News Archive 2021

We are known to have completed some of the most interesting and complex competition matters unfolded under Romanian and European provisions and our competition client portfolio is growing. We are consequently looking for a passionate and thorough competition lawyer with 2 to 7 years of experience to join our successful department, coordinated by one of our Founding Partners.

Who we are:

• independent business law firm with offices in London and Bucharest;
• recipients of Highly Commended (Runner-up) European Law Firm of the Year at The Lawyer European Awards 2018 accolade; Eastern Europe and the Balkans Law Firm of the Year award, at The Lawyer European Awards 2018; Romania Law Firm of the Year award, at The Lawyer European Awards 2017;
• Recipients of two 2020 Lexology Client Choice Awards awarded by in-house counsels for excellence of service and outstanding client care, including for our Competition practice;
• professional legal, tax and insolvency services provider with practice areas ranked by the most reputed international legal directories (such as Chambers and Partners, The Legal 500, Best Lawyers International, etc);
• proud holder of an impressive portfolio of major global clients (important names in numerous sectors such as technology, air transport, automotive, pharmaceuticals and healthcare, energy, telecommunications, financial services, and many more);
• constant contributor to reputed international publications and professional platforms (such as The World Bank Group, Thomson Reuters, International Comparative Legal Guides, Lexology – Getting the Deal Through, Sweet and Maxwell, etc.).

What we are seeking:

• proficiency in English (written and spoken), including strong knowledge of legal English is an absolute must;
• LL.M and any other degrees in competition law and/or economics (ideally awarded by a foreign university) are a plus;
• previous experience in the competition department of a firm ranked by major directories and/or a competition authority constitutes an advantage;
• openness to continuous professional training, team spirit and adaptability to firm`s policies and high standards.

What we are offering:

• market level remuneration package plus benefits;
• high profile clients and assignments;
• career advancement opportunities based on both professional and personal qualities;
• the opportunity to work with an award-winning highly professional team, repeatedly praised by its clients for the services provided and impeccable approach to matters;
• continuous education opportunities (through attendance to professional events and courses, drafting of articles and consequent publication thereof, through the firm’s media channels and partners);
• work environment centred on strong ethics, integrity and team spirit.

Please send your resume and letter of intent (explaining why you chose to be part of our team and what motivates you in your legal career) to office@mprpartners.com. Please use the subject line Competition.

Due to high number of applications received, only selected candidates will be contacted for interviews.

On a background of substantial work load increase and new office life dynamics, we are actively recruiting in order to grow our team and fill in our recently expanded elegant office area.
We are currently seeking fully qualified competition and corporate/commercial professionals, eager-to-learn junior lawyers for our advisory department as well as front desk/office assistants, in addition to the recent litigation, real estate and employment/corporate openings (some of them successfully filled).
Besides the general traits referred to below, all positions have their particularities.

Who we are:

• independent business law firm with offices in London and Bucharest;
• recipients of Highly Commended (Runner-up) European Law Firm of the Year at The Lawyer European Awards 2018 accolade; Eastern Europe and the Balkans Law Firm of the Year award, at The Lawyer European Awards 2018; Romania Law Firm of the Year award, at The Lawyer European Awards 2017;
• Recipients of two 2020 Lexology Client Choice Awards awarded by in-house counsels for excellence of service and outstanding client care;
• professional legal, tax and insolvency services provider with practice areas ranked by the most reputed international legal directories (such as Chambers and Partners, The Legal 500, Best Lawyers International, etc);
• proud holder of an impressive portfolio of major global clients (important names in numerous sectors such as technology, air transport, automotive, pharmaceuticals and healthcare, energy, telecommunications, financial services, and many more);
• constant contributor to reputed international publications and professional platforms (such as The World Bank Group, Thomson Reuters, International Comparative Legal Guides, Lexology – Getting the Deal Through, Sweet and Maxwell, etc.).

What we are seeking:

• proficiency in English (written and spoken), including strong knowledge of legal English is an absolute must;
• LL.M and any other degrees in law or economics (ideally awarded by a foreign university) for lawyer positions are a plus;
• previous experience in a firm ranked by major directories constitutes an advantage;
• openness to continuous professional training, team spirit and adaptability to firm`s policies and high standards;
• particular aspects depending on the position concerned; to this end, we invite you to visit our Careers section and, should any of the positions open suit you, to please send your CVs and letters of intent as indicated at the bottom of each recruitment post.

What we are offering:

• attractive remuneration package;
• high profile clients and assignments;
• career advancement opportunities based on both professional and personal qualities;
• the opportunity to work with an award-winning highly professional team, repeatedly praised by its clients for the services provided and impeccable approach to matters;
• continuous education opportunities (through attendance to professional events and courses, drafting of articles and consequent publication thereof, through the firm’s media channels and partners);
• work environment centred on strong ethics, integrity and team spirit.

Due to high number of applications received, only selected candidates will be contacted for interviews.

Due to consistent client portfolio growth, we currently have two openings within our tax firm, one for a professional with 3 to 5 years of experience and the other for a senior tax consultant with over 5 years of experience. Further experience in accounting is a major advantage. You will be involved in complex, challenging and interesting tax and accounting matters for major international and local clients.

Who we are:

• independent business advisory (legal, tax, insolvency) firm with offices in London and Bucharest;
• recipients of Highly Commended (Runner-up) European Law Firm of the Year at The Lawyer European Awards 2018 accolade; Eastern Europe and the Balkans Law Firm of the Year award, at The Lawyer European Awards 2018; Romania Law Firm of the Year award, at The Lawyer European Awards 2017;
• our tax practice has been repeatedly recognized by The Legal 500 international directory;
• recipients of two Lexology Client Choice Awards awarded by in-house counsels for excellence of service and outstanding client care;
• proud holder of an impressive portfolio of major global clients (important names in numerous sectors such as technology, air transport, automotive, pharmaceuticals and healthcare, energy, telecommunications, financial services, and many more);
• constant contributor to reputed international publications and professional platforms (such as The World Bank Group, Thomson Reuters, International Comparative Legal Guides, Lexology – Getting the Deal Through, Sweet and Maxwell, etc.).

What we are seeking:

• Economic University degree in accounting or finance is mandatory;
• proficiency in English (written and spoken), including strong knowledge of financial English is an absolute must;
• previous experience in a tax or accounting firm ranked by major directories constitutes an advantage;
• strong knowledge and practice of transfer pricing matters constitutes an advantage;
• openness to continuous professional training, team spirit and adaptability to firm`s policies and high standards.

What we are offering:

• attractive remuneration package;
• high profile clients and assignments;
• career advancement opportunities based on both professional and personal qualities;
• the opportunity to work with an award-winning highly professional team, repeatedly praised by its clients for the services provided and impeccable approach to matters;
• continuous education opportunities (through attendance to professional events and courses, speakers opportunities, publications of articles, through the firm’s media channels and partners);
• work environment centred on strong ethics, integrity and team spirit.

Please send your resume and letter of intent (explaining why you chose to be part of our team and what motivates you in your legal career) to office@mprpartners.com. Please use the subject line Tax.

Due to high number of applications received, only selected candidates will be contacted for interviews.

Besides being our first point of contact with the outside world, our Front Desk Assistants are key members of our team. They are crucial parts of the overall office management processes and know a bit about other support departments (marketing, financial, office management and accounting). We are currently looking for two front desk assistants, to join our neatly organized office activities.

Who we are:

• independent business law firm with offices in London and Bucharest;
• repeatedly awarded and internationally recognized;
• proud holder of an impressive portfolio of major global clients (important names in numerous sectors such as technology, air transport, automotive, pharmaceuticals and healthcare, energy, telecommunications, financial services, and many more);
• recipients of Highly Commended (Runner-up) European Law Firm of the Year at The Lawyer European Awards 2018 accolade; Eastern Europe and the Balkans Law Firm of the Year award, at The Lawyer European Awards 2018; Romania Law Firm of the Year award, at The Lawyer European Awards 2017;
• Recipients of two 2020 Lexology Client Choice Awards awarded by in-house counsels for excellence of service and outstanding client care;
• professional legal, tax and insolvency services provider with practice areas ranked by the most reputed international legal directories (such as Chambers and Partners, The Legal 500, Best Lawyers International, etc);
• constant contributor to reputed international publications and professional platforms (such as The World Bank Group, Thomson Reuters, International Comparative Legal Guides, Lexology – Getting the Deal Through, Sweet and Maxwell, etc.).

What we are seeking:

• proficiency in English (written and spoken), as most of our clients and part of our suppliers are international and you will need to liaise with them on occasion, either face-to-face or through telephone, as well as draft certain administrative correspondence;
• openness to continuous development, as work is cross-departmental (it may involve assistance to marketing, financial, office management and/or accounting departments);
• no previous experience is required, but eagerness to learn and adapt is a must;
• knowledge of a second international language is a plus;
• Master degrees (ideally awarded by a foreign university) are a plus;
• openness to continuous professional training, team spirit and adaptability to firm`s policies and high standards.

What we are offering:

• career advancement opportunities based on both professional and personal qualities;
• elegant corporate environment to work in;
• the opportunity to work with an award-winning highly professional team, repeatedly praised by its clients for the services provided and impeccable approach to matters;
• work environment centred on strong ethics, integrity and team spirit.

Please send your resume and letter of intent (explaining why you chose to be part of our team and what motivates you in your legal career) to office@mprpartners.com. Please use the subject line Front Desk.

Due to high number of applications received, only selected candidates will be contacted for interviews.

What started out as a temporary solution to the pandemic became permanent when telemedicine was incorporated into Romanian Health Law through Government Emergency Ordinance no. 196/2020, amending and supplementing Health Law no. 95/2006, which came into force on November 19, 2020. GEO no. 196/2020 only regulates telemedicine in broad terms, and the adoption of implementation norms by Government Decision remains necessary. Although the norms were supposed to be adopted within 45 days of the enforcement of GEO no. 196/2020, no such norms have been yet adopted. Our specialists published a comprehensive material on the matter, which is available in full here and was initially published here.

Our client portfolio is rapidly growing, so we consequently have two openings for associates with two to three years of experience in real estate matters and/or employment. Experience in corporate and/or contract law and/or regulatory matters would be a major advantage.

Who we are:

• independent business law firm with offices in London and Bucharest;
• recipients of Highly Commended (Runner-up) European Law Firm of the Year at The Lawyer European Awards 2018 accolade; Eastern Europe and the Balkans Law Firm of the Year award, at The Lawyer European Awards 2018; Romania Law Firm of the Year award, at The Lawyer European Awards 2017;
• Recipients of two Lexology Client Choice Awards awarded by in-house counsels for excellence of service and outstanding client care;
• professional legal, tax and insolvency services provider with practice areas ranked by the most reputed international legal directories (such as Chambers and Partners, The Legal 500, Best Lawyers International, etc);
• proud holder of an impressive portfolio of major global clients (important names in numerous sectors such as technology, air transport, automotive, pharmaceuticals and healthcare, energy, telecommunications, financial services, and many more);
• constant contributor to reputed international publications and professional platforms (such as The World Bank Group, Thomson Reuters, International Comparative Legal Guides, Lexology – Getting the Deal Through, Sweet and Maxwell, etc.).

What we are seeking:

• proficiency in English (written and spoken), including strong knowledge of legal English is an absolute must;
• LL.M and any other degrees in law or economics (ideally awarded by a foreign university) are a plus;
• previous experience in a firm ranked by major directories constitutes an advantage;
• openness to continuous professional training, team spirit and adaptability to firm`s policies and high standards.

What we are offering:

• attractive remuneration package;
• high profile clients and assignments;
• career advancement opportunities based on both professional and personal qualities;
• the opportunity to work with an award-winning highly professional team, repeatedly praised by its clients for the services provided and impeccable approach to matters;
• continuous education opportunities (through attendance to professional events and courses, drafting of articles and consequent publication thereof, through the firm’s media channels and partners);
• work environment centred on strong ethics, integrity and team spirit.

Please send your resume and letter of intent (explaining why you chose to be part of our team and what motivates you in your legal career) to office@mprpartners.com. Please use the subject line Associate Real estate or Associate Employment, depending on which of the two positions you are applying for.

Due to high number of applications received, only selected candidates will be contacted for interviews.

We are proud to share that MPR|Partners has just received no less than five awards at the XIth Top Lawyers’ Gala organized by FinMedia in Bucharest, for both the firm’s and firm’s lawyers’ achievements.
MPR|Partners was presented with the Award of Excellence for Technology Developments throughout 2020, following its numerous initiatives in this respect. These have included amongst others:

• implementing the AI platform Luminance, a premiere entry on the Romanian market;
• developing in-house solutions for providing automated assistance;
• actively participating to the drafting of national legislation in technology related matters;
• drafting numerous articles and publications in the field and creating a specialized technology blog;
• further developing its specialized team in this sector;
• assistance provided to a substantial number of large and mid-sized technology companies.

In addition, several senior members of the team have been acknowledged for their outstanding activity in important and growing practice areas of the firm such as:

• TMT & Data Protection Award of Excellence presented to Cristina Crețu, Senior Privacy and Technology Consultant;
• Insolvency, Litigation and Arbitration Award of Excellence presented to Anca Băițan, Managing Associate;
• Telecom, IT, Consumer protection Award of Excellence presented to Daniel Alexie, Managing Associate; and
• IP/Intellectual property Award of Excellence presented to Flavia Ștefura, Senior Associate.

The Top Lawyers’ Gala is purported at awarding reputed lawyers with the most relevant experience, who are achieving results and high-performance levels in the most important areas of business law throughout the preceding year. Furthermore, special awards are presented to law firms for their entire activity within the profession.

The second part of the year 2020 was marked by a very intense regulatory activity carried out by the Romanian Energy Regulatory Authority, including the licensing of various new activities in the energy field such as activity of the electricity aggregator, the development and operation of electricity storage installations, as well as development and operation of new installations for hydrogen generation, thus paving the way for the performance of such activities. Our recent article, with regards to the latest regulations amended and or replaced, is available in full here.

We currently have two openings for experienced commercial and administrative litigators, one with 3 to 5 years of experience and the other with more than 5 years of experience. Further experience in insolvency, employment and/or real estate would be a major advantage. You will be involved in complex, challenging and interesting cases for major international and local clients.

Who we are:

• independent business law firm with offices in London and Bucharest;
• recipients of Highly Commended (Runner-up) European Law Firm of the Year at The Lawyer European Awards 2018 accolade; Eastern Europe and the Balkans Law Firm of the Year award, at The Lawyer European Awards 2018; Romania Law Firm of the Year award, at The Lawyer European Awards 2017;
• shortlisted for Dispute resolution Law Firm of the Year by Benchmark Litigation 2019 awards;
• recipients of two Lexology Client Choice Awards awarded by in-house counsels for excellence of service and outstanding client care;
• professional legal, tax and insolvency services provider with practice areas ranked by the most reputed international legal directories (such as Chambers and Partners, The Legal 500, Best Lawyers International, etc);
• proud holder of an impressive portfolio of major global clients (important names in numerous sectors such as technology, air transport, automotive, pharmaceuticals and healthcare, energy, telecommunications, financial services, and many more);
• constant contributor to reputed international publications and professional platforms (such as The World Bank Group, Thomson Reuters, International Comparative Legal Guides, Lexology – Getting the Deal Through, Sweet and Maxwell, etc.).

What we are seeking:

• proficiency in English (written and spoken), including strong knowledge of legal English is an absolute must;
• LL.M and any other degrees in law or economics (ideally awarded by a foreign university) are a plus;
• previous experience in a firm ranked by major directories constitutes an advantage;
• openness to continuous professional training, team spirit and adaptability to firm`s policies and high standards.

What we are offering:

• attractive remuneration package;
• high profile clients and assignments;
• career advancement opportunities based on both professional and personal qualities;
• the opportunity to work with an award-winning highly professional team, repeatedly praised by its clients for the services provided and impeccable approach to matters;
• continuous education opportunities (through attendance to professional events and courses, drafting of articles and consequent publication thereof, through the firm’s media channels and partners);
• work environment centred on strong ethics, integrity and team spirit.

Please send your resume and letter of intent (explaining why you chose to be part of our team and what motivates you in your legal career) to office@mprpartners.com. Please use the subject line Litigation.

Due to high number of applications received, only selected candidates will be contacted for interviews.

Our professionals’ latest article concerns electronic surveillance within judicial and executional criminal proceedings. Recently published legal updates are regulating, for the first time, the use of electronic monitoring devices in Romania. As a result, the Informatic System for Electronic Surveillance (“ISES”) will be initiated and run a pilot program between March 1, 2022, and December 31, 2025. The purpose of the pilot program is to organize and make ISES operational from a technical point of view, as well as ensure the training of relevant personnel and the proper funding for the project. The complete article is available here.

On September 10, 2020, Advocate General Maciej Szpunar delivered his Opinion in Case C 392/19 VG Bild-Kunst v Stiftung Preußischer Kulturbesitz, where a request for a preliminary ruling was lodged with the Court of Justice of the European Union (“CJEU” / “Court”) on May 21, 2019. On March 9, 2021, the CJEU delivered its judgement in the case. Apart from certain divergent aspects, the CJEU decision is in line with the Opinion of Advocate General Szpunar. At the same time, by reinforcing the rights of copyright holders in the context of automatic linking, the decision shows the continued commitment of the European institutions to interpret the law as to offer authors a high level of protection. The complete article is available here.

There have been some recent changes and novelties in the leasing sector. Amongst the novelties is the elimination of the enforceability of the leasing agreements concluded with a consumer, changes regarding the deadline within which the lessors/financiers may exercise the right to request the termination of the Consumer Leasing Agreements and amendments concerning the consequences related to the breach of obligations by tenants/users under the Consumer Leasing Agreements. Our team members prepared an article, which you may find in full here.

We are delighted to announce that MPR Partners, a multidisciplinary law firm with a focus on commercial law and a strong presence in the CEE, is finalising the process for the opening of its first London office in the City.

The London office is headed by the firm’s co-founder and co-managing partner Alina Popescu, with the objective to support clients with operations across the UK and the EU, bridging the geographical gap during the Brexit transition and beyond.

The official launch of the London office, along with a new, dedicated website, are planned for Spring 2021.

Alina Popescu commented: “2021 has so far been dedicated to finalising the launch of our new London office, with continued growth in the future. We see a wealth of opportunities in London and hope to start local hires soon enough. Meanwhile, our vast experience in managing legal teams, our highly proficient existing base, our AI capabilities and a very extensive network of contacts worldwide will allow us to successfully and cost effectively handle any mandate. Our international recognition to date and the outstanding feedback from our international clients, many of whom were hoping for us to expand abroad, give us the confidence that the opening of a London arm is the right move at this stage of our firm’s development. London has always been our benchmark in terms of quality of service and competitiveness. With Brexit and the ensuing opportunities, the new office is a natural step forward that will meet our existing clients’ demand for law firms with international presence and hopefully help us to tap into new markets.”

Gelu Maravela, co-founder and co-managing partner, added: “We are thrilled to be opening an international office in London, a visionary city that boasts unparalleled legal expertise and a huge potential for business. This is to some extent a personal satisfaction, from my years of study and previous positions in the UK, which has always been like a second home. Personal story left aside, however, the peculiar context we have been living in for over a year has made us realise the ever growing importance of innovation, transboundary reach, on-site approach and accessibility. Though it may seem like an ambitious move at this time, looking back at the numerous achievements of our past years together, MPR Partners has always been a bold firm to begin with – and we do not plan this to change anytime soon. We are deeply grateful to all our partners for their support in making this happen.”

Further information will follow upon the official inauguration of the MPR Partners London office.

In the recent years, cybersecurity has become one of the crucial areas that the European Union decided to invest in to get fit for the digital era. In order to acquire leadership and autonomy in this field, the EU takes steps to develop competencies, capacities and capabilities. One step in this regard is represented by the draft regulation establishing a new EU body – the European Cybersecurity Industrial, Technology and Research Competence Centre, which has been adopted on April 20, 2021 by the Council of the EU. Our specialists freshly released the attached article on the topic, accessible in full here.

Romania has entered a state of alert as of May 18, 2020, in order to contain the spread of and fight against the effects of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, known as SARS-CoV-2. The state of alert has been maintained until present. Our experts prepared this high level summaries of some of the main provisions of certain legal enactments and measures taken by Romania in connection with the COVID-19 pandemic, which may be of interest for the business environment. The overview refers to various aspects such as movement restrictions, activities’ continuation, relationship with authorities, pharma and healthcare, employment, tax, financial support measures, etc. The document is fully accessible here.

The Draft law on the adoption of certain measures concerning informatic and communications infrastructures of national interest and the conditions for deployment of 5G networks initiated by the former Ministry of Transportation, Infrastructure and Communications has undergone a new series of examinations from the relevant public authorities as part of the legislative procedure. Although the formal endorsements have been issued, several authorities, i.e., the Ministry of Justice , the Competition Council , the Economic and Social Council and the Legislative Council have made critical observations on essential aspects that seemed to have been entirely ignored by the initiators of the 5G Draft Law. Our experts have freshly released a material on this topic, that you can access in full here.

On December 15, 2020 CEE Legal Matters gathered legal experts from across the region for its annual Year-in-Review Round Table conversation. Founding Partner Gelu Maravela attended in order to share ideas with regards to the Romanian jurisdiction. In a wide-ranging discussion, participants from 12 jurisdictions shared opinions and perspectives on their markets, on strong (and less-strong) practices across the region, and the effect of the COVID-19 crisis on both, as well as on how technology is changing the legal industry, and what the industry will look like in 2021. The entire transcript of the meeting is now freely available on the CEE Legal Matters website here.

After the issuance of Law no. 296/2020 for the amendment and completion of the Fiscal Code, the Romanian Government deemed necessary to add further amendments to the Fiscal Code, mostly for correlation and clarification purposes. Our experts’ complete article is available in full here.

Our regulatory team released the third article of the credit institution’s authorization series. In follow-up to our summary regarding the preliminary evaluation for the banks’ authorisation and our summary regarding the information and documentation to be submitted by a bank in order to obtain authorisation from the National Bank of Romania (NBR), hereafter are the main amendments regarding banks that need to be approved and registered by NBR, once authorised. The complete article is available here.

Cybersecurity is at the forefront of the European Union’s efforts to build a resilient, green and digital Europe. In this respect, in December 2020, the European Commission and the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy presented the European Union’s new Cybersecurity Strategy for the Digital Decade. Our specialists prepared an article on the topic, which you can read in full here.

Our regulatory team released the second article of the credit institution’s authorization series, detailing the information and documentation to be submitted by a bank in order to obtain authorisation from the National Bank of Romania. The article is accessible in full here.

Given the importance of human rights in general and children rights in particular, the European Union has considered that the international treaties do not offer an adequate level of protection of minors during criminal trials, and therefore, a common legal framework is necessary. A comprehensive article on the matter is fully available here.

Credit institutions prospecting the entry on the Romanian market will need to conduct a complex assessment in order to determine whether they meet the criteria subject to the National Bank of Romania’s evaluation. Our team members freshly released an article concerning the new regulations for the authorization of credit institutions and the preliminary requirements thereto, fully available here.

Video games are a form of modern art and certainly number among the most recent forms of creative arts. The major difference between video games and traditional art is the active, rather than passive, participation of the recipient of the art in the process of its delivery. With over 100 active development studios, the gaming industry in Romania employs more than 6,000 people and generates revenues of over 200 million dollars. However, video games lack a dedicated legal framework in Romania. And even though video games are intellectual-property intensive products, their legal status is unclear, not only in Romania, but also elsewhere in the world. Read the entire article here.

Given that the landscape of threats has significantly expanded, it comes as no surprise that the European Commission has proposed a revised version of the Directive concerning measures for a high common level of security of network and information systems across the Union. The Proposal has been published by the Commission on December 16, 2020 and has now reached the preparatory phase in the European Parliament. A final version might be adopted in the earlier months of 2021. Further information is available in the complete article here.

As it is the case with many sectors given the pandemic context which made the need for digitalization obvious, competent authorities were led to adopt several measures in this regard. In this context, the Romanian Government adopted Government Emergency Ordinance no. 140/2020 for the establishment of measures regarding the use of electronic documents in the fields of construction, architecture and urbanism, which regulates the general framework for the use of electronic signatures for purposes of issuing approvals, permits and authorizations by the competent authorities, as an alternative to the physical format of the same. Full article of our regulatory team is accessible here.

After three years of debate in the Parliament, a new law for amending and supplementing the existing Mining Law has entered into force on December 17, 2020. It aims to overcome certain legal and economic issues, trying to give Romania’s mineral resources their deserved value. Our team prepared an article on the matter, available in full here.

Our tax experts address in an overview a series of beneficial fiscal changes to the Romanian business environment, applicable starting with January 1, 2021. Complete article is available here.