The Romanian Parliament has recently passed a new piece of legislation (“Law 124/2024”) allowing local authorities to extend until 31 December 2026 the validity term of the general urbanism plans (in Romanian: “planuri de urbanism generale” or “PUG”), which were drawn up and approved before 2003. Law 124/2024 entered into force on 10 May 2024 and approved Government Ordinance no. 33/2023 regarding the prolongation of certain validity terms in the urbanism and construction field (“GO 33/2023”).

The Romanian Energy Regulator (ANRE) recently published a proposal for a new procedure regarding the passporting in Romania of energy or natural gas supply and trading licenses issued in other EU countries, based on ANRE’s confirmatory decisions (New Passporting Procedure).

Clifford Chance has advised Nofar Energy Romania on engineering, procurement, construction, and operation and management contracts with AJ Construction for a 73.6-megawatt photovoltaic park in Slobozia, Giurgiu County.

Stratulat Albulescu has advised Compagnia Valdostana Delle Acque on its acquisition of Sunnerg Group.

Former Tuca, Zbarcea si Asociatii Lawyers Mihai Dudoiu and Sergiu Negreanu have opened a new boutique law firm: Dudoiu, Negreanu & Associates – operating under the brand Legal.Ground.

On June 3, 2024, Clifford Chance Badea announced that J.C. Flowers & Co's sale of First Bank to Intesa Group (as previously reported by CEE Legal Matters on November 3, 2023) has now closed.

Nestor Nestor Diculescu Kingston Petersen has advised CTP on its acquisition of a Romanian logistics portfolio fully owned by Globalworth. Kinstellar advised the seller.

Filip & Company has advised Romania's Banca Transilvania Group on its acquisition of BRD Pensions from BRD Groupe Societe Generale and Societe Generale Assurances. PNSA reportedly advised Societe Generale.

Clifford Chance Badea has advised Premier Energy on its IPO and listing on the Bucharest Stock Exchange amounting to approximately RON 700 million. Dentons advised the bookrunners. Moldova's Turcan Cazac and Cyprus' Chrysses Demetriades & Co reportedly advised the bookrunners as well.

For our Checking In feature, we reach out to partners and heads of practice across CEE to learn how specific practice areas are faring in their jurisdictions. For this piece, we asked firm Labor experts:  Have whistleblowing regulations been implemented in your jurisdiction and would you advise companies to use an external solution or an in-house one? Why?

Filip & Company has advised Romania's RCS & RDS on signing two export credit facility agreements totaling EUR 117.16 million for the acquisition of goods and services to develop its telecom networks in Romania and Portugal and advised its Digi Spain Telecom subsidiary on a EUR 50 million uncommitted and unsecured credit facility agreement.

Former Teleperformance Chief Legal Officer Laura Rudnyanszky has joined Accenture in Bucharest as the company's Offerings Counsel Manager – Global Legal Network.

PGC Partners has advised the Premier Group on the building acquisition and, following its restoration, the launch of the Tudor Arghezi House and Premier Business Center, a boutique hotel and office building in Bucharest.

Former Eversheds Sutherland Romania Tax Partner Dragos Doros has joined the Artenie Secrieru & Partners law firm in Bucharest to launch their sister operation – Artenie, Secrieru, Doros Tax – as Managing Partner.

The recent modifications to Law 17/2014 regarding on the regulation of sale of extramuros agricultural land („Law 17”) came into force through the modifications brought by Law 116/2024, adopted on 29 April 2024 and published a day later.

Starting with May 16, 2024, the Law no. 126/2024 on some measures to strengthen the capacity to combat tax evasion, as well as to amend and supplement some normative acts, enters into force.

Buzescu Ca has promoted Lawyer Adrian Tomescu to a Managing Partner position, with the firm also changing its name to Buzescu & Tomescu.

Schoenherr has advised Piraeus Bank on the sale of its participation in a EUR 400 million primarily non-performing exposures portfolio to APS. Tuca Zbarcea & Asociatii advised APS.