- Real Estate & Construction Law
- Corporate/M&A
- Energy
- Bucharest Bar (admitted as foreign lawyer, 2004)
- New York Bar (admitted 2002)
- United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois (2003)
- Romanian
- English
- Basic French
Victor is a founding partner of Biris Goran, and heads the firm’s highly touted real estate practice. Before founding Biris Goran in 2006, Victor worked in Chicago for Altheimer & Gray from 2001 to 2003 and for Salans in its Bucharest and Shanghai offices from 2003 until 2006.
A native English speaker born in Canada of Romanian immigrant parents, Victor focuses on all aspects of real estate transactions in Romania and other countries in the region. His particular emphasis is on joint ventures, having assembled several for the development of logistics parks, retail and shopping centres, residential complexes and office buildings. He also routinely advises on acquisitions and disposals, office and retail leasing, as well asset management matters. He is particularly skilled in organizing transactions so that deadlines are met and that resources are allocated efficiently.
His practice extends beyond Romania’s borders, and he has recently acted as lead attorney on the establishment of a major retail development platform in Russia. In the past, he has also handled transactions in Ukraine, Republic of Moldova, and Turkey. In all cases, he had primary negotiation and transaction document responsibility and coordination with local counsel.
His clients include major international investment funds as well as local developers. Besides being lead counsel, he often is asked to serve on the boards of various real estate investment companies.
Under his watch, Biris Goran’s real estate practice has won numerous awards from various publications and Biriş Goran receives routine ranking among the top law firms in Romania when it comes to real estate on an annual basis. He is regularly asked by print media for his views on developments in the Romanian real estate market.
With respect to Victor’s skills in particular, the 2011 edition of Chambers Europe notes that: “[c]lients are full of praise for his ‘commercial acumen and practical insight.’” The 2011 edition of Legal 500 notes that Victor “... is proactive and fair with the ability to draw on his international experience and apply to the local market.”
Awards
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Real Estate Law Firm of the Year, Construction and Investment Journal Gala Awards, December 2010;
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Real Estate Law Firm, Finmedia Gala Awards 2010 (publisher of "Avocaţi de Top" Romanian Legal Guide).
Legal Guides
Chambers Europe in the 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011 editions has ranked Victor as a Recommended lawyer in Real Estate in Romania:
- 2011 edition: “Victor Constantinescu is a founding partner of the firm and practice co-head. Clients are full of praise for his “commercial acumen and practical insight”.”
- 2010 edition: “[…] features an active real estate group which is frequently instructed on a diverse range of mandates. [S]ources say the 12-lawyer team is “responsive and provides cost-effective advice.” Victor Constantinescu is the leading name at the practice, where he advises institutional funds on real estate investments and handles real estate joint ventures.”
- 2009 edition: “Victor Constantinescu specialises in real estate joint ventures and advising institutional funds. He is frequently engaged in mandates that span the region and is praised for his flexible approach and good negotiation skills. “He is accommodating to our needs and we know we will find a solution when we work with him”, clients report.”
- 2008 edition: “Fielding a team of “well-organized, intelligent and determined” lawyers, this group is also valued for its hard work and dedication. International clients single out Victor Constantinescu for combining “superb local knowledge” with a Western look. He is also appreciated for his fluency in English.”
- 2007 edition: “Clients were impressed with the “commercial minded” Victor Constantinescu and emphasised his dedicated work ethic. Admitted to the New York Bar, this “switched-on” lawyer combines a thorough knowledge of Romanian law with Western business practice, making him an attractive choice for both local and foreign clients. Especially knowledgeable about planning law, he faces legal challenges with “elegance” and translates complex legal terminology into more accessible and understandable terms for his clients.”
In the 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2011 editions of PLC Which Lawyer?, Victor was ranked as Highly Recommended in the Corporate Real Estate section for Romania.
The Legal 500 publication has ranked Victor as Highly Recommended in the 2008 and 2011 editions and Recommended in the 2009 and 2010 editions:
- 2011 edition: “Victor Constantinescu heads the practice and is “proactive and fair with the ability to draw on his international experience and apply to the local market”.”
- 2010 edition: “Victor Constantinescu and Raluca Năstase are co-leaders of the group; clients say they are “very capable and easy to deal with”.”
- 2008 edition: “Biriş Goran’s partner Victor Constantinescu is particularly recommended by clients. […] According to clients “Victor Constantinescu excels in structuring and closing complex and time-sensitive real estate transactions”.”
- Lead counsel for a consortium of leading Canadian real estate developers and investors in assembling a retail centre development management platform in the Moscow region of Russia (2011);
- Lead counsel for owners of Timisoara Airport Park, a leading industrial park in the Timisoara area of Romania, in various matters including conclusion of a build-to-seat industrial lease with French auto parts giant Valeo, the largest such transaction in 2011;
- Lead counsel for the sellers of Astoria Business Center, a major Bucharest office building, to an investment fund, the largest office transaction in Romania in 2011;
- Acting for Aberdeen Investors, on various asset management matters for its investments in Romania;
- Acting for S-Immo, one of the largest real estate investment funds in Austria and listed on the Vienna exchange, with respect to ongoing matters related to its investments in Romania, including Sun Plaza shopping centre (largest in Romania by GLA) and Novotel Hotel.
- Associate, Salans, Bucharest (2003 - 2006)
- Associate, Altheimer & Gray, Chicago, Illinois (2001-2003)
- Various articles and book reviews published in legal and academic journals
- Speaker at numerous real estate conferences. Recent appearances include:
- The Seminar "The New Romanian Civil Code: How it Affects Your Sale-Purchase and Rental Agreements and Other Key Areas of Doing Real Estate", 27 October 2011, CIJ Seminar Series, Hotel Novotel, Bucharest;
- The Eurobuild CEE "Back-to-Business" Conference, 16 September 2010, Howard Johnson Hotel, Bucharest;
- The Logistics Conference, 8 June 2010, King Sturge/United, Radisson SAS Hotel, Bucharest;
- CEDER Real Estate Conference for Romania 2010, 2 June 2010, InterContinental Hotel, Bucharest;
- CEDER Real Estate Conference for Romania 2010, 2 June 2010, InterContinental Hotel, Bucharest;
- "Passion for Retail", EUROBUILD CEE Romania's second conference, 23 February 2010, Radisson SAS Hotel, Bucharest;
- "Feeling the Pinch: Legal Tips for Protecting Real Estate Owners and Landlords in Dealing with Pressures from Tenants, Banks and Other Creditors" Seminar, 18 February 2010, Novotel Hotel, Bucharest;
- CIJ Gala Awards 2008, 10 December 2009, JW Mariott Grand Hotel, Bucharest (member of the jury);
- REALTY 2009 - Romanian Forum on Real Estate Market, 29 October 2009, World Trade Center, Bucharest;
- CEDER Real Estate Conference for Romania, 4 June 2009, Hotel Novotel, Bucharest;
- Eurobuild Conference, 14 May 2009, Hotel Novotel, Bucharest;
- CEDER Real Estate Conference for Romania 2008, 5 June 2008, Hotel Novotel, Bucharest.
- McGill University, Faculty of Law, Montreal, Quebec, Canada (common law (LL.B.) and civil law (B.C.L.) degrees, with honours, 2001)
- University of Toronto, Centre for Russian and East European Studies, Toronto, Ontario, Canada (M.A., 2001)
- University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (B.A. International Relations, cum laude, 1996)
- London School of Economics and Political Science, London, United Kingdom (General Course, 1994 - 1995)