The Legal 500 > Europe, Middle East & Africa > Romania > Energy and natural resources

Ţuca Zbârcea & Asociaţii handles a wide range of matters including M&A, regulatory work, financing, employment issues as well as energy sector disputes. China General Nuclear Power Group receives advice on investment plans to develop two additional nuclear units at the Cernavodă nuclear power plant. Sorin Vlădescu assists CEZ with various energy market issues. He heads the practice alongside Cornel Popa, Irina Moinescu and Cristian Radu. The team has particular expertise in the renewables, energy and power, nuclear, oil and gas and natural resources industries.

Filip & Company is advising Greece-based Mytilineos Holdings on the process of booking capacity for the transit of natural gas through Romania, including assisting with procedural steps and liaising with the relevant authorities. It also advised nuclear services company, Amec Foster Wheeler, on its sale to Kinectrics and represented RCS & RDS in its challenge to the monopoly powers of distribution companies. Alina Stancu Birsan and Cristina Filip head the practice, which possesses knowledge of the oil and gas, renewables, co-generation and nuclear energy industries.

Noted for its ‘excellent analysis and anticipatory advice’, the practice at Nestor Nestor Diculescu Kingston Petersen is jointly headed by Gabriela Cacerea, Ruxandra Bologa and Adina Chilim-Dumitriu. Bologa ‘stands out for her excellent expertise in the mining sector’ and the overall team is praised for its ‘in-depth knowledge of the oil and gas industry’. It covers the full spectrum of energy and gas sub-sectors including electricity and recently assisted an Italian multinational energy company in relation to regulatory matters and general assessments of the electricity distributions market. The team also handled M&As and privatisation work, greenfield structuring, brownfield projects, concessions, licenses and regulatory matters.

Practice head Claudiu Munteanu-Jipescu is the name to note at Dentons. He is a renewable energy sector specialist and experienced in advising on regulatory, contractual and corporate matters. The team advised CEFC China Energy Company on its acquisition of a majority stake in KMG International. Other notable clients include Engie, Hidroelectrica and Monsson Group.

The ‘creative’ and ‘business-oriented’ team at DLA Piper Dinu SCA possesses ‘vast experience’ in the energy sector. It covers the full spectrum of energy-related work including regulatory advice, financing, procurement, disputes and taxation. Marian Dinu and Paula Corban-Pelin helm the practice, which has a particular focus on the oil and gas sub-sectors. In a recent highlight, Dinu and Corban-Pelin represented Egger Romania in a regulator dispute regarding the number of green certificates issued to the client’s co-generation power plant.

Praised as ‘the strongest energy and natural resources practice locally’ by one client, Muşat & Asociaţii is ‘prompt, knowledgeable’ and possesses ‘a wealth of highly skilled individuals’. Practice heads Iulian Popescu and Razvan Stoicescu have an ‘excellent track record’ and are acting for Belgium-based Engie Energy Management on a number of matters, including an assessment of the options available for establishing a local presence in Romania.

Popovici Nitu Stoica & Asociatii handles regulatory and M&A work and is particularly active in energy-related disputes. Vlad Neacșu and Ciprian Donțu head the practice alongside Ernest-Virgil Popovici and recently advised Fondul Proprietatea on the €170m sale of its shares in four electricity companies to Electrica. The matter was made further complicated by Electrica's unsuccessful attempt to register restrictions preventing the client from finding an alternative buyer.

RTPR Allen & Overy (Radu Tărăcilă Pădurari Retevoescu SCA in association with Allen & Overy LLP) is particularly well regarded for energy-related transactions and financing. Victor Pădurari assisted EBRD with a $60m financing provided to SNTGN Transgaz Medias as part of the Brua project. Pădurari heads the practice alongside Mihai Ristici and the pair are advising Electrica on the re-organisation of its electricity distribution activities. Managing associate Bogdan Cordoş is also singled out.

Schoenherr şi Asociaţii SCA possesses ‘in-depth knowledge of energy market issues’ and assists clients in a ‘fast’ and ‘reliable manner’. Monica Cojocaru ‘inspires confidence’ and jointly leads the practice with Markus Piuk. A number of energy-related disputes form part of the recent caseload including defending a company member of a state-owned electricity company in litigation against an electricity distributor regarding the alleged non-fulfilment of post-privatisation obligations. The group is also adept at advising on regulatory issues and large-scale projects.

Miruna Suciu is a ‘wonderfully accomplished professional with exquisite expertise in the Romanian energy sector’ and leads Suciu Popa's team jointly with Luminița Popa. The duo are praised as ‘top-class lawyers with extensive experience’ and notably advised Enel Investment in relation to its €400m acquisition of 13.6% of the share capital of E-Distribuție Muntenia and Enel Energie Muntenia from SAPE. The team is predominantly active in the oil and gas sector and also features the highly recommended Cleopatra Leahu.

The client roster at Volciuc-Ionescu features notable names such as Mercuria and Prospex Oil & Gas. The latter received advice on its acquisition of a petroleum block in Romania from Raffles Energy. In a further highlight, practice head Ramona Volciuc-Ionescu assisted Montana Energy with a range of renewables acquisitions. The team is active across the oil and gas, electricity, renewables and mining industries.

Cosmin Stavaru joined Bondoc si Asociatii SCA in alliance with White & Case from Bulboaca & Asociatii and now heads the practice jointly with Monica Iancu. The oil and gas sector is a particular strength for the group, as well as the mining industry.

bpv Grigorescu Ştefănică advised French-based Total Group on the incorporation of its new Romanian entity, Total Global Services Bucharest. The team has seen an active year handling energy-related disputes and is representing KDF Energy in litigation regarding the termination of a contract with two Italian biomass power plant developers. Anca Albulescu and Daniel Stefanica head the department.

EDF Trading and Gazprom Marketing & Trading are high-profile clients of Buzescu Ca and have instructed it on a variety of trading, regulatory and compliance issues. The team also advised Amromco Energy on the purchase and leasing of land related to oil and gas operations. Practice head Peter Buzescu is supported by Adrian Tomescu and senior associate Corina Papuzu.

Praised as a ‘go-to legal team for energy and mining’, the practice at Ijdelea Mihailescu  is advising Black Sea Oil & Gas on the legal framework for its petroleum offshore development projects. Oana Ijdelea, an expert in regulatory and compliance matters, heads the team jointly with Anca Mihăilescu. Ijdelea is recommended for her ‘great industry knowledge’ and ability to find ‘practical and proactive solutions’; Mihăilescu is ‘brilliant’ and ‘understands the technicalities’.

At Kinstellar, practice head Iustinian Captariu is advising DufEnergy on regulatory requirements for gas transportation and obtaining a gas supply license. He also assisted MET Group with its acquisition of RWE Energie in Romania. The recent caseload includes a number of oil and gas projects in the Black Sea.

Leroy si Asociatii is well regarded for its ‘prompt, quality services’ and operates across the electricity and oil and gas sectors. Eleonora Udroiu is singled out for particular recommendation by clients and leads the practice alongside Andreea Toma and Bruno Leroy. She represented ENGIE Romania in a claim against the Romanian Energy Regulatory Authority seeking an adjustment to the regulated prices for natural gas supply. The team also handles transactional work and renders ongoing advice on regulatory matters.

Wolf Theiss is ‘highly experienced in the energy sector’ and provides ‘thorough, clear and very helpful’ analysis. Highlights included advising General Electric Power Services Romania on the registration, sale and leaseback of a generator and turbine manufacturing facility in Bucharest. Bryan Jardine leads the practice jointly with Ciprian Glodeanu, who ‘delivers high-quality services’.  The team has expertise across the oil and gas, nuclear power and renewables sectors.