On 20 October 2023, the National Authority for Administration and Regulation in Communications ("ANCOM") and the Ministry of Research, Innovation and Digitisation published for public consultation until 31 October 2023, the Draft Law on the establishment of measures for the implementation of Regulation (EU) 2022/2065 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 19 October 2022 on a Single Market For Digital Services and amending Directive 2000/31/EC, as well for the amendment and supplementation of Law No 365/2002 on electronic commerce (the "Draft Law").

Hammond Partnership has advised the shareholders of Eminus Software on the sale of the company to Fortech.

Todeila Sandu has advised Bucharest-based VR Business Capital on its acquisition of the Rembrandt Art Center network in Romania.

On 20 October 2023, the National Agency for Administration and Regulation in Communications (“ANCOM”) and the Ministry of Research, Innovation and Digitalization submitted for public consultation the draft law establishing the national legislative measures necessary to implement the provisions of Regulation (EU) 2022/2065 of the European Parliament and of the Council on a Single Market for Digital Services and amending Directive 2000/31/EC (“DSA Regulation”) in Romania.

Former SLV Legal Partners Alexandru Stanescu, Irina Vasile, and Tudor Velea have recently announced the rebranding of their outfit to Lexters – a Bucharest-based boutique law firm focusing on CEE tech companies and start-ups – and unveiled a new partnership with the Rubik Hub.

Clifford Chance Badea has advised Romanian oil and gas company OMV Petrom on the delisting of its global depository receipts from the London Stock Exchange.

Revnic Cristian & Associates has successfully represented the Declic association before the Cluj County Court in challenging the legality of the environmental permit for a gold and copper mining project operated by Canada's Euro Sun Mining and its Samax Romania subsidiary in the Apuseni mountains in Hunedoara County.

On November 2, 2023, Act Botezatu Estrade Partners announced that Louis Delhaize’s sale of Cora's Romanian operations to the Carrefour Group (as reported by CEE Legal Matters on May 8, 2023) had closed.

Clifford Chance Badea has advised private investment fund JC Flowers & Co on its sale of Romania's First Bank to Intesa Sanpaolo. RTPR advised the Intesa Sanpaolo Bank.

Peli Partners has advised the Mitsubishi Chemical Group on the transfer of its Qualicaps shares to Roquette Freres.

White & Case and RTPR have advised MidEuropa on its EUR 1.3 billion sale of Romania's Profi supermarket chain to Dutch-Belgian listed retail and wholesale company Ahold Delhaize. CMS and, reportedly, GNP Guia Naghi & Partners advised Ahold Delhaize on the acquisition.

DLA Piper has advised Romanian grain and oilseed trader East Grain on the sale of a majority stake in the company and its Hungarian subsidiary to the Czech Republic's Agrofert group. Schoenherr advised the buyer.

Wolf Theiss has advised CVI on subscribing to all the bonds issued by Romania's Impact Developer & Contractor in a recent corporate note issuance worth EUR 8 million. Nestor Nestor Diculescu Kingston Petersen reportedly advised the issuer.

RTPR has advised IPS Solutions on its acquisition of a majority stake in Romania's Avaelgo. LC Legal Proof advised Avaelgo founder and owner Mihai Tataran on the sale.

On October 30, 2023, Milbank announced that the Greek Public Power Corporation’s acquisition of the Romanian assets of the Enel Group (reported by CEE Legal Matters on March 30, 2023) had closed.

On 26 September, the Romanian Government approved by way of Law No. 296/2023 (the “Law”) important fiscal measures intended to reduce the budget deficit and ensure long-term financial stability. After multiple debates, the Law was published in Official Gazette No. 977 of 27 October 2023.

Filip & Company has advised Romanian book-borrowing company Bookster on the setup and launch of its Booksprint self-publishing platform aimed at aspiring authors.

Despite limited summer market activity, optimism prevails in Romania, with Schoenherr Partner Narcisa Oprea citing a successful EUR 1.9 billion IPO and increased private sector interest amid quite a few likely regulatory improvements still to come.