Romania

Bucharest, 25 May, 2026: Nestor Nestor Diculescu Kingston Petersen (NNDKP) was part of the international legal team advising the Spanish Saica Group, one of the largest European players in the development and production of recycled paper and packaging, on the acquisition of the German Thimm Group, a leading provider of sustainable corrugated packaging and display solutions. Founded in 1943, the Saica Group is operating in eleven countries and generated revenues of around EUR 3,962 billion in 2025 with more than 12,000 employees. Founded in 1949, The Thimm Group operates at eleven locations across Europe. In 2024, the group generated revenues of approximately EUR 539 million with a workforce of around 2,500 employees. The acquisition represents a key milestone in the Saica Group expansion strategy, strengthening its position in the sustainable packaging market and creating a platform for further regional growth. NNDKP advised on the Romanian law aspects of the transaction, as part of a multijurisdictional team that included law firms in Poland, Czech Republic, Romania and Austria, coordinated by the German law firm Gleiss Lutz, which acted as Lead Counsel. The NNDKP team was led by Gabriela Cacerea, Partner and Co-head of the Corporate/M&A practice, and included Mădălina Pancă, Counsel, and Mihai Fifoiu, Senior Managing Associate. With more than 35 years of experience in the market, NNDKP lawyers provide integrated and specialized assistance across all legal areas relevant for businesses. From the intricacies of complex deals to the everyday needs of a business, the firm offers tailored solutions that cater to our clients’ specific requirements. Over the past three decades, NNDKP’s Corporate/M&A team has built a strong track record of advising on landmark deals and projects. NNDKP’s deep legal expertise has been instrumental in cornerstone projects that have contributed to the development of Romania's business environment.

Bucharest, May 27, 2026: Nestor Nestor Diculescu Kingston Petersen (NNDKP) successfully assisted PPC Group, one of the largest investors in the Romanian energy sector, in the collective bargaining process conducted to conclude new collective bargaining agreements for the group’s largest entities, i.e., Rețele Electrice România, PPC Energie, PPC Renewables and PPC România. The process, which spanned several months, involved complex legal preparation and support during negotiations with union representatives, having significant strategic implications given the specific nature of the energy sector and the large number of employees covered by the new collective bargaining agreements. NNDKP’s assistance covered all stages of the process and addressed sensitive issues such as salary rights, working time, benefits package, and social dialogue mechanisms, resulting in the successful conclusion of the collective negotiations. The successful finalization of the collective bargaining process, as well as the way in which it was prepared and conducted, demonstrated PPC team’s professionalism, high standards, and constructive approach in managing a highly complex process with strategic implications, which required close collaboration between the two teams. The NNDKP team included Partner Roxana Abrașu, Head of the Employment practice, and Daniel Stăncescu, Managing Associate in the same practice. With one of the largest teams of attorneys specializing exclusively in employment and labor law among law firms in Romania, NNDKP advises on all aspects of employment and labor law that clients may encounter while conducting business operations in the local market. NNDKP’s employment practice has been consistently highly ranked by the prestigious international legal guides Chambers Europe and Legal 500, ever since the first research was conducted in Romania in this area, maintaining the number one spot in the rankings for over five years.

Stratulat Albulescu Attorneys at Law (“SAA”) has advised Corden BioChem on the takeover and reactivation of the dormant bioethanol production facility, previously owned by Clariant Group and the subsequent acquisition of a neighboring biomass-based co-generation plant from Getec Servicii Energetice, both assets being located in Podari, Dolj County. The acquisition represents a strategic component of Corden BioChem’s broader business plan to develop a biotechnology hub in Dolj County, Romania. This transactions marks two mandates in which SAA has assisted in connection with the Podari industrial platform. The first was in 2024, when Stratulat Albulescu advised International Chemical Investors Group (ICIG), a well-known industrial group with sales exceeding EUR 3 billion and more than 6,000 employees worldwide, on the acquisition of the dormant bioethanol production site in Podari, Dolj County, from Clariant Group, one of the world’s leading specialty chemical companies. This latest transaction marks a significant step for the Romanian industrial and energy market, enabling the restart of one of the country’s largest bioethanol production facilities while ensuring energy self-sufficiency through low-carbon co-generation. By integrating bioethanol production with renewable energy generation, the Podari platform is positioned as a benchmark for sustainable industrial operations in Romania and aligns with broader European objectives on energy transition, decarbonisation and security of supply. Corden BioChem is the biotechnology subsidiary of International Chemical Investors Group (ICIG), a privately held industrial group with global operations. Headquartered in Germany, Corden BioChem is a leading contract development and manufacturing organisation (CDMO) for high-quality biotech products, with more than 70 years of experience and one of Europe’s largest fermentation and downstream processing capacities. The SAA team advising on the deal was led by Silviu Stratulat (Managing Partner), Manuela Iurașcu (Partner) and Luiza Ionescu (Special Counsel), and included Ana Kusak (Partner), Victor Iacob (Managing Associate), Alexandru Lazăr (Senior Associate), Alina Ghezuroiu (Associate) and Carlos Boșogeanu (Associate). The mandate covered integrated legal assistance across corporate, real estate, competition, M&A and energy matters. For any other information on this, please feel free to contact Delia Bîjnea (Head of Marketing and Communications) at [email protected] or Anastasia Tache (Marketing Assistant) at [email protected].

The Real Estate VAT Crisis: Fiscal Impact, Contractual Liabilities, and Legal Solutions Starting August 1st, a tax increase will come into effect, raising the vat rate from 9% and 19% to 21% for new residential properties regardless of their value. This change has caused unrest in the real estate market and raised numerous questions regarding the applicability of the new rates. Clients and developers face challenges related to the validity of contracts signed before the legislative amendment and the risk of significant additional costs. In cases where a contract of sale was signed during the period when the reduced vat rate applied, but the actual delivery of the property occurs after the tax increase, the issue arises regarding the application of the vat rate in force at the time of delivery. According to Article 291 paragraphs (1) and (3) of the fiscal law, the delivery of real estate is taxable at the vat rate in force at the moment of the taxable event — i.e., the actual delivery. This creates a contractual imbalance, especially if the contract does not include a price adjustment clause related to the respective tax increase. Higher VAT for Apartments from 9% to 21% – Who Is Affected? Changes in fiscal law directly affect buyers of new homes, developers, and financial institutions. Those who entered into a contract of sale before the tax increase but receive the property after the increase comes into force may be obliged to pay the difference if this aspect was not clearly stipulated in the contract. This situation generates tensions between parties that may lead to non-performance of contractual obligations or even litigation. In the absence of a fiscal adaptability clause in the contract of sale, the buyer risks bearing the full financial impact. According to civil law principles and the provisions on unforeseeability regulated in Article 1271 of the Civil Code, there are grounds for renegotiation of such contracts or even for referring the case to court for adaptation or termination. In this context, the intervention of a real estate lawyer in Romania or a tax lawyer in Romania becomes essential. A detailed analysis of contractual clauses through a due diligence lawyer in Romania process, conducted with the support of a corporate lawyers in Romania or contract lawyer in Romania, can anticipate the impact of legislative changes in the fiscal law on the transaction. Ongoing Transactions and Contractual Clauses: Can the Increased VAT Be Claimed? Legal situations arising from this tax increase may generate conflicts between parties, especially when the contract does not expressly provide for adaptation to fiscal changes. Standard clauses often do not include conditions regarding the vat increase, leaving room for interpretation. Without concrete regulation in the contract, the interpretation of fiscal obligations can become a sensitive point of dispute between seller and buyer. Recent jurisprudence shows that courts carefully examine the parties’ will and contractual balance, particularly when one party is disproportionately burdened by the consequences of the tax increase. Assistance provided by a civil attorney in Romania or a contract lawyer in Romania is necessary to assess whether there are legal grounds for renegotiation or even termination of the contract. Furthermore, a bucharest lawyer specializing as a real estate attorney in Romania can offer solutions where legal action may be initiated to recover damages or recalculate the vat amount. Developers in Difficulty: Tax Burden and Imminent Insolvencies The rise of fiscal burdens in the real estate market, coupled with increasing costs of materials and interest rates, pushes a growing number of developers towards insolvency. The absence of rigorous fiscal planning and lack of supervision over contractual risks lead to financial imbalances. In this economic context, where a tax increase directly affects profit margins, many developers who have not performed a thorough evaluation with a due diligence lawyer in Romania or have not benefited from qualified business attorney consultation face financial distress. Unforeseen expenses generated by changes in the fiscal law, along with sales delays and rising financing costs, can block cash flows necessary for completing real estate projects. A corporate lawyers in Romania, in cooperation with a tax attorney in Romania, can assist in identifying protective and restructuring measures. The Role of the Lawyer in Real Estate Transactions: From Consultation to Litigation and Insolvency The involvement of a real estate lawyer in Romania from the early stages of drafting and negotiating a contract of sale is necessary in this context. Moreover, in case of conflict, a civil attorney in Romania or avocat litigii equivalent can represent the claimant in court. The role of a business contract lawyer in Romania or due diligence lawyer in Romania is not limited to prevention but becomes crucial in managing legal crises generated by legislative changes. “Sudden modifications of the VAT regime, combined with the lack of clear contractual clauses and coherent fiscal planning, can generate major imbalances in real estate transactions, exposing both developers and buyers to financial risks and involvement in litigation,” stated Dr. Radu Pavel, Coordinating Lawyer of Pavel, Mărgărit and Associates Romanian Law Firm. Pavel, Mărgărit and Associates Romanian Law Firm provides full legal assistance in real estate transactions, with special focus on the fiscal implications of recent vat changes. Our team of real estate lawyers in Romania, tax lawyers in Romania, corporate lawyers in Romania, and litigation specialists offers integrated support in drafting and renegotiating contracts, analyzing potentially risky contractual clauses, conducting legal and fiscal due diligence, as well as representing clients in disputes arising from the incorrect or abusive application of new vat rates. We provide tailored solutions adapted to each client, strictly complying with the provisions of the fiscal law, Civil Code, and applicable real estate and commercial lawyer in Romania legislation. For a full legal assessment of your situation, please contact us via the form on our website: https://avocatpavel.ro/contact/. Don’t navigate these challenges alone. Contact Us today for expert assistance tailored to your needs. Contact Us In conclusion, in a volatile real estate market, legal assistance provided by a bucharest lawyer specialized as a real estate attorney in Romania, with expertise in commercial lawyer in Romania, real estate law, fiscal consultation, and litigation, becomes a strategic asset for protecting the interests of all parties involved. Regardless of your role in the transaction — buyer, developer, or investor — consulting with a corporate lawyers in Romania or a tax attorney in Romania is imperative.