to the International Finance Corporation (IFC) in connection with the Constanta Port Pre-feasibility Study for the development of two additional piers in the perimeter of the Port of Constanta, through concession or public-private partnership mechanisms, with an estimated value of €1.3 billion.

Legal assistance to the International Finance Corporation (IFC) with respect to the Romanian legislation on public-private partnerships and for drafting necessary amendments and additions to the following legal acts: (i) G.E.O. no. 39/2018 on public-private partnership; (ii) G.D. no. 907/2016 on the stages of elaboration and the framework content of the technical-economic documents related to investment objectives/programmes financed from public funds. In November 2023, the Government Decision No. 1116 was published in the Official Gazette of Romania.

Legal assistance services provided to international companies in the defense industry in the context of the Romanian Government/Ministry of National Defense's program for modernization and endowment with military equipment for the Romanian Air and Land Forces, including 8x8 Piranha 5 armored vehicles, tactical UAS systems etc. Their role is to advise the companies participating in the public procurement procedures initiated by the authorities, assistance in all stages of the contract/framework agreement award procedure and during the negotiations, as well as during the execution of the contract. The team has successfully been involved in procurement procedures for military equipment worth over €3 billion.

Legal assistance services to CCN Altyapi Yatirimlari ve Insaat AS as leader of the consortium also comprising CCN Hastane Hizmetleri, regarding a €300 million contract for the design services (preparation of PT, DE, DTAC, DTOE, documentation for obtaining approvals) including technical assistance during the execution of works and execution of works for the new headquarters for the Emergency Hospital "Prof. Dr. Dimitrie Gerota".

Specialist lawyers: Serban Paslaru, Vlad Cercel, Iuliana Leon.

Legal assistance to an energy company regarding the implementation of the Anti-Money Laundering (AML) legislation. Legal assistance provided for drafting the internal regulations, policies, documents and training materials for the implementation of the new Anti-Money Laundering legislation enacted in Romania.

Legal assistance and representation to a pharmaceutical company in a complex criminal case. Legal assistance and representation services provided before the Prosecutor’s Office as regards a criminal file regarding contraband and counterfeiting, in which the client acts as a civil party.

Legal assistance and representation to an IT&C company in a complex criminal case in which criminal investigations are carried out against several companies for alleged tax evasion offenses, the total amounts requested as damages being estimated to tens of millions of euros. The case is extremely complex and concerns aspects of both criminal and tax law, including defences related to the direct applicability of the rules of Union law on VAT and the case law of the Court of Justice of the European Union.

Legal assistance services and representation to a company active in the steel industry in a criminal case regarding the perpetration of the offenses of misrepresentation.

Legal assistance to a software company regarding a criminal complaint against various individuals/legal entities responsible for perpetrating the offence on copyright and ancillary rights, consisting in the repeated breach of copyrights covering a well-known proprietary software.

Specialist lawyers: Robert Rosu, Manuela Gornoviceanu.

Assistance to a telecom company in relation to a broad range of labour/employment matters. Legal assistance in connection with a complex business transfer in the telecommunications network maintenance services market. The team also provided legal assistance and representation during the labour disputes initiated by a group of more than 100 employees who opposed the business transfer.

Day-to-day legal assistance to Carrefour Romania in relation to various labour and employment matters regarding its operations on the local retail market, including assistance further to the acquisition of “Cora” retail chain, comprising 10 CORA hypermarkets and 8 CORA Urban stores, as well as nearly 2,400 employees.

Assistance to 3M, in various labour and employment matters pertaining to its activities in Romania. Legal assistance in connection with the implementation of a collective dismissal process caused by the 3M Group decision to limit its physical presence in some East European markets, including Romania.

Legal assistance services on all Romanian law issues regarding the sale by Emerson Electric Co. of its Climate Technologies Business to the US global asset manager Blackstone Inc., further to a $14 billion transaction. The firm advised on the Romanian law aspects incident to the sale, including from a labour/employment law perspective.

Assistance to an international corporation active in the technology services field in relation to a wide range of labour and employment matters, including assistance on various day-to-day employment related issues, such as management of the
sensitive relationship with the employees’ representatives, implementation of telework regime, negotiation of a new collective bargaining agreement etc.

Specialist lawyers: Serban Paslaru, Mihai Anghel.