The Legal 500

Within Banking, finance and capital markets, Schoenherr is a second tier firm,

With a broad-based practice which encompasses all facets of banking and finance work, Schoenherr si Asociatii SCA is ‘excellent in all areas’ and ‘can handle issues of the highest complexity’. Capital markets work is a particular area of strength. The firm acted as counsel to the agents and arrangers Deutsche Bank and Commerzbank in relation to a €13.5bn term and revolving facilities, and a €2.5bn forward start facility for German tyre manufacturer and automotive group Continental. It also worked with OMV Petrom, Romania’s largest oil and gas company, on a complex corporate restructuring process. Clients include Banca Comerciala Romana, Raiffeisen Capital & Investment and Volksbank Romania. Matei Florea heads up the banking and finance team and is recommended; on the capital markets side Narcisa Oprea delivers ‘work of the highest quality’.

Within Corporate and M&A, Schoenherr is a second tier firm,

Markus Piuk heads up the corporate team at Schoenherr si Asociatii SCA and is praised for his ‘professionalism’. Clients are impressed with the firm’s ‘exceptional level of client responsiveness’ and ‘both practical and legally sound advice’. The practice advised Enterprise Investors (EI) on the acquisition of Profi Rom Food Group, one of the largest supermarket chains in Romania, by Polish Enterprise Fund VI, the private equity fund managed by EI. The transaction was valued at €66m. In the energy field, the firm represented Petrom in the acquisition of approximately 35 per cent of Petrom Moldova in a deal worth over €20m. In the insurance sector, the firm advised Vienna Insurance Group in relation to the sale of insurer Omniasig to Axa Group. Mihai Radulescu is recommended.

Within Dispute resolution, tier 4

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.

Within Energy and natural resources, Schoenherr is a second tier firm,

Clients find the service of the energy team at Schoenherr si Asociatii SCA ‘exceptionally responsive’. The firm works on the full array of energy-related mandates, including M&A transactions, project development, regulatory and competition advice. It is acting for Nuclearelectrica on the Cernavoda Nuclear Power Plant project and is also representing OMV Petrom in relation to the design and construction of an 850MW gas-fired power plant in the country. On the corporate side, it advised the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) in connection with the acquisition of indirect equity stakes in the Romanian electricity distributor E.ON Moldova and the Romanian gas distributor E.ON Gaz Romania. Markus Piuk is recommended.

Within Real estate, Schoenherr is a third tier firm,

Sebastian Gutiu heads up the real estate practice at Schoenherr si Asociatii SCA, which regularly acts for foreign and domestic clients in real estate development and acquisition projects in Romania. The firm is acting for Europolis in relation to the development of Orhideea Towers, a prospective office development in Bucharest, and is counsel to OMV Petrom, the country’s largest corporation, in relation to numerous real estate transactions. On the retail side, it is representing Redevco on the development of several plots of land into shopping malls and mixed-use projects.