Popovici Nitu Stoica & Asociatii has advised NTT Data on its agreement with the BMW Group to set up a joint venture in Cluj-Napoca to enhance software competencies and foster digital transformation. Nestor Nestor Diculescu Kingston Petersen reportedly advised BMW.

Hidroelectrica's acquisition of the ABC and Calnicel platform business lines from UCM Resita (reported by CEE Legal Matters on December 22, 2023) closed on March 11, 2024, as announced by PeliPartners and Voicu & Asociatii.

BNT Gilescu Valeanu & Partners has advised Czech renewable energy producer Solar Global on its acquisition of a ready-to-build project for a 4.6-megawatt photovoltaic park in Arad County, Romania.

Senior Partner Marta Popa – who has been with Voicu & Asociatii since its inception in 2001 – has been appointed a Deputy Managing Partner at the Bucharest-based firm.

Rizoiu & Poenaru, working with Clifford Chance, has advised the Affidea Group on its acquisition of cancer care provider MedEuropa Romania. Biris Goran, working with Linklaters, advised the sellers.

CMS has advised the Cicor Group on its full acquisition of the Evolution Medtec Romanian engineering company.

Zamfirescu Racoti Vasile & Partners has announced the appointment of Violeta Saranciuc and Alexandru Iorgulescu to the firm's partnership. The two new partners will join the management teams of the international arbitration and restructuring & insolvency departments, respectively.

Criminal defense lawyers Adrian Sandru, George Zlati, and Dorel Herinean have joined forces to launch the Lexure legal hub in Romania.

With a keen eye on the evolving dynamics of entrepreneurship and law in Romania, Alex Teodorescu – a former Olympian and the Founder and Managing Partner of Teodorescu Partners – offers a fresh perspective on business and investing, the entrepreneurial spirit within the legal profession, and some noteworthy recent regulatory developments.

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.

Discussing how the energy markets are evolving – diversifying, moving away from dependence on Russian gas, and becoming ever-greener – CMS Partners Horea Popescu, Blazej Zagorski, Thomas Hamerl, and Maria Orlyk take a deep dive into the dynamic shifts in the energy landscape post-2022.

As 2023 comes to a close, reflections on the year reveal challenges and achievements across Romania, Bulgaria, and Ukraine. Tuca Zbarcea & Asociatii Managing Partner Gabriel Zbarcea, Schoenherr Bulgaria Local Partner Ilko Stoyanov, and Avellum Managing Partner Mykola Stetsenko share their thoughts on what kind of a year it has been.

In The Corner Office, we ask Managing Partners at law firms across Central and Eastern Europe about their backgrounds, strategies, and responsibilities. As we bid farewell to 2023, this time around we turn our attention forward: What is your one main wish for 2024 and what do you see as the biggest potential risk?

In our Looking In series, we talk to Partners from outside CEE who are keeping an eye on the region (and often pop up in our deal ticker) to learn how they perceive CEE markets and their evolution. For this issue, we sat down with Slaughter and May Partners Jonathan Marks and Richard Jones.

The Romanian High Court has recently settled a long-standing legal debate over the conditions for holding administrators personally liable in cases of improper bookkeeping of an insolvent company. This issue has been a point of contention within the legal system since 1995, creating divergence in jurisprudence that required resolution.

Leaua Damcali Deaconu Paunescu, working with Geneva-based Lalive, has successfully represented Romania in an ICSID arbitration case against gold mine operator Gabriel Resources, whose claims amounted to approximately USD 6.7 billion.

Popovici Nitu Stoica & Asociatii has successfully assisted former WTA world number one tennis player Simona Halep before the Court of Arbitration for Sport in a matter regarding her suspension for alleged violations of anti-doping rules.

Stratulat Albulescu has advised Spanish logistics operator ESP Solutions on its acquisition of the Autransa Group.