The ever-changing landscape that is Romania's business environment requires business acumen and creativity. We have the Western experience and local know-how to get the deal done, and done right. We use a team-focused approach to ensure that our client's needs and objectives are fully met, and most importantly, met in a timely manner.
Our Corporate/M&A practice group focuses on the fundamentals, meaning a sound understanding of Romanian company law, combined with knowledge of how a business organizes and conducts itself financially, whether closely-held or publicly-traded. Our attorneys advise a wide range of clients from multinationals to high net worth local entrepreneurs in all phases of the business cycle, whether advising startup companies or foreign investors entering the Romanian market, representing those consolidating their position in their respective sectors, or serving as counsel in ongoing corporate governance. Advice may involve simple matters such as company incorporation and day-to-day corporate “housekeeping” matters, or complex share acquisitions and company restructurings, assisted by our tax department. Our acquisitions team is also heavily experienced in carrying out small- and large-scale due diligence, and we are known for not just identifying problematic issues, but also for developing solutions to address them in a manner that meets institutional standards.
Due to our involvement in some of the largest investment projects in the Central and East European region and Romania since the mid-1990s, our expertise extends to related areas such as public procurement/PPPs, private equity/venture capital, regulatory compliance, employment/labor and international commercial arbitration.
As recognition of our professional expertise, Chambers Europe writes that the Corporate/M&A practice group is a “dynamic set which responds to client needs and is more commercially oriented than larger firms”, with both PLC Which lawyer? and the Legal 500 placing this group in its "Recommended" category. The 2009 edition of Chambers Europe quotes clients as saying: “[this is] a very fine firm indeed, with the ability to handle complex problems quickly and without difficulty” and “its incredibly impressive young lawyers [are] ones to watch for the future.”
Recent major transactions include:
- Lead counsel regarding the corporate restructuring and merger of EU-based group companies holding real estate assets with a value exceeding EUR 250 million;
- Lead counsel to Romstal Imex in sale of its participation in Romstal Leasing to major European bank (KBC), with an overall transaction value exceeding EUR 70 million;
- Lead counsel to sellers of Eurisko, leading real estate agency, in sale of participations to CB Richard Ellis, with an approximate transaction value of USD 35 million;
- Lead counsel to Europe-based investors in sale of holding companies owning major office building in Bucharest to real estate investment fund listed on Athens Stock Exchange, with a transaction value exceeding EUR 40 million;
- Lead counsel representing Immoconsult Leasinggesellschaft m.b.H (part of Volksbank Group) in transaction involving the sale of all shares in Romanian company owning a major Bucharest business office building and refinancing of existing loan to UK-based investment fund, with a transaction value of EUR 24 million;
- Lead counsel to Europe-based investors in sale of holding companies owning commercial property in Iasi to real estate investment fund listed on the Athens Stock Exchange, with an approximate transaction value of EUR 15 million;
- Lead counsel to group of investors (Romanian and foreign) in its acquisition of a majority stake of Proiect Bucuresti SA, the former state-owned architectural services company and one of the largest in Romania (transaction value confidential);
- Lead counsel for Romanian seller of Sitel Group, a major Romanian fine foods distributor, to the Vivatis Group of Austria (transaction value confidential);
- Lead counsel to group of investors (Romanian and foreign) in its acquisition of a majority stake of Proiect Bucuresti SA, the former state-owned architectural services company and one of the largest in Romania (transaction value confidential);
- Lead counsel for Romanian seller of Sitel Group, a major Romanian fine foods distributor, to the Vivatis Group of Austria (transaction value confidential);
- Lead counsel to a major U.S.-based investment fund, with respect to the acquisition of minority stake in leading Romanian websites (transaction values confidential);
- Lead counsel to EU-based health services company in its successful tender and negotiations with the Romanian Ministry of Public Health regarding multi-million EUR project involving preparation of feasibility studies for 15 emergency hospitals.