The Legal 500

Within Banking, finance and capital markets, Nestor Nestor Diculescu Kingston Petersen is a first tier firm,

Long-term local market leader Nestor Nestor Diculescu Kingston Petersen is ‘extremely responsive’, providing banking and finance clients with ‘in-depth knowledge’ and ‘business expertise’. The practice is noted for regulatory work. It acted for Well Fargo Bank regarding a multi-jurisdictional syndicated facility amounting to $80m in connection with a plan of reorganisation of the Global Safety Textiles Group. On the borrower side, it assisted Ford Motor Company in connection with a €400m investment facility from the European Investment Bank, secured by a guarantee issued by the Romanian State, for the financing of a major project for expansion of its vehicle plant in Romania. On Bucharest’s City Gate project, the firm represents Globe Trade Center and Bluehouse. Senior partner Manuela Nestor is joint head of the banking and finance practice alongside Alina Radu, who is ‘an extremely good lawyer’ and ‘always provides sound advice’.

Within Corporate and M&A, Nestor Nestor Diculescu Kingston Petersen is a first tier firm,

Clients are impressed by the ‘in-depth knowledge’ and ‘appropriate advice’ provided by the corporate team at Nestor Nestor Diculescu Kingston Petersen. The firm is a longstanding market leader, described by one client as ‘an outstanding firm with great lawyers and a track record that speaks for itself’. The practice assisted Société Générale Asset Management (SGAM) in relation to the acquisition of 36 per cent of the share capital of Med Life, the largest provider of medical services in Romania. The transaction was valued at €20m. It also advised Campofrio Food Group, one of the world’s top five meat processors, in connection with the establishment of a joint venture with Caroli Foods, aimed at the consolidation of their Romanian meat products manufacturing business. Clients include the Ford Motor Company, E.ON, Rompetrol and Sumitomo Corporation. Gabriela Cacerea and Ruxandra Bologa are co-heads of the M&A department and are recommended. Senior partner Adriana Gaspar coordinates the corporate team and has ‘excellent knowledge’.

Within Dispute resolution, Nestor Nestor Diculescu Kingston Petersen is a first tier firm,

‘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.

Within Energy and natural resources, Nestor Nestor Diculescu Kingston Petersen is a first tier firm,

Recognised as a leading player in the sector, Nestor Nestor Diculescu Kingston Petersen fields a ‘flexible’ and ‘balanced’ team with experience of all facets of energy work. The firm is assisting E.ON Kraftwerke in relation to the establishment of a joint venture company in electricity generation together with other strategic investors and the Romanian Electricity Generator, Termoelectrica, as part of a privatization process. It is also acting for Nabucco Gas Pipeline International and Transgaz in connection with a five-nation project to construct and operate a natural gas pipeline linking production areas in the Caspian Sea and Middle East regions to Central and Western Europe. Clients include GDF Suez, Total and OMV Petrom. Gabriela Cacerea, Ruxandra Bologa and Adina Chilim-Dumitriu are joint heads of the practice and are recommended.

Within IT, telecoms and media, Nestor Nestor Diculescu Kingston Petersen is a first tier firm,

Nestor Nestor Diculescu Kingston Petersen boasts a ‘first rate’ IT practice with particular expertise in regulatory matters, competition issues and disputes work. The firm acted for telecom provider PCCW Global on its entrance to the Romanian market and regularly represents its client’s interests before the National Authority for Management and Regulation in Communications. Vodafone, Microsoft Romania and Nokia Romania are on the practice’s client roster. Adina Chilim-Dumitriu heads up the practice and is recommended.

Within Public private partnership and procurement, Nestor Nestor Diculescu Kingston Petersen is a first tier firm,

Known as ‘one of the grand old firms of Romanian privatisation’, Nestor Nestor Diculescu Kingston Petersen has a wealth of experience across energy work and large infrastructure projects. The firms is assisting Nabucco Gas Pipeline International on local public procurement-related matters in connection with a five-nation project to construct and operate a natural gas pipeline linking production areas in the Caspian Sea and Middle East regions to Central and Western Europe. It also acted for Bechtel regarding its contractual relationship with the Romanian State governing the execution of over 400 km of motorway between Brasov and Bors. Adriana Gaspar and Adina Chilim-Dumitriu are highly regarded.

Within Real estate, Nestor Nestor Diculescu Kingston Petersen is a first tier firm,

With ‘the capacity and resources to handle very large deals’, Nestor Nestor Diculescu Kingston Petersen has a full service real estate practice with particular expertise in financing matters. The firm acted as lead counsel to Globe Trade Center (GTC), in the closing and post-closing of the acquisition process of City Gate, a Bucharest office development of over 76,000 sq m. The practice is also providing ongoing assistance to GTC in relation to the leasing of the office premises within the City Gate Building. On the construction side, it is working with Greek fund Bluehouse Capital on the assessment of the claims disputed under a FIDIC-based construction agreement concluded for the development of Olympia Office Tower Development. The practice is also assisting Bluehouse Capital in relation to the day-to-day leasing activity in relation to the Olympia Office Tower Development. Clients include Deutsche Bank, Charlemagne Capital, Oracle Romania and Crown Constructions. Ioana Niculeasa heads up the real estate team and is recommended.