Nestor Nestor Diculescu Kingston Petersen > Bucharest, Romania > Firm Profile
Nestor Nestor Diculescu Kingston Petersen Offices
201 BARBU VACARESCU STREET, 18TH FLOOR
GLOBALWORTH TOWER, 2ND DISTRICT
020276 BUCHAREST
Romania
Nestor Nestor Diculescu Kingston Petersen > The Legal 500 Rankings
Romania > Banking and finance Tier 1
Nestor Nestor Diculescu Kingston Petersen's team provides ‘ excellent control over the timeline, documentation and negotiation‘ of high-profile financings, where it advises both borrowers and lenders. The firm has a deep bench of lawyers with a broad spread of experience across the full range of banking products. Clients also commend its niche expertise in more specialised areas, including export credit. Other areas of expertise include regulatory support and the acquisition and sale of non-performing loan portfolios. Practice head Alina Radu is a recommended name, as is Valentin Voinescu, who is ‘always able to work under pressure and tight deadlines‘. Senior associate Alexandru Ciambur is ‘able to find solutions for any and all situations‘.Practice head(s):
Alina Radu
Other key lawyers:
Manuela Nestor; Valentin Voinescu; Alexandru Ciambur
Testimonials
‘The ability to deal with legal issues specific to export credit activity offers to this practice a really selective and useful specialisation.’
‘NNDKP’s banking and finance practice took a highly professional approach to the transaction we worked together on, responding timely to our inquiries, being proactive and resourceful, advising as to the best ways to handle several blockage points in the transaction and proposing solutions. We appreciated their excellent control over the timeline, documentation and negotiation with the other party. We appreciated their approach to matching the financing transaction terms and conditions to the LMA documentation and making sure nothing was left aside.’
‘We appreciated the individuals working as a team, complementing each other. We had different levels of seniority allocated for different tasks which provided the opportunity to complete the transaction in the shortest amount of time possible but also controlling the quality of the outcome. Excellent management of negotiation discussions by the partner and associate.’
‘The team is very well anchored in the Romanian banking legal system. We’ve had nothing but the finest feedback from all of the banks we have partnered with.’
‘Valentin Voinescu – always able to work under pressure and tight deadlines. Alexandru Ciambur – has always been able to find solutions for any and all situations we’ve faced.’
Key clients
Banca Comerciala Romana
Aaylex One
Marcos Provit
Work highlights
- Advised Aaylex One on the group’s full debt consolidation through a $926m syndicated facility agreement, following a complex merger operation.
- Advised a syndicate of banks, including Banca Comercială Română, on a €347m financing to Ameropa Group to finance its working capital needs.
- Advised a syndicate of banks on a $969m loan to a major aluminium producer.
Romania > Commercial, corporate and M&A Tier 1
Nestor Nestor Diculescu Kingston Petersen has a comprehensive corporate and M&A practice that runs the gamut of relevant work. The firm has an excellent track record for acting on some of Romania’s largest corporate and private equity deals, both for sellers and buyers, and has continued to take on lead roles for major domestic and international clients, as demonstrated by its recent advice to Exxon Mobil on its sale of its interest in the Black Sea Neptun Project to Romgaz. The department’s extensive transactional offering is complemented by strong day-to-day capabilities, often involving close cross-practice co-ordination with the firm’s tax, employment, finance and regulatory departments. Key names at leadership level include Gabriela Cacerea, Ruxandra Bologa, Adina Chilim-Dumitriu and Adriana Ioana Gaspar; this quartet is backed by a deep bench of recommended practitioners, including Razvan Vlad and Corina Dumitru and counsel Mirela Preda.Practice head(s):
Gabriela Cacerea; Ruxandra Maria Bologa; Adina Chilim-Dumitriu; Adriana Ioana Gaspar
Other key lawyers:
Corina Dumitru; Razvan Vlad; Mirela Preda
Key clients
Purolite
International Game Technology PLC (IGT)
Smithfield Foods
Uber
Apple
Tech Mahindra
Pepsico
Medicover Group
Safety Broker
DKV Group
ExxonMobil
Cummins
Civitronic
Egger
Tofane Group
Daikin Europe
Schlumberger
Work highlights
- Assisted Exxon Mobil with the sale of its stake in the Neptun Black Sea offshore block to Romgaz.
- Advising Pepsico on its acquisition of a minority shareholding in Aqua Carpatica, a premium Romanian spring water brand owned by Carpathian Springs.
- Advising Purolite on its sale to Ecolab, a global leader in water, hygiene and energy technologies and services.
Romania > Dispute resolution Tier 1
Nestor Nestor Diculescu Kingston Petersen stands out as a ‘first choice‘ for dispute resolution, with a core of ‘highly skilled professionals covering all areas‘. The group is regularly instructed to handle ‘complex, high-value and sensitive matters‘ on behalf of domestic and international clients. Recentlyl this has included representations in high-value real estate, banking, competition, environmental, public procurement, insurance and construction disputes. Highly experienced practice head Ana Diculescu-Sova is backed by a talented team, which includes Sorina Olaru, who has ‘impressive experience and proven success in litigations at any level‘, Emil Bivolaru, and ‘extremely dedicated‘ Marius Ezer. Valeriu Mina is also singled out as ‘a very pragmatic lawyer, with the ability to handle highly complex disputes‘. The team’s partners are well supported by a deep bench of experienced junior practitioners, including managing associate Daniela Savin.Practice head(s):
Ana Diculescu-Sova
Other key lawyers:
Sorina Olaru; Emil Bivolaru; Radu Damaschin; Peggy Suica-Neagu; Marius Ezer; Valeriu Mina; Daniela Gramaticescu; Daniela Savin
Testimonials
‘They have an excellent litigation team. We have received all the support we needed and can count on them to handle all our legal concerns in a diligent and professional manner. The team is highly effective, responsive and action-oriented. We are extremely satisfied with our collaboration with them and appreciate their strong expertise and dedication.’
‘Sorina Olaru – a partner with impressive experience and proven success in litigations at any level, gives a great comfort to the clients and provides for the most appropriate legal solution.’
‘Highly skilled professionals covering all areas, focused on understanding the need and the risk and also the client’s culture and the way it operates, always providing highly qualitative adapted advice and solutions; transparency, trust, efficiency, excellent level of market knowledge and trends, both local and international!’
‘NNDKP has been a trusted adviser for many years now. They have a strong dispute resolution team, and we regularly rely on them to handle complex, high-value and sensitive matters. The lawyers are very competent and offer valuable legal insights and constructive solutions. They work seamlessly together as a close-knit unit, always having our best interests in mind. We feel confident to have them by our side, as we know they will explore all scenarios to come up with the best strategy possible.’
‘On dispute resolution matters we have a long-standing collaboration, for more than a decade, with Emil Bivolaru and Marius Ezer. Emil Bivolaru is an excellent litigator, very easy to work with and innovative in finding solutions. He has a good grasp of the legal and technical matters entailed by the cases we bring to his attention, and I always appreciate his practical approach. Marius Ezer is an extremely dedicated lawyer and a highly competent litigator. He has a strong commercial mindset and extensive legal skills. He is always available if we need his support. It is always a pleasure to work with him.’
‘We have a longstanding and successful collaboration with the NNDKP team, which has always proved its ability to handle very sensitive and complex projects. For us they are the first choice for this type of matter and their excellent reputation as the most experienced and knowledgeable team of litigators on the Romanian market is totally justified in my opinion. They have a great technical and practical understanding of the matters we encounter in Romania. All the lawyers we have worked with are very talented and have excellent legal skills.’
‘Valeriu Mina is a very pragmatic lawyer, with the ability to handle highly complex disputes. He always provides insightful advice, which is very well researched and accurate. He is clear in his approach and masters all the details of a case. Also, he is very responsive and committed to deeply understanding our needs.’
‘They are a go-to firm for complex and high-stakes litigation. We know we can rely on their outstanding level of commitment and on their unparalleled expertise to protect and promote our best interest. They are very adept at preparing the best strategy for the case and they keep us in the loop every step of the way. We have tremendous confidence in them.’
Key clients
ANDRITZ HYDRO GmbH
Voith Hydro Holding
REC Immpuls Luxemburger Team
ALRO SA SLATINA
TRANSGOURMET
ELCEN
PORR
Wizzair
Romsilva
Enel Distribution
Impresa Pizzarotti
Tenaris (Silcotub SA)
Schlumberger
Engie
Work highlights
- Advising a major real estate developer in Romania and Eastern Europe on a potential €100m damages claim against the Romanian State concerning an order from the General Mayor of Bucharest to demolish an office building in the old city centre.
- Successfully defended Andritz Hydro, a global supplier of electromechanical systems and services for hydropower plants, against an arbitral award challenge launched by Hidroelectrica.
- Representing ELCEN Constanta, the regional electricity and heating provider of the second largest city in Romania, in a damages claim against Constanta City Hall and Constanta municipality, concerning payments for heating and electricity.
Romania > Employment Tier 1
Nestor Nestor Diculescu Kingston Petersen has a comprehensive employment offering, with lawyers on the ground in Bucharest, Timisoara and Cluj-Napoca. The firm acts for a broad range of Romania’s largest domestic and international employers, who appreciate the ‘perfect combination between a strong knowledge of law, extended practical experience and an open-minded orientation to the need of the client‘. The team’s workload ranges from employment support on high-profile transactional matters, including M&A and company reorganisations, through to standalone contentious and non-contentious labour issues. Practice head Roxana Abrasu is backed by strong bench of recommended practitioners, including managing associate Gabriela Dinu and associate Flavia Lungu.Practice head(s):
Roxana Abrasu
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘Complex analysis, identifying all options and related risk.’
‘Ability to present complex situations in a comprehensive yet easy to understand manner for non-legal professionals.’
‘NNDKP has profound professional knowledge, easily understands the organisation of our departments and comes back with customised advice in a timely manner.’
‘Roxana Abrasu is our partner on employment matters. She provides us with a high level of legal support and advice based on theory and practice, very efficient and target oriented.’
‘The team is the perfect combination between a strong knowledge of law, extended practical experience and an open-minded orientation to the needs of the client. They professionally helped us in record time to comply with the requirements of the controlling authority taking into account all our business needs.’
‘Flavia Lungu is a lawyer with strong business acumen, who understands all the particularities of the client’s activity and delivers a clear overview of the legal risks and alternative legal solutions that fit the business needs.’
Work highlights
- Advised a pharmaceutical company on a global reorganisation process.
- Advised a care services company on expanding its business on the local market.
- Assisted a technology company with an internal audit to update its essential employment documents, including employment contracts and internal procedures.
Romania > Energy and natural resources Tier 1
Nestor Nestor Diculescu Kingston Petersen covers all bases in the energy and natural resources spaces. Clients note the firm’s ‘strong reputation for its exceptional regulatory practice‘, and ‘diversified knowledge with specialists in all the fields‘. The firm's practitioners are singled out as ‘true experts in energy law‘. The firm’s compliance and litigation expertise is complemented by an equally strong track record in transactional matters, including M&A, public procurement and project finance. The team is jointly led by Ruxandra Bologa, who covers the oil and gas and mining spaces, and is noted for ‘ability to properly convey complex issues‘, and Gabriela Cacerea, who is ‘incredibly knowledgeable in the energy and natural resources field, with great tactical sense and leadership skills‘. Counsel Mirela Preda is also highly active in the field.Practice head(s):
Gabriela Cacerea; Ruxandra Bologa
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘The team has a strong reputation for its exceptional regulatory practice. Broad capabilities with expertise in the natural resources sector. Extensive experience advising on permitting, compliance and litigation matters.’
‘Ruxandra Bologa is very pleasant to work with. She has great knowledge of the natural resources sector and has the ability to properly convey complex issues.’
‘The team has a diversified knowledge with specialists in all the fields we have requested services in. They are very responsive and attempt to point out issues but at the same time providing estimates of the potential impact. We have in particular worked a lot with land issues and it has been done very well.’
‘We found the team very well oriented towards client satisfaction, customised approach, acting with professionalism and aligned to the budget offered by the client. It is the most desirable thing a client expects. They are adjustable and adaptable to client needs.’
‘Ruxandra Bologa is an excellent lawyer. She has extensive knowledge in many areas of law, expertise built over the years working in a challenging regulatory environment. When we encounter a difficult matter, she is one of the first lawyers I think of to seek external legal advice.’
‘Extensive knowledge of the mining laws and in-depth analysis’
‘We found the team to be incredibly knowledgeable, diligent and effective. The work they have carried out for us in the energy field is of the highest calibre. We were offered incisive and clear advice and excellent client service. We highly recommend them as they are true experts in energy law.’
‘Gabriela Cacerea is one of the most exceptional lawyers I have worked with. She is incredibly knowledgeable in the energy and natural resources field, with great tactical sense and leadership skills, and a good instinct on how to approach challenging situations. Her work and advice have been gold standard.’
Key clients
Lerta Energy
ExxonMobil Development Company
Enel
Omya Calcita
Deva Gold
Weatherford
Holcim
Nordex
NBT AS/ Emergy Group
Work highlights
- Assisted ExxonMobil Development Company with all matters concerning the first development of a deep offshore petroleum project in the Black Sea.
- Assisted Alternus Energy with the acquisition of two solar photovoltaic parks in Romania from ReneSola, a leading international manufacturer and supplier of green energy products.
- Assisted Emergy (formerly NBT AS) with the acquisition of Siemens Gamesa’s wind energy portfolio in Romania, including wind farm projects with an estimated aggregate capacity of over 350MW.
Romania > EU and competition Tier 1
Nestor Nestor Diculescu Kingston Petersen has a well established EU and competition practice which regularly acts on high-profile investigations and challenges, as well as advising on day-to-day compliance and training, and representing clients in private damages cases. The firm’s active corporate practice also ensures a regular demand for merger clearance support on domestic and cross-border M&A deals. A recent contentious highlight saw the firm successfully defend Mega Image against fines imposed by the Competition Authority following its first investigation into the food retail market. Practice head Georgeta Dinu and recently promoted partner Anca Diaconu are ‘very resourceful in using competition law tools to enhance the business‘.Practice head(s):
Georgeta Dinu; Anca Diaconu
Testimonials
‘I worked with Georgeta Dinu and Anca Diaconu. Both of them are experienced lawyers and very resourceful in using competition law tools to enhance the business. The advice we received anticipated many of our questions and was tailored on the practical issues of the project.’
‘Anca Diaconu showed great interest in the business needs of the company and meeting them with legal advice.’
‘The team is very well connected between themselves and with the client’s specifics, so that you can have anytime the same prompt answer and from all team members. The professional skills, knowledge, and broad approach in understanding the client’s market, needs and specificity, their experience and un-rigid approach is unique.’
‘We appreciate the cooperation with NNDKP because of their broad experience, previous wins, know-how and in the same time their approach towards clients’ needs and business requirements.’
Key clients
ExxonMobil
Roche Romania
Egger Romania
Filtration Group
Kedrion
PepsiCo
Mega Image (Ahold Delhaize Group)
Quva
Globalworth
Auchan
Work highlights
- Advising ExxonMobil the competition aspects of its exit from Romania’s first deep offshore gas project.
- Assisted Mega Image with obtaining an annulment of the Competition Authority’s sanctioning decision and a €5.6m fine imposed in a food retail investigation.
- Representing Kedrion in the Competition Authority’s investigation into companies active on the Romanian immunoglobulins market.
Romania > PPP and procurement Tier 1
Nestor Nestor Diculescu Kingston Petersen has ‘extensive experience in large-scale infrastructure projects‘ which some clients feel is ‘unmatched in the local market‘. The firm’s cradle-to-grave service encompasses all contentious and non-contentious aspects of the procurement process, making it a top choice for many domestic and international contractors and project sponsors. Transport infrastructure and related technology projects and procurement challenges have been major recent areas of activity, including the successful defence of PORR Construct’s award for building Lot 4 of the Sibiu-Pitesti motorway. Practice head Adina Chilim-Dumitriu has ‘exceptional communication abilities‘ and ‘deep knowledge‘ of the area. Other key partners include Adriana Gaspar and Razvan Vlad. Counsel Alexandru Aman and Cristian Dranca are ‘talented lawyers, fully dedicated to each case they handle'.Practice head(s):
Adina Chilim-Dumitriu; Adriana Gaspar
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘One of the aspects we most value when it comes to dealing with NNDKP and its PPP and procurement practice is the extensive experience they have in this field. Another important aspect we want to emphasise is the way their lawyers give us legal advice: they are extremely clear and are able to translate complex legal matters into plain language with a pro-business attitude.’
‘NNDKP lawyers have managed not only to provide our company with innovative legal solutions, but also to successfully implement our opinions and ideas in order to obtain good results in the issues with which we have been involved.’
‘NNDKP makes a difference in the way they understand our business. Frankly, the combination of our internal input with their outstanding legal advice has translated into a successful long-standing collaboration. Definitely, their lawyers are able to provide us with quick and adequate answer to all of our queries, even if we are dealing with a complex legal issue.’
‘Adina Chilim-Dumitriu is a lawyer who inspires a lot of confidence. In respect of her professional skills, we would like to outline her deep knowledge of the legal areas she specializes in, not to mention her exceptional communication abilities. Alexandru Aman and Cristian Dranca are talented lawyers, fully dedicated to each case they handle.’
‘NNDKP has a very strong public procurement and PPP practice, unmatched in the local market, in my opinion. Their extensive experience in large-scale infrastructure projects in Romania combined with the expertise of the lawyers make a perfect mix. We have a longstanding collaboration with NNDKP and they understand our sector, the projects in which we are involved and our needs. We have entrusted them with projects of great importance and the quality of the work delivered has always been at the highest level.’
‘They have in-depth understanding of public procurement regulations and are able to provide valuable input throughout all phases of a project, including during litigation, by working closely together with NNDKP’s dispute resolution lawyers. Their advice is always timely, which is very important when participating in public procurement tenders with strict deadlines. We feel confident that their legal advice is the best choice.’
‘NNDKP has a consolidated and highly reputed practice, being directly involved in the most important cases concerning the award of large infrastructure contracts and the implementation of various major public projects in Romania. NNDKP has the capability to provide legal advice at the highest standards and we are glad to consider them as our partner in winning key projects in Romania and achieving the best results in their implementation. With NNDKP, we have the comfort from the very beginning that the legal input and the solutions provided are the most suitable for us, constantly ensuring the optimum risk/results balance. One of the key capabilities of NNDKP is their experienced ability to blend expert-level legal knowledge with a versatile and result-oriented approach.’
‘It is not difficult to discuss NNDKP’s lawyers in favourable terms. Their combination of excellent legal knowledge and dedication in providing solutions which are based on extensive experience makes them our first option for any large project. I mention the valuable assistance provided by Adina Chilim–Dumitriu who is able to successfully handle any problem. Adina’s involvement in a project is a firm guarantee that the best legal solutions and strategies will be implemented. Her long experience makes Adina, probably, one of the most experienced lawyers you may get in Romania in this field.’
Key clients
Siemens Mobility
PORR Construct
FCC Construccion
Duro Felguera
ExxonMobil Development Company
Acciona Construccion
Work highlights
- Successfully advised PORR Construct on its bid for the Sibiu-Pitesti motorway infrastructure project.
- Advising FCC Construccion on the performance of contracts for the rehabilitation of several sections of the Frontiera – Curtici – Simeria railway.
- Successfully represented Siemens Mobility in litigation proceedings against the Authority for Railway Reform concerning the initial tender procedure for the purchase of electric trains.
Romania > Real estate and construction Tier 1
Nestor Nestor Diculescu Kingston Petersen has a comprehensive real estate and construction practice which offers ‘exceptional expertise in permitting and litigation matters‘. In addition to its headquarters in Bucharest, the firm has offices in Timisaora and Cluj, ensuring strong on-the-ground support for the full range of related regulatory and commercial issues. This includes transactional and development advice across key asset classes, including office space, retail, residential, hospitality, and industrial and logistics sites. Clients are similarly diverse, spanning major landlords, investors, developers and occupiers. Highly experienced Ioana Niculeasa leads the team, which includes 'excellent advisor' Vlad Tanase and Lavinia Ionita-Rasmussen, who is praised for her ‘commitment to her client’s interests‘. At the associate level, Ioana Grigoriu is recommended.Practice head(s):
Ioana Niculeasa
Other key lawyers:
Vlad Tanase; Lavinia Ionita-Rasmussen; Ioana Grigoriu
Testimonials
‘The team offers exceptional expertise in permitting and litigation matters.’
‘Vlad Tanase is an excellent advisor on real estate and construction matters. His stunning expertise on all permitting-related matters gives you the comfort your plan is in good hands.’
‘The team we worked with was very client oriented. The relevant transaction was quite complicated, and the lawyers fought hard for ensuring additional safety mechanisms in favour of us, whilst simultaneously safeguarding a functioning relationship with the seller.’
‘I would trust Lavinia Ionita-Rasmussen’s commitment to her client’s interests and she can play the bad cop role if necessary whilst doing so in an elegant, non-offending way.’
Key clients
Forte Partners
AFI Europe
Auchan
WDP
Mobexpert Group
Globalworth Real Estate Investment Limited
De’Longhi Romania
Weisenburger Real Estate Romania
Griro SA
Impetum Group
CTP
Al Sin Management
Work highlights
- Assisting Forte Partners with leasing over 10,000 square metres of office space to Estee Lauder for the opening of its Romanian digital centre, as well as over 8,000 square metres to Booking Holdings.
- Assisting Fattal Group, a major European hotel chain, with the acquisition of the Golden Tulip Hotel in Central Bucharest.
- Advising Insight investment on all the Romanian aspects, including significant real estate issues, concerning the indirect sale of four Romanian businesses (three farming companies and a management company).
Romania > Restructuring and insolvency Tier 1
Nestor Nestor Diculescu Kingston Petersen is regularly instructed by debtors and creditors on 'complex high-value cases which require strong professional competence and a hands-on approach'. The multifaceted group has a deep bench of lawyers capable of handling all stages of contentious and non-contentious insolvency and restructuring proceedings, including the sale and acquisition of distressed assets and non-performing loan portfolios. Banking and capital markets head Manuela Nestor jointly leads the team with disputes head Ana Diculescu-Sova. Other key litigators include Sorina Olaru, Emil Bivolaru and Marius Ezer. On the advisory side, Alina Radu and Valentin Voinescu are the names to note.Practice head(s):
Manuela Nestor; Ana Diculescu-Sova
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘NNDKP are very organised and treat every legal case with professionalism. The lawyers in the firm have high legal knowledge, even if they are specialised in different areas.’
‘We collaborate excellently with Sorina Olaru. She is very professional and gives legal advice in a short time, offering legal solutions to different problems that could arise in insolvency and restructuring cases.’
‘NNDKP has a great litigation team. We have collaborated with them for more than a decade in complex high-value cases which require strong professional competence and a hands-on approach. The team is very capable and offers efficient solutions to the sensitive issues raised by our restructuring and insolvency cases. What makes them stand out is the high level of service and client-centred approach.’
‘Emil Bivolaru is a heavyweight litigator and a great team leader. We appreciate his strategic thinking and ability to find solutions to difficult situations. His advice has been of tremendous help in all the years we have worked together.’
‘Marius Ezer provides advice of the highest calibre. He is very focused and pragmatic and understands the commercial side of each case. He is a sharp lawyer, and we rely on him to fight our corner.’
Key clients
MTU Maintenance Lease Services
Huincas Ltd (part of Argo Capital Group)
BRD Groupe Societe Generale
TAS Investment Fund
Keytrade Iberia
Arlyn Limited
Peris
Work highlights
- Represented Huincas, part of Argo Capital Group, the sole shareholder of a Romanian special purpose vehicle which owns a shopping centre, in its €85m insolvency procedure.
- Representing BRD Groupe Societe Generale in a series of 670 insolvency procedures linked to non-performing loans.
- Advising a major group of companies active in the agribusiness sector on a €100m turnaround and restructuring process.
Romania > Tax Tier 1
Nestor Nestor Diculescu Kingston Petersen's tax team is ‘focused on getting the best understanding of the client’s business and needs'. The firm handles a broad range of tax disputes, and also offers a strong non-contentious practice. On the advisory side, highly regarded co-heads Marius Ionescu and Alina Timofti are active, as are a number of economists and certified tax advisors; they provide regular support on corporate M&A, restructurings, finance and other transactional needs across a wide range of industries. Other key team members include Lucian Barbu, Silviu Badescu for international tax matters, and VAT head Alexandru Aparaschivei.Practice head(s):
Alina Timofti; Marius Ionescu
Other key lawyers:
Lucian Barbu; Silviu Badescu; Alexandru Aparaschivei.
Testimonials
‘Focused on getting the best understanding of the client’s business and needs as a base for reliable and applicable advice and support.’
‘Client oriented.’
Romania > TMT Tier 1
The ‘highly experienced and responsive team‘ at Nestor Nestor Diculescu Kingston Petersen is praised for its ‘industry knowledge of the telecoms sector‘, as well as its expertise in the privacy field. The multi-faceted practice has strong credentials for representing clients before the relevant regulatory bodies and also advising them on their internal compliance issues. In addition, the team has a strong track record in corporate M&A, dispute resolution and the full range of technology transactions, including IP licensing, outsourcing and software-as-a-service agreements. Adina Chilim-Dumitriu is especially experienced in regulatory matters, while Roxana Ionescu and Iurie Cojocaru are ‘simply the best‘ for data protection. Clients also commend managing associate and telecoms expert Alina Boureanu.
Practice head(s):
Adina Chilim-Dumitriu; Roxana Ionescu; Iurie Cojocaru
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘Highly experienced and responsive team.’
‘Very responsive and high quality advice. We mostly work with Alina Boureanu and Adina Chilim-Dumitriu.’
‘Good industry knowledge of the telecoms sector.’
‘Alina Boureanu is the lawyer assisting us with various telecoms-related queries. She is a very thorough lawyer with good industry knowledge.’
‘They are the Top Gun in this field among all law offices on the Romanian market.’
‘Roxana Ionescu and Iurie Cojocaru – simply the best.’
Key clients
Orange Romania
Ericsson
British Telecom
Zoom
NTT
Interroute
Ooma
VMware
Work highlights
- Advising Orange Romania on the transfer of business assets from Ericsson Romania.
- Assisting Ericsson group with obtaining its 5G authorisation.
- Advising major companies including British Telecom, Zoom, Google, NTT, Interoute, and Ooma on a range of regulatory telecoms issues.
Romania > TMT: gambling law Tier 2
Nestor Nestor Diculescu Kingston Petersen has long served the Romanian gambling industry with a dedicated and experienced team of lawyers. The standalone practice offers a broad array of related regulatory, compliance and tax advice, with clients also benefiting from the full-service firm’s wider pool of resources, including its corporate finance, IP, data privacy and competition departments. The firm has recently been involved in several high-profile M&A transactions, including advice to a major investment fund on its acquisition of a leading B2B gambling services operator. Corporate partner Gabriela Cacerea has been very active on the transactional side and Ruxandra Bologa is also a key team member. Alina Tace moved to Simion & Baciu Law Firm.Practice head(s):
Gabriela Cacerea; Ruxandra Bologa
Work highlights
- Assisted a major investment fund with gambling regulatory advice linked to the acquisition of a major international company operating in the gambling sector.
- Advised an American multinational company on obtaining a B2B payment processing license for the gaming industry for one of its affiliates.
- Advising an iGaming software provider on complex regulatory licensing issues linked to its Romanian software development and operational platforms.
Romania > Capital markets Tier 3
Nestor Nestor Diculescu Kingston Petersen is noted for its track record assisting with debt and equity listings; this includes support on municipal bond issues, high-yield products, private placements and corporate IPOs. Banks, asset managers and issuers regularly instruct the firm, benefiting from its full-service offering, which also provides support on related equity incentive plans, tax, regulatory and corporate governance matters. Co-managing partner and corporate specialist Manuela Nestor and banking head Alina Radu are two of the key contacts. Corporate specialist Corina Dumitru is another recommended name.Practice head(s):
Manuela Nestor
Other key lawyers:
Alina Radu; Corina Dumitru
Romania > Intellectual property Tier 3
IP mandates form a key part of Nestor Nestor Diculescu Kingston Petersen‘s wider commercial offering. The firm is typically instructed by clients from key industries, including pharmaceuticals, software, consumer goods, media, automotive and fashion, to advice on day-to-day portfolio management issues, in addition to providing M&A support, and assisting with IP licensing and franchising. The team also has a strong track record on the contentious side, and recently handled a significant trade mark opposition on behalf of a major telecoms client. Managing associate Florina Firaru leads the team following the departure of Magda Popescu to establish her own firm. Senior associate Alina Tace is another key contact.
Nestor Nestor Diculescu Kingston Petersen > Firm Profile
Nestor Nestor Diculescu Kingston Petersen (NNDKP) is a promoter of business law in Romania and has been acknowledged, for more than 30 years, as a pioneer of the Romanian legal market. NNDKP offers full-service and integrated legal and tax advice to companies from diverse industry sectors. For the past three decades, NNDKP lawyers have provided expertise in landmark deals and projects in Romania, contributing to the evolution of the Romanian business environment, including in innovative and niche economic sectors that involved both international corporations and local entrepreneurs.
NNDKP’s team brings together knowledgeable, talented and dedicated lawyers and tax advisors active in Romania, with an impressive track record that reflects a mix of industry insights, courtroom experience and practical business sense. Over 120 lawyers, tax and IP counsellors and over 50 business services professionals form one of the largest and most respected teams of independent professional services providers in Romania. We are on the ground where needed, working either from our headquarters in Bucharest or from our regional offices located in Timisoara and Cluj-Napoca, important economic, academic and social hubs in Romania.
To continuously add value to the services that would benefit our clients, NNDKP has established strong connections with leading international law firms and high-profile professional networks. On the local market, NNDKP has formed alliances with non-legal advisers with deep knowledge of the Romanian market to help clients pursue their business interests including outside the legal spectrum.
Committed to constant advancement and enhanced performance, NNDKP formalized in 2019 its Center of Excellence in Fiscal Disputes (or NNDKP CELF), an initiative built with the aim to provide integrated services to the company’s clients from the initial stage of a fiscal dispute until the litigation stage before Romanian courts, offering a seamless approach throughout the fiscal dispute. Clients benefit from the very first moment from complete professional services covering both fiscal and legal aspects, in the unwanted scenario of a fiscal dispute, thanks to the involvement of a mixed team of professionals in each project, that includes highly experienced tax consultants and dispute resolution lawyers.
In 2021, NNDKP has set up Act for Ethics, a legal & tax hub dedicated to business ethics and compliance regarding the Whistleblowers’ Directive. Act for Ethics is, at the same time, a space for information and debate which, at present, integrates the corporate governance, labour and data protection competencies required to assess compliance with the legislation (in-the-making) on the protection of persons reporting in the public interest.
In over three decades of practice, we have fostered a culture of continuous improvement to meet our clients’ needs and to adapt to a fast-changing economic landscape. As a pioneer of business law in Romania, we have also embraced technology and implemented tools to increase efficiency in the fields of information management, knowledge management, business development and finance. We are constantly looking for new feasible ways to evolve and adapt, for the direct benefit of our teams and clients.
Areas of practice: Along the years, we have expanded our practice areas to cover virtually all key areas of business law and to keep pace with clients’ evolving businesses. Our expertise covers: advertising, banking and finance, capital markets, competition and state aid, consumer protection, corporate / M&A and commercial, data protection, dispute resolution, employment, energy and natural resources, environment, EU law, gaming, immigration, insurance and private pensions, intellectual property, pharmaceuticals and healthcare, infrastructure, public procurement and PPP, real estate and construction, tax and telecommunications and media.
Industry wise, we frequently act in matters related to agribusiness, automotive, aviation, aerospace and defence, financial sector, healthcare, infrastructure and construction, IT and technology, manufacturing, mining, oil and gas, power and utilities, renewables, retail and consumer goods, transport and logistics.
Main Contacts
Department | Name | Telephone | |
---|---|---|---|
Banking and finance | Manuela Nestor | manuela.nestor@nndkp.ro | |
Banking and finance | Alina Radu | alina.radu@nndkp.ro | |
Capital markets | Manuela Nestor | manuela.nestor@nndkp.ro | |
Competition and state aid | Anca Diaconu | anca.diaconu@nndkp.ro | |
Corporate/M&A | Adriana Gaspar | adriana.gaspar@nndkp.ro | |
Corporate/M&A | Adina Chilim-Dumitriu | adina.chilim-dumitriu@nndkp.ro | |
Corporate/M&A | Gabriela Cacerea | gabriela.cacerea@nndkp.ro | |
Corporate/M&A | Ruxandra Bologa | ruxandra.bologa@nndkp.ro | |
Data Protection | Iurie Cojocaru | iurie.cojocaru@nndkp.ro | |
Dispute resolution | Ana Diculescu-Sova | ana.diculescu@nndkp.ro | |
Employment | Roxana Abrasu | roxana.abrasu@nndkp.ro | |
Energy | Gabriela Cacerea | gabriela.cacerea@nndkp.ro | |
Energy | Ruxandra Bologa | ruxandra.bologa@nndkp.ro | |
Gaming, consumer protection | Gabriela Cacerea | gabriela.cacerea@nndkp.ro | |
Gaming, consumer protection | Ruxandra Bologa | ruxandra.bologa@nndkp.ro | |
Infrastructure and PPP | Adriana Gaspar | adriana.gaspar@nndkp.ro | |
Intellectual property | Florina Firaru | florina.firaru@nndkp.ro | |
Public procurement | Adina Chilim-Dumitriu | adina.chilim-dumitriu@nndkp.ro | |
Real estate | Ioana Niculeasa | ioana.niculeasa@nndkp.ro | |
Taxation | Alina Timofti | alina.timofti@nndkp.ro | |
Taxation | Marius Ionescu | marius.ionescu@nndkp.ro | |
Pharmaceuticals and Healthcare | Gabriela Cacerea | gabriela.cacerea@nndkp.ro | |
Pharmaceuticals and Healthcare | Ruxandra Bologa | ruxandra.bologa@nndkp.ro |
Lawyer Profiles
Photo | Name | Position | Profile |
---|---|---|---|
Mrs Roxana Abrasu | Roxana Abrasu is a Partner and Head of the Employment and Labour… | View Profile | |
Mr Alexandru Aparaschivei | Alexandru Aparaschivei has 18 years of professional experience and is a Tax… | View Profile | |
Mr Silviu Badescu | Silviu Badescu is a Tax Partner at NNDKP Tax Advisory Services. With… | View Profile | |
Mr Lucian Barbu | Lucian Barbu is a Tax Partner at NNDKP Tax Advisory Services. He… | View Profile | |
Mr Emil Bivolaru | Emil Bivolaru is a Partner in the Dispute Resolution practice at NNDKP.… | View Profile | |
Mrs Ruxandra Bologa | Ruxandra Bologa is a Partner and Co-Head of Corporate/M&A and Energy and… | View Profile | |
Mrs Gabriela Cacerea | Gabriela Cacerea is a Partner and Co-Head of Corporate/M&A and Energy and… | View Profile | |
Mrs Adina Chilim-Dumitriu | Adina Chilim-Dumitriu is a Partner and Head of the Telecommunications and Media… | View Profile | |
Mr Iurie Cojocaru | Iurie has 17 years of experience in the legal field and heads… | View Profile | |
Mrs Anca Diaconu | Anca Diaconu has significant professional experience in competition, state aid and EU… | View Profile | |
Mrs Ana Diculescu-Sova | Ana Diculescu-Sova is a Senior Partner heading NNDKP’s Dispute Resolution Department. Her… | View Profile | |
Mrs Georgeta Dinu | Georgeta started her collaboration with NNDKP in 2004. She became familiar with… | View Profile | |
Mrs Corina Dumitru | Corina Dumitru is a Partner in the Corporate/M&A and Public Procurement and… | View Profile | |
Mr Marius Ezer | Marius Ezer is a Partner in the Dispute Resolution Department at NNDKP.… | View Profile | |
Mrs Adriana Ioana Gaspar | Adriana Ioana Gaspar has 31 years of professional activity in the legal… | View Profile | |
Mrs Daniela Gramaticescu | Daniela Gramaticescu is a Partner in NNDKP’s Dispute Resolution practice. She has… | View Profile | |
Mr Marius Ionescu | Marius Ionescu has 26 years of professional experience and is a Tax… | View Profile | |
Mrs Lavinia Ionita-Rasmussen | Lavinia Ionita-Rasmussen is a Partner in the Real Estate practice at NNDKP.… | View Profile | |
Mr Valeriu Mina | Valeriu Mina is a Partner in the Dispute Resolution practice at NNDKP.… | View Profile | |
Mrs Ioana Niculeasa | Ioana Niculeasa has over 23 years of experience in the legal field… | View Profile | |
Mrs Sorina Olaru | Sorina Olaru is a Partner in the Dispute Resolution practice at NNDKP.… | View Profile | |
Mrs Oana Partenie | Oana Partenie is a Partner in the Dispute Resolution practice at NNDKP.… | View Profile | |
Mrs Alina Radu | Alina Radu has 26 years of professional experience and is a Partner… | View Profile | |
Mr Vlad Tanase | Vlad Tanase is a Partner in the Real Estate practice at NNDKP.… | View Profile | |
Mrs Alina Timofti | Alina Timofti is a Tax Partner and Co-Head of Tax Advisory Services… | View Profile | |
Mr Razvan Vlad | Răzvan Vlad is a Partner in the Corporate/M&A and Public Procurement and… | View Profile | |
Mr Valentin Voinescu | Valentin Voinescu is a Partner in NNDKP’s Banking and Finance practice. He… | View Profile |
Staff Figures
Number of professionals : Over 120 (including partners)Languages
English FrenchMemberships
The South East Europe Legal Group (SEE Legal) Lex Mundi World Services Group Three Seas Legal AllianceOther
Contacts : Ion Nestor (ion.nestor@nndkp.ro) Contacts : Manuela Nestor (manuela.nestor@nndkp.ro) Other offices : Cluj-Napoca Other offices : TimisoaraDiversity
NNDKP respects, promotes and bases its success on value, including personal value and value resulted from the mix and interaction of perspectives. Thus, we have tended to and accommodated variety in every respect and at all levels, in the most natural manner.
Reflective of our belief in value, our overall teams have organically developed to comprise a diversity of groups, regardless of gender, ethnicity, religion and other distinguishing trait. That is how we have built a diverse and inclusive working environment, with equal chances for all.
NNDKP’s programmes, activities and initiatives are designed to accommodate equality and diversity and are carefully monitored and adjusted so as to pave the way for both personal and firm’s development and success, without prejudice. NNDKP’s continued policy has been to attract and retain top talent irrespective of differences. All members of our teams have benefitted from the same access to projects, training and rewards and have been encouraged to assume responsibilities and to achieve leading roles in the legal environment. We recognize individual contributions and reward professionals fairly, based on performance, accomplishments and contribution to the firm’s development.
A defining aspect of NNDKP’s corporate culture is encouraging female lawyers to achieve leading roles in the legal profession. We are a strong supporter of women and have always empowered them to reach their full potential, and this is reflected in our firm’s leadership –60% of our partners are women. At firm level, +60% of our professionals are women.
NNDKP was recognized as “Best Firm in Romania” for gender diversity three times at Euromoney’s “European Women in Business Law” Gala. The firm was also invited as expert at the “Equality Pays Off” business forum, organized as part of the European Commission’s initiative for gender diversity.
We believe that an inclusive environment creates a safe workplace, where professionals can grow. This also contributes to the quality of the services we provide to our clients, and also drives innovation and development.
A promoter of business law in Romania with over 30 years of experience on the local market, NNDKP has proven that solid knowledge, professional skills, ethics and dedication are gender and age-neutral and that success can only be based on value.
Doing Business In
Romania
Key facts about Romania
- Population: 19,328,838 (as of 1st of January 2020, according to the Romanian National Institute of Statistics)
- Size: 238,397 square kilometers, approximatively the same size as the United Kingdom, place in Europe by size: 12;
- Geographic location: South East Europe, bordering the Black Sea
- Official language: Romanian (a latin/romance language, such as French, Spanish, Italian or Portuguese)
- Capital: Bucharest, having 2,155,240 inhabitants (as of 1st of July 2020, according to the Romanian National Institute of Statistics)
- Main seaports: Constanța, Mangalia
- Currency: lei (RON). Romania however undertook the obligation to adopt the euro once the nominal, legal and real convergence criteria are fulfilled. At the moment, Romania is committed to joining the euro area, targeting the year 2024.
- Regime: Semi-presidential republic
- EU Membership: EU member state since 2007
- NATO Membership: NATO member since 2004
- Legal system: Civil law system
Introduction
Back in 2021, we were all thinking that the world is in a volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguous state and that there is nothing else that could surprise us. It seems however that reality tends to be a better source for fiction novels than imagination itself.
Romania is no stranger to ambiguity and uncertainty, of course. Situated at the junction of deep geopolitical divides, one is almost certain to fail in making any successful predictions about Romania’s immediate future, other than the simple, evergreen, prediction: it will be something we did not (fully) anticipate.
Now Romania is facing yet another crisis, so unexpected and yet so usual and almost predictable for this part of the world. For business, it is time again to look carefully at risks, opportunities and plan for a rough but possibly very lucrative next decade. We see great things ahead for those cunning enough to seize the day.
The Romanian economy – a very quick guide
Following the end of the communist rule in 1989, Romania’s businesses have continued to grow year by year. Most recently, the turnovers of the country’s most important companies are considered to be double than those registered 10 years ago[1]. The capital city, Bucharest, draws the majority of business interest, and generates almost 38% of the total turnover in the Romanian economy. If we also count the economies along the Bucharest-Brașov route (therefore including Bucharest and Ilfov, Prahova, Brașov counties) together they amount for more than 50% of business in Romania.
According to the European Economic Forecast[2], in 2021, Romania’s economy is expected to have grown by 6.3 percent, mainly driven by strong domestic demand. As for 2022, latest readings of sentiment indicators point to a rather positive, albeit moderate, growth outlook, in particular in services, retail trade, construction and industry. Private consumption is expected to pick up in the second half of 2022 and investment is expected to remain strong, supported by the Recovery and Resilience Facility and other EU Funds, but the expected increase in private investments is projected to dampen private investments[3].
Companies’ performance in the (hopefully) last year of the pandemic
The easing of COVID-19 containment measures in the first quarters of 2021 and the companies’ experience of the previous pandemic year resulted in an increase in profits for companies active in the business services, trade, construction, real estate, manufacturing and utilities sector. Conversely, mobility restrictions brought by the Delta variant of the SARS-COV-2 virus and the decrease in aggregate demand dealt a heavy blow to services to households, mining and quarrying, while agricultural output contracted due to the weather conditions which had a negative impact on the sectors profitability[4].
The lessons of the previous global crisis seem to be looming on us as we also see a surge in the number of insolvency cases. According to the data published by the Romanian Trade Registry, the number of insolvencies has risen by 7.9 percent in 2021 compared to 2020. Hence, as the moratorium and the relaxed conditions under the insolvency legislation promoted by the Romanian government are being lifted, the postponed effects of the pandemic may now start to show.
The need for reform in the Romanian restructuring sector is now greater than ever. The issuance of legislation that would create an efficient restructuring framework is one of the measures that might prevent the occurrence in many companies of a serious state of degradation, which may cause the closing or bankruptcy thereof. As Romania is bound to transpose into national legislation the EU legislation on preventive restructuring frameworks, the Romanian legislator is now having a major opportunity to implement a wide range of legislative reforms in order to improve the options available to debtors in financial difficulty.
Romanian labour market in the past year
The pandemic has left its mark on the Romanian labour market as well, with the unemployment rate fluctuating in line with the emergence of each new wave. Against the backdrop of the easing of restrictions, the unemployment rate fell to almost 5 percent in September 2021, but was followed by a new spike in the last quarter of the year as a result of the forth wave triggered by the Omicron variant and the population’s low vaccination rate.
The Romanian labour market was nevertheless greatly supported by the authorities’ financial support for workforce retention. In early 2021, furlough schemes were reintroduced until the end of the year for the economic agents directly hit by the restrictions. Romania also benefits from EUR 4.1 billion under the EU’s programme for Support to mitigate Unemployment Ricks in an Emergency (SURE)[5].
A new challenge
The latest Inflation Report published by the National Bank of Romania in February 2022 has confirmed that the global inflation fueled by marked rises in energy, food and other non-energy commodity prices is also a reality Romania cannot escape.
The annual CPI inflation rate in Romania has stepped up significantly in the last quarter of 2021, reaching a 10-year high of 8.19 percent in December 2021. As the public health risks have persisted and the energy market strains have gained renewed momentum due to the conflictual situation in Ukraine, forecasts are not so positive either. The National Bank of Romania forecasts shows a higher annual CPI inflation rate in April, ahead of a gradual deceleration over the next quarters, when lower adjustments in energy prices are envisaged.
The National Bank of Romania has also been constantly increasing the monetary policy rate and decided to maintain firm control over money market liquidity. The current monetary policy rate is of 3 percent per annum (increased as of 6 April 2022 from a previous rate of 2.5 percent)[6].
Analysts[7] also have lowered their estimate for 2022’s economic growth to 3 percent, down half a percentage point from the previous forecast, while their inflationary expectations have continued to rise (a inflation rate for 2022 is seen at 8.03 percent currently) amid the invasion in Ukraine. As regards the euro to lei exchange rate, a depreciation of the national currency is also expected in the next 12 months, while the key interest rate established by the National Bank of Romania is anticipated to surge to at least 4.25 percent in the next 12 months.
Piece authored by Valentin Voinescu, Partner, Banking & Finance
[1] According to an analysis by the consulting company Frames.
[2] https://ec.europa.eu/info/sites/default/files/economy-finance/ip169_en.pdf
[3] Idem.
[4] Financial Stability Report of the National Bank of Romania, published in December 2021
[5] Financial Stability Report of the National Bank of Romania, published in December 2021
[6] https://www.bnr.ro/Monetary-Policy–3318-Mobile.aspx
[7] CFA Romania’s Macroeconomic Confidence Indicator survey