Praised for combining ‘strong legal capabilities with a nuanced understanding of market regulation’, Schoenherr si Asociatii SCA is a key choice for clients engaged in FDI matters, cross-border mergers, and sectoral inquiries from the Romanian Competition Council. The members present broad expertise in RCC investigations, advising on vertical restrictions, potential abuses of dominant positions, and bid rigging. Spearheading the practice, Georgiana Badescu has in-depth knowledge of competition law, which she combines with data privacy and foreign trade acumen to implement a comprehensive service-offering. Other names to remember are Cristiana Manea, who is proficient in compliance matters, and Darius Trusculete, who is able to support with due diligence analyses and good practice policies.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
- Very responsive; very good collaboration; very business-oriented; very knowledgeable about the field of activity.
- Very responsive; very good collaboration; very business-oriented; very knowledgeable about the field of activity.
- ‘Schoenherr’s competition practice, led by Georgiana Badescu, is distinguished by its deep sectoral expertise in energy and oil & gas. The team combines strong legal capabilities with a nuanced understanding of market regulation, making it a go-to advisor for merger control, antitrust investigations, and state aid matters in complex, often cross-border contexts. We value the team’s strategic approach, responsiveness, and ability to engage effectively with regulators. Compared to other firms, Schoenherr stands out for its proactive mindset and regional coverage, particularly in Central and Eastern Europe.’
- ‘Georgiana Badescu is uniquely positioned at the intersection of competition law and the energy sector, particularly oil and gas. She combines deep regulatory insight with strong industry knowledge, offering clients clear, commercially focused advice on merger control, abuse of dominance, state aid, and cartel investigations. She is known for anticipating enforcement trends, engaging effectively with regulators, and guiding clients through complex, often cross-border matters. Her approach is strategic, pragmatic, and tailored to the evolving dynamics of liberalising energy markets. Georgiana also embraces innovation—leveraging digital tools and collaborative workflows to enhance efficiency and client service.’
- ‘Transparent, professional, always prepared for proper answers.’
- ‘Georgiana Badescu stands out because she does so much more than legal work. She did everything possible to help us succeed including things you would not expect from a law firm. Georgiana is incredibly knowledgeable, effective and hard-working. She is one of the most impressive lawyers and individuals I have ever worked with.’
- ‘Efficient, knowledgeable, creative, very good understanding of commercial and industrial aspects, responsive, good interpersonal skills.’
Key clients
- EssilorLuxottica
- Medicover
Work highlights
Advised Medicover on merger control and foreign direct investments (FDI) proceedings in Romania in connection with its cross-border acquisition of the operations of Synlab in Croatia, Cyprus, North Macedonia, Romania, Slovenia and Türkiye.
Advised EssilorLuxottica on merger clearance in connection with its acquisition of Optical Investment Group from Innova/6 and a group of individual minority shareholders.
Advised various clients in antitrust investigations initiated by the Romanian Competition Council (RCC).
Lawyers
Leading partners
The strongest partners in their field, leading on market-leading deals and endorsed by peers and clients alike.
Leading associates
Leading associates with regular involvement in their team's key work, and recognition from peers or clients as being ones to watch.
Cristiana Manea
Practice head
Georgiana Bădescu
Other key lawyers
Cristiana Manea; Darius Trusculete