The Legal 500

CMS’ transactional highlights included acting on First Reserve’s acquisition of Amromco, Romania’s third-largest gas producer. The team also advised on a number of multi-jurisdictional matters, such as Intel’s acquisition of Israeli company Telmap, which included a Bucharest R&D centre. Other clients include MIH Allegro and MetLife. Horea Popescu and team head John Fitzpatrick are well regarded.

Musat & Asociatii advised new client Astra Rail Industries on its €250m acquisition of three Romanian companies; Nokia on its €60m divestiture of its Jucu plant to De’Longhi; and Oz Mineral on its €200m bid to privatise Cupru Min, the country’s largest copper mine. Managing partner Gheorghe Musat is ‘a real leader with an impressive personality’, Gelu Titus Maravela is ‘professional and dedicated’, and new partner Alina Popescu has ‘strong legal knowledge and excellent communication skills’. Silvia Sandu was promoted to the partnership.

Nestor Nestor Diculescu Kingston Petersen’s ‘elite’ corporate team provides ‘top-level performance in terms of speed and quality’. In 2012, it acted for Roman Copper on the privatisation of Cupru Min, and assisted Ford Motor Company with corporate restructuring undertaken in order to acquire the car factory, Automobile Craiova. Gabriela Cacerea, Ruxandra Bologa, Adina Chilim-Dumitriu and practice head Adriana Gaspar are the partners.

‘A clear leader in corporate work’, Tuca Zbarcea & Asociatii combines ‘great efficiency and dedication, and has earned a well-deserved place in the top echelon of its profession’. The team recently advised Erste Bank on its €600m acquisition of minority stakes in BCR. Other clients include Carrefour and E-Jobs. Managing partners Gabriel Zbârcea and Florentin Tuca and deputy managing partner Stefan Damian are the key figures.

Clifford Chance Badea is ‘a truly international firm that is able to deliver a crisp, commercially focused level of service’. The two-partner team advised Aviva on the sale of its Romanian operations to MetLife. It also acted for Goldman Sachs and a consortium of financial institutions as underwriters of the Romgaz privatisation. Team head Nadia Badea is recommended along with the ‘outstanding’ Perry Zizzi, who is ‘client-focused, commercially driven and able to come up with unique solutions to legal problems’.

Dentons’ two-partner team advised SPAR Group on separate joint venture agreements with Business Ideas Provider Group and Pella Promotion. It also acted for VB Real Estate on the acquisition of five project companies. Managing partner Anda Todor heads the practice.

Eversheds Lina & Guia advised DS Smith on its €1.5bn acquisition of Svenska Cellulosa Aktiebolaget, and acted for Franklin Templeton on the merger of three listed companies. Other highlights included assisting Tyco International with the local aspects of its global restructuring process. Mihai Guia heads the team, which includes Cristina Popescu, who has ‘excellent legal knowledge and is extremely practical’.

Kinstellar’s corporate practice provides ‘a valuable combination of practical experience, technical knowledge and flawless execution’. The team advised on the proposed merger between Alpha Bank and EFG Eurobank, and also acted on Finnish paint producer Tikkurila OYJ’s divestment of its Czech, Slovakian, Hungarian and Romanian subsidiaries to Dejmark Group. Practice head Razvan Popa is ‘dedicated and very hands-on – he knows what a client needs’.

Popovici Nitu & Asociatii’s ‘outstanding’ team advised Ameropa Holdings on the acquisition of Azomures and Chimpex, and acted for Cargill on the Romanian part of its acquisition of Provimi. ‘Top-notch’ managing partner Florian Nitu is ‘very experienced and very creative, but also at ease with truly sophisticated investment models’. The team also includes the ‘precise and highly competent’ Alexandru Ambrozie and the ‘vastly experienced’ Bogdan Stoica.

The two-partner corporate practice at RTPR Allen & Overy (Radu Taracila Padurari Retevoescu SCA in association with Allen & Overy LLP) advised DHL on the sale of domestic courier business Cargus International to Abris Capital, and also assisted KapschBusinessCom AG and Kapsch AG with their acquisitions of Squario IT Solutions and Focus Net Consulting. Managing partner Costin Tărăcilă and Mihai Ristici are recommended.

Schoenherr si Asociatii SCA advised Erste Bank, the majority shareholder of BCR, on its purchase of a 6% stake in BCR from SIF Mutenia. Corporate restructuring work included advising both parties on the merger of BCR Asigurari Vienna Insurance Group S.A. and Omniasig Vienna Insurance Group to form Romania’s largest insurance company. Mădălina Neagu is the lead partner.

Biris Goran SCPA advised Romcarbon on a €23.5m joint venture agreement with the EBRD and Global Finance investment firm. It was co-counsel alongside Salans in advising Monsson Group on the €80m sale of a wind farm to Steag. Dan Visoiu and his team are ‘very responsive’ and have ‘a can-do attitude’.

Bulboaca & Asociatii’s ‘result-oriented and market-savvy’ team acted on the privatisation of Romgaz, and advised Montana Tech Components on the acquisition of a minority stake in Universal Alloy. Managing partner Adrian Bulboaca is ‘a very experienced, well-connected dealmaker’.

D&B David si Baias advised Metair on environmental due diligence and the subsequent €42m acquisition of battery manufacturer Rombat. It also assisted the shareholders of Supreme Chocolate Group with the sale of 100% of share capital to Kandia. Sorin David and Anda Rojanschi are the key partners.

DLA Piper Dinu SCA’s ‘trustworthy and proactive’ team advised renal healthcare company Diaverum on its acquisition of Clinica, the owner of nine dialysis clinics. It also advised MIH Allegro on its acquisition of a minority stake in GECAD.

Marian Dinu is highly recommended.

Gide Loyrette Nouel advised Air Total on purchasing a minority stake in Air Total Romania from OMV Petrom, and acted for Cde R Interex on increasing its share capital through a €36m shareholder loan conversion. Bruno Leroy and Andreea Toma lead the practice.

Noerr advised ContiTech Fluid Automotive Romania on its application for state aid to grow its business, and advised a major international automotive company on a greenfield investment in Romania. Rusandra Sandu is the key partner.

Peli Filip’s ‘outstanding’ team acted as local counsel to CVC Partners during its sale of brewer Starbev to Molson Coors Brewing Company. It also advised an international bank on the restructuring of its financial services business in Romania. Cristina Filip and Carmen Peli are the key partners in the team.

Reff & Associates’ ‘knowledgeable and professional’ team advised Trakya Investment on its €55m purchase of a majority stake in Glasscorp. The group also assists key client New Europe Property Investments with a range of corporate matters. Alexandru Reff is recommended.

Vernon | David’s team has ‘excellent business awareness and knowledge of the industry’, and managing partner Charles Vernon, Maria Nica and Luiza Gijga are ‘outstanding attorneys’. Highlights included acting for TMK on the restructuring of the group and de-listing of the companies. Other clients include McDonald’s and BP.

Voicu & Filipescu SCA’s ‘expert’ team advised PPF Investments on structuring the deal to sell its 30% minority stake in Continental Hotels, and assisted a private investor with its sale of a 67% stake in a local insurer. Daniel Voicu and Mugur Filipescu are the lead partners.

Wolf Theiss advised German pharmaceuticals wholesaler Andreae-Noris Zahn on its acquisition of a 20% stake in Farmexpert, and also acted for Danish investment fund Aktieselskabet AF on its acquisition of Romanian SPV Romfor Sustainable Property. Ancuta Leach heads the team.

Anghel Stabb & Partners acted for Ener-G on the acquisition of a biogas generation company, and assisted Qatar Airways with the establishment of its Romanian operations. ‘Level-headed’ managing partner David Stabb has ‘exceptional legal skills’.

bpv Grigorescu Stefánicá advised ATOS Global on its acquisition of the IT services division of Siemens, and represented BIP Group on the sale of a 51% stake to SPAR Group. ThyssenKrupp Elevator is also a client. Alexandru Rusu has ‘an excellent understanding of the law and applies it commercially’, and practice head Catalin Grigorescu is also recommended.

In 2012, BCLAW Cringureanu & Partners advised a Bulgarian construction company on the reorganisation of its businesses in Bulgaria and Romania, and assisted an IT company with the €50m restructuring of its core business. Bogdan Crîngureanu is the key partner.

Bostina & Associates’ ‘excellent’ team advises companies on corporate matters, joint ventures and M&A. Gabriela Vizireanu heads the team, and name partner Doru Bostina has ‘excellent understanding of clients’ needs’.

Buzescu Ca’s team is ‘vastly knowledgeable’ and ‘provides a very high quality of client care’. It recently advised copper mining company Antofagasta on its proposed acquisition of Cupru Min, and acted for Bluecrest Special Situations Master Fund on its sale of a Romanian TV cable and internet company. Peter Buzescu and Adrian Tomescu are the key partners.

CHSH Gilescu, Valeanu & Partnerii SCA Cerha Hempel Spiegelfeld Hlawati advised BSH Electrocasnice on various corporate matters, including debt-to-equity conversions. It is also advising Novomatic Group on issues including the merger of its subsidiaries. Managing partner Ovidiu Văleanu heads the team.

Pachiu & Associates is ‘a lean and efficient alternative to local subsidiaries of bigger international firms’. The team provides ongoing corporate advice to insurer Euroins, and provided local law advice to a Magic Circle firm regarding a Romanian wine producer’s expansion into China. Laurentiu Pachiu and Alexandru Lefter are recommended.

Platis Bazilescu LLLP advised insurance company Generali Romania on its merger with Ardaf, and acted for private medical services provider Medlife in its acquisition of a medical clinic in Brasov. Eirinikos Platis heads the team.

Vilau & Mitel’s corporate practice covers a wide range of sectors, and is particularly active in acquisitions. Its client base includes Continental Hotels, Energy Bio Chemicals and Mediapost. Dragos Vilau and Madalina Paisa are the key team members.

White & Case, Pachiu SCA’s ‘outstanding’ team advised Dante International on selling to Naspers a 70% stake in online retailer eMag. The ‘truly excellent’ Lucian Bondoc is ‘a remarkable lawyer’.

Zamfirescu Racoti Predoiu Attorneys at Law’s highlights included acting for an international construction company on its €14m acquisition of a construction materials producer. It also advised Saint-Gobain Glass Romania on an intra-group merger. Other clients include Hidroelectrica and Multimedia Art & Tehnic. Anca Danilescu heads the group.

Dragne & Asociatii provides ongoing corporate advice to clients such as Electroprecizia and AIM Trust. Practice head Stelian Garofil is ‘an excellent legal counsellor with vast knowledge of the law’.

Drakopoulos Law Firm’s ‘excellent’ team is led by Laurentiu Gorun. In 2012, it advised Coca-Cola Romania on corporate restructuring matters, and assisted inAccess with the establishment of a Romanian subsidiary.

Hammond, Bogaru and Associates SCPA advised a strategic investor on its €20m acquisition of a company in Romania. Practice head Nicholas Hammond is ‘creative’, and Alexander Badet is ‘a strong lawyer’.

KLC Law Firm Branch Romania’s ‘creative’ team provides ongoing corporate advice to GEK Terna Group and Tarmac Romania. Mariana Voicu is ‘excellent’.

Mararu & Mararu undertakes the full range of corporate and M&A work, including restructuring, in sectors including finance, energy and telecoms. Ioan-Bogdan Mararu heads the practice.

Mares, Danilescu & Associates advised Mitutoyo on its entry into the Romanian market, and acted for a Romanian software company on its €3.8m sale of an 80% stake in the company to Alpha Invest Trading. Simona Mares, Mihai Mares and Lucian Danilescu are the key figures.

McGregor & Partners S.C.A.’s corporate mandates mainly stem from the energy sector. In 2012, the team established various SPVs and acted on acquisitions of projects or project companies. Neil McGregor and Boiana Berchi are recommended.

Pop Pepa provides ‘an excellent service in all respects’. The team advised Canadian national telecoms company Telus on its acquisition of CallPoint New Europe, which has operations in Bulgaria and Romania. Name partners Steven Pepa and Claudiu Pop are ‘highly knowledgeable and have tremendous experience and insight’.

Rubin Meyer Doru & Trandafir, SPCA’s ‘excellent and devoted’ team provides ‘a unique, customer-oriented service’. In 2012, it advised a Germany-headquartered client on Oltchim’s privatisation. Florentin Timoianu is the practice head.