The Legal 500

Within Banking, finance and capital markets, tier 4

Lina & Guia SCA’s clients say that the firm’s ‘commercial sense and practical advice sets it apart from others in the industry’. The practice is currently advising HSBC on the financing of an international ion exchange resins. The firm is also acting for Primavera Development in connection with negotiating its refinancing arrangements for real estate developments; and advising the borrower in one of the largest real estate financing project in Romania, the Baneasa Project. Cristian Lina’s ‘knowledge of the banking market is incredible’.

Within Corporate and M&A, Lina & Guia SCA is a third tier firm,

Lina & Guia SCA is an law firm with a growing reputation, whose new clients in the past 12 months include Sunlight Systems, Siemens Enterprise Communications and Bovis Lend Lease. One client describes them as a ‘firm you can trust to solve complex issues fast and provide timely advice’. The practice’s standout transaction of the last 12 months was advising Cosmote Mobile Telecommunications on the acquisition of the Romanian mobile operator Telemobil, which operates on the local market under the Zapp brand name. The deal was one of the most significant in the Romanian telecoms sector, being the merger of the country’s third and fourth largest mobile network operators. The firm also advises the local entities of the InterMarche Group – the Interex chain of supermarkets – on a range of corporate work including structuring work and transactional assistance. Mihai Guia has ‘excellent judgment of tactical and strategic issues associated with an M&A deal’; Cristian Lina is ‘well worth having on your team, especially during difficult takeover negotiations’.

Within Energy and natural resources, Lina & Guia SCA is a third tier firm,

Clients describe Lina & Guia SCA as ‘very professional with good legal and business knowledge’. The firm has advised Merrill Lynch Commodities on power purchase arrangements and licensing matters; and also assisted Hungarian energy trader JAS Budapest in setting up its operations in Romania, as well as with day-to-day regulatory and commercial matters. Cristian Lina is recommended.

Within Real estate and construction, tier 4

Clients say the service received from Lina & Guia SCA is ‘of excellent quality’. Helios Eastern Europe is an important client of the real estate team; the practice provides advice in relation to development, operation and divestment of its operations in Romania. Cristian Guia heads up the team.