The Legal 500

Despite the departure of the former head of its litigation practice Ion Dragne, Musat & Asociatii retains significant capability in the disputes field. Clients are impressed by the firm’s ‘constructive approach’. It is representing Rompetrol Group in three major cases concerning payment of a historical debt to the Romanian State with a value of €570m. The practice is also acting for claimants against the Romanian State in a complex ICSID (International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes) arbitration, with aggregate claims of more than €450m regarding infringement of a bilateral investment agreement. On the domestic front, the firm’s disputes practice covers all areas from intellectual property to insolvency matters. Gheorghe Buta is the new head of the litigation team; Luminita Popa is also recommended.

‘Extremely professional and responsive’ offering clients ‘excellent work’ in contentious matters, Nestor Nestor Diculescu Kingston Petersen has a large dispute resolution practice which covers everything from commercial arbitrations to competition and administrative law. Commercial work included representing Bechtel in a case regarding the supply of transportation services and successfully acting for Global Vehicles on an appeal relating to an alleged non-compliance with the obligations undertook under a privatization agreement. The practice is also acting for Rosia Montana Gold Corporation (RMCG) in all pending litigation regarding one of the most disputed investments for the development of gold mining on Romanian territory. The 28-fee-earner practice is headed up by Ana Diculescu-Sova, one of the most highly regarded litigators in the country. Clients also single out Simona Neagu and Emil Bivolaru for praise.

Stoica & Asociatii Attorneys at Law is a boutique practice which is deemed ‘a top-level player in litigation and dispute resolution’. The practice successfully represented Romtelecom against a suit brought by Vodafone Romania regarding the selection procedure for granting a national license for the use of radio frequencies in order to provide data networking and mobile electronic communications services in certain frequency bands. The firm is headed up by Valeriu Stoica, who is a former minister of justice, and Cristiana Stoica, who is highly regarded in the market. The firm’s blue-chip client base includes Deutsche Bank, Unilever and BBC World Service.

Tuca Zbarcea & Asociatii has a large dispute resolution team which clients praise for its ‘proactive approach’ and ‘in-depth understanding of complex business issues’. Large commercial arbitrations are an area of expertise as part of a full service practice. The firm successfully represented the Romanian State in an international arbitration brought by S&T Oil Equipment & Machinery with $150m at stake. The firm is also acting for CEZ in various complex commercial disputes, including forced execution proceedings aimed at the recovery of outstanding debts with the value of receivables amounting to €50m. Robert Rosu heads up the practice and is praised for his ‘results-oriented approach’; Ioana Hrisafi and Cornel Popa are also recommended.

‘Client friendly’ and ‘hard working’, Zamfirescu Racoti Predoiu Law Partnership is acknowledged in the market as a leading litigation player. The practice covers all contentious matters from administrative proceedings and intellectual property through to insolvency work. The firm is currently representing the real estate branch of the Spanish group Inveravante in a complex €60m case regarding the infringement of contractual obligations for the development of a huge real estate project near Bucharest, involving financing through European Union non-refundable funds. It is also acting for Alro in proceedings for the recognition and enforcement in Romania of an arbitral award of receivables amounting to $16m. Calin Zamfirescu is ‘first choice for strategic litigation’; Cosmin Vasile is an ‘experienced litigation lawyer, with extended multidisciplinary capabilities’.

CMS Cameron McKenna SCA has extensive expertise in large international arbitration matters in Romania. Clients describe the service as ‘excellent’. The practice advised the Romanian state in a $147m investment treaty arbitration dispute before the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID). It also acted for foreign investors on a €50m claim before the same tribunal against the Government of Bulgaria arising out of the termination of concession agreements in the waste management sector. Gabriel Sidere is highly respected.

Popovici Nitu & Asociatii significantly strengthened its litigation practice in 2010 by merging with disputes boutique Danescu, Danescu & Associates. Clients are impressed by the firm’s ‘appropriate strategy’; property litigation is an area of strength reflecting the firm’s broader profile. The practice is acting for Turkish investor Kastamonu Entegre in an $85m case against the Romanian State arising from a privatization agreement. It also represents French contractor Herve in a €20m dispute arising from unlawful termination of contract by one of its clients. Florian Nitu and Ciprian Dontu are the names to note.

Salans’ dispute resolution practice focuses on large commercial litigation for an international client base. The firm is representing Rompetrol Group in connection with attempted negotiations and subsequent international arbitration proceedings before ICSID in Washington DC, against Romania based on violation of the Bilateral Investment Treaty between the Netherlands and Romania. The European Commission is an important client. Tiberiu Csaki is recommended.

Financial services clients are the cornerstone of Badea Clifford Chance’s disputes practice. The company assisted Oman Insurance in connection with a number of insurance cases against a local insurance company as well as advising Imprimerie Nationale de France in connection with international arbitration proceedings against a Romanian counterparty. Nadia Badea is the name to note.

Adrian Tomescu heads up the disputes team at Buzescu Ca. The firm has a strong client list in the pharmaceutical sector as part of a broader contentious practice. It acted for Medochemie Romania, a European generic drugs producer in several successful court cases regarding the recovery of debts from Montero, a distributor and owner of a chain of pharmacies and from various hospitals. On the arbitration side, it advised Canam Steel Romania in a complex case related to the construction of a major office building and reimbursement of the performance bond.

Tax litigation and competition matters are areas in which D&B David si Baias excels. The firm acted for oil refinery Steaua Romana in irrevocably annulling a tax decision which would have adversely impacted the company to the sum of €12m, as well as in recovering this amount from the State. Dan Dascalu heads the team and is recommended.

Noerr & Partners Law Office specialises in advising large German and Austrian clients on high-value commercial disputes. The practice advised Bosch Group in issues regarding product liability as well as representing a major Austrian retail company in a dispute regarding debt recovery. Alexandru Ene heads up the litigation team.

Stratula Mocanu & Asociatii is a boutique firm which specialises in disputes; clients deem its practice ‘excellent’. The firm is currently acting for British-American Tobacco before the Bucharest Court of International Commercial Arbitration. Sorin Stratula and Cosmin Mocanu are highly regarded by clients and peers alike.

Vilau & Mitel is the leading debt enforcement law firm in Romania with over 1,000 live cases before the courts. The practice is representing the interests of MKB Romexterra Bank and MKB Romexterra Leasing in relation to over 50 debt recovery cases. Clients include Credit Europe Bank, Energy Bio Chemicals, Flavus Investitii, GE Money Group and GlaxoSmithKline. Dragos Vilau and Magda Dima are recommended.

Competition and public procurement disputes are areas of speciality for the litigation team at Voicu & Filipescu SCA. The firm is currently assisting one of the largest cable telecommunications companies in Romania in a series of more than twenty cases against the Romanian Customers Protection Agency. Cristian Gavrila is ‘extremely keen with good business acumen’.

Insolvency work is an active area for Anghel Stabb & Partners. The firm is advising Spanish real estate developer Inversiones on the defence of an action brought by a minority shareholder for the dissolution of a company owning €20m worth of land. David Stabb is the key contact.

Tax and insolvency work are at the heart of Biris Goran’s dispute resolution practice. The firm is acting for the debtor Plus Development in an insolvency matter with a total value of €25m, as well as appearing before the Romanian Supreme Court on behalf of a multinational client in a tax recovery case against the Romanian state. Raluca Nastase heads up the team.

Intellectual property and competition matters are areas of speciality for Bulboaca & Asociatii’s disputes team. The firm also has significant media and employment work. Clients include Kraft Foods Romania, Martifer Group, Tymbark Maspex and Ascom Grup. Valentin Berea heads up the litigation practice.

Dragne & Asociatii is a new firm set up by Ion Dragne who was previously joint head of litigation at Musat & Asociatii. He has a wealth of experience before Romania’s courts and the new practice is tipped to succeed in the disputes field.

Stan Dragomir heads up the dispute resolution team at Dragomir & Associates Law Office. The firm has experience acting for state entities and is currently representing the National Company of Motorways and National roads of Romania in approximately 80 cases. Clients praise an ‘extremely professional approach’.

Cristina Bazilescu is the key contact for contentious matters at E. Platis C. Bazilescu LLLP. The firm has particular experience in insolvency-related disputes. Clients include Thompson Reuters and Westhill Investments.

Kinstellar has strengthened its dispute resolution capability with the hire of Remus Codreanu and Iustinian Captariu. The practice acted for RBS Sempra Energy Europe, in relation to a dispute arising from an electricity supply agreement for the Romanian primary aluminium producer Alro Slatina.

Clients are impressed by the ‘great service’ offered by the litigation team at Peli Filip. Contentious real estate matters are an area of expertise. The firm is acting for a foreign developer in a €200m international commercial arbitration pending before ICC Paris, regarding a project in Bucharest. Francisc Peli is the name to note.

Radu Taracila Padurari Retevoescu SCA in association with Allen & Overy LLP’s disputes practice is concentrated on its financial services client base. The firm acted for a leasing company regarding the types of enforcement action it could take against several bad debtors whose debts exceeded €10m, as well as representing a major Romanian Bank in a case against a minority shareholder.

Dan Costinescu is the name to note for litigation at Schoenherr si Asociatii SCA The firm focuses on large-scale commercial litigation for its established clients. It is currently acting for Italian carrier Alitalia on various matters including cross-border insolvency proceedings.

Employment, tax and competition disputes are all areas of strength for Vernon | David. Clients are impressed with the practice’s ‘legal prowess and commercial insight’. The firm’s client list includes BP, Michelin, SAB Miller, Cosmorom, Tarmac and Hoeganaes. Daniela David is the key contact for contentious matters.

Clients praise the ‘responsive’ litigation team at Wolf Theiss. The firm looks after commercial and IP matters for its Austrian and German client base operating in Romania. The practice is advising a major German investment fund in a €53m case before the Arbitration Court attached to the Romanian Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Ligia Cecilia Popescu heads up contentious practice.

Andra Musatescu Law & Industrial Property Offices has a good contentious IT and IP practice. Telecoms provider Orange is a client.

Employment, insolvency and debt recovery matters are at the heart of Deleanu Vasile – Lawyers’s contentious practice. Vasile Deleanu is the name to note.

Despina Fruth Oprisan is the main contact for contentious matters and disputes at Fruth Oprisan & Asociatii.

Customs and import work is an area of speciality for Hammond, Bogaru and Associates SCPA. Christian Bogaru heads up the litigation practice.

McGregor & Partners S.C.A. has significant experience in insurance and construction disputes. Boiana Berchi is the key contact.