What were the transactions that kept the Bucharest lawyers at Kinstellar busy?

Kinstellar, the firm set up in November 2008 from the Linklaters offices in Bratislava, Bucharest, Budapest and Prague, has advised the financers of one of the most significant deals in the last years. Bucharest-based Kinstellar’s legal team has advised and assisted credit institutions, investment funds, financers, investors in local stocks or assets or in the IT and Telecom sectors. They have also teamed up with international lawyers in diverse closing cross-regional transactions coordinated from Bucharest.

Their Bucharest office offers integrated legal services in areas such as: corporate, mergers and acquisitions, project finance, energy and natural resources, transactions on domestic and international stock markets, information technology and communications, labor law, competition and Community law as well as real estate. The vast experience of those local lawyers also extends to South-Eastern transactions – such as Bulgaria, Serbia, Montenegro and Turkey. The Kinstellar team has been involved in some of the biggest and most complex transactions in the region.

Among some of the latest and most notable deals in Romania that have involved Kinstellar, it is worth mentioning the legal assistance provided to an international syndicate of credit institutions on a USD 2.5 billion financial backing granted to Kazmunaigaz for purchasing Rompetrol group. A team of 4 lawyers have worked on this case, being coordinated by Daniel Torsher, Managing Partner of the Bucharest office.

The legal team at Kinstellar has counseled RBS on different Romanian law matters in connection with the United Kingdom’s Treasury acquisition of a stake in the bank’s share capital. The team has also advised the bank on obtaining the licensing from the Romanian National Securities Commission and the National Bank of Romania. A team of 4 lawyers coordinated by Daniel Torsher has worked on this case. Kinstellar’s Bucharest lawyers were also selected by a renowned international bank in connection with the proposed acquisition of RBS Romania. A team of 10 lawyers coordinated by Razvan Popa, have worked on this case.

Some of the major stakeholders in Romania that have been advised by the local Kinsellar office, also include Ballymore – in connection with the financing of approximately EUR 20 million granted to its Romanian subsidiary by Anglo Irish Asset Finance plc. (case handled by a team of 3 lawyers coordinated by Razvan Popa). Another major stakeholder advised by Kinsellar is Catalyst Capital – in connection with an amendment worth approximately EUR 20 million for an existing funding granted for the development of logistic and industrial parks in Western Romania (case handled by a team of 3 lawyers coordinated by Razvan Popa).

The firm has assisted one of the investors involved in the project for the reconstruction of units 3 and 4 of the nuclear power plant at Cernavoda (case handled by a team of 4 lawyers coordinated by Daniel Torsher). They have also advised a top international telecom company on various corporate law matters relating to its presence on the local market as well as offer consultancy services to one of the world’s largest IT solution providers on various regulatory aspects related to its Romanian-based operations (projects coordinated by Razvan Popa).

As for the transactions carried out outside Romania, it is worth mentioning the legal counseling offered to a British investment fund operating in the pharmaceutical sector on the acquisition of a Turkish pharmaceutical manufacturer. The value of this transaction exceeded EUR 15 million. A team of 4 local and international lawyers worked on this case, coordinated by John Faurescu (Senior Associate, Private Equity) and Cristina Proca (Associate, Private Equity and Corporate).

The Bucharest office has also advised the regional investment fund Global Finance on the takeover and subsequent restructuring of a minority stake in Euroins Insurance Group, an insurance group operating in South-East Europe (Romania, Bulgaria, Greece, Macedonia, Serbia). This value of this transaction was approximately EUR 25 million. The case was handled by a team of 4 local and international lawyers coordinated by John Faurescu and Cristina Proca.

The Bucharest Kinstellar team has 18 lawyers, two of them are partners. Daniel Torsher is the Office Managing Partner.

Hourly fees may vary depending on the lawyers’ experience and on the type of legal expertise required, but are generally in line with the local market.