Filip & Company has advised Romanian book-borrowing company Bookster on the setup and launch of its Booksprint self-publishing platform aimed at aspiring authors.

Recently, there has been a strong trend in several EU Member States to correct economy imbalances through price and tariff capping measures. This is also the case in Romania, where certain industries or market segments are subject to capping and control measures. (e.g., MTPL insurance, certain segments of the energy market, staple foods, etc.).

In a significant development, the European Parliament and Council have recently reached a preliminary agreement on a set of new regulations designed to combat misleading advertising and provide consumers with more accurate product information. This agreement aims to strengthen consumer rights and tackle deceptive marketing practices, including greenwashing and planned uselessness of products.

Filip & Company has advised Romanian software developer Arobs Transilvania Software on the transfer of its shares to the Main Market of the Bucharest Stock Exchange.

Did you know that 10 of the 18 law firms in Romania that have reported four or more client matters so far in 2023 are independent law firms, unaffiliated with international or regional law firms? According to the Activity Rankings function of the CEELMDirect website, that group of domestic Romanian law firms is led by Filip & Company and RTPR, both of which have reported working on 12 client matters so far in 2023.

Filip & Company has advised growth investment fund Agista on its minority investment in Romania's Centrokinetic medical clinic network. RTPR advised Founder Andrei Bogdan and Centrokinetic on the deal.

RTPR has advised the Orange group's Orange Money Romania on the transfer of its retail business to Alpha Bank Romania. Filip & Company advised Alpha Bank.

Filip & Company has advised residential developer Alesonor on its partnership with the Verita International School & Kindergarten to develop the second Verita campus in Romania in Alesonor's Amber Forest suburb.

Tuca Zbarcea & Asociatii has advised arranger and financier Banca Transilvania and financier OTP Bank Romania on credit facilities worth RON 30.5 million and EUR 26.7 million for the Holde Agri Invest group. Filip & Company advised Holde Agri Invest.

Filip & Company has advised Banca Transilvania on its second bond issue under a program launched in April, which attracted EUR 200 million from the international markets. 

Clifford Chance has advised the underwriters of Hidroelectrica's RON 9.3 billion initial public offering. Filip & Company advised Fondul Proprietatea on the sale of its entire shareholding during the IPO. Dentons advised Hidroelectrica on the issuance and listing on the Bucharest Stock Exchange.

The realm of artificial intelligence (AI) has recently found itself entangled in legal disputes revolving around copyright infringement. These legal battles have raised important questions about the boundaries of AI training data and the implications for copyright protection.

An in-depth look at Cristina Filip of Filip & Company covering her career path, education, and top projects as a lawyer as well as a few insights about her as a manager at work and as a person outside the office.

Contributed by Filip & Company

Kinstellar, working with Linklaters, has advised a syndicate of banks on a EUR 500 million senior facility agreement with Romanian telecommunications service provider RCS & RDS. Filip & Company advised RCS & RDS.

Clifford Chance Badea has advised the arrangers on implementing the EUR 500 million bond issuance of Banca Transilvania. Filip & Company advised issuer Banca Transilvania.

Last week the European Union took a major step towards regulating the fast-growing cryptocurrency market with the final approval of the Regulation on Markets in Crypto-Assets (“MiCA”). The new regulation was approved by the European Parliament on 20 April 2023, and is now subject to formal endorsement by the European Council and publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.

Despite the challenging global landscape, Romania’s banking sector continues to show resilience – with M&A activity in line with the second half of 2022 – according to Filip & Company Partner Alexandra Manciulea.