Suciu Popa secures a major win for E-Distributie Banat

01 June 2022

Suciu Popa has successfully assisted E-Distributie Banat in a corporate dispute further to E-Distributie Banat’ share capital increase with the value of the land plots historically included in the certificates of ownership issued by the Romanian State.

As per the national regulatory framework, such land plots were administered by E-Distributie Banat at the time of its privatization and should have been included within its share capital after privatization.

Reference: Legal Marketing

Suciu Popa assisted Romgaz in the acquisition from ExxonMobil of the entire stake held in Neptun Deep offshore project

04 May 2022

Suciu Popa has successfully assisted SNGN ROMGAZ SA, the largest natural gas producer and the main supplier of gas in Romania, on the acquisition of the entity owning an interest of 50% in the Neptun Deep offshore block in the Black Sea from the American oil giant ExxonMobil. The assistance provided by Suciu Popa covered the full spectrum of the Romanian law aspects pertaining to the transaction, and included, among others, conducting an extensive legal due-diligence analysis on the target company and its assets, as well as key regulatory issues.

The transaction has been managed by Suciu Popa with the help of a multidisciplinary team of lawyers specialized in mergers & acquisitions, energy and natural resources (with a particular focus on aspects specific to oil & gas projects), environmental and permitting issues, concessions, competition, labour and regulatory issues.

Suciu Popa team was led by Miruna Suciu and Luminita Popa, Managing Partners, and included Cleopatra Leahu, Dan Ciobanu, Mihai Caragui and Daciana Popa, Partners, as well as Senior Associates and Associates of the firm.

Reference: AMCHAM

Suciu Popa secures another success for a major player in the natural resources & mining industry

14 April 2022

Suciu Popa successfully assisted a key player active in the field of kaolin clay extraction in a dispute related to a public procurement procedure. Following the arguments raised by Suciu Popa team, the court declared our client as the winning bidder.

The complexity of this dispute was based on the applicability of public property regime, as well as the particularities of administrative regulations applicable upon the procedure of public procurement.

The multidisciplinary team involved in this litigation included Radu Chiran, Partner, and Andrei Nicolae, Associate, with the support of Cleopatra Leahu and Dan Ciobanu, Partners.

Reference: Legal Marketing

Suciu Popa recognized as Leading Firm by the 2022 edition of Legal 500 Europe, Middle East & Africa

11 April 2022

The 2022 edition of Legal 500 (Europe, Middle East & Africa) once again featured Suciu Popa as a market-leader in Romania and endorsed our Mergers & Acquisitions, Energy & Natural Resources, Litigation & Arbitration and Public Procurement/PPP practice areas.

According to Legal500, Suciu Popa team’s skills cover both traditional and renewable energy sectors, including upstream and downstream sectors of the oil and gas market. Suciu Popa’s clients include key players such as major international investors and producers, as well as leading national companies.

Among the firm’s leading lawyers, the guide singles out Miruna Suciu, Managing Partner, for her expertise in complex M&A projects, and Luminița Popa, Managing Partner, for international disputes arising from various infrastructure projects, while Partner Cleopatra Leahu is featured as holding a solid experience in the Oil & Gas sector.

Reference: Legal 500

Our iconic partners recognized among the Women Leaders in 2022 by IFLR1000

01 April 2022

IFLR1000 Women Leaders 2022 Edition once again praised Miruna Suciu, Luminita Popa and Cleopatra Leahu as Women Leaders and recognized their remarkable performance in the Romanian legal landscape.

IFLR1000 Women Leaders is an elite ranking category reserved for the most prominent women lawyers across the world working in the areas of law IFLR1000 researches. This is an exclusive group of lawyers with outstanding reputations within their markets who either have expertise and experience of working on complex deals, or who have risen to hold leadership roles with their firms or their practices, or both.

Reference: IFLR 1000

Six years of performance by Suciu Popa recognized by Chambers & Europe

29 March 2022

Four of our main practice areas, namely Projects & Energy, Dispute Resolution – Litigation, Dispute Resolution - Arbitration and Corporate/ M&A, continue to be on the top of the Romanian market legal services according to Chambers Europe 2022 Edition.

Professionalism, expertise, quick results and managing complex projects are the strengths highlighted by Chambers Europe with regard to our three partners listed in the 2022 Edition: Miruna Suciu, Managing Partner, Luminița Popa, Managing Partner and Cleopatra Leahu, Partner.

The Chambers Europe 2022 Edition appraise Miruna Suciu, Managing Partner, for her solid expertise within the energy domain and her skills in managing major projects which involve various aspects from licensing and permitting to structuring complex contractual mechanisms.

Luminita Popa, Managing Partner and member of the ICC Court, is praised by our clients for her strong ability to handle both contentious disputes and domestic and international arbitration proceedings, with a particular focus on the infrastructure and construction sector, as well as energy and natural resources.

The guide also highlights Cleopatra Leahu, Partner, for her solid expertise in providing legal assistance to major oil & gas clients in projects which involve multiple regulatory issues.

Reference: News.ro

Suciu Popa obtains a new favorable solution for a strategic player in the natural resources and mining industry

25 March 2022

Suciu Popa successfully represented a key player active in the field of extraction of kaolin clay, by dismissing a claim for damages amounting to approx. 3 million euros.

The dispute had a complex nature and involved various aspects, including a thorough analysis of the cross-border implications triggered by the applicability of the United Nations Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods (CISG).

Reference: Legal Marketing

Suciu Popa secures major win for Enel Green Power Romania

18 March 2022

Suciu Popa has successfully represented Enel Green Power Romania, one of the leading producers of renewable energy, in a case concerning the suspension of the effects of Order No. 64⁄2022 of the President of the National Agency for Fiscal Administration.

The Order no. 64⁄2022 regulates the manner of declaring the tax on the additional income realized by the electricity producers as a result of the difference between the average monthly selling price of electricity and the price of 450 lei/MWh, as well as the model and content of the form to be used for declaring this tax, but this normative administrative act does not contain elements on the application of this tax, as required by the primary legislation (i.e., Law No. 259⁄2021).

Reference: legalmarketing.ro

Suciu Popa assisted Ford in the transfer of ownership of the Romanian plant to Ford Otosan

14 March 2022

Suciu Popa team has successfully assisted Ford Motor Company in the sale of its Craiova assembly plant situated in southern Romania to its strategic partner Ford Otosan.

According to Ford, “through the transfer of ownership, the Craiova plant will benefit from a wide network of skills and know-how transfer through the vast experience of the Ford Otosan team in the design, development, and construction of commercial and electric vehicles.”

The transaction is expected to close by the third quarter of 2022.

The team involved in this transaction included Miruna Suciu, Managing Partner, and Cleopatra Leahu, Mihai Caragui and Dan Ciobanu, Partners.

Reference: CEE Legal Matters

Miruna Suciu recognized as M&A / Corporate leading lawyer by Chamber and Partners Global Edition 2022

01 February 2022

Miruna Suciu has been endorsed once again by the prestigious Chamber and Partners Global Edition 2022, which recognized her achievements within M&A/Corporate practice.

The ranking as a leading lawyer for the sixth consecutive year confirms Miruna’s extensive experience in a broad range of M&A/ Corporate transactions and strengthens the leading position of Suciu Popa in the domestic and international legal services market.

Reference: Chambers and Partners

Suciu Popa litigation team has secured a new success in labor law matters

31 January 2022

Suciu Popa has successfully represented a key player in the construction and infrastructure industry in a dispute concerning the payment of the delegation allowances requested by the top management representatives.

Following its final decision, the court clarified a frequently encountered issue regarding the nature of the work delegation and stated that the employees’ activity was not conducted under the delegation regime considering that the employer’s domain requested for certain activities to be permanently conducted on different project sites.

Reference: Legal mmarketing

Suciu Popa secures major win for one of the five financial investment companies in Romania

27 January 2022

Suciu Popa secures a major win in a dispute over the annulment of a resolution of the general meeting of shareholders of a listed company approving the filing of liability actions against some of the company’s directors. The resolution belongs to one of the five financial investment companies in Romania.

The solution obtained by Suciu Popa is important and sets a useful precedent in the field of company law disputes, as it confirms that the votes of shareholders who abstained at the meeting must be taken into account when determining the majority by which resolutions of the Ordinary General Meeting of Shareholders may be adopted pursuant to Article 112 of Law No. 31⁄1990.l, otherwise the resolutions adopted are illegal.

Reference: legalmarketing.ro

Suciu Popa assisted tech giant IBM in the separation of its Managed Infrastructure Business unit to Kyndryl

03 November 2021

Suciu Popa is pleased to announce that our team has assisted tech giant IBM on the local implementation of its global reorganization and separation of the Managed Infrastructure Business services unit to a new publicly-traded entity - Kyndryl.

According to Arvind Krishna, IBM chairman and chief executive officer, “The separation of Kyndryl is one of many actions we are taking to sharpen our focus on hybrid cloud and AI, leverage a portfolio clearly focused on technology and consulting, and achieve our growth objectives”.

Suciu Popa team which successfully managed this project in Romania was led by Miruna Suciu, Managing Partner and Head of the firm’s M&A and Technology practices, Dan Ciobanu and Mihai Caragui – Partners and Co-heads of the firm’s corporate practice, and included Noemi Siman, Paul Manaila and Andrei Nicolae, Associates.

Reference: Business Wire

Suciu Popa obtains a new favorable solution in relation to the suspension of enforcement of arbitral awards

23 September 2021

Suciu Popa successfully represented a major player active in the infrastructure field by rejecting a public authority’s claims for the enforcement suspension of an arbitral award. This solution joins a series of similar disputes successfully won by Suciu Popa and strengthens the firm’s practice in this matter by confirming that the suspension of arbitral awards stands as an exceptional measure.

Following this decision, our client also recovered the costs of repair works performed for the construction of road and rail infrastructure.

Reference: Legal Marketing

Suciu Popa ranked again as a top-tier law firm by the 31st edition of IFLR 1000

25 August 2021

On August 2021, the latest edition of IFLR 1000 featured Suciu Popa as a top tier law firm for the fifth time in a row in Mergers and Acquisitions (M&A).

This edition also reconfirms Miruna Suciu, Managing Partner, and Cleopatra Leahu, Partner, as Leading Lawyers in this practice area, while Dan Ciobanu, Partner, is ranked as Rising Star.

Reference: IFLR 1000

Suciu Popa secures a new milestone in favor of a major player in rail transport field

21 July 2021

Suciu Popa successfully represented Grup Feroviar Roman SA (GFR), one of the most prominent rail freight carriers in Romania and one of the regional market leaders, in a major commercial dispute against a debt collection company.

The dispute focused on the effects of the promissory notes in the context of replacing the former guarantor and the potential termination of such securities.

Following the full admission of the statement of claim on behalf of GFR, the court of law confirmed the cessation of the promissory notes’ effects and ordered the full reimbursement of the amounts unduly collected under the aforementioned securities.

As a result of this decision, the court awarded a valuable clarification on guarantees’ matters and confirmed the arguments raised by Suciu Popa according to which the autonomy of a guarantee is not absolute, but must be analyzed in relation with the parties’ intention.

The Suciu Popa team was coordinated by Miruna Suciu, Managing Partner, and included Dan Ciobanu, Partner, and Radu Chiran, Managing Associate.

Reference: Romanian Lawyers Week

Suciu Popa partners with Danish tech company and developer Whistleblower Software to offer an integrated legal & tech whistleblowing solution to clients

24 May 2021

Suciu Popa is glad to announce that it has partnered with Whistleblower Software, a Danish software developer providing a GDPR compliant web-based interface - especially developed to cater for the Whistelblower Directive requirements - which can be easily customized to the actual needs and features of any particular organisation.

By entering into this exclusive partnership, Suciu Popa is able to provide clients and interested organisations with an integrated, fully customized compliance program which oversees the full implementation of the Whistelblower Directive, from designing policies and rules for reporting within the organization, setting-up investigation protocols, to customizing and providing a turn-key industry leading software solution, with full support from our technical partners.

The integrated service delivered by Suciu Popa in partnership with Whistleblower Software caters to all ethical, legal, public, internal and managerial responsibilities around whistleblowing, providing an integrated solution which ensures confidentiality, accountability and clear work & investigation procedures.

For more information and a personalized demo, please click on the following link: http://www.suciupopa.ro/whistleblower-solution/

Miruna Suciu ranked again in 2021 IFLR1000 Women Leaders

13 May 2021

Miruna Suciu, one of the Managing Partners of Suciu Popa, has been named again among the 2021 IFLR1000 Women Leaders, the world ranking for leading female transactional lawyers.

IFLR1000 Women Leaders are the leading and most prominent female lawyers working in the areas of law that the prestigious global guide researches (financial and corporate transactions and contract, licensing and regulatory project work). This is an elite group of lawyers with outstanding reputations within their markets who either have expertise and experience of working on complex deals, or who have risen to hold leadership roles with their firms or their practices, or both.

Reference: https://www.iflr1000.com/

Suciu Popa ranked again as one of the top Romanian legal firms in Legal 500 EMEA 2021

14 April 2021

Suciu Popa is listed again among the elite of law firms in Romania by Legal 500 EMEA 2021, being ranked in Energy & Natural Resources, Dispute Resolution, Commercial, Corporate and M&A, Capital Markets, Banking & Finance and PPP & Procurement.

Eight of the firm’s partners are endorsed by the guide for their outstanding skills and capabilities: Miruna Suciu and Luminița Popa are both ranked as Leading Lawyers in all the above areas of practice, Cleopatra Leahu is listed as leading lawyer in Energy & Natural resources and PPP & Procurement, Daciana Popa and Roxana Fercala are endorsed for their capabilities in dispute resolution and arbitration matters, Dan Ciobanu is recognized for his skills in Capital Markets and in Corporate, commercial and M&A, while Andrei Georgescu and Crina Ciobanu are recognized for their capabilities in Corporate, Commercial and M&A and Energy as well as in Banking & Finance.

Reference: https://www.legal500.com/r/europe/

Suciu Popa is recognized again as an elite Romanian legal firm in Chambers Europe 2021

24 March 2021

Suciu Popa is ranked and recognized again in Chambers Europe 2021 for Energy & Natural Resources, Mergers & Acquisitions/Corporate Law, Dispute Resolution and Arbitration and Projects.

According to clients, Suciu Popa is recognized as “an excellent ‘one stop shop’, having a wide broad of specializations”, having “a great capacity to clarify the legal aspects”.

Chambers and Partners is an independent research company operating across 200 jurisdictions delivering detailed rankings and insight into the world’s leading lawyers.

Chambers’ 200 Research Analysts provide unique insight into complex areas of law conducting numerous interviews with in-house counsel and third-party experts, delivering detailed insight into providers of legal services.

Reference: https://chambers.com/law-firm/suciu-popa-europe-7:22901886

Suciu Popa completes successful real estate company take-over for Tuborg Romania

10 March 2021

Suciu Popa successfully assisted United Romania Breweries Bereprod (URBB), the Romanian subsidiary of the multinational group Central Bottling Company Ltd., the worldwide holder of an impressive portfolio of licenses pertaining to reputable global brands in the alcoholic and soft drinks sector (such as Carlsberg and Tuborg), in connection with the real estate acquisition, dedicated to the development and expansion of bottling capacities held on the local market.

The team dedicated to this project was led by Miruna Suciu, Managing Partner and head of the Mergers & Acquisitions practice, together with Andrei Georgescu, Partner, and member of the Mergers & Acquisitions and IP practice, and Mihai Caragui, Managing Associate, member of the Real Estate and Corporate teams of the firm.

Reference: https://brcconline.eu/suciu-popa-completes-successful-transaction-in-mergersacquisitions-and-real-estate-for-tuborg-romania/

Suciu Popa wins for Hidroelectrica

18 February 2021

Suciu Popa successfully represented Hidroelectrica S.A. in an insolvency related dispute, via which it obtained the registration of a total debt of approximatively RON 22.3 million.

The Suciu Popa Dispute Resolution team which successfully managed said proceedings was coordinated by Daciana Popa, Partner and members of the Dispute Resolution team.

Reference: https://www.legalmarketing.ro/suciu-popa-castiga-pentru-hidroelectrica-223-mil-ron/

Suciu Popa successfully assisted R34dy in acquiring the leading Oracle Flexcube implementer in Romania

09 December 2020

Suciu Popa has successfully assisted R34dy Zrt., a leading provider of banking as a service (Baas) type of services and processes, in connection with the acquisition of a minority share in the capital of Bluepoint Consulting, a leading local provider of services for the implementation of the Oracle Flexcube Universal Banking System (FCUBS) for banks in Romania.

The Suciu Popa team involved in this project was coordinated by Miruna Suciu, Managing Partner and Andrei Georgescu, Partner, and further included Mihai Caragui, Senior Associate.

Reference: https://www.amcham.ro/news-from-members/suciu-popa-successfully-assisted-r3ady-in-acquiring-bluepoint

Suciu Popa wins administrative dispute for one of the most important operators in the field of renewable energy

07 October 2020

Suciu Popa obtains remarkable favourable solutions for one of the biggest players in the renewable energy sector, by cancelling several tax decisions issued by local authorities in connection with a wind turbines tax.

The recent awards obtained by Suciu Popa have a significant impact as they enable the end of an unfavourable practice of the authorities as to the tax treatment of equipment related to wind power plants and bring much awaited clarification to investors and players in clean energy production capacities.

Reference: https://www.amcham.ro/news-from-members/suciu-popa-obtains-favorable-solutions-for-one-of-the-biggest-players-in-the-renewable-energy-sector

The 30th edition of IFLR1000 ranks again Suciu Popa as a top law firm in the Romanian market

12 September 2020

Suciu Popa is once again ranked as a top law firm in the Romanian market in Mergers Acquisitions, and reconfirms the firm among the international law firms elite in this important area of practice.

This edition also reconfirms four of our partners as leading lawyers in M&A: Miruna Suciu, Luminita Popa, Cleopatra Leahu and Dan Ciobanu.

As the M&A market continues to show strong resilience in the overall economy, despite turmoil caused by the pandemics, we remain as committed as ever to further consolidate in this area and to continue to enable and support big, complex transactions.

Reference: https://www.iflr1000.com/

Miruna Suciu featured in the 2020 IFLR1000 Women Leaders rankings

18 June 2020

Miruna Suciu has been named among the 2020 IFLR1000 Women Leaders, the world ranking for leading female transactional lawyers.

IFLR1000 researches and lists female lawyers that have impressive track records in transactional work and are consistently recommended by clients and peers for the quality of their advice and service.

The research is undertaken yearly evaluating lawyers and firms on the basis of transactional experience and market feedback. During the process, survey data of thousands of client referees and peers are examined and hundreds of interviews are conducted before nominating individuals for Women Leaders.

Reference: https://www.iflr1000.com/NewsAndAnalysis/IFLR1000-Women-Leaders-2020/Index/10870

Yet another successful award for Enel in ICC arbitration secured by Suciu Popa

21 October 2019

Suciu Popa secured yet another successful award for the Italian global energy company Enel in an ICC arbitration against the Romanian State, in Paris, arising out of a privatization contract, with value in excess of EUR 130 million.

SAPE, a management company for state-owned stakes in energy companies coordinated by the Ministry of Energy, claimed the distribution of the profits retained until 2017 pertaining to Enel Distributie Muntenia and Enel Energie Muntenia. In its ruling, the Arbitral Tribunal dismissed entirely all SAPE’s claims.

“Enel is one of the clients we have successfully represented in numerous disputes, both before the ICC courts and those of the common law. Numerous international publications (GAR, Legal 500, Benchmark Litigation Europe etc.) have highlighted in recent years the outstanding track record of our litigation and arbitration mandates, excellent customer feedback, and the specificity of our dispute resolution practice: a truly international practice, dedicated to complex, sophisticated mandates”, said Luminita Popa, Managing Partner Suciu Popa and lead counsel in the case.

Reference: BizLawyer

Benchmark Litigation Europe confirms Suciu Popa as a top-tier legal services provider

07 October 2019

Suciu Popa has been again ranked in the top tiers of Benchmark Litigation Europe 2020. Luminita Popa is recommended as Dispute Resolution Star in the most recent edition of the prestigious publication for her experience in the following areas of practice: Commercial and Transactions, Commercial Arbitration, Construction, Energy and Natural Resources, International Arbitration.

After having secured the accolades for Dispute Resolution Firm of the Year 2019 and Lawyer of the Year 2019 (Luminita Popa) in Romania in May, Suciu Popa is honoured to be recognized once more in one of the most important worldwide guides to litigation firms and attorneys.

Benchmark Litigation has praised the law firm for its “highly recognized capabilities in mergers and acquisitions, energy and natural resources, litigation, international arbitration, capital markets, infrastructure, PPP and public procurement, real estate and construction, competition and IP”.

Reference: Benchmark Litigation

Suciu Popa was awarded the Largest Deal in Energy at the 2019 Lawyers’ Gala Awards

24 September 2019

For the third year in a row, Lawyers’ Gala Awards organized by Ziarul Financiar recognized Suciu Popa for our work in assisting Black Sea Oil & Gas in the successful acquisition of an additional 5% stake in the Midia Gas Development Project (“MGD Project”).

The team was led by Managing Partner Miruna Suciu and Partner Cleopatra Leahu.

“Energy is a niche field and, as such, the issues related to this field cannot be addressed with a generalist approach. When you have 15-20 years of experience in most complex projects in the market, as our team does, it is easier to discern.”, said Miruna Suciu, Managing Partner Suciu Popa, while receiving the award.

Reference: ZF Gala Avocaţilor 2019, ediţia a X-a

Suciu Popa assisted Central Bottling Company Ltd. in acquiring the sole control of Muller Romania

14 February 2019

Suciu Popa assisted Central Bottling Company Ltd. (one of the largest international bottling companies with bottling licence for international well-known alcoholic and non-alcoholic brands) in acquiring the sole control of Muller Romania (the Romanian subsidiary and licensee of Molkerei Alois Müller GmbH & Co. KG, one of the major multinational producers of dairy products).

Suciu Popa advised on all the matters related to the review and negotiations of the new license agreement, to the economic concentration, including its notification to the Romanian Competition Council.

Andrei Georgescu coordinated the project, with the help of Vlad Lupascu, Mihai Caragui and Siranus Hahamian, the team being supervised by Managing Partner Miruna Suciu.

“Our mandate in this transaction came as a result of our excellent previous cooperation with CBC in their Romanian projects, and we are very happy to be able to support our clients in their acquisitions or expansion projects, while recognizing and being able to deal with the challenges they are faced within their relevant business sectors”, said Miruna Suciu.

“CBC has entrusted us with many projects over time and we are thankful for the great cooperation we have and thank their entire team for an outstanding work” said Andrei Georgescu.

“Once again we had a very positive experience working with Suciu Popa. Miruna, Andrei and their team are strongly committed to their clients and we will continue to work together as our business continues to develop” said Tzafrir Granat, CEO Muller Dairy Romania.

Previously, Suciu Popa has been advising the Central Bottling Company Ltd in acquiring the sole control of the Romanian licensee of Carlsberg, United Romania Breweries Bereprod (URBB) and Carlsrom Beverage.

References: ZF

Suciu Popa irrevocably wins a complex labour class action for Hidroelectrica

11 February 2019

Suciu Popa successfully represented Hidroelectrica S.A, in a complex labour class action initiated by 3,000 employees concerning rights claimed under the collective bargaining agreement (CBA).

By this decision, the Bucharest Court of Appeal sets an important precedent in the matter of the CBA clauses regarding certain benefits. The award obtained by Suciu Popa is noteworthy both in terms of value of the dispute and of setting a precedent, being clarified that, under collective bargaining agreements, the employees gain a general entitlement to the payment of a specific benefit and not a receivable against the employer.

The project was coordinated by Daciana Popa (Managing Associate) who regularly advises clients on the full range of employment and labour related projects and disputes, in close collaboration with Cleopatra Leahu (Partner), who, apart from her other specialties, is recognized for her experience in employment advisory issues, employee benefits and CBAs included.

“This decision sets a standard of normality for the labour law jurisprudence, the court confirming the correctness of the management decisions made by our client in relation to employees, as well as the fact that general principles of law, traditionally applied in other fields (such as distribution of dividends by companies), are also fully applicable in the labour law field.” said Cleopatra Leahu, Partner Suciu Popa.

“We are delighted with this decision and we are pleased that the effort of our team in this important file, spanning almost two years, brought the success for our client,” said Daciana Popa, Managing Associate Suciu Popa.

This success reconfirms the experience and professionalism of Suciu Popa’s labour law & employment team, currently engaged in high-profile cases for various clients, active in energy & natural resources, IT&C, banking & finance, healthcare or FMCG.

References: BizLawyer

Suciu Popa & Associates assisted Black Sea Oil & Gas S.R.L. in signing the Gas Sales Agreement with ENGIE for natural gas supply from the MGD Project

21 November 2018

Suciu Popa & Associates assisted Black Sea Oil & Gas S.R.L. in signing the Gas Sales Agreement (“GSA”) with ENGIE through its subsidiary Engie Energy Management Romania S.R.L. (“Engie”) for natural gas supply from the Midia Gas Development Project (“MGD”).

Under this agreement, which is subject to Final Investment Decision, ENGIE will purchase gas from the Ana and Doina gas reservoirs over a minimum period of 10 years in compliance with Romanian law. Expected contractual volumes at project completion represent 0,5 bcm per year.

“We are deeply honored to have been entrusted with managing such an important project for a company which shares the same vision for a clear and predictable legal framework. We are glad to provide support to private companies which choose to invest in Romania”, said Miruna Suciu, Managing Partner Suciu Popa.

“In our work on the Gas Sale Agreement we were helped and advised by Suciu Popa, who were always very professional and truly dedicated to this important project” said Serge Guibert, Administrator and CFO of Black Sea Oil & Gas S.R.L.

The project was coordinated by Miruna Suciu (Managing Partner) together with Cleopatra Leahu and Andrei Georgescu (Partners), all having extensive experience in the area of Energy & Natural Resources and being involved, over the past 18 years, in some of the largest cross border transactions and milestone investment projects.

References: BizLawyer

Suciu Popa assisted KMG International in creating the Kazakh-Romanian Investment Fund

29 October 2018

Suciu Popa & Associates successfully represented KMG International (KMGI) in connection with the structuring and creation of the Kazakh-Romanian Investment Fund as a way to promote investments in a number of sectors of the Romanian economy such as energy and infrastructure, with projected investment values of approx. USD 1 billion.

The Romanian-Kazakh Investment Fund is being set up by KMGI and SAPE, a company managing State-owned stakes in the energy sector coordinated by the Ministry of Energy.

Suciu Popa & Associates advised KMGI in the process of negotiation and preparation of the documents regarding the establishment of the fund.

“We thank our client KMGI and the other parties involved for the outstanding cooperation, and obviously our colleagues who worked tirelessly to perform this important project”, said the Managing Partners of Suciu Popa.

“The assistance and expertise of Suciu Popa contributed to the success of the transaction, and we greatly appreciate the dedication of the legal team whose professionalism helped us reach a positive outcome” said Alexey Golovin, KMGI Vice-President for Corporate Development and Strategy.

The project was coordinated by Miruna Suciu and Luminita Popa (Managing Partners), both having extensive experience in Mergers & Acquisitions and Energy & Natural resources, along with other 5 key attorneys of the firm.

References: ZF, Mediafax

Suciu Popa wins the Award for the Largest Deal in Energy for the second consecutive year

01 October 2018

The award received at the prestigious Lawyers’ Gala Awards organized by Ziarul Financiar recognized Suciu Popa’s assisting Mazarine Energy on the acquisition of 19 Romanian onshore oil and gas fields from OMV Petrom SA. The team was led by Managing Partner Miruna Suciu and Partner Cleopatra Leahu.

“This transaction took careful planning and posed a number of difficulties, but working with the client in a solid and consistent manner delivered positive results and a quick turnaround. Our work flow in energy M&As is at the core of our practice and we are very happy to win this award for the second year in a row” said Miruna Suciu.

Suciu Popa’s Energy & Natural Resources team comprises experienced practitioners able to draw together on all relevant areas that prevail in these sectors. Our reputation has been built on sound legal expertise, a thorough understanding of the market in which our clients operate and commitment to industry specialization.

The success at the Lawyers’ Gala 2018 follows Suciu Popa’s great achievements during last 12 months in energy and natural resources, when the firm won The Largest Deal in Energy Award at 2017 Lawyers’ Gala and was recognized as leading law firm in all the legal directories rankings – Legal 500 EMEA, Chambers & Partners and IFLR 1000.

Reference: ZF Gala Avocaţilor 2018, ediţia a IX-a

Promotions at Suciu Popa

11 June 2018

Suciu Popa announces the promotion of Iulian Cioienaru as Partner and of Andreea Gancea and Mihai Cărăgui, as Senior Associates.

“We are pleased to announce the promotion of ambitious and dedicated lawyers. Iulian has demonstrated that he has extraordinary strategic skills, a dynamic approach to portfolio development and client service, along with the ability to bring, every time, a significant contribution to the success of the files entrusted by our clients. Andreea and Mihai are two young lawyers with great potential, and their promotion is the result of constant efforts and involvement in the firm’s activity”, added Luminita Popa, Managing Partner, Head of Dispute Resolution.

“We are continuously investing in the consolidation of Suciu Popa’s presence on the local and international market and we keep the promise we made to our clients when we founded the firm, to provide top services and to add value. Iulian shares the same professional and human values and principles, and we are convinced that through his talent and vision, he will definitely contribute to the sustainable development of our dispute resolution practice”, concluded Miruna Suciu, Managing Partner.

Suciu Popa is listed again among the elite of law firms in Romania by Legal 500 EMEA 2018

12 April 2018

Suciu Popa is ranked in Banking and Finance, Capital Markets, Commercial, Corporate and M&A, Dispute Resolution and Energy and Natural Resources in Legal 500 EMEA, for the third year in a row. In addition, three of our lawyers are included in the elite legal professionals list, namely Miruna Suciu, Luminita Popa, and Cleopatra Leahu, for their professional capabilities.

According to clients, Suciu Popa’s “highly efficient and proactive” team handles banking regulatory work and project financing mandates. Suciu Popa’s “very efficient” team has notable strength in litigation and arbitration.

Legal 500 is one of the most prestigious international legal guides which analyses the capabilities of law firms across the world, with a comprehensive research program revised and updated every year to bring the most up-to-date vision of the global legal market. The rankings are produced based on a rigorous research that comprises feedback from clients, submissions from law firms and interviews with leading private practice lawyers.

Reference: www.legal500.com

Suciu Popa is ranked and recognized in Chambers Europe 2018 edition

08 March 2018

Suciu Popa is ranked and recognized for Energy & Natural Resources and Dispute Resolution, in Chambers Europe 2018 edition. Also, three of the most appreciated lawyers on the local and international market are ranked as leading lawyers for Corporate/M&A, Capital Markets, Projects (Miruna Suciu), Dispute Resolution (Luminita Popa), and Energy & Natural Resources (Miruna Suciu, Cleopatra Leahu).

According to the clients, Miruna is “one of the best lawyers in capital markets”, has “proactive approach and broad overview” and “she understands quickly and moves matters ahead fast.”

Clients highlight that Luminita is “extremely involved and hands-on” adding that “her attention to detail and capacity to see the overall picture make her a great strategist.”

Cleopatra is praised for her “effectiveness and client service” and because “she understands the business and it is a good experience to work with her.”

Reference: www.chambersandpartners.com

Miruna Suciu is ranked in Chambers Global 2018 edition

15 February 2018

Miruna Suciu, Managing Partner of Suciu Popa, was ranked for the second time as leading lawyer in Corporate/M&A in Chambers Global guide, the prestigious legal directory comprising leading lawyers all over the world. According to the clients, she is “very strong, knowledgeable and responsive.”

With 19 years of experience at the forefront of business law, Miruna is recognized as one of the most experienced practitioners in mergers & acquisitions/privatization. Miruna regularly advises a significant portfolio of top-tier corporate clients, investment funds, private equity and banks in a variety of cutting-edge transactions of both domestic and international dimension in takeovers, extensive due diligence analysis, regulatory matters, mergers & acquisitions finance, as well as bid and tender preparation, and assistance during tender procedures.

Reference: www.chambersandpartners.com

Suciu Popa advises Black Sea Oil & Gas

04 December 2017

Suciu Popa advised Black Sea Oil & Gas, a Romanian based oil & gas company controlled by the Carlyle Group, one of the largest private equity and alternative investment firms worldwide, in the transaction whereby the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) has become a minority shareholder of the Romanian company.

The team was coordinated by Managing Partner Miruna Suciu and Partner Cleopatra Leahu.

Suciu Popa is currently advising Black Sea Oil & Gas in connection with the land acquisition, permitting and construction of a gas development project, developed together with its co-venturers. The project consists of offshore platforms and production wells, a 130 km offshore and 5 km onshore transmission pipeline and a gas treatment plant.

Reference: www.bizlawyler.ro

Suciu Popa is recommended as a top tier firm in IFLR 1000 Financial and Corporate Guide 2018

13 October 2017

IFLR1000 Financial and Corporate Guide 2018 has been released and Suciu Popa is ranked as a top tier firm in three areas of practice: M&A, Capital Markets and Project Development.

We are very proud to find out that our clients see Suciu Popa as a “very knowledgeable on all the areas in which we required assistance, notably M&A and real estate. Moreover, the team is very efficient and solution-driven - excellent service, highly recommended.”

Miruna Suciu and Luminita Popa, Managing Partners, are recommended as Highly regarded lawyers, as a recognition of their strong reputation on the market. Two other partners of Suciu Popa were also ranked: Cleopatra Leahu (Highly regarded lawyer) and Dan Ciobanu (Rising star).

Reference: www.iflr1000.com

Trio of partner promotions at Suciu Popa

09 October 2017

Suciu Popa is pleased to announce the promotion of Roxana Fercală, Andrei Georgescu and Crina Ciobanu to the firm’s partnership.

Crina, Roxana and Andrei have each over 10 years of solid legal experience in serving a number of blue-chip companies in some of largest transactions concluded on the Romanian market to date.

“Roxana, Andrei and Crina were part of our team since the very beginning. They materially contributed to turning Suciu Popa project into a success story and we take the opportunity today to thank them for their extraordinary trust, effort and commitment to the firm, as well as for their professionalism and enthusiasm towards any mandate or project entrusted by our clients”, commented Luminița Popa, Managing Partner of Suciu Popa.

Miruna Suciu, Managing Partner of Suciu Popa: “By investing in a new generation of talented and dynamic lawyers, we aimed at ensuring our firm’s growth well into the future and further consolidate Suciu Popa’s presence in key sectors such as dispute resolution, real estate and construction, as well as mergers & acquisitions, competition/antitrust and information technology, which we see as growing areas or industries in the coming years”.

Reference: ceelegalmatters.com

Suciu Popa wins the Award for the Largest Deal in Energy

29 September 2017

The award received at the prestigious Lawyers’ Gala Awards organised by Ziarul Financiar recognised Suciu Popa’s assisting Enel Investment Holding BV in the acquisition of 13.6% of the share capital of E-Distributie Muntenia S.A. and Enel Energie Muntenia S.A., a transaction worth 400 million Euro. The team was led by Miruna Suciu and Luminita Popa (Managing Partners) and also included Dan Ciobanu (Partner) and Roxana Fercala (Managing Associate).

The transaction headlined in this Gala is one in a series of successful mandates handled by Suciu Popa in 2017 by the Suciu Popa’s energy practice counting four Partners and three Managing Associates that cover all sectors of this industry.

Reference: www.bizlawyer.ro

Suciu Popa advises Mazarine Energy Romania

16 August 2017

Suciu Popa assisted Mazarine Energy Romania, an oil and gas production and exploration company backed by the private equity fund Carlyle International Energy Partners, in restructuring and completing the acquisition of 19 onshore oil fields and related assets, lands, workover rigs and associated crews from OMV Petrom SA.

The team involved in the project included Partners Miruna Suciu, Cleopatra Leahu and Dan Ciobanu, along with Managing Associates Crina Ciobanu and Andrei Georgescu.

The complexity of the mandate came from the inherent elements of an asset deal of such a magnitude, which are related to the more formalistic conditions for the transfer of ownership (in this case, hundreds of lands and fixed assets), obtaining the approvals from the regulatory authorities on the transfer and operation of specific assets (such as distribution networks and power generation units), the transfer of environmental permits and compliance with the TUPE regulations for a large number of employees.

Reference: www.bizlawyer.ro

Suciu Popa featured in the IFLR1000 Energy and Infrastructure Deal Report 2017

25 July 2017

IFLR1000 Energy and Infrastructure Deal Report 2017 has just been released and Suciu Popa is mentioned as counsel for an important project in the oil & gas field: Midia Gas Development Project. The project, which is the first of this type in Romania after the communist period, consists of the development of natural gas discoveries in the Black Sea, permitting and construction of offshore platforms and production wells, a 121 km offshore and 4 km onshore transmission pipeline, a gas treatment plant and a 25-km pipeline to tie with the National Gas Transmission System, requiring an estimated investment of approx. USD 500 million.

Our client, Black Sea Oil & Gas, a company wholly owned by Carlyle International Energy Partners, is advised by a highly experienced inter-disciplinary team of lawyers in connection with land acquisition, permitting (including ESIA) and construction of the project, as well as on various issues related to the future marketing and sale of the resulted gas production.

Reference: www.iflr1000.com

Suciu Popa advises Hili Properties Plc. in a 30 million Euro transaction for the acquisition of ART Business Centre

04 May 2017

Suciu Popa assisted Hili Properties Plc., a company of the Maltese group Hili Ventures, in the acquisition of ART Business Centre. The 30 million euro - building is entirely leased to top clients, including Ponderas Academic Hospital, the largest private hospital in Romania.

Hili Properties, the real estate division of the Maltese group Hili Ventures, has entrusted the large-scale transaction, which took place over a period of more than six months, in the hands of the Suciu Popa lawyers. In all stages of the transaction, Hili Properties was assisted by the Suciu Popa team coordinated by Miruna Suciu (Managing Partner) and Crina Ciobanu (Managing Associate).

Reference: www.hiliventures.com

Suciu Popa is highly recommended in Legal 500 EMEA – 2017 edition

18 April 2017

Suciu Popa is pleased to announce its ranking as a first-tier firm in Dispute Resolution, Banking, Finance and Capital Markets, Commercial, Corporate and M&A. It was also recommended for Energy and Natural Resources and Restructuring and Insolvency. Four of our lawyers are on the elite “leading lawyers” list while six other lawyers are also recommended on various practice areas.

Clients praised our firm as “very good, and set to get even better”, with “an exceptionally strong practice”, “very experienced and with an impressive flow of work”.

Legal 500 is one of the most prestigious international legal guides which analyses the capabilities of law firms across the world, with a comprehensive research programme revised and updated every year to bring the most up-to- date vision of the global legal market. The rankings are produced based on a rigorous research that comprises feedback from clients, submissions from law firms and interviews with leading private practice lawyers.

Referene: www.legal500.com

Suciu Popa assists Enel in finalizing the acquisition of a 13.6% share stake of E-Distributie Muntenia and Enel Energie Muntenia

10 April 2017

Suciu Popa advised Enel Investment Holding B.V. in finalizing the acquisition of 13.6% of the share capital of E-Distributie Muntenia S.A. and Enel Energie Muntenia S.A., which increased Enel’s interest in the two companies to 78%.

The acquisition of the additional 13.6% share stake from SAPE SA, for a total consideration of about 400 million euros, is a consequence of the exercise of a put option in November 2012. With the exercise of the put option, SAPE had asked for a price of more than 520 million euros, amount which was contested by Enel. After failing to reach an agreement, in 2014 SAPE began arbitration proceeding before the International Chamber of Commerce in Paris, in which it lodged a claim for over 580 million euros. The Arbitral Tribunal set the purchase price for the equity interests involved in the put option at about 400 million euros, reducing the amount requested by SAPE by more than 100 million euros and dismissing the request for interest.

Throughout this transaction, Enel was assisted by a Suciu Popa legal team coordinated by Miruna Suciu and Luminita Popa (Managing Partners).

_Reference: www.enel.com_

Suciu Popa is ranked in Chambers Europe – 2017 edition

10 April 2017

The legal services offered by our firm were endorsed by the prestigious international legal directory Chambers and Partners. In its Europe 2017 edition, Suciu Popa was ranked with its Energy & Natural Resources department. Also, three of the partners were ranked in five practice areas: Capital Markets (Miruna Suciu), Corporate/M&A (Miruna Suciu), Dispute Resolution (Luminita Popa), Energy & Natural Resources (Cleopatra Leahu, Miruna Suciu), Projects (Miruna Suciu).

Clients praised our team for the “excellent local and cross-border capabilities” adding that lawyers are “efficient and extremely knowledgeable.” Another added: “They respond very quickly and the advice is very solid and practical.”

Since 1990, Chambers and Partners has published the leading directories of the legal profession and is now covering 185 jurisdictions worldwide. The ranking of the best lawyers is made after a thorough research that includes both interviews with lawyers and their clients.

Reference: www.chambersandpartners.com

Suciu Popa advises SABMiller in the sale of its Romanian business, as part of a EUR 7.3 billion deal

03 April 2017

Suciu Popa advised SABMiller Limited in relation to the sale of its beer business in Romania to Asahi Breweries Europe Ltd, a subsidiary of the global beer, spirits, soft drinks and food company Asahi Group Holdings based in Tokyo, Japan. The transaction is part of the commitments towards the competition authorities to divest Central and East European activity, within the USD 100 billion-plus merger combining the world’s two leading beer companies, SABMiller and Anheuser-Busch InBev. The deal includes SABMiller’s businesses in Romania, Czech Republic, Slovak Republic, Poland and Hungary, with a value of EUR 7.3 billion.

Suciu Popa legal work spanned from performing the vendor legal due diligence process to closing formalities for the Romanian jurisdiction. Miruna Suciu (Managing Partner) led the team, alongside Cleopatra Leahu (Partner) and eight other members of the firm.

Reference: ceelegalmatters.com

Suciu Popa assists Central Bottling Company Ltd. in acquiring the sole control of the Romanian licensee of Carlsberg, United Romania Breweries Bereprod (URBB) and Carlsrom Beverage

01 March 2017

Suciu Popa assisted Central Bottling Company Ltd., one of the largest international bottling companies with bottling licence for international well-known brands such as Coca-Cola or Carlsberg, in acquiring the sole control of the Romanian licensee of Carlsberg, United Romania Breweries Bereprod (URBB) and Carlsrom Beverage, via a minority shareholding buy-out.

Reference: www.zf.ro

Suciu Popa is recognized as top tier firm in IFLR 1000 Financial and Corporate 2017

14 October 2016

Suciu Popa, the full-service law firm established in Romania earlier this year, was included in IFLR 1000, 2017 edition rankings, in three of the five researched practice areas. Also, Miruna Suciu and Luminita Popa, Managing Partners of Suciu Popa, were recognized as leading lawyers.

According to IFLR, clients say that “Suciu Popa always provide quick turnaround on our requests which are normally quite urgent. They know the local Romanian market very well and EU laws as well. They provide expert advice and routinely make legal suggestions that provide us additional protection often on things we hadn’t thought of. I’d recommend Suciu Popa to anyone looking for excellent legal advice in Romania at a fair price.”

A client of the team advised on general regulatory matters says: “We were very satisfied with their help so we decided to maintain our relationship under the new firm, Suciu Popa. The first matters we have been working with lately confirmed our excellent impression.”

“We are very proud that, after only 8 months of activity, IFLR included us in the top tiers of Financial and Corporate guide, in 3 of the 5 researched practice areas: Capital Markets, Mergers & Acquisitions and Energy & Infrastructure. In fact, these are the market segments facing an increased frequency of deals in last period and we expect to grow further, ensuring, among other sectors such as real estate and litigation, increased activity for the legal businesses through the next year”, commented Suciu Popa’s representatives.

Reference: www.feedler.ro

Suciu Popa advises Petrofac Ltd. on exiting the Romanian market

17 August 2016

Suciu Popa advised Petrofac Ltd., a leading international provider of facilities solutions to the oil & gas production and processing industry, in connection with the sale of its Romanian business and exit from the 15-year production enhancement contract for nine mature oilfields concluded with OMV Petrom, the largest Romanian oil and gas group in Romania.

Reference: www.ceelm.com

Suciu Popa wins for Enel the largest arbitration on the Romanian market

27 July 2016

Suciu Popa is proud to announce that it secured a fully successful award for Enel Investment Holding in a highly complex ICC arbitration arising out of a privatization contract, involving claims in excess of USD 1.2 billion brought by the Romanian government.

“This is a clear and strong result for Enel, all of the claims having been fully dismissed” commented Luminita Popa, lead counsel in the case. “The complexity was generated not only by the high value at stake – probably the biggest international dispute involving Romania until present days – but also by the vast span of legal matters addressed.”

The arbitration started in 2013, with the Romanian government alleging that Enel did not respect provisions of the privatization contract for several subsidiaries of the company, and involved more than 23 distinct claims.

Reference: ceelm.com

Suciu Popa advised Rom Paper’s shareholders in the sale of the majority stake

26 July 2016

Suciu Popa advised the main shareholders of Rom Paper in relation to the sale of their majority stake to Vrancart, one of the Romanian producers of corrugated cardboard, paperboards and tissue papers, listed on the Bucharest Stock Exchange. Rompaper was established in 2002 and manufactures napkins, hand towels, professional paper towels, dry tissues and facial tissues, the products being sold in 7 countries.

Reference: www.bizlawyer.ro

Miruna Suciu and Luminita Popa awarded title of Successful Women in Business Law by Finmedia

08 July 2016

Miruna Suciu and Luminita Popa, Managing Partners at Suciu Popa, have been recognised as Successful Women in Business Law by Finmedia within its 2016 Gala organised on 7 July 2016. Managing women in Romanian law firms were invited to take part in this event dedicated to successful, ambitious, experienced business women with astonishing professional results.

With 17 years of experience as business lawyer, Miruna Suciu is regarded as one of the most experienced Romanian practitioners in energy & natural resources, corporate, commercial and M&A field, advising a significant portfolio of top-tier corporate clients, investment funds, private equity and banks in a variety of cutting-edge transactions of both domestic and international dimension. She constantly provides legal assistance on disposals and acquisitions of assets, takeovers, joint ventures, equity financing etc., as well as on general corporate & commercial issues in both listed and non-listed companies. According to Chambers Europe, clients describe her as “very fast-thinking and transaction-oriented, with high levels of expertise and experience”.

Luminita Popa is practicing law for 16 years and she is now recognized as a leading expert in international dispute resolution in a wide variety of business sectors, including energy, natural resources, infrastructure, construction and engineering, mergers & acquisitions, partnership & corporate governance. She constantly advises high-profile clients and represents their interests in all types of alternative dispute resolution cases, coordinating complex and substantial international disputes. Legal 500 EMEA and PLC ranked her as Leading Lawyer in Dispute Resolution and says that she has “vast knowledge of the international arbitration field” and is praised for her “innovative approach” and “in-depth understanding of client needs”.

Reference: www.piatafinanciara.ro

Suciu Popa ranked in IFLR 1000 Energy and Infrastructure 2016, with two partners as Leading Lawyers

17 June 2016

Suciu Popa has been ranked in the recent edition of IFLR 1000 Energy and Infrastructure 2016.

Also, the Managing Partners Miruna Suciu and Luminita Popa have been included in the Leading Lawyers section of this international guide. The IFLR 1000 exclusive leading lawyers’ directory brings together only those individuals recognized by their peers and clients to be the leading figures in their specialist areas. Miruna Suciu is ranked with practice areas such as: Mergers and Acquisitions, Energy & Infrastructure, Banking, Debt Capital Markets, Equity Capital Markets, Project Finance, Project Development. Luminita Popa is ranked with the following practice areas: Energy & Infrastructure, Disputes, PPP/PFI.

IFLR 1000 is the guide of the world’s leading financial and corporate law firms and lawyers and the Energy and Infrastructure 2016 is the fourth edition of IFLR sector specific guide to the legal markets of Asia-Pacific, Central and Eastern Europe, Latin America, the Nordic and Baltic region and Sub-Saharan Africa. The guide’s rankings are based on three key criteria: transactional evidence, peer feedback and client feedback.

Reference: www.iflr1000.com

Suciu Popa made its entrance in the international guide Legal 500 EMEA 2016 after only three months of activity

13 April 2016

Shortly after being founded, Suciu Popa was recognized as a top-tier firm by Legal 500 EMEA 2016’s guide. The firm has been ranked for Dispute Resolution, PPP and Procurement, Energy and Natural Resources, Commercial, Corporate and M&A) and five of the firm’s lawyers are recommended.

Legal 500 is one of the most prestigious international legal guide which analyses the capabilities of law firms across the world, with a comprehensive research programme revised and updated every year to bring the most up-to-date vision of the global legal market. The rankings are produced based on a rigorous research that comprises feedback from clients, submissions from law firms and interviews with leading private practice lawyers.

Reference: www.legal500.com