The Legal 500

‘Clearly the leading practice in Moldova’, Turcan Cazac (formerly known as Turcan & Turcan) is renowned for its ‘dedication, creativity and hard work’. Recent highlights include the $10m refinancing of Moldova-Agroindbank; a $15m investment by Horizon Capital in Moldovan Bostavan Wineries Group; and a PPP for International Finance Corporation (IFC) that now serves as the blueprint for similar transactions in Moldova. The firm formalised its strategic partnership with Romania’s Tuca Zbarcea & Asociatii. Alexander Turcan and Octavian Cazac are recommended for ‘reliable, smooth, trustworthy and prompt’ advice.

PricewaterhouseCoopers Legal’s ‘expert on local law’ Alexandru Munteanu provides ‘ high-speed analysis, diplomatic skills and the highest ethical standards’. Munteanu and Marin Moraru advise on corporate matters, disputes, regulatory compliance and tax for clients that praise ‘professional service that is incomparable to any other firm in this area of law’. The firm’s ‘knowledge of the market is good’. Highlights included advising Société Générale on a securitisation, Gilat Satellite Networks on its entry into Moldova, and ICS Genesis on financing a road project.

Romanian firm Vernon | David is a heavyweight in Moldova, and benefits from a steady flow of referrals from international law firms such as Dewey & LeBoeuf LLP. The team advised BCR Chisinau on employment and regulatory aspects of the expansion of its banking operations. Other clients include Nokia, General Motors, Sony Entertainment, Sun Communications and Diageo. Diana Neagu and George Teodorescu, who also has international arbitration expertise, stand out for their transactional experience.

Buruiana & Partners’ five-lawyer practice handles arbitrations, as well as banking and transactional work, with a strong emphasis on transport and energy. Clients include marquee names such as the EBRD and IFC. Mihail Buruiana is well respected, as is Aleksei Buruiana, who also advises foreign clients on IP.

Levintsa & Associates has enviable experience advising foreign and domestic clients on their commercial business activities. Victor Levintsa is highly regarded for banking transactions and M&A.

Popa & Associates has ‘vast experience and industry knowledge, which it uses effectively in practice’. Igor Popa, who has ‘good managerial skills and experience in big projects’, leads a ‘very cohesive, solid and always cost-effective’ team that he manages in ‘a collegial and intelligent way’. It advised CME Media Enterprises on the acquisition of national television company Pro Digital LLC, and Polish sugar company Krajowa Spolka Cukrowa on a sale-and-purchase agreement. Anatol Hotineanu recently advised medical equipment importer Global Biomarketing.

Vladimir Iurkovski BIA in cooperation with Schoenherr’s Vladimir Iurkovski and Marcus Piuk have ‘extraordinary experience with cross-border transactions and corporate restructurings’. They advised OMB Group on restructuring its Moldovan subsidiary, and assisted a European telecoms group in entering the local market. Clients recommend this ‘highly responsive, efficient and well-structured team’.