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.

Firon Bar-Nir has advised Brown Hotels on the EUR 14.5 million sale of a 25% stake in five hotels located in Greece to Tel Aviv-headquartered airline Israir.

On March 30, 2023, Advocate General Tamara Capeta (AG) delivered her Opinion in the Xella Magyarorszag (C‑106/22) case, concerning the interpretation of Regulation (EU) 2019/452 establishing a framework for the screening of foreign direct investments into the Union (FDI Regulation).

CMS has advised Integral Venture Partners on the agreement to acquire a majority stake in Romania's O’Fresh Vending Solutions.

CEE Attorneys Boanta Gidei si Asociatii has advised Fagura on the setup and launch of the Fagura.ro loan-based participatory finance provider platform.

During the Three Seas Initiative annual general meeting in Bucharest in September 2023, Austria's Dorda, Bulgaria's Boyanov & Co., Croatia's Divjak Topic Bahtijarevic & Krka, the Czech Republic's Kocian Solc Balastik, Estonia's Ellex Raidla, Hungary's Lakatos Koves & Partners, Latvia's Ellex Klavins, Lithuania's Ellex Valiunas, Poland's Wardynski and Partners, Romania's Nestor Nestor Diculescu Kingston Petersen, Slovakia's Barger Prekop, and Slovenia's Selih & Partnerji announced they formed the Three Seas Legal Alliance, in recognition of the progress made by the Three Seas Initiative.

Vlasceanu & Partners has advised marine renewable energy engineering consultants Innosea on identifying the most suitable location for its planned floating photovoltaic project in Romania.

The implementation of the deposit return system ("DRS") for bottled water, soft drinks, beer, cider, wine and spirits ("DRS products") in disposable plastic, glass or metal packaging of between 0.1l and 3l, will kick-off on 30 November 2023. As of that date, Romanians will be able to return the packaging of these beverages to the reverse vending machines provided by retailers or producers, as per the legal provisions.

This article discusses the interplay between the primacy of European Union law and the expected new practice in criminal law cases in Romania.

Vlasceanu & Partners has advised Vintruvian Estates on its acquisition of Dragasani-based Crama Mennini and that of a majority stake in Dobrogea's Crama Histria. Sole practitioner Anca Negoita reportedly advised Crama Mennini's sellers.

CMS has advised the Bitdefender cybersecurity company on its acquisition of Singapore-based Horangi Cyber Security. Singapore's Dentons Rodyk & Davidson reportedly advised the unidentified sellers.

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.

August 2023 – The first part of 2023 continued last year's trend of substantial changes to Romanian labour legislation, which is of real interest to both employers and employees. As such, both Law no. 53/2003 on the Labour Code (“Labour Code”) and Law no. 367/2022 on social dialogue (“Law on Social Dialogue”) have undergone several changes, some aimed at clarifying legal issues identified in practice and others at promoting flexibility at work and work-life balance.

EY Law Romanian affiliate Bancila Diaconu si Asociatii has advised Eco Euro Doors on its acquisition of a 70% stake in Workshop Doors.

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.

On 22 March 2023, the European Commission published its proposal for the Green Claims Directive. The new directive aims at filling the legislative gap that has been enabling the practice of greenwashing and it is therefore intended to complement as lex specialis the existing set of EU rules on consumer protection.

On 7 August 2023, the Ministry of Energy published for public consultation the draft Government decision on the approval of the general legal framework for the implementation and functioning of the Contracts for Difference (CfD) support mechanism for low carbon technologies (the “Draft Government Decision”), together with an information note for potential bidders in relation to the implementation of a first CfD scheme, the related auctions rounds being envisaged for Q4 2023 and Q1 2025 (the “Information Note”).

In recent years, the statute of limitations for criminal liability in Romania has been the subject of numerous debates among legal scholars and practitioners.