http://www.bizlawyer.ro BizLawyer - Portal Avocatura ro BizLawyer.ro TueTue:JanJan:2009200920092009 06:30:02 BizLawyer.ro adi.campeanu@dezibel.ro http://www.bizlawyer.ro/news/76/Tuca-Zbarcea-%26-Asociatii-closed-transactions-worth-USD-3.42bn-during-January-September-2008.html http://www.bizlawyer.ro/news/76/Tuca-Zbarcea-%26-Asociatii-closed-transactions-worth-USD-3.42bn-during-January-September-2008.html 2008-12-11 Tuca Zbârcea & Asociatii topped Intellinews’ league tables for emerging market M&A deal activity in terms of both the number and value of the projects in which the firm and its lawyers have been involved over the past nine months. The M&A market in Romania witnessed a slight decline in Q3/2008 from a year ago reports Intellinews in its most recent market survey ISI DealWatch „Emerging Market M&A Deal Activity”. The financial crisis had a clear negative impact on the M&A market, with only 67 M&A transactions involving Romanian companies and a significant 66.5% y/y decrease in deal value to USD http://www.bizlawyer.ro/news/75/Tuca-Zbarcea-%26-Asociatii-one-of-the-best-employers-in-Romania.html http://www.bizlawyer.ro/news/75/Tuca-Zbarcea-%26-Asociatii-one-of-the-best-employers-in-Romania.html 2008-12-04 Tuca Zbârcea & Asociatii is the only law firm to be included in the „100 Best Employers to Work for”. Tuca Zbârcea & Asociatii ranked 17th in the „100 Best Employers to Work for”, according to the 2008 edition of the annual survey undertaken by Capital, a leading weekly business magazine and GfK, one of the largest market research companies in the world. To pick the „100 Best Companies to Work for”, Capital and GfK conducted the most extensive employee survey in corporate Romania. Of some 360 firms that were contacted, 150 companies participated in this year's survey. Nearly 3,500 http://www.bizlawyer.ro/news/74/New-appointments-at-Tuca-Zbarcea-%26-Asociatii.html http://www.bizlawyer.ro/news/74/New-appointments-at-Tuca-Zbarcea-%26-Asociatii.html 2008-12-03 Tuca Zbârcea & Asociatii Law Firm appointed a new partner and made other 5 internal promotions, further to the evaluations carried on at the end of November. As of 1st of January 2009, Tuca Zbârcea & Asociatii will have 16 partners, further to the promotion of Serban Pâslaru as a partner in the firm. The firm made another five internal promotions, as follows: Vlad Cercel became a managing associate, while Mihaela Ivan, Oana Zancu, Oana Cornescu and Răzvan Mircea are now senior associates. Serban Pâslaru was appointed partner with Tuca Zbârcea & Asociatii, where he has been working for the past four http://www.bizlawyer.ro/news/73/Schoenherr-in-decisive-Central-European-push-office-openings-in-Czech-Republic-Poland-and-Slovakia.html http://www.bizlawyer.ro/news/73/Schoenherr-in-decisive-Central-European-push-office-openings-in-Czech-Republic-Poland-and-Slovakia.html 2008-12-01 European law firm Schoenherr is increasing its coverage of Central Europe by opening offices in Czech Republic, Poland and Slovakia. The openings in these more established markets push Schoenherr as a leading legal service company into a unique position in the region: its network of offices in Central Europe is unmatched by any other law firm. The expansion is in line with the firm’s strategy to offer regional investors a genuine one-stop-shop with leading lawyers throughout Central Europe. The move substantially enlarges the number of fee earners, and sees the firm grow by 50 lawyers to a total of 320 fee earners throughout its offices. Schoenherr will now be present in 12 http://www.bizlawyer.ro/news/72/Salans-Advises-Heitman-in-Acquisition-of-City-Center-Sofia-Retail-Mall.html http://www.bizlawyer.ro/news/72/Salans-Advises-Heitman-in-Acquisition-of-City-Center-Sofia-Retail-Mall.html 2008-11-26 Salans has advised Heitman in its acquisition of the City Center Sofia Shopping Mall in Sofia, Bulgaria, from Equest Balkan Properties plc, in what is expected to be one of the largest real estate transactions in the SEE region this quarter. The acquisition was the last for the Heitman European Property Partners III Fund, which has now been fully invested. Heitman Senior Vice President Frank Hildwein commented: “Heitman is pleased to acquire a core shopping center in an irreplaceable location in Sofia that will contribute a stable income for the Fund. We were happy to work with Salans on what was a very international transaction, involving components in Bulgaria, The http://www.bizlawyer.ro/news/71/-Gabriel-Zbarcea-%27%27There-Are-Investment-Funds-which-Want-to-Buy-Entire-Portfolios%27%27.html http://www.bizlawyer.ro/news/71/-Gabriel-Zbarcea-%27%27There-Are-Investment-Funds-which-Want-to-Buy-Entire-Portfolios%27%27.html 2008-11-09 During the last few weeks, several investment funds expressed their interest in entire portfolios of projects currently controlled by Romanian operators. "Recently, we came across several such funds, which want to buy portfolios of companies facing problems because of the difficulties on the international financial market", said Gabriel Zbârcea (photo), managing partner of the law firm Ţuca Zbârcea & Asociatii, in a discussion with the coordinator of Bizlawyer. This is why, even if the number of real estate transactions has decreased recently, Mr. Zbârcea remains optimistic, and says that the Real Estate field is going to be as http://www.bizlawyer.ro/news/70/Salans-The-Business-is-Growing-but-More-caution-is-Recommended.html http://www.bizlawyer.ro/news/70/Salans-The-Business-is-Growing-but-More-caution-is-Recommended.html 2008-11-08 The Bucharest office of the international law firm Salans has grown this year as compared to year 2007, but its representatives say that they must be prepared for a year with a lot of incertitude. “Under these circumstances, we will also pay a lot of attention to our hiring plans. We are as exposed as any other consultancy business, on a very competitive market, where the work volume is decreasing”, showed the representatives of the law firm. They mentioned that a slowdown is felt as regards real estate transactions and especially transactions involving real estate acquisition. “M&A transactions are constant, even if they do not have huge values. http://www.bizlawyer.ro/news/69/Daniel-Badea-%27%27This-Year-We-Intend-to-Grow-by-30%25-and-the-Budget-Has-already-Been-Exceeded-%27%27.html http://www.bizlawyer.ro/news/69/Daniel-Badea-%27%27This-Year-We-Intend-to-Grow-by-30%25-and-the-Budget-Has-already-Been-Exceeded-%27%27.html 2008-11-07 Badea Clifford Chance, the Bucharest Office of the largest law firm in the world is not affected by the international financial crisis, claim its representatives. "The transaction-related practice has decreased in extent and we are involved in fewer, but more complex transactions. In moments like these, investors tend to prefer the firms enjoying a more consolidated practice and not particularly the firms offering lower fees ", stated Daniel Badea (photo), Managing Partner of Badea Clifford Chance. He claimed that the first serious signs of the crisis occurred on international markets more than one year ago and certain transactions that were sensitive to international http://www.bizlawyer.ro/news/68/Biris-Goran-%27%27We-Are-to-Conclude-Transactions-Amounting-to-Approximately-Half-a-billion-Euros-During-the-Following-Months%27%27.html http://www.bizlawyer.ro/news/68/Biris-Goran-%27%27We-Are-to-Conclude-Transactions-Amounting-to-Approximately-Half-a-billion-Euros-During-the-Following-Months%27%27.html 2008-11-07 Biris Goran law firm could announce by the end of the year the conclusion of three real estate transactions amounting to approximately EUR 250 million. According to the company’s representatives, during the following two months, it is possible that major transactions are concluded, in which Biris Goran has provided legal advice to one of the parties. Among the deals nominated by the law firm, it is worth mentioning the acquisition of an equipment manufacturing company and three transactions involving the takeover of service and trade companies, amounting to an aggregate of approx. EUR 200 million. Paradoxically, the international financial crisis could not have visibly http://www.bizlawyer.ro/news/67/White-%26-Case-%27%27The-demand-for-our-services-in-Romania-remains-high%27%27.html http://www.bizlawyer.ro/news/67/White-%26-Case-%27%27The-demand-for-our-services-in-Romania-remains-high%27%27.html 2008-11-06 The activity of the Romanian office of the international law company White & Case was not affected by the crisis that hit the financial markets around the world. "The demand for our services in Romania remains high, both from the local clients and from the international ones. In Romania we are concentrating on M&A, real estate, project financing and other commercial activities. According to opportunities, we can offer consultancy services in relation to the funding of the activities of the central and local authorities. These last few months we have had an intense consultancy activity in real estate, financing and re-financing in this field. We also had http://www.bizlawyer.ro/news/66/Markus-Piuk-%28Schonherr-%29-%27%27The-Legal-Market-Shall-Settle-Down-for-the-Moment%27%27.html http://www.bizlawyer.ro/news/66/Markus-Piuk-%28Schonherr-%29-%27%27The-Legal-Market-Shall-Settle-Down-for-the-Moment%27%27.html 2008-11-05 Schönherr’s law office is undergoing a budgeting process and does not intend to change its income forecasts for 2009. “From the personnel’s point of view, I believe that this “crisis” might even have a positive effect on the growing law offices, as the legal market shall settle down for the moment”, stated Markus Piuk (photo), equity partner within the local company. The lawyer stated that, in spite of the international financial crisis, at a local plan, certain fields of activity shall not be affected. “The infrastructure (including energy), regulatory (including EU-law) are growing as we speak, http://www.bizlawyer.ro/news/65/-Badea-Clifford-Chance-promotes-four-senior-lawyers-as-counsels.html http://www.bizlawyer.ro/news/65/-Badea-Clifford-Chance-promotes-four-senior-lawyers-as-counsels.html 2008-10-23 Badea Clifford Chance, the local office of the premier law firm in the world, promotes four senior lawyers as counsels - Cosmin Anghel, Madalina Rachieru, Andreea Sisman and Ioana Talnaru. "The recent promotion of the four senior lawyers is a reflection of their contribution in the last 6-7 years to the development of the team and our practice in Bucharest in the four strategic practice areas – Banking , Capital Markets, Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A) and Real Estate – and demonstrates the significant development our of team" commented Daniel Badea, Badea Clifford Chance Managing Partner. In his turn, Michael Cuthbert, Clifford http://www.bizlawyer.ro/news/64/The-crisis-has-hit-real-estate-and-finance.-What%27s-next%3F.html http://www.bizlawyer.ro/news/64/The-crisis-has-hit-real-estate-and-finance.-What%27s-next%3F.html 2008-10-21 If for companies the financial turbulences have brought about a compression of business, business lawyers say they have a work front, reveals George Stoica in Saptamana Financiara. Law firms, considered among the finest sensors with which it is possible to measure up performance in the business environment, state that the effects of the international crisis, devastating on external markets, are only felt in Romania under the form of a more cautious attitude of investors, and not of stagnation or suspension of projects. The market manifests a slowdown in real estate transactions, shares issuance and project finance, but in the fields “Mergers and http://www.bizlawyer.ro/news/63/Bizlawyer.ro-in-Financial-Times.html http://www.bizlawyer.ro/news/63/Bizlawyer.ro-in-Financial-Times.html 2008-10-21 “The website ( www.bizlawyer.ro n.r.) functions as a bridge between the community of business lawyers from Romania and the one from other countries”, showed the report of Financial Times Innovative Lawyers, made public in London, on October 17, during the award ceremony for the most innovative lawyers of the world, event attended also by the Bizlawyer staff. The Romanian online publication was the only one from this category nominated by the consulting firm employed by Financial Times to verify the criteria met by law firms in order to be included in this top. Scores for the opening up towards bizlawyer.ro were given, during this edition, to the local law firm Tuca http://www.bizlawyer.ro/news/61/Tuca-Zbarcea-%26-Asociatii-has-received-the-highest-score-in-the-Financial-Times%27-rankings-of-Central-and-Eastern-European-law-firms.html http://www.bizlawyer.ro/news/61/Tuca-Zbarcea-%26-Asociatii-has-received-the-highest-score-in-the-Financial-Times%27-rankings-of-Central-and-Eastern-European-law-firms.html 2008-10-20 Tuca Zbârcea & Asociatii received a total of 275 points and was ranked 3rd in the Continental European Firms featured in this year’s „Financial Times Innovative Lawyers” report. On the 16th of October, the Financial Times launched its third edition of the „Financial Times Innovative Lawyers” report, in the presence of 400 lawyers and in-house counsels from law firms and leading companies across Europe. For the second year running, Romania has been represented among the elite of the European legal industry, alongside well-known firms such as Clifford Chance, Allen & Overy, DLA Piper, Linklaters, http://www.bizlawyer.ro/news/60/Reff-%26-Associates-assists-48-million-Euro-refinancing-deal.html http://www.bizlawyer.ro/news/60/Reff-%26-Associates-assists-48-million-Euro-refinancing-deal.html 2008-10-20 Reff & Associates, the correspondent law firm of Deloitte Romania, assisted Westdeutsche ImmobilienBank AG (WestImmo), one of Germany’s leading providers of real estate financing, in a deal to refinance the Pipera-based Northgate Office Centre with 48 million Euro. From the beginning of the year, Reff & Associates’ team for banking and finance have assisted various banks in financing deals worth over 300 million Euro, this deal included. Class A Northgate Office Center provides 12,000 sqm to international tenants and has been developed by Creativ Group through one of its affiliate companies. WestImmo is one of the leading German real estate banks, http://www.bizlawyer.ro/news/59/Salans-Named-Best-Real-Estate-Legal-Team-in-Emerging-Europe.html http://www.bizlawyer.ro/news/59/Salans-Named-Best-Real-Estate-Legal-Team-in-Emerging-Europe.html 2008-10-14 Salans has won the Euromoney award for Best Legal Team in Real Estate in Emerging Europe for the second year in a row. The dynamic Emerging Europe region includes Romania, Poland, Czech Republic, Hungary, Ukraine, Russia and Turkey. Salans was also named as having the top real estate legal teams in Romania, Russia and Turkey. These awards confirm Salans’ dominant position in emerging markets and cross-border real estate. With nearly 250 real estate and real estate finance specialists located in offices stretching from New York to Shanghai, Salans has the largest fully integrated emerging markets real estate practice among leading international law firms. The continued http://www.bizlawyer.ro/news/58/The-Financial-Times-shortlists-a-Romanian-lawyer-for-the-%27%27Legal-Innovator-of-the-Year-Award%27%27.html http://www.bizlawyer.ro/news/58/The-Financial-Times-shortlists-a-Romanian-lawyer-for-the-%27%27Legal-Innovator-of-the-Year-Award%27%27.html 2008-10-08 For the first time, the Financial Times shortlists a Romanian lawyer for the “Legal Innovator of the Year Award” Florentin Tuca, Managing Partner with Tuca Zbârcea & Asociatii stands alone as sole Romanian lawyer who was nominated and then shortlisted for the “Legal Innovator of the Year Award”. The letter announcing the nomination was recently sent out to Tuca Zbârcea & Asociatii by the Financial Times. In 2007, the winner in this category was Mahnaz Malik, a lawyer who impressed the panel of judges with her initiative to set up the “Project Advocate” programme at Simmons & http://www.bizlawyer.ro/news/57/Romanian-lawyers-in-top-IFLR-1000-edition-2009.html http://www.bizlawyer.ro/news/57/Romanian-lawyers-in-top-IFLR-1000-edition-2009.html 2008-10-08 On 7 October, at 6:00 p.m., the 2009 edition of IFLR 1000 edition was launched in the sumptuous building of The Royal Exchange in London. The edition also includes a top of the recommended law firms. The guide, drafted by a team of specialist journalists from New York, London and Hong Kong, has entered its 19th edition and today it covers more than 100 jurisdictions worldwide. "Romania’s financial law market has had a turbulent year, with one UK firm arriving and another saying farewell to Bucharest", shows this guide which is a reference tool on the global financial law market. The report also mentions the moves made by Allen & Overy, White http://www.bizlawyer.ro/news/56/DLA-Piper-to-open-its-office-in-Romania.html http://www.bizlawyer.ro/news/56/DLA-Piper-to-open-its-office-in-Romania.html 2008-10-08 Its new Bucharest office will strengthen DLA Piper’s capacity to serve its clients from Central and Eastern Europe (CEE). DLA Piper announced today its plans on the opening of a new office in Romania. The new office in Bucharest, to be opened at the beginning of November, will benefit from a strong team of lawyers lead by corporate/M&A lawyer, Marian Dinu. DLA Piper already has a powerful presence in Central and Eastern Europe, with a total number of new offices in the entire region. The largest offices are in Vienna, Budapest, Prague and Warsaw. The new Bucharest office is an important step in DLA Piper’s strategic development plan for South-Eastern