The Legal 500

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

Musat & Asociatii offers clients ‘tremendous expertise’ in the banking finance field and is praised for its ‘great professionalism’ and ‘attention to detail’. The practice advised The European Investment Bank (EIB) in connection with a €232m loan granted to the Municipality of Bucharest for infrastructure rehabilitation and urban development. Capital markets work included acting for Rompetrol Group, one of the largest gas and refining business in Romania, in connection with the €90m acquisition of the remaining free float of Rompetrol Rafinare, as well as providing legal advice in all matters pertaining to the mandatory public offering of Rompetrol Well Services. Miruna Suciu is co-head of the banking and finance team and is recommended for her ‘wide experience, excellent advice on negotiation strategy, deep technical expertise and fast response times’. Iuliana Craiciu is also highly regarded by clients.

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

Transactional work is at the heart of Musat & Asociatii’s well regarded corporate practice, with particular focus on large scale energy work. Clients appreciate the firm’s ‘prompt, innovative and pragmatic advice’. The firm advised Rompetrol Group, one of the largest gas and refining businesses in Romania, in connection with the €90m acquisition of the remaining free float of Rompetrol Rafinare, as well as providing legal advice in all matters pertaining to the mandatory public offering of Rompetrol Well Services. The practice also acted for SAB Miller in connection with the €10m acquisition of an absolute majority stake in the local beer producer Bere Azuga. Clients include Enel, Roche Romania, AT&T and Oracle Romania. Senior partner Gheorghe Musat is highly respected in the market; co-managing partner Catalin Baiculescu is an ‘invaluable resource’ for clients.

Within Dispute resolution, Musat & Asociatii is a first tier firm,

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.

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

Clients are impressed with the ‘profound legal knowledge’ and ‘practical way of solving problems’ at Musat & Asociatii. The firm has a full service energy practice with experience across oil and gas, nuclear and renewable sources. The firm is one of a number of Romanian players advising on the development of Unit 3 and Unit 4 of the Cernavoda Nuclear Power Plant – it is acting for Enel. The practice acted for the same client on the acquisition of several energy companies owned by the Romanian State including an 800 MW Hard Coal Capacity station located in Braila. It also worked with Sagacarbon on regulatory matters related to emissions trading. Rompetrol Group and Gabriel Resources are key clients. Miruna Suciu heads up the energy team providing ‘clear and fast support’; Luminita Popa leads the natural resources team.

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

Musat & Asociatii’s IT clients praise the way the firm mixes ‘technical skill with sound legal advice’. The firm is particularly strong in the telecoms field. It advised Apple in relation to regulatory matters concerning the technical documentation required for distributing iPhone in Romania, as well as on the launch of the iTunes online stores in the country. The practice also advised Amazon in connection with the expansion of its software development centre in Iasi. Co-managing partner Catalin Baiculescu heads up the team; clients praise his ‘regulatory knowledge’ and ‘fabulous experience in telecoms’.

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

Energy work is a particular area of expertise for the PPP team at Musat & Asociatii. Clients praise the firm’s ‘vast experience’ and note its ‘skill in negotiating with public authorities’. It is advising Gabriel Resources, a major Canadian mining group, in relation to the exploration and exploitation of the Rosia Montana gold mining site (the biggest gold and silver mining site in Europe) in partnership with Romanian State-owned company Minvest. The practice is also acting for Nova Imobiliare on an ongoing PPP project with the Municipality of Bucharest with regard to the development of the largest shopping centre in the city. Luminita Popa and Gelu-Titus Maravela are co-heads of the team.

Within Real estate, Musat & Asociatii is a second tier firm,

‘Highly professional, result-oriented, with a comprehensive understanding of the real estate field’ is how clients describe the real estate team at Musat & Asociatii. The practice has particular expertise in carrying out transactional work for developers. In 2010, it worked with Spanish bank La Caixa on the refinancing of various real estate projects with a total value in excess of €55m. It is also advising Grupo Lar, a leading Spanish real estate developer, in connection with various land acquisitions in Bucharest and Cluj and the development of residential compounds with a project investment value in excess of €300m. Musat & Asociatii is also assisting Tornator, a Finnish forest management group, regarding the acquisition of forest land in Romania valued at over €40m. Mona Musat is practice head and ‘a natural leader’; Mihai Barladeanu is praised for his ability to ‘find commercial solutions’.