Alina Popescu

alina.popescu@mprpartners.uk

Language fluency

• Romanian, English. French and Italian

Education

• PGDip Economics for Competition Law, King’s College London (2021);
• SEC in Advanced EU Competition Law, London School of Economics and Political Science (2021);
• LL.M in European Union Law, Montesquieu Bordeaux IV University (2004);
• LL.B, Bucharest University Law School (2003).

Memberships

• New York Bar Association (2021);
• International League of Competition Law (2020);
• Bucharest Bar Association (Admitted 2004);
• International Bar Association.

Awards & Recognition

• Presented with 'Certificate of Appreciation' for the contribution to The Global Indicators Group, published by World Bank (2022);
• Shortlisted at The Lawyer European Awards 2021, in the ‘European managing partner of the year' category (2021);
• "In particular this MP stands out in finding new opportunities in times of potential adversity; seeing the next levels of strategic importance and attracting talent to deliver on that. Here we have someone running ahead and taking the rest of the firm along. Great leadership instead of just keeping the boat afloat." - Source: Judges of The Lawyer European Awards (2021);
• Alina Popescu was designated as the exclusive winner of the Competition & Antitrust category for Romania. Alina was praised by her clients for offering excellent customer care and tailored advice as well as for her responsiveness - Source: Lexology's Client Choice Awards 2020 and 2021;
• Recognized by The Legal 500 for Commercial, corporate & M&A, Real estate and construction (2020, 2019 and 2018 editions);
• Alina Popescu has been named "Leading Cross Border Investments and Transactions Adviser of the Year, Romania", at the 2018 Leading Adviser Awards, from Acquisition International;
• Alina Popescu has been selected by peers for inclusion in the Fifth Edition of The Best Lawyers in Romania (2018) for her work in Arbitration and Mediation, Corporate Law and Mergers and Acquisitions Law.

Client Feedback

• "Co-head Alina Popescu brings vast experience in corporate, commercial and M&A matters, & in competition matters pertaining to M&A and commercial transactions and related arbitration. (...) Gelu Maravela & Alina Popescu advised many pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies and medical devices manufacturers & healthcare services providers, regulators & professional associations. (...) Alina Popescu’s track record in arbitration includes representation in high-value international arbitrations re. privatisation disputes over post-closing investment obligations & put options." - Source: Researchers of Chambers and Partners - Corporate/M&A (2021);
• "Gelu Maravela & Alina Popescu have substantial expertise in M&A and joint venture deals of real estate projects: malls, hotel chains, major industrial, office & residential projects, including acquisitions of some of Romania’s largest farms." - Source: Researchers of Chambers and Partners - Corporate/M&A (2021);
• “Cooperation with you and MPR team is a true blessing because you are the best!” - Source: Legal counsel of global technology company (2020);
• “Thank you so much! You are very professional!” - Source: Legal Director of a global technology company (2020);
• "Thanks for your support and engagement to make this happen (...). Very much appreciated, knowing that this was not easy with all the last minute & partial arrival of information." - Source: Vice President Operation of a major European sports equipment manufacturer (2020);
• "[The firm] fields a 'very agile and experienced team' with strong experience in high-profile international arbitration and ICSID claims, as well as administrative and civil litigation. (...) Gelu Maravela and Alina Popescu are all very active in this area." – Dispute resolution;
• "Founding Partners Gelu Maravela, Alina Popescu (...) are excellent team leaders, very skilled and with a hands-on approach." - Source: Clients quoted by The Legal 500 (Dispute resolution) (2020);
• "[The firm] is a popular choice for day-to-day commercial advice, and the firm's corporate lawyers are increasingly involved in major M&A, such as the Oltchim asset buyout. The team has particularly strong expertise advising clients in the pharmaceutical, healthcare and energy sectors. Gelu Maravela, Alina Popescu and Dana Rădulescu have established good reputations in the market." – Commercial, corporate and M&A - Source: Researchers of The Legal 500 (2020);
• "Founding partners Gelu Maravela and Alina Popescu are excellent team leaders, very skilled and with a hands-on approach, whilst Dana Radulescu has a wealth of knowledge and a sound business approach" - Source: Clients quoted by The Legal 500 (Corporate, commercial and M&A) (2020);
• “(...) I would like to thank you very much for your support in the [pharmaceuticals M&A] project. Your work is really quite outstanding, active and forward-looking. This is how I like to work together! (...) So once again: thank you very much for your valuable support!” - Source: Senior Partner of reputed German law firm (2020);
• "Our mother company is enthusiastic about the [EU competition law] training. Compliments to you and your team!" - Source: Chief operations officer of the Dutch subsidiary of a large Japanese group (2019);
• "I would like to say thank you very much again for your support. You did really a great job. The organization, the structure and the speed was perfect." - Source: Administrator of a major German transport and logistics company (2019);
• "The 'highly recommended’ team at MPR Partners 'possesses a wealth of knowledge' and provides 'prompt and to-the-point, valuable advice'. Gelu Titus Maravela and Alina Popescu are the names to note and are praised as 'great leaders' who ensure 'any assignment is smoothly completed in due time with excellent results'. Sectors of expertise include real estate, energy and natural resources as well as pharmaceuticals and healthcare." - Commercial, corporate and M&A - Source: Clients quoted by The Legal 500 (2019);
• “[...] thank you very much for the red flag report and the supplement regarding competition. It was a great pleasure to read your comprehensive report.” - Source: M&A specialised attorney with reputed Dutch law firm (2019);
• "Thank you very much for [...] your continued help throughout the entire project. You and your team were an invaluable resource!" - Source: Associate in the New York Office of a major global law firm (2019);
• "(...) they are extremely competent and help with seemingly impossible matters (for example, there was a contractual matter in respect of which several large law firms said there was nothing to do; Gelu [Maravela] and Alina [Popescu] however succeeded to solve the issue in a brilliant way)." - Source: Managing Director of the Romanian subsidiary of a global pharmaceuticals and healthcare group;
• "My colleagues and me enjoy working with you [Alina Popescu] and your team and we see you as a trustful, reliable and very competent law firm." - Source: General Counsel of an international automotive supplier with around 70 locations in 28 countries;
• "I had made the same request from over 20 law firms in the past 15 years and your law firm made the most comprehensive and best analysis, in a timely fashion and very well written." - Source: Partner of a U.S. based law firm;
• "The team members are extremely well prepared and excellently managed by Gelu Maravela and Alina Popescu. Very high standard of work, prompt feedback, and very good sector knowledge." – Banking, M&A, project development, regulatory - Source: Clients quoted by IFLR 1000 (2019);
• "Alina Popescu has wide knowledge and experience." - Source: Commercial, corporate and M&A - Source: Clients quoted by The Legal 500 (2018).

Publications

• TMT 2022, Romania Chapter, Law and Practice, Chambers and Partners, co-author, February 2022;
• TMT 2022, Romania Chapter, Trends and developments, Chambers and Partners, co-author, February 2022;
• Data Protection & Privacy 2022, Romania Chapter, Lexology - Getting The Deal Through, chapter, co-author, August 2021;
• The scope of Article 5 of the TRIS Directive by reference to Romania’s 5G legislation, legal memo, co-author, May 2021;
• The cybersecurity competence centre starts to take shape, article, co-author, April 2021;
• The Romanian draft law on 5G technology under strong criticism from both public authorities and private stakeholders, article, co-author, April 2021;
• Loading NIS directive 2.0 for higher cybersecurity protection, article, co-author, January 2021;
• Merger Control, International Comparative Legal Guides, Romania Chapter, co-author, December 2020;
• Romania: Changes to Companies Law, article published in International Bar Association’s Corporate and M&A Law section, co-author, December 2020;
• Romanian draft law on the authorisation of 5G technology manufacturers and its effects on competition: a challenge for mobile operators and competition regulators, article, co-author, September 2020;
• Romania: Privatization on hold, article, co-author, August 2020;
• Merger Control Global Practice Guide, Chambers and Partners, Romania Law and Practice Section, chapter, co–author, August 2020;
• The Legal 500: TMT 4th Edition Country Comparative Guide, The In-House Lawyer, Romania chapter, co-author, August 2020;
• Legal challenges in implementing the 5G EU toolbox, article, co-author, June 2020;
• Competition Compliance 2020, Romania chapter, Lexology – Getting the Deal Through, May 2020;
• Proposal for amendments to draft bill on corporate law amendments related to COVID-19, co-author, April 2020;
• Implementing the EU’s NIS Directive in Romania, article, co-author, International Bar Association, April 2020;
• Romania: corporate statements regarding ultimate beneficial owner(s), article, March 2020;
• Digitalization, a high priority for Europe’s future, article, February 2020;
• Creation of the Authority for the Digitalization of Romania, article, February 2020;
• Romanian Competition Council’s new guidelines on the assessment of fines’, article, January 2020;
• Merger Control Global Practice Guide, Romania Law and Practice Section – contributor, Chambers and Partners 2019;
• The Legal 500: TMT 3rd Edition Country Comparative Guide, The In-House Lawyer 2019;
• State Aid 2019, Romania chapter, Lexology – Getting the Deal Through 2019;
• Cartels Global Practice Guide, Romania Law and Practice Section – contributor, Chambers and Partners 2019;
• Commercial arbitration 2019, Romanian know-how chapter – contributor, Global Arbitration Review 2019;
• Investing in Romania, Practical Law Investing in… Global Guide, Thomson Reuters, January 2019;
• Merger Control in Romania - International Comparative Legal Guides, Global Legal Group, December 2018;
• Cartels Navigator – co-author, Lexology 2018-2019;
• The Legal 500: Technology Comparative Guide – co-author, The In-House Lawyer 2018;
• Getting the Deal Through – State Aid, Romanian chapter, Law Business Research, July 2018;
• Life Sciences: product regulation and liability in Romania, Lexology Navigator, May 2018;
• Commercial arbitration 2018, Romanian know-how chapter – contributor, Global Arbitration Review 2018;
• Romanian Cartels Navigator – co-author, Lexology 2017;
• The Legal 500: Technology Comparative Guide – co-author, The In-House Lawyer 2017;
• Overview and requirements for changing board members, Romanian Chapter of ChangeBoardMember.com, June 2017;
• Commercial arbitration 2017, Romanian know-how chapter – contributor, Global Arbitration Review 2017;
• "Dealing with abusive enforcement of LGs under Romanian jurisdiction", article published in the European Newsletter review edited by Sweet & Maxwell;
• "Is arbitration still an option for public contracts related disputes?", article published in the Arbitration News review edited by the International Bar Association;
• "The new provisions of French law on international arbitration", article published in the Romanian Arbitration Review;
• Chapters of the Doing Business guide, edited by the World Bank;
• Various sections of the Doing Business in Europe guide, edited by Sweet & Maxwell;
• Over 50 legal digests published in the European Current Law review edited by Sweet & Maxwell;
• "Highlights regarding the EC proposal for a Common European Sales Law", article published in the International Sales Newsletter, edited by the International Bar Association, June 2013 issue;
• "Romanian Arbitration Law - one step forward, two steps back", article published in the Arbitration News review, edited by the International Bar Association;
• Romania chapter of Global Legal Insights on International Arbitration, First edition, published by Global Legal Group;
• Romania chapter of Global Legal Insights on Mergers & Acquisitions, Fourth edition, published by Global Legal Group;
• "CCIR Court of Arbitration of Romania - Arbitrators Appointment Reformed", article published in The Commercial, Shipping & Investment Arbitration Watch, issue no. 22, edited by AACNI (Abogados Asociados para el Comercio, la Navegación y la Industria SLP);
• Various issues of Emergency Legal Kit for Business and Legal Prompts, specialized business law publications and legal update bulletins, edited by MPR Partners;
• Romanian Employment Navigator – co-author, Lexology 2017.

Highlights of Alina’s credentials throughout her practice include legal advice and representation to:

• One of the leading CEE chemicals producers, with a complex cross-border merger control process, including successful 2-to-1 merger clearances in three jurisdictions and merger control verifications in over 20 jurisdictions, as well as economic continuity assessments and discussions with the European Commission related to its state aid investigation concerning the vendor;
• A market leading frozen goods manufacturer, in its takeover by one of the leading European FMCG groups, ensuring competition compliance throughout the due diligence, assisting the client in addressing competition related questions throughout the bidders’ due diligence, ensuring compliance of the transaction documents with competition rules and assisting the client in the successful 2-to-1 merger control filing and related commitments procedure;
• A leading Japanese group and several of its European subsidiaries, in structuring their EU-wide distribution and after-sale service policies in line with EU competition law as well as group-wide EU competition compliance manuals and trainings;
• A leading producer and distributor of electronic equipment, in one of the few successful leniency applications in Romania as well as the successful settlement of an investigation initiated by the Romanian Competition Council against the client and several other distributors;
• One of the leading European car rental companies, in a Competition Council investigation pertaining to an alleged anti-competitive horizontal agreement on the operational leasing market;
• A global retail and food service group, regarding competition compliance assessment of its standard supply contract;
• A leading distributor of trailers and other specialized vehicles, with regard to competition compliance audits on all major supplier agreements as well as the distribution and after sales divisions, identifying and implementing requisite measures to ensure compliance where applicable;
• A leading European discount supermarket network, in revising various agreements and matters from a competition compliance perspective;
• A major Industrial Park operator and developer, on State aid law implications of assets and capex contributed by local communities for the development of a 50 hectares industrial park;
• A global telecommunications company, in connection with highly complex telecom regulatory advice pertaining to the Romanian chapter of its transparency report;
• A global modern agriculture company, re. the legal structure of its agency network in Romania;
• A global German owned auto parts manufacturer, in all aspects concerning the greenfield development of a large manufacturing facility, including prospective State aid related assessments, drafting and negotiation of the general contractor agreement as well as all agreements securing the real estate in a complex partnership structure with local authorities, employment and permitting matters;
• A German owned transportation and logistics supplier, in various aspects pertaining to the greenfield development of its Romanian logistics facilities;
• One of the leading manufacturers of mobile communication devices, in connection with the successful development of a state-of-the-art manufacturing facility and of the industrial park wherein said facility was located, the structuring of the contractual framework for the envisaged suppliers hub, the underlying competition matters and the successful sale of the manufacturing facility upon exit;
• A strategic German investor, in connection with the successful acquisition of three freight wagon manufacturing businesses, in a highly complex transaction deemed as the M&A deal of the year in 2012, as well as in connection with the drafting and negotiation of the key customer agreements;
• An important European investment fund, in connection with the successful acquisition of a controlling stake in a leading Romanian hotels chain. Legal work has included thorough due diligence enquiries as well as the drafting, negotiation and closing of the transaction documents;
• A major European airline, in connection with the attempted acquisition of the leading Romanian low cost airline. Legal work has included thorough due diligence enquiries as well as the drafting and negotiation of the transaction documents;
• A reputed European real estate developer, in connection with the drafting and negotiation of the entire contractual framework related to the development and marketing of two major shopping centres (malls), as well as in connection with the sale of the same;
• A global pharmaceuticals and medical devices company, in connection with an intra-group transfer of business and various other corporate and commercial matters;
• A global expert in asset auctions, liquidation and asset valuation appraisal services, in connection with the successful amicable settlement of a multimillion dollar dispute against a leading automotive manufacturer;
• The Romanian state, in connection with multimillion euros investment arbitration claims handled by a tribunal constituted pursuant to the ICSID Convention Rules of Arbitration;
• An important European industrial group, in successfully defending the client against multimillion dollar claims in an UNCITRAL arbitration regarding performance of investment obligations under a privatization agreement;
• A leading Romanian investor, in connection with successful multimillion euro claims in an investment arbitration handled by a tribunal constituted pursuant to the ICSID Convention Rules of Arbitration;
• Several international corporations, in connection with the assessment of potential investment arbitration claims against the Romanian State;
• One of the leading electricity suppliers and distributors, in connection with multimillion euro claims related to investment obligations under a privatization agreement;
• A US based fund, in connection with a high value ICC arbitration against an anchor tenant and the successful amicable settlement of the same;
• A major real estate developer, in connection with the jurisdiction phase of a high value ICC arbitration regarding a forward funding acquisition;
• A leading exploration equipment supplier, in connection with the successfully closed and implemented settlement and security agreements entered into with a major Romanian company.