The reputed publication International Financial Law Review (IFLR) released on October 8th, the 2008 edition of the annual report “IFLR 1000”, which contains the ranking of recommended law firms. The classification was made following a thorough analysis, performed during March-October 2007. The analysts have studied the major transactions in each field, have interviewed the partners of the law firms involved and their clients and based on the results, have selected the best law firms on the local market. The chapter dedicated to Romanian law firms is structured on areas of legal expertise, in 4 fields of activity: banking, capital markets, mergers and acquisitions and project financing.
The 2008 edition of the guide placed “Muşat & Asociaţii” on the first place in three of the four fields of activity. “Muşat & Asociaţii has successfully mentainedits first place in the rating granted by IFLR concerning legal services in fields such as banking, capital markets, mergers and acquisitions. In the previous edition we obtained the same honourable place”, stated Gheorghe Muşat, founder and managing partner of “Musat & Asociatii”. “In addition, the international publication recommends the services offered by our firm in the field of project financing as well”, added Gheorghe Muşat.
“Muşat şi Asociaţii” has acquired a well-earned reputation for leadership on the legal market in Romania, offering representation in all areas of law. This year, the British publication Practical Law Company (PLC) has bestowed twice the highest appreciation to “Muşat & Asociaţii”, which – in the opinion of the English analysts – leads the Romanian legal market in the following fields: „mergers and acquisitions” and „dispute resolution”, whilst in other fields such as banking & finance, energy, telecommunications, “Muşat & Asociaţii” are „highly recommended”.
Also, the firm is maintaining the leading position in the reputed Chambers Global 2007 specialized publication, which recommends “Muşat şi Asociaţii” in fields such as mergers and acquisitions, financial and banking. The firm has strong cooperation relations with high rank law firms from the European Union and the United States of America and is the exclusive representative of TerraLex –one of the world biggest networks of law firms comprising over 15,000 lawyers worldwide-in Romania.
“Muşat şi Asociaţii”, one of the largest and most dynamic law firms in Romania, was founded in 1990 and at present has 9 partners and 75 lawyers. At the moment, “Muşat şi Asociaţii” Attorneys at Law has a highly complex transactions and projects portfolio, developed on the basis of a clientele represented by large European and American corporations, as well as by prestigious local names among which: Enel SpA, ABN AMRO Bank, Fortis Bank, BNP Paribas, Eli Lilly, Glaxo Smithkline, General Electric, General Motors, Intel Corp, Oracle, AON, AT&T, KBC Bank, Piraeus Bank, Raiffeisen Bank, OTP Bank, Thyssen Krupp, Generali, Immoeast Corporate Finance Consulting, Equest Investment, European Investment Bank.
This year, “Muşat & Asociaţii” has been the legal representative of Enel SpA in the transaction amounting to 820 million Euros through which the Italian company took over the share controlling interest of Electrica Muntenia Sud. This was the third largest privatization, subsequent to the sale of the controlling interests of the Romanian state in the Commercial Bank of Romania and Petrom. Also, „Muşat & Asociaţii” offered legal representation to the Nokia company throughout the structuring of the green field project in Cluj, which involved a direct investment amounting to approx. EUR 200 million, to KBC Bank in the acquisition of the companies Romstal Leasing and Swiss Capital amounting to 75 million Euros, to the investment fund PPF Investments in relation to the purchase of a significant stake in Continental hotel chain in the amount of 100 million Euros. The law firm founded by Mr. Gheorghe Muşat also represented European Investment Fund in the negotiations with the Government of Romania concerning the implementation of the Jeremie initiative in Romania, through which EIF is to develop in the name of the state the structural funds distributed by the EU for operational funds aimed at offering incentives for the SME sector. The lawyers of „Muşat & Asociaţii” are also the legal representatives of Transilvania Bank in the negotiations concerning the sale of the controlling interest share held at BT Asigurări. This year, „Muşat & Asociaţii” has retained the company Africa Israel Investment in relation to the acquisition of four hotels in the centre of Bucharest amounting to 18 million Euros and to the acquisition amounting to approximately 77,5 million Euros of the land underneath the Laromet plant, with an area of approximately 155.000 sqm., considered to be the largest real estate field transaction in Romania.
The chapter dedicated to the Romanian business market as well as the rating of local business law firms, recommended by “IFLR 1000”, can be consulted on the IFLR website.