Gide Loyrette Nouel has announced that, as of February 1, 2014, its Bucharest office will begin operating as an independent law firm.
Former Gide Managing Partner in Romania Bruno Leroy continues to lead the new firm, now called "Leroy si Asociatii." According to Eszter Kamocsay-Berta, Partner and Co-Head of the Budapest office, this is "in line with Gide’s strategy in South East Europe, which is to coordinate a network of independent firms from our central platform in Budapest, as we have done these past three years for Serbia."
The announcement follows closely on the January 30, 2014, announcement that White & Case has also withdrawn its official presence from Bucharest.