MPR Partners > Bucharest, Romania > Firm Profile
MPR Partners Offices
6A BARBU DELAVRANCEA STREET
BUILDING C, GROUND FLOOR
011355 BUCHAREST
Romania
MPR Partners > The Legal 500 Rankings
Romania > Dispute resolution Tier 3
The disputes team at MPR Partners covers the full litigation spectrum, with lawyers who ‘have a crystal clear grasp of the market‘. The firm has a strong track record in cross-border disputes, including ICSID arbitrations, where it has recently been representing the Romanian state. The firm has also been involved in several high-profile claims in the telecoms, infrastructure and aviation sectors. Founding partner Gelu Maravela is ‘a very prominent lawyer, an excellent team leader and a very good strategist‘. Alexandra Rîmbu leads the team, which also includes recently promoted partner Anca Băițan.Practice head(s):
Gelu Maravela; Alexandra Rîmbu
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘The dispute resolution team of MPR Partners is indeed very professional. They cover the full litigation spectrum, and we fully trust their judgment and strategies. They are also very prompt and have a crystal clear grasp of the market and our industry, which is reassuring for us. We are a longstanding client of the firm.’
‘Gelu Maravela and Anca Băițan are highly recommended by us for disputes work. Gelu is a very prominent lawyer, an excellent team leader and a very good strategist. Anca is extremely detail-oriented and permanently up to speed with all particularities that can be of help.’
Key clients
CTE Trailers
Romania Ministry of Public Finance
Getica
Bacău Municipality
Air France
KLM
Work highlights
- Successfully represented Getica 95, a Romanian energy supplier, in a €6m damages claims following the termination of an energy supply contract following significant energy price variations.
- Representing a municipality in a €20m dispute concerning a power heating plant providing thermic energy to the local community.
- Representing a public authority in an ICSID arbitration concerning amendments to Romania’s green certificates incentive scheme.
Romania > Restructuring and insolvency Tier 3
MPR Partners is adept at advising debtors and creditors on the full range of company reorganisations and debt restructurings, as well as handling court-based insolvency proceedings and debt recovery claims. Typical clients include both public and private sector entities. Practice head and corporate expert Dana Rădulescu has a extensive experience in corporate restructurings and associated transactional support, including distressed asset sales and acquisitions. Disputes specialist Gelu Maravela is also noted.Practice head(s):
Dana Rădulescu
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘Gelu Maravela and his associates provided us with highly friendly and professional services, which assured our business success.’
Key clients
Getica
Bacău Municipality
Work highlights
- Representing Getica 95 Com in its €33m insolvency proceedings.
- Advising Bacău Municipality on the recovery of its power heating plant from a state-owned company undergoing a bankruptcy procedure.
Romania > Tax Tier 3
MPR Partners provides expert assistance with the gamut of tax advisory issues, ranging from audits and due diligence to general fiscal consulting. Recently, this has included advice on direct and indirect tax issues, including support on cross-border transfers and M&A deals. Felix Tapai heads up the practice. Founding partner Gelu Maravela is ‘an excellent strategist’ who also advises on corporate tax issues.Practice head(s):
Felix Tapai
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘MPR Partners has not only a very strong team of tax lawyers but an affiliated tax advisory house too. They provide complex assistance on a number of matters, including tax consultancy services such as tax audits and tax due diligence, as well as general fiscal consulting. We are very happy with the services provided and with the entire team.’
‘Gelu Maravela and Felix Tapai are our main contacts for this particular practice area. Gelu is highly skilled with regard to all legal provisions as well as current sector-related debates and he is an excellent strategist, always one step ahead of any potential change. Felix is a very professional and skilled tax consultant who is able to provide advice on any fiscal and tax matter. He is very focused and he never missed a detail in his comprehensive tax audits. We highly recommend them both.’
Key clients
KLM
Air France
Alpha Parking (Interparking)
Enpower Energy
Mambu Tech
Astra Holdings
Universal Music
Mercedes-Benz Financial Services
Meridium
Societatea de transport București
Work highlights
- Advising KLM and Air France on various tax matters, including the options available to transfer the companies’ accounting and fiscal archives to a location outside of Romania.
- Advising Interparking, a major European car park developer and operator, on a range of Romanian tax-related matters.
- Advising Astra Holdings on its acquisition of securities and real estate assets from Jolidon, a Romanian textile producer undergoing insolvency proceedings.
Romania > Commercial, corporate and M&A Tier 4
MPR Partners has established strong credentials for cross-border transactions, and is consequently instructed by a broad range of international companies, alongside notable local names. Lately, highlights have included advice to major aviation companies, as well as key players operating in the healthcare, leasing, manufacturing, transport, and financial services industries. Gelu Maravela and Dana Rădulescu are the lead partners in Bucharest, while Alina Popescu is a key contact based in London.Practice head(s):
Gelu Maravela; Alina Popescu; Dana Rădulescu
Testimonials
‘Extremely responsive, meet all deadlines and are very transparent and flexible in terms of fees and billing.’
‘Alina Popescu is recommended for coordination skills and her expertise in competition law, while Dana Rădulescu is recommended for her great expertise in M&A, and banking and finance transactional work.’
Key clients
Aegean Airlines
Air France – KLM
Amerocap
BBraun Avitum
Eberspäecher
Interparking
Salomon
Autotechnica Fleet Services
Work highlights
- Advising Air France and KLM on various Romanian legal matters, including customer claims and debt collection, commercial and contract law, advertising law, employment matters, and competition and GDPR compliance.
Romania > Real estate and construction Tier 4
MPR Partners has a particular aptitude for complex real estate investment and development projects, with clients noting that the team is ‘so thorough and detail-oriented that the fact that they are equally very prompt is majorly impressive‘. The firm has lately seen plenty of activity in the renewables sector, while also handling work in traditional asset classes, including the residential, commercial, industrial and logistics spaces. Alexandra Rîmbu co-heads the team with Dana Rădulescu, who also handles related insolvency issues. For energy-related projects, Gelu Maravela and senior associate Diana Borcean are recommended.Practice head(s):
Dana Rădulescu; Alexandra Rîmbu
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘We highly appreciate MPR Partners’ real estate team as they handle very complex and detail-filled real estate matters for us, as part of our numerous energy development projects. The team members are so thorough and detail-oriented that the fact that they are equally very prompt is majorly impressive.’
‘The team is coordinated by Gelu Maravela and besides him, Diana Borcean is our key contact. For their expertise in energy and natural resources, they are excellent lawyers. Gelu stands out for his vast expertise and experience, together with great project management skills and Diana is a very good communicator with a keen eye for detail and very effective.’
Key clients
Alpha Parking (part of Interparking Group)
Primăria Bacău
Romania > Employment
Under the guidance of Alexandra Rîmbu , the team at MPR Partners is well equipped to hande the gamut of contentious and advisory matters in the employment space.
Romania > TMT
MPR Partners > Firm Profile
The firm: MPR Partners was founded in 2013 by leading lawyers as a full-service firm and has quickly grown to an impressive portfolio of both landmark work and major clients, including major international corporations, public authorities and sound international organisations.
In 2014, the firm began acting as leading counsel in cross-border projects, extended its practice to tax advisory and insolvency and restructuring services and has developed a specialised multidisciplinary team to swiftly handle the growing number of white-collar crime cases.
In 2015, the firm became the exclusive Romanian member of the International Business Law Consortium, a global alliance of independent business law firms which was founded in 1996 by the Center for International Legal Studies (a reputed law research, training, and teaching institute, founded in Austria in 1976) and was repeatedly top ranked by Chambers & Partners.
By 2016 the firm had been acknowledged as a leading law firm and its founding partners had been noted as leading lawyers by many significant international legal directories and publications, including Best Lawyers International, Chambers & Partners, IFLR 1000, The Legal 500, The Lawyer, and others.
In 2017 the firm was designated Law Firm of the Year: during The Lawyer European Awards in London and was awarded by the leading Romanian business and financial newspaper for major M&A transactions completed.
In 2018 the firm was Highly regarded for European Law firm of the year and winner of the Law firm of the year Eastern Europe and the Balkans Award during The Lawyer European Awards in London, whilst several of the firm’s major cross border M&A transactions were noted by various business publications.
2019 was an important year as it the firm was re-branded in order for its name to acknowledge the contribution and efforts of all of its partners. Several of the firm’s major M&A transactions were awarded and, as in previous years, firm’s core departments were ranked in top international directories.
2020 brought massive technology related activities for the firm and a considerable enhancement of its online presence, as it created and launched three separate specialized blogs (for employment, technology and competition matters) and a Romanian Legal Updates portal, containing valuable information released by the firm. Furthermore, in order to provide faster and even more cost efficient services, MPR Partners started using the AI Luminance.
MPR Partners owes its rapid development to several key features, such as flexible and user-friendly services of the firm coupled with an outstanding quality of service (as openly acknowledged by clients), its multidisciplinary approach and international reach, which enables it to handle the most complex projects, be they local or international.
Areas of practice: MPR Partners offers the full range of legal services for businesses and public administrations as well as specialised tax advisory and insolvency and restructuring services. The firm’s key areas of practice include:
Banking and finance: specialised team covering all ranges of work in the field.
Corporate, commercial and M&A: MPR Partners is commended by clients as a ‘go-to firm for M&A deals’, having been recently involved in several important European/global deals.
Competition: the firm’s practice garnered outstanding recognition from clients, who commended MPR Partners as ‘the best (…) from over 20 law firms in the past 15 years’.
Dispute resolution (litigation, arbitration and ADR): internationally ranked practice area, with an over 80% rate of success in disputes.
Employment: advisory and litigation work for corporations in day-to-day and one-off complex projects.
Energy and natural resources: reputed practice, having yielded The Best Lawyers’ Energy Law Lawyer of the Year in 2015.
Healthcare and pharma: major regulatory and transactional work for important players.
Insolvency and restructuring: highly ranked practice area, having shaped the court practice in the field.
IT and telecommunications: major regulatory and transactional work for important players.
Real estate and construction, PPP and infrastructure projects: the firm’s practice is appreciated by major international directories.
Tax: qualified tax advisers on board covering all relevant aspects.
Main Contacts
Department | Name | Telephone | |
---|---|---|---|
Advertising and media | Alina Popescu | ||
Aviation, transportation and shipping | Gelu Maravela | ||
Banking and finance | Gelu Maravela | ||
Banking and finance | Dana Radulescu | ||
Capital markets | Gelu Maravela | ||
Competition | Alina Popescu | ||
Corporate and commercial | Gelu Maravela | ||
Corporate and commercial | Alina Popescu | ||
Data privacy | Gelu Maravela | ||
Data privacy | Dana Radulescu | ||
Data privacy | Alina Popescu | ||
Employment | Gelu Maravela | ||
Employment | Alexandra Rîmbu | ||
Energy, natural resources, and environment | Gelu Maravela | ||
Energy, natural resources, and environment | Alexandra Rîmbu | ||
Insolvency (restructuring and bankruptcy) | Gelu Maravela | ||
Insolvency (restructuring and bankruptcy) | Dana Radulescu | ||
IP, IT and telecommunications | Gelu Maravela | ||
IP, IT and telecommunications | Alina Popescu | ||
Litigation, arbitration and ADR | Gelu Maravela | ||
Litigation, arbitration, ADR | Alexandra Rîmbu | ||
Litigation, arbitration and ADR | Alina Popescu | ||
M&A/privatisation | Gelu Maravela | ||
M&A/privatisation | Alina Popescu | ||
M&A/privatisation | Dana Radulescu | ||
PPP and public procurement | Gelu Maravela | ||
PPP and public procurement | Alexandra Rîmbu | ||
Pharmaceuticals and healthcare | Gelu Maravela | ||
Pharmaceuticals and healthcare | Dana Radulescu | ||
Real estate and construction | Gelu Maravela | ||
Real estate and construction | Alexandra Rîmbu | ||
Regulatory and compliance | Gelu Maravela | ||
Regulatory and compliance | Alina Popescu | ||
Tax | Gelu Maravela | ||
Tax | Felix Tapai | ||
White-collar crime | Gelu Maravela |
Lawyer Profiles
Photo | Name | Position | Profile |
---|---|---|---|
Daniel Alexie | Partner | View Profile | |
Anca Băițan | Partner | View Profile | |
Mr Gelu Titus Maravela | Gelu is Founding Partner at MPR Partners. Throughout his practice, Gelu has… | View Profile | |
Ms Alina Popescu | Alina is Founding Partner of MPR Partners and heads the firm’s Lodon… | View Profile | |
Ms Alexandra Rîmbu | Partner | View Profile | |
Ms Dana Rădulescu | Currently Dana is Partner within the advisory practice group of MPR Partners | View Profile | |
Mr Felix Tapai | Felix is currently Tax Partner. | View Profile |
Staff Figures
Number of lawyers : 25Languages
English French Italian RomanianMemberships
Bucharest BarOther
Founding Partner : Gelu Maravela Founding Partner : Alina PopescuDiversity
At MPR | Partners, we are committed to an environment that values and celebrates the diverse nature of its team members, free from discrimination, bullying, harassment or victimization, wherein everyone is treated equally and with dignity. We embrace and celebrate difference and respect. We support each other to create an environment where everyone – regardless of their gender, age, ethnicity, social background, religion, sexual orientation – can reach their full potential.
Since the very beginning, MPR | Partners has welcomed people from different ethnic backgrounds and prides itself with one of the very few legal working environments in Romania that has accommodated legal professionals coming from several other countries (e.g. Burundi, France, Republic of Moldovia, Morocco), the large majority of which were members of the BAME community. We welcome people of all age groups in our firm. We think that this a key to achieving originality, innovation and different perspectives. Thus, our team includes members whose age ranges from 23 to 58 years.
Part of our culture is rewarding our team members based on their results, initiative, leadership, and regardless of their years of experience. We have promoted members of our team to Senior Associate level after 3 years of experience, Partners in Equity after less than 10 years of experience. We value our members for their work and involvement in building and strengthen our firm’s culture and strategy.
MPR | Partners is constantly involved in various CSR initiatives. The main project, supported since the firm’s inception, consists of various actions (pro bono legal advice, volunteering, attending dedicated events of the association, sponsorship etc.) of support for Hospice Casa Speranței, part of Hospices of Hope UK, providing leading palliative care services to children and adults suffering from terminal illnesses. Other CSR initiatives in which MPR | Partners was involved through 2021 include Autism Voice (hep for children with autism), Plantăm fapte bune (reforestation of Romania), Association for the Victims of Sexual Crimes and Open Society Institute.
Press Releases
ROMANIA – TRADE REGISTRY AND COMPANIES LAW UPDATES
19th August 20221. Overview
On July 26, 2022, Law no. 265/2022 regarding the Trade Registry and for amending and supplementing certain legal enactments impacting the registration in the Trade Registry has been published in the Official Gazette of Romania (“Law 265/2022”).ROMANIA – NEW LEGISLATION ON REPRESENTATIVE OFFICES
15th August 20221. Overview
On August 4, 2022, Ordinance no. 18/2022 on the authorization and functioning of representative offices of foreign companies and economic organizations in Romania (“GO 18/2022”) adopted by the Romanian Government has been published in the Official Gazette.Save the date: Independent EU law firm opens its first UK office
12th May 2021 We are delighted to announce that MPR Partners, a multidisciplinary law firm with a focus on commercial law and a strong presence in the CEE, is finalising the process for the opening of its first London office in the City.A new round of promotions at MPR Partners
25th November 2020 This fall, three longstanding attorneys of the firm, namely Daniel Alexie, Anca Băițan and Diana Borcean, stepped up in the MPR Partners hierarchy.MPR Partners assisted J. Christof E&P Services S.R.L owned by Christof Industries Global in the cross-border notification of an economic concentration concerning outsourced services in Romania and Serbia
19th November 2020 MPR Partners | Maravela, Popescu & Asociații assisted J. Christof E&P Services S.R.L. and Christof Private Firefighting Services S.R.L. with the notification to Romanian and Serbian competition authorities of the economic concentration arisen from the externalization by OMV Petrom S.A. of several operations and general surface services, ancillary to extraction and production of petroleum as well as natural gas, together with the relevant assets and dedicated staff.MPR Partners assists Interparking in acquiring the Bucur Obor Parking
14th October 2020 MPR Partners | Maravela, Popescu & Asociații was retained to provide legal assistance to the Belgian group Interparking in the acquisition of a parking in Bucharest, in the context of the client’s business expansion in Romania.MPR Partners’ technology-packed year
24th September 2020 MPR Partners has made important steps, technology wise.MPR Partners
20th August 2020 MPR Partners announces the cessation of the professional partnership with the attorney Ioan Roman, as well as the consequent change of the firm´s name and logo.MPR Partners expands its team
20th August 2020 Besides a richer client portfolio and an increase of the mandates number, this first half of the year added new valuable members to MPR Partners' team.Maravela, Popescu & Roman in Ziarul Financiar’s Top Law Firms Table
8th August 2019 Maravela, Popescu & Roman is listed amongst the top business law firms within the ranking tables of “Economy’s biggest players” Guide, edited by Ziarul Financiar, the most important business and financial newspaper in Romania. The list contains reputed names within the legal landscape, detailing the size of the team and significant recent transactions. The Guide contains numerous insights, articles and ranking tables regarding various sectors of the economy in Romania. The online version of the “Economy’s biggest players” Guide is available at http://edition.pagesuite.com/html5/reader/production/default.aspx?pubname=&edid=59298923-516a-4cd2-9689-49d58fc42bd4Maravela, Popescu & Roman – 1st place on the ranking of the Romanian Ministry of Public Finance
8th August 2019The MPR Partners | Maravela, Popescu & Roman and Squire Patton Boggs LLP consortium was ranked first in the selection process carried out by the Romanian Ministry of Public Finance in order to contract assistance and representation in international investment arbitration performed according to UNCITRAL provisions.
MPR Partners | Maravela, Popescu & Roman assists Air France-KLM
9th July 2019 MPR Partners | Maravela, Popescu & Roman has been retained to provide legal assistance to the major European airlines Air France and KLM within the Romanian jurisdiction.MPR Partners assisted Trico in the acquisition of wiper systems business from Federal Mogul
5th June 2019MPR Partners | Maravela, Popescu & Roman has assisted the global wiper blade manufacturer Trico in the acquisition of the worldwide wiper and wiper systems business of Federal-Mogul Motorparts.
Anniversary rebranding: Maravela|Asociații becomes MPR Partners | Maravela, Popescu & Roman
16th May 2019 Celebrating 5 years since its establishment by highly experienced business lawyers, Maravela|Asociații is undergoing a rebranding process that includes a name change to MPR Partners | Maravela, Popescu & Roman and a new logo.New international recognition for Maravela|Asociații’s dispute resolution practice
15th March 2019The year 2019 brought important achievements for Maravela|Asociații’s practice, following intense activity of the team, which has been acknowledged by international directories and repeatedly appreciated by firm’s clients.
Maravela|Asociații extends its team
8th February 2019Maravela|Asociații started 2019 with a consolidated consultancy team, following recent recruitment and internal promotion of several existing team members.
Thus, in alphabetical order, Raluca Ciocârlan, Roxana Neacșu and Flavia Ștefura joined the firm’s consultancy team.
The Romanian Competition Council has authorised the takeover of Oltchim’s assets
22nd November 2018Maravela|Asociaţii assisted CEE chemicals producer Chimcomplex in the merger review procedure whereby the Romanian Competition Council has authorised the takeover of Oltchim’s assets.
Maravela|Asociații, counsels in another life sciences cross-border M&A transaction
5th November 2018Maravela|Asociații assisted Precision for Medicine, part of Precision Medicine Group, in connection with the Romanian law aspects of its multimillion EUR value cross-border acquisition of Argint International.
Precision for Medicine supports life sciences companies in the use of biomarkers essential to targeting patients more precisely and effectively. With more than 1,450 employees in 25 locations in the US, Canada, and Europe, Precision Medicine Group activates in fields from advanced lab sciences to translational informatics and clinical trial delivery.
Maravela|Asociaţii awarded anew by Ziarul Financiar
8th October 2018For the second year in a row, Maravela|Asociații was awarded by Ziarul Financiar, the local leading financial and business publication, during The Lawyers’ Gala, event that recognized the law firms involved in the largest transactions of 2017 and the first part of 2018.
Maravela|Asociații assisted Nordic Petfood in its sale to United Petfood
5th September 2018Maravela|Asociații assisted a major shareholder of Nordic Petfood, the leading local producer of petfood, in the process of selling the entire business to United Petfood. The share purchase agreement was signed mid August.