Energy and natural resources in Romania

‘Very well prepared, talented, committed and prompt lawyers. Always able to deliver well and on time, familiar with sophisticated competitive processes and complex transaction structures. Real team players, working very well with the financial and tax consultants in the transaction. Impressive performance in various long negotiation sessions. We would select Bondoc again for any transaction related project in Romania.’

‘The most important fact is that they have a 360 degrees approach, coming up with a lot of relevant angles to look from at the matter in discussion.’

‘The engagement was led by partners Lucian Bondoc mainly on M&A and competition matters and Monica Iancu on M&A and energy matters. Very hardworking, able to find pragmatic legal solutions to business needs and to master impressive amount of legal issues.’

‘What makes them different is the fact that they get involved at very detailed level, they become part of our team and they put them selves in our shoes.’

‘The energy team has been supporting us with the renewable energy projects and the relevant legislation. We are always pleased to note that we would receive in advance and without asking the news on the key changes (or proposed changes) in law that have (would have) impacted on our business and our decisions.’

‘The quality of the legal advice has been on high level even for questions that lack legal practice. Filip were able to obtain feedback from relevant authorities or other stakeholders to provide us with guidance and share their honest opinions, outlining possible risks and mitigation measures.’

‘Filip & Company support goes far beyond legal advice. Their knowledge about the renewables market in Romania, especially their deep understanding of legal, commercial and technical contexts is exceptional. They are very well networked and thus always informed about current developments in the market.’

‘Ioana Roman and Alina Stancu Birsan are outstanding practitioners with a deep and profound knowledge. One of their strengths is to have the client’s interests in mind far beyond the usual measure. Their support is always straight to the point and solution orientated.’

‘They are smart, responsive, approachable, client-oriented… and the list could go on. I worked with them specifically in M&A projects in both distribution and renewables, and I was positively surprised with their understanding and knowledge of our business and the related implications. From concession agreements to installing wind turbines, they had the knowledge and the business acumen that really makes a lawyer useful for business.’

‘Cristina Filip is simply a brand in energy, and I have heard about her for 14 years now, way before having worked with her. And yes, she is as good as the reputation says. The secret is to stay close to the customers and the market, not becoming complacent. And she has managed to stay on top of the energy business beautifully. And I need to mention Alina Birsan. Her knowledge is more than impressive, her experience is invaluable, and she remains a nice, fun person to be around.’

‘The firm has a strong energy practice and delivers its service efficiently and is client responsive. Its partners are forward looking and aware of developments in the legal market place.’

‘Alina Stancu Birsan is outstanding. She has good knowledge of the local energy market which she combines with commercial awareness.’

‘For complex energy matters we rely on Filip & Company. They have great professionals and have a very good expertise in the field. They keep deadlines and they are answering very fast to our requests. We highly appreciate their in-depth knowledge of the market, their grasp of the commercial aspects and their multidisciplinary approach of the projects. Our relationship is based on trust, and we involved them in several important projects, with high stakes for our company, which shows our appreciation to their expertise and approach to sensitive matters.’

‘The team leader, Alina Birsan-Stancu, is a seasoned lawyer, with broad expertise and well-deserved excellent reputation. We highly appreciate her calm demeanor and her can-do attitude which were instrumental in helping us to advance our interests in the context of tense negotiation. We also work with Georgeta Gavriloiu. We value Georgeta’s multidisciplinary grasp of the projects and her promptness. Her legal advice is always on point and well-adapted to our commercial interests’

‘Well connected Romanian law firm with reasonable and well balanced advice. Extremely educated on Romanian Upstream / E&P law.’

‘Ruxandra Bologa is a fantastic energy lawyer who gives realistic advise. Well connected and with excellent visibility in relation to the energy sector and its stakeholders.’

‘Remarkable team that is very professional an collaborative. NNDKP managed to gather together excellent human resources to cover all the aspects of the natural resources sector.’

‘Ruxandra Bologa’s knowledge of the natural resources sector in Romania is outstanding. Her expertise and dedication is always appreciated by our company.’

‘The team achieved great results in a very complex litigation with state entities as a result of a collaboration with the internal resources of the client.’

‘Each member of the team was focused on the specific matter involved and assertive with the client.’

‘Very good team, strong knowledge, knowing very well the energy market in Romania and the approaches of various authorities’

‘Focusing on business needs and providing solutions to various issues’

‘The RTPR team shows impeccable professionalism in relation with the client and good collaboration for fulfilling the scope of work. They were always able to anticipate our needs as the client, being open to availability on short term notice.’

‘Bogdan Cordos has a an excellent knowledge and strong experience of the energy market and of the energy regulatory framework. In the projects already concluded as well in the ones currently ongoing, Bogdan demonstrates professionalism and provides high quality services. As client, we are happy to state that we can always rely on his availability, knowledge of the energy industry and manner of managing the project.’

‘I’ve had an excellent collaboration and great experience working with Tuca’s team. The lawyers are prompt, professional, dependable and offer good value for money. The energy team under the leadership of Sorin Vladescu really stands out: extremely experienced and knowledgeable of the power, renewable energy, oil and gas. They have a creative, thoughtful, commercial and practical approach which is part of a full service offering across core energy aspects.’

‘Sorin Vladescu is exceptional by any standard, the best energy lawyer one can get in the market. He runs a great team consisting of highly dedicated individuals from junior associates to partners. Sorin is proactive, personable and client-driven. Irina Moinescu has very strong experience in energy projects, especially power and gas. She is super-efficient and extremely good at contract drafting and negotiation. Nisa Jecu is a young lawyer in the energy department with very strong technical abilities and a strong commercial sense which allow for clear and effective legal advice on complex energy projects. Marius Barladeanu has exceptional breadth and depth of knowledge within the energy, oil and gas sectors. Commercial and pragmatic in all aspects of a transaction and able to bring added value both from a M&A and financing perspective.’

‘Very good as a team, very solid with an impeccable reputation in the market and offering diverse expertise in the power arena. They provide consistent services and thorough legal assistance, combing great technical knowledge and legal strategy. The team also excels in regulatory matters and has successfully acted on various contentious issues in the energy sector.’

‘Sorin Vladescu. He has an outstanding reputation as an energy lawyer, with deep knowledge of the regulatory landscape and an excellent understanding of the energy market (covering everything from electricity, oil and gas, renewables, nuclear etc). He is absolutely fantastic and has been our trusted advisor in the past 15 years. I totally recommend him. Irina Moinescu. Her corporate and M&A skills are impressive. She has been advising us for many years as regards many complex legal issues and has always managed to come up with the best possible solutions for us. She is an expert when it comes to electricity, nuclear, renewables. Nisa Jecu, also from the firm’s energy and corporate team, is young but an energetic and very hardworking lawyer. She has been super helpful and provided to the point advice whenever needed. Also very punctual and responsive.’

‘What makes them different, providing an edge to their services, is the mature understanding of the market as a whole and future directions applicable to this industry.’

‘While fully compliant in terms of corporate good practices, they do provide a variety of possible approaches to enable effective results within the existent legal frameworks.’

‘The team at DLA Piper Romania offers a full-service scope of legal services to its clientele, at a high level of quality. The team has a broad knowledge across multiple industries, allowing them to identify potential risks and issues overlooked by other peers. The team has a high level of availability and will prioritize work streams on a short notice if requested by the client. The team takes the interest of their client in high regard and are willing to put in the extra work required to deliver a service of high standard. All deliveries has been delivered in due time and with a high to very high standard of quality. Compared to other firms we have worked with in the region, DLA have delivered a higher level of detail and additional considerations in their deliveries compared to their peers. The team is also humble, easy to approach and a easy to work with. They are fast to identify the issue at hand and approach the issue from the perspective of the client. The team has always made themselves available on teams on short notice when requested.’

‘The knowledge and professionalism offered by Paula Corban-Pelin is proficient in every topic she addresses. Paula has not only delivered the highest of quality of services in a wide range of complex legal issues, but also approached the task with a commitment and personal engagement towards the interest of the client that is unprecedented. I would highly recommend working with Paula to anyone.’

‘In my views, DLA Piper’s energy team is one of the best energy teams in Romania. They are responsive, flexible and open minded and one can always rely on them. We are very satisfied by their performance and trust their judgement even in the most sensitive matters. They understand our business and the specifics of the sector (I think they know the business far better than others in the market and this really shows in the quality of their advice). They are by far the most professional and dedicated lawyers with whom we have ever worked. With a business oriented and problem solving attitude they were instrumental in the success of our projects. During the transaction we saw the two opposite law firms in action and I would say that there is no comparison to make in terms of knowledge and professional attitude.’

‘We have a long lasting relationship with Paula Corban – Pelin, Counsel, head of the energy practice. I see Paula as an amazing and passionate lawyer, reliable and efficient, with an impressive knowledge of the energy sector. Among her strengths I can mention, the commercial approach, quick responses and high quality legal advice. I can say that Paula is more than our lawyer, she is our reliable partner in the business. Probably, there is no better proof of our trust in her abilities and excellent work than the fact that we are working constantly with her for years and we will continue to do so. Although we had the opportunity to see other lawyers in various situations (conferences, professional associations, opposing parties etc) we still believe that she is the most experienced energy lawyer on the market.’

‘The firm gives excellent legal advice. They calibrate the efforts as needed and also recognize what matters for the business and prioritize that. As far as fees are concerned, they properly estimate the amount of the work and this is very helpful for budgeting.’

‘Oana Ijdelea handles our project. She provides first class leadership and support on all legal matters related to the project we work on and the depth and breadth of her knowledge and implication is amazing. Siranus Hahamian and Alexandru Popescu are also very good.’

‘Their performance goes beyond expectations. It was essential for us to have lawyers able to advise, execute and deliver and this is exactly what they do every-time. They are also very meticulous and analyze all facets of the problem, always thinking ahead and never leave loose-ends, very approachable and always abreast with the most recent local and international developments.’

‘We have been working with Oana and her team for a very long time. Oana is truly a lawyer at the top of her game. She is an incredibly astute and learned lawyer with a great sense of business and incredible dedication to her clients. Especially her performance of last year was outstanding as she worked up to the very last day in her pregnancy to successfully close-out our deals and was back fresh and full with energy after a week. Her team looks-up to her very much as she acts as a mentor for young lawyers. Also, Ana Albu is truly bright and brings the best out of any situation we are facing.’

‘No team in Romania has this level of both hands on (in the regulatory, administrative, contractual) and high level (advocacy) experience particularly for offshore developments. Very results orientated and execution focused in addition to offering legal advice.’

‘Oana Ijdelea not only takes a leadership of her own firm’s team but also takes has been appointed a leadership and decision making position as an executive in our company. Unique for many lawyers Oana is part of the executive team involved in day to day and strategic decisions.’

‘In my opinion they are one of the few excellent energy lawyers in Romania. They know the industry like the back of their hand and when giving advice they are down to earth and always commercially sound. Also, the ability to put in simple words even the most complicated matters make them very pleasant to work with. The lawyers’ dynamics is excellent and they really act as a team. The firm is fully equipped to work in any circumstances at the same pace and the overall level of their services surpasses all expectations.’

‘The team works seamlessly. Allocation of work is excellent and the work product accurate, on time and on budget. Technically impressive and highly commercial.’

‘Iustinian Captariou: Responsive commercial, great to deal with and technically great. Catalin Graure: Hardworking and accommodating. Produces comprehensive, thorough and well though through legal advice. Catalin consistently meets deadlines and keeps to budget.’

‘As a whole the team has been very responsive and has tackled complex issues effectively. This has required some research and exploring of potential approaches to the problems. This included tackling areas that they might not have been very familiar with. Also worth mentioning that they are very responsive and often worth evenings and weekends to deal with urgent matters.’

‘We have worked mainly with Iustinian Captariu on issues related to public procurement regulations and their interpretation as well as finding novel but sustainable approaches to resolve problems we have encountered with the procurement entity (client). Iustin has usually offered us credible solutions and is considered a reliable source of good ideas. We fly many issues by him even if not entirely legal matters.’

‘Iustin Captariu is regularly providing legal support to Engie Group in Romania. Working with Iustin and benefiting from his great knowledge and experience of the Romanian energy market is a chance as he is extremely competent in both regulatory and contractual aspects; not to mention that he is totally dedicated to his client and able to make himself available even on short notice. I would definitely recommend collaborating with Iustin and his team.’

‘The law firm is professionally experienced, provides correct services and meets deadlines.’

‘The law firm’s colleagues provide clear information on legal developments, draw attention to the legal consequences, and provide up-to-date information.’

‘The team is knowledgeable of local customs and practices. They are responsive and provide sound practical advice.’

‘Iustinian Captariu (partner) and Razvan Cretu (associate) are exceptional.’

‘The team is well organized and client oriented. They deliver professional advice day and night.’

‘The firm has helped us in our bidding process. They have the knowledge and understanding of the requirements and applicable laws. The response of the team was also timely.’

‘Volciuc-Ionescu’s energy team is by far one of the best in the market. The various team members have been advising players in the energy sector for 20 years and accumulated vast experience across all aspects of the industry. They truly have an excellent understanding of all issues the sector is facing and know how to help their clients, coming up with innovative solutions. The quality of their work is exceptional – we trust their advice and feel safe in their hands.’

‘Ramona Volciuc-Ionescu heads the team – she has outstanding technical expertise and is very commercial and client oriented. She focuses on finding solutions and getting the deals done, being very constructive in negotiations. Ana Sandu is very reliable, hard-working, pragmatic and very experienced. Sabin Volciuc-Ionescu also stands-out, in particular in the context of energy project finance, where he is truly an expert. Ada Butnaru is also a rising star in the team, with in-depth knowledge of the business, very committed and prompt.’

‘Ramona Volciuc Ionescu has a huge expertise on energy sector being updated all the time to the latest amendments to the legal matters regarding the energy sector. Beside this she is an extremely good lawyer on energy sector.’

‘We have primarily worked together on acquisitions in the oil & gas sector, and I rely on both their local market knowledge and experience, which is the primary reason I believe local counsel is engaged, apart from local law. But I know the firm does a lot of work in power generally as well. Some of the transactions were cross-border, but it is the firm’s ability and capability to deal with tight deadlines and tough assignments that keeps them at the front of my mind. For me, the firm is one of the best boutiques for energy work in the market, and certainly my “go-to” choice. The team delivers a very high quality product, in a fast and efficient manner. They are constructive and (critically) they are highly reliable, with a pragmatic approach to deals. Whilst the Anglo-Saxon influence has reached a greater number of local firms, I do believe that those trained and used to dealing with that mindset are able to deliver a better work product. And I just really enjoy working with Ramona in particular. I trust and respect her, which makes it so much easier when a client needs to dig deeper into an issue. At the end of the day, they are my first call and I only go elsewhere when they cannot deal with it, such as litigation, and then I go with their recommendation as I respect them that much.’

‘My first contact is always with Ramona, who leads the team, but when work is better delegated then she does so, but she is always very hands-on so I know she is never far away. She has extensive knowledge of the whole energy sector, as well as contacts (which is always key in my view) and handles both transactional and regulatory matters. However, the whole team does an excellent job, and, apart from Ramona, I was also impressed with the work of Ana Sandu and Sabin Volciuc. Sabin stands out for projects and energy finance deals and I have always enjoyed working with him.’

‘Very good boutique law firm with a very committed team.’

‘We have been advised in the past by Ramona Volciuc-Ionescu who is very experienced in the energy sector, understands our business’s needs, problems, etc. very well and quickly and is very efficient and reliable when providing legal advice.’

‘This legal firm has a high level of professional behavior. They explain any legal issue in our collaboration in a way that is very easy to understand.’

‘They answer you very quickly and not with delay.’

‘The team at D&B David si Baias advising on energy matters, led by Delia Pachiu, is unique in their expertise in the energy sector. They are very knowledgeable about the laws and regulations applicable in this industry and the energy market, while their services are covering the entire spectrum required for a successful development and transactions in this sector. The team is very dedicated and knowledgeable about all details of the project and are actively involved in negotiations, being able to cut through complex situations and identify legal and commercial solutions to complex matters. We have an excellent collaboration and the team is outstanding by offering innovative solutions.’

‘Delia Pachiu is a highly professional and experienced practitioner in energy law. She is very easy to communicate with and very open to understand every aspect of our business and of our projects’ strategy, providing solutions and highly valuable input on legal, commercial, contractual and regulatory aspects, having at the same time a very good understanding of the energy market. We have also a great collaboration with Marius Nita and Raluca Mustaciosu, both being highly appreciated attorneys by our team and with an outstanding reputation. They come up with clever solutions in sensitive real estate and corporate/commercial matters, both being able to understand the deal dynamic, not only to provide theoretical solutions.’

‘They are very responsive and provide extensive information on the requested matter. You do not have to ask for answering any outstanding questions as questions are answered exhaustively.’

‘They are very quick and accurate in answering our requests. Their statements, documents and opinions are always on a high standard. They assist us in any other issues in connection with the main subject matter.’

‘Our collaboration with D&B was so far limited to the renewables areas. I was extremely pleased with the collaboration with Delia Pachi, Raluca Mustaciosu and Marius Nita. They provided the necessary inputs we required while backing up their statements with solid legal arguments. They always adapted to changing time frames and provided the deliverables on time.’

‘Good collaboration with the team, which has an excellent understanding of this regulated sector. Leroy si Asociatii Law Firm is also excellent at understanding fields connected to the main domain specific to our core business, whether it is financing, corporate or labor law – Andreea Toma, Andreea Cojocaru.’

‘They are good as a corporate and defense firm.’

‘Knowledge of the energy sector tailored on the business requirements.’

‘Adina Aurel is a very good professional, with extensive knowledge of the energy sector. She is client orientated and extremely aware of the challenges of the current energy sector in Romania as well as of the means to mitigate the respective challenges.’

‘It’s a team of highly skilled professionals, dedicated to their work and clients.’

‘Bryan Jardine and Adina Aurel both of them provided in depth knowledge of the market, and they answered very professionally to questions when I needed help.’

‘Top-tier attitude, meaning in our view 100% availability, flexible approach and full-service offer. During the past 12 months we have worked alongside Wolf Theiss Projects & Energy department in the context of major international restructuring transactions, involving both litigation matters as well as corporate finance profiles. In particular, Wolf Theiss provided a full-service assistance for the management of investments in Romania. Of course administrative law related profiles were of essence throughout the entire process. As you may appreciate, the relevant projects have several cross-border/international elements and were pretty complex due to the innovative structures implemented for the relevant transactions.’

‘Ileana Glodeanu is an outstanding M&A lawyer who finds tailor-made solutions notwithstanding the complexity of the client’s needs. Ligia Popescu and Andreea Zvac have great experience in the context of major disputes resolutions in the energy sector and are great negotiators too. Cornelia Postelnicu is definitively a rising star in the M&A market and is great at dealing with international clients in the context of complex transactions, even departing from market standard solutions.’