Life sciences in Romania, encompassing pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, and medical devices, is a sector marked by both significant challenges and promising opportunities. As the country continues to integrate into the European Union’s regulatory and economic frameworks and as those frameworks evolve and become more complex, Romania faces the constant task of aligning its local industry with European and international standards. This alignment is crucial for fostering innovation, ensuring public health, and attracting foreign investment. The industry’s growth is influenced by many factors, such as financing, pricing and reimbursement, regulatory compliance and product liability, and sustainable public procurement tools and processes.

The European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) is an independent body of the European Union (EU) tasked with investigating criminal cases infringing the financial interests of the EU. The EPPO was formally established in 2017 and started operations in 2021. The first and current head of the European Chief Prosecutor is Laura Codruta Kovesi, former Chief Prosecutor of the National Anticorruption Directorate (Directia Nationala Anticoruptie; DNA), the Romanian agency tasked with investigating corruption cases.

In The Debrief, our Practice Leaders across CEE share updates on recent and upcoming legislation, consider the impact of recent court decisions, showcase landmark projects, and keep our readers apprised of the latest developments impacting their respective practice areas.

DLA Piper has advised the Szallas Group on its acquisition of Litoralulromasec.ro for more than EUR 21 million. PwC-affiliated law firm David & Baias advised the sellers.

The Romanian Parliament has recently passed a new piece of legislation (“Law 124/2024”) allowing local authorities to extend until 31 December 2026 the validity term of the general urbanism plans (in Romanian: “planuri de urbanism generale” or “PUG”), which were drawn up and approved before 2003. Law 124/2024 entered into force on 10 May 2024 and approved Government Ordinance no. 33/2023 regarding the prolongation of certain validity terms in the urbanism and construction field (“GO 33/2023”).

The Romanian Energy Regulator (ANRE) recently published a proposal for a new procedure regarding the passporting in Romania of energy or natural gas supply and trading licenses issued in other EU countries, based on ANRE’s confirmatory decisions (New Passporting Procedure).

Clifford Chance has advised Nofar Energy Romania on engineering, procurement, construction, and operation and management contracts with AJ Construction for a 73.6-megawatt photovoltaic park in Slobozia, Giurgiu County.

Stratulat Albulescu has advised Compagnia Valdostana Delle Acque on its acquisition of Sunnerg Group.

Former Tuca, Zbarcea si Asociatii Lawyers Mihai Dudoiu and Sergiu Negreanu have opened a new boutique law firm: Dudoiu, Negreanu & Associates – operating under the brand Legal.Ground.

On June 3, 2024, Clifford Chance Badea announced that J.C. Flowers & Co's sale of First Bank to Intesa Group (as previously reported by CEE Legal Matters on November 3, 2023) has now closed.

Nestor Nestor Diculescu Kingston Petersen has advised CTP on its acquisition of a Romanian logistics portfolio fully owned by Globalworth. Kinstellar advised the seller.

Filip & Company has advised Romania's Banca Transilvania Group on its acquisition of BRD Pensions from BRD Groupe Societe Generale and Societe Generale Assurances. PNSA reportedly advised Societe Generale.

Clifford Chance Badea has advised Premier Energy on its IPO and listing on the Bucharest Stock Exchange amounting to approximately RON 700 million. Dentons advised the bookrunners. Moldova's Turcan Cazac and Cyprus' Chrysses Demetriades & Co reportedly advised the bookrunners as well.

For our Checking In feature, we reach out to partners and heads of practice across CEE to learn how specific practice areas are faring in their jurisdictions. For this piece, we asked firm Labor experts:  Have whistleblowing regulations been implemented in your jurisdiction and would you advise companies to use an external solution or an in-house one? Why?

Filip & Company has advised Romania's RCS & RDS on signing two export credit facility agreements totaling EUR 117.16 million for the acquisition of goods and services to develop its telecom networks in Romania and Portugal and advised its Digi Spain Telecom subsidiary on a EUR 50 million uncommitted and unsecured credit facility agreement.

Former Teleperformance Chief Legal Officer Laura Rudnyanszky has joined Accenture in Bucharest as the company's Offerings Counsel Manager – Global Legal Network.

PGC Partners has advised the Premier Group on the building acquisition and, following its restoration, the launch of the Tudor Arghezi House and Premier Business Center, a boutique hotel and office building in Bucharest.

Former Eversheds Sutherland Romania Tax Partner Dragos Doros has joined the Artenie Secrieru & Partners law firm in Bucharest to launch their sister operation – Artenie, Secrieru, Doros Tax – as Managing Partner.