The Legal 500

Within Banking, finance and capital markets, Tuca Zbarcea & Asociatii is a second tier firm,

Clients are impressed with the ‘competence’ and ‘quick response times’ of the banking and finance team at Tuca Zbarcea & Asociatii, which has particular expertise in financing work for the energy sector. The firm is acting for CEZ on the €460m total financing for the development of the largest onshore windfarm project in Europe. It is also advising Erste Bank in connection with a broad range of legal matters arising from the acquisition of Banca Comerciala Romana (BCR) – BCR is the largest Romanian commercial bank, with nine subsidiaries, more than 200 units throughout Romania, as well as approximately 10,000 employees. Deputy managing partner Stefan Damian heads up the capital markets practice and is recommended; Mihai Dudoiu who leads the banking and finance group is also well regarded.

Within Corporate and M&A, Tuca Zbarcea & Asociatii is a first tier firm,

With sectoral experience which covers everything from retail to manufacturing, Tuca Zbarcea & Asociatii’s clients praise the firm’s ‘in-depth knowledge’ and ‘business acumen’. The practice is noted for its transactional expertise and has a strong energy client list. It worked on the implementation of the largest corporate restructuring in the energy sector with a view to setting-up two national energy champions, Hidroenergetica and Electra. The process includes a combination of spin-off and merger operations to be conducted simultaneously at the level of 17 different state-owned entities in the power and heat generation sector. On the M&A front, the firm acted for Noriel Group on the sale of a significant minority stake in its toy distribution business. CEZ and Interbrands Marketing and Distribution are important clients. Managing partners Gabriel Zbârcea and Florentin Tuca are highly regarded and find ‘the best business solutions’. Deputy managing partner Stefan Damian is also recommended.

Within Dispute resolution, Tuca Zbarcea & Asociatii is a first tier firm,

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.

Within Energy and natural resources, Tuca Zbarcea & Asociatii is a first tier firm,

Tuca Zbarcea & Asociatii provides energy clients with ‘high quality advice and fast response times’. The firm has a full service practice with clients in the oil and gas, renewable and nuclear fields as well as natural resources expertise. Czech energy giant CEZ is a key client; the practice is providing the company with ongoing advice in relation to the development of the largest onshore wind farm project in Europe, a project valued at over €450m. The firm is advising the same client on its participation in the Cernavoda Nuclear Power Plant project. The firm is also advising the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Business Environment Assistance on the first LNG (liquefied natural gas) project in Romania, the Azerbaijan-Georgia-Romania Interconnector (AGRI). Managing partner Gabriel Zbârcea and Sorin Vladesc share responsibility for energy work. Cornel Popa is also recommended.

Within IT, telecoms and media, Tuca Zbarcea & Asociatii is a first tier firm,

Tuca Zbarcea & Asociatii’s ‘professional’ IT team has a strong telecoms practice at its centre. The firm acts for Romtelecom, Romania’s largest telecoms provider, and assisted the company in connection with a public procurement contract with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in order to implement IT networks and systems necessary for Romania’s integration into the Schengen agreement. The practice’s clients include Cosmote and Ericsson. Sorin Vladescu heads up the IT and telecoms practice and is recommended.

Within Public private partnership and procurement, Tuca Zbarcea & Asociatii is a first tier firm,

Managing partner Florentin Tuca heads up the PPP practice at Tuca Zbarcea & Asociatii which excels across energy, infrastructure and public procurement work. The firm acts for the Romanian Ministry of Transports and Infrastructure and the National Company of Motorways and National Roads in connection with the €2bn concession contract for the Bucharest ring road. On the energy front, the firm is representing the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Business Environment in connection with the first LNG (liquefied natural gas) project in Romania. The project involves the construction of a liquefaction plant and LNG export terminal for Azeri gas in Georgia, as well as an import terminal with re-gasification plant in Romania.

Within Real estate, Tuca Zbarcea & Asociatii is a second tier firm,

Clients appreciate the ‘professional and client-oriented approach’ of Tuca Zbarcea & Asociatii. The firm has particular expertise in acting for industrial clients as part of a full service real estate practice. It is acting for Czech energy giant CEZ in relation to the development of the largest onshore wind farm project in Europe, which includes a substantial portion of real estate work. On the construction side, the firm is advising a joint venture between two Spanish companies – AZVI and Vimac – which have been awarded the contract for the refurbishment of the Vidin-Calafat Bridge. The contract is valued at €67m. On the retail side, the firm is counsel to Carrefour Romania and assists with legal issues related to its large property portfolio. Dan Borbely leads the real estate practice group and ‘has a rare blend of analytical and interpersonal skills’. Co-head Razvan Gheorghiu-Testa is also highly regarded.