Musat & Asociatii > Bucharest, Romania > Firm Profile

Musat & Asociatii > The Legal 500 Rankings

Romania > PPP and procurement Tier 1

Musat & Asociatii has a comprehensive projects and public procurement group that covers all stages of the process, from bid through to delivery, as well as any contentious issues that might arise. The multidisciplinary practice draws expertise from across the firm, including related corporate, construction, finance, environmental and employment issues. Litigation is a core strength, and the firm has represented contractors in disputes at the highest level, including before the ECJ. On the non-contentious side, the firm continues to act on bids and projects across several key industries, including energy, transport, defence and telecoms. Iulian Popescu and Razvan Stoicescu are the two main contacts on the tender and projects side. Litigator Angela Porumb has carved out a strong reputation for related contentious proceedings.

Romania > Banking and finance Tier 2

Musat & Asociatii has an active banking practice which advises a mix of banks, borrowers and multilateral agencies. Acquisition and leveraged finance are key areas of work, and the firm has assisted lenders with several high-profile and cross-border M&A deals in the past year. Fintech and cryptocurrency work is also increasing in importance, with the firm supporting numerous technology disrupters with their related regulatory issues. Practice head Monia Dobrescu has almost 20 years’ market experience, and has a special focus on project finance. Senior associate Cristian Cepesi is also noted.

Romania > Commercial, corporate and M&A Tier 2

Musat & Asociatii continues to retain a strong presence in the Romanian market, built around a longstanding reputation for high-end advice and a solid portfolio of high-profile corporate clients. The team’s scale and cross-practice approach enables a broad range of transactional and day-to-day work for clients such as Ecolab, Sony and Google. This includes close collaboration with colleagues on related tax, real estate, employment and competition issues. Practice head and founder Gheorghe Musat has over 35 years’ market experience. Other key practitioners include Razvan Stoicescu, Iulian Popescu, and Monia Dobrescu.

Romania > Dispute resolution Tier 2

Musat & Asociatii has a longstanding reputation for its litigation and arbitration expertise, and a strong track record representing domestic and international companies in claims involving local authorities and regulators. The multidisciplinary group is active in contentious public procurement and financial services-related claims. Another strength is defending clients against fraud and white-collar crime investigations, as well as handling related criminal proceedings. Managing partner Gheorghe Musat remains a prominent market figure. Clients consider Angela Porumb ‘a remarkable litigation lawyer with tremendous experience and devotion‘. Other key team members include Razvan Stoicescu, Cosmin Libotean and Paul Buta, as well as managing associate Ramona Cîrlig.

Romania > Employment Tier 2

Musat & Asociatii has a strong track record for contentious and non-contentious work and a diverse client roster to match. The advisory side includes support on M&A transactions, corporate restructurings, collective bargaining negotiations, employee benefits, redundancies and outsourcing agreements. A highly experienced litigation team also adds weight on contentious matters. Clients include major private and public sector entities, and the team is well versed in advising multinationals on related cross-border and immigration issues. Mihai Popa leads the team, which also includes experienced managing associates Dragoș Lungu and Simona Anton.

Romania > Intellectual property Tier 2

Musat & Asociatii is helmed by versatile practice head Paul George Buta, who provides strong contentious and non-contentious expertise, and is  ‘a very good strategist in litigation and negotiations'. Several global brands, including Deutsche Telekom and the Walt Disney Company, instruct the firm on a range of patent, trade mark and copyright issues; the group's client roster also includes a breadth of clients operating in the chemicals, pharmaceuticals and technology industries. Other key team members include Dan Minoiu and associate Julieta Sfeclă, who is ‘can anticipate market moves‘.

Romania > Restructuring and insolvency Tier 2

Musat & Asociatii fields a ‘very responsive and accurate‘ team of insolvency and restructuring practitioners. The firm combines a strong disputes element with an experienced selection of transactional experts to offer a comprehensive service which covers the full range of related contentious and non-contentious issues.  In addition to advising debtors and creditors, the firm also assists investors with distressed asset acquisitions. Litigator Mihai Popa leads the well regarded team, which also includes recommended managing associate Dana Buscu.

Romania > Tax Tier 2

Musat & Asociatii fields an experienced tax practice built around a core of practitioners who 'explore all possible scenarios and prepare solutions for all possible outcomes'. Domestic and international clients instruct the firm on a raft of contentious and non-contentious issues, including personal tax, VAT and transfer pricing, as well as support with M&A, company reorganisations and infrastructure projects. Litigator Angela Porumb oversees the disputes side, which handles civil and administrative claims at all levels. Razvan Graure leads on the advisory front. Alina Man is singled out at managing associate level.

Romania > Capital markets Tier 3

Musat & Asociatii has a ‘very collaborative‘ capital markets team which combines strong domestic expertise with 'an international outlook'. The team is able to ‘see the big picture and context but is fastidious with the details‘. The firm has a good track record on debt and equity transactions and also has solid expertise in regulatory matters, where it represents a mix of issuers, underwriters, investment funds and public sector clients, including Romania’s Ministry of Finance. Key contacts include managing partner Gheorghe Musat, Razvan Stoicescu  and Monia Dobrescu.

Romania > Energy and natural resources Tier 3

Musat & Asociatii has a versatile practice offering a comprehensive range of services to companies operating in the energy and natural resources sectors. M&A, finance, projects, regulatory and litigation all feature prominently on the firm’s agenda. The team is regularly used by major domestic and international clients including Hidroelectrica, Engie and Kaz Munay Gas International, and it is also instructed by numerous support services companies. Renewables are an increasingly strong area of focus, with practitioners developing good credentials in issues linked to green energy certificates. Lead partners include Iulian Popescu, a projects and procurement specialist, and corporate expert Razvan Stoicescu.

Romania > EU and competition Tier 3

Musat & Asociatii has a notable track record for competition matters, which overlaps with its strong expertise in advising companies operating in heavily regulated industries, including life sciences, healthcare and financial services. The firm has achieved notable recent successes on behalf of clients from a range of sectors in court challenges against fines. Antitrust investigations, state aid, merger clearance, and day-to-day risk management and compliance are further areas of expertise. Paul George Buta, who also heads the IP team, leads the practice. Dan Minoiu has significant regulatory credentials.

Romania > Real estate and construction Tier 3

Musat & Asociatii fields 'a team which is available at all times, including holidays, to make sure the deal gets done'. The group advises a mix of real estate developers, retailers and investment companies. This includes support with portfolio and land acquisitions, development projects, divestments, and broader contentious issues, where Andra Mihalache is focused. Department head Monia Dobrescu is noted for her 'outstanding expertise'.  Clients also rate ‘exceptional‘ managing associate Mădălina Trifan.

Romania > TMT Tier 3

Musat & Asociatii fields a multidisciplinary TMT practice which advises on the full range of corporate, litigation and regulatory matters. Data protection and cybersecurity advice are significant sources of work, with the firm advising major technology service providers and end-users in these spaces. On the regulatory side, clients particularly appreciate the team’s ‘good connection with local authorities for precise answers to questions‘. Versatile deputy managing partner Iulian Popescu leads the team, which also benefits from the presence of several well regarded associates, including managing associate Ana Maria Abrudan. Clients also single out out the ‘always very kind and helpful‘ corporate specialist Andrei Ormenean.

Romania > White-collar crime Tier 3

Musat & Asociatii combines its strong litigation practice with a deep knowledge of white-collar crime issues and related investigations and risk management advice. The team fields several senior litigators with a stellar track record in the area, including Gheorghe Musat and Cosmin Libotean. Recently promoted partner Alexandru Terța also has an active practice, regularly representing clients in disputes linked to charges of fraud, bribery, embezzlement and money laundering. Stefan Diaconescu is noted at the managing associate level.