Dear Viewer,

Thank you for clicking in. You arrived at our website which is a lawyers website. Even if you came here inadvertently, we invite you to take a minute and see who we are and what we do.

We are a business law office. But then almost every aspect of the daily life touches upon business in some more or less extensive way. Thus, we take big corporate business but also personal business projects and cases, and involve in a wide range of legal issues interesting Corporate M&A, Banking and Finance, Construction & Infrastructure, Capital Markets, Real Estate, Taxation, Insolvency and Dispute Resolution.

We are a reliable mix of seasoned-conservative and young-dynamic professionals who strive to provide swift, clear and state of the art legal advice and representation. Clients also seem to take comfort in the fact that we are plurijurisdictional, some of our lawyers being licensed to practice in the US and Germany, while all of our lawyers are licensed to practice in Romania.

We evolved from a small team which acted as the legal arm of a crisis management consulting group. We still hold crisis management as a central pillar of our practice. This has an impact on the manner in which we approach and handle projects and cases: keeping everything tidy and well-documented, since all we deliver to the Client, from e-mail message to legal memoranda and acquisition contracts, is our work product.

Doru is our managing partner in charge of the Banks-Finance and Taxation practice. He is admitted to practice in California (US) and Romania, and has over 15 years of experience in Romania and the United States.

During his career, Doru advised companies such as: AMCI Capital, Anglo-Romanian Bank, Astrazeneca, BRD Societe Generale, China Development Bank, Cord SA, Dresdner Bank, the Dunărea Fund, ECE Energy Consulting, the European Investment Bank, Intabex, Landesbank Baden Wurttemberg, Nuclearelectrica SA, CN Loteria Română, Macquarie Bank, PPF, Radix SA, R/J Import AG, Romania-Moldova Direct Fund, Tango Group Intl., Wells Fargo Bank.

Before joining our firm, Doru was a professor of administrative law at the University of Craiova (Romania) - School of Law (1994 - 2000), managing partner in Taylor, Epure & Associates (2004 - 2008), and a senior counsel with White & Case Bucharest (2008 - 2009).

Doru is a native speaker of Romanian and is fluent in English.

Andreea is our partner in charge of the Dispute Resolution and Insolvency practice.

She is admitted to practice in Romania and has over 12 years of experience in her area of practice. Before joining our firm, Andreea was a solo practitioner (1998 - 2001) and then acted as a litigation associate for the law office of Lucia Musat (2001 - 2006).

Andreea is a native speaker of Romanian and is fluent in English.

Cristian is a senior associate with a significant practice in the area of Corporate - M&A and Private Equity.

Prior to joining our firm, Cristian held positions of associate with Musat & Associates (2004 - 2005), Buzescu CA (2005 - 2007), Clifford Chance Bucharest (2007 - 2008) and White & Case Bucharest (2008 - 2009).

Cristian is a native speaker of Romanian and is fluent in English.

Alina is a senior associate with a significant practice in the area of Banking, Taxation and Regulatory.

Prior to joining our firm, Alina held a position of tax attorney for the Dolj (Romania) County Tax Administration (2000 - 2002), an inhouse lawyer for a transports and logistics company (2002 - 2003), associate with Taylor, Epure (2003 - 2007) and inhouse lawyer for Anglo-Romanian Bank (2007 - 2008).

Alina is a native speaker of Romanian and is fluent in English.

Daniela is a senior associate with a significant practice in the area of Construction, Corporate and Employment.

Prior to joining our firm, Daniela had her own practice conducted as Daniela Dulharu CA (2006 - 2008).

Daniela pursues a diploma in Construction Project Management from Europroiect Estate (Bucharest).

Daniela is a native speaker of Romanian and is fluent in English.

Daniela is an associate with a significant practice in the area of Public Procurement and Construction.

Prior to joining our firm, Daniela held a position of associate with Dragomir & Associates (2006 - 2008).

Daniela holds an LLM in Human Rights from the Central European University (Budapest).

Daniela is a native speaker of Romanian and is fluent in English.

Oana is an associate with a significant practice in the area of Contracts and Commercial Transactions.

Prior to joining our firm, Oana held a position of junior associate with Daniela Angelo CA (2005 - 2007).

Oana holds an Masters Degree in Business Law from Nicolae Titulescu University (Bucharest).

Oana is a native speaker of Romanian and is fluent in English.

Dan is an associate with a significant practice in the area of EC Law, Human Rights and Expropriations.

Prior to joining our firm, Dan acted as inhouse lawyer for a software development firm in Sibiu (Romania).

Dan holds a PhD in European Community Law from the Eberhard Karl Univerity (Germany).

Dan is a native speaker of Romanian and is fluent in German and English.

Laurentiu is an associate with a significant practice in the area of Real Estate.

Prior to joining our firm, Laurentiu held a position of trainee with Salans Romania (2007 - 2008).

Laurentiu pursues a Masters Degree in Business Law from Nicolae Titulescu University (Bucharest).

Laurentiu is a native speaker of Romanian and is fluent in English.

During their respective prior or current practice, our professionals had substantial contributions in many projects of this practice area. Some of their work includes:

› acted for Actavis Group hf (one of world's largest generic pharmaceutical companies) on a € 147 million acquisition of Sindan Group, a leading European generic pharmaceutical group specializing in the manufacturing and distribution of oncology products (2nd largest deal in the Romanian pharmaceutical sector);

› acted for Mitsubishi Corporation and Meiji Rubber & Chemical Co. Ltd. (Japan) (as part of an international team of attorneys lead by Lovells, LLP) in connection with the acquisition of the automotive brake hose business “Flexitech” in the EU and the USA, including the Romanian automotive hydraulic hoses assembly plant;

› acted for a Global investment banking and securities firm in connection with a share acquisition in the largest TV cable operator in Romania;

› acted for a world leading real estate broker, in the acquisition of Eurisko, one of the largest real estate brokers on the Romanian market;

› acted for a major German/Dutch pharmaceutical group in connection with the attempted acquisition of Ozone Laboratories, one of the largest Romanian pharmaceutical companies;

› acted for a global private equity fund on an attempted acquisition of LaborMed Pharma Group;

› acted for Wizz Air Group, a major low cost air carrier re acquisition of a majority interest in a Romanian airline company;

› acted for a global private equity fund in connection with the sale of shares held in Romprest SA, one of the largest Romanian waste management companies;

› acted for European Investment Bank on State Aid issues related to a € 400 million State guaranteed credit facility to Ford Romania SA (Automobile Craiova), and a € 200 million credit facility to Ford Werke AG;

› acted for CEZ, a major CEE energy producer based in the Czech Republic, in structuring and administration of the provision of services within the CEZ Group › service structure revision; provided on-going advice and assistance to CEZ Romania SA in respect of its corporate affairs;

› advised Salinen Austria AG in connection with the implementation of an investment in Romania;

› acted for several retailers and shopping center developers in connection with varied commercial and corporate governance matters;

› advised an important investor acting in the beverage sector in connection with the implementation of the national and European provisions for labeling of products.

During their respective prior or current practice, our professionals had substantial contributions in many projects of this practice area. Some of their work includes:

› acted for Nuclearelectrica SA in connection with the US $ 1.2 billion financing of the completion of its reactor 2 (Cernavoda, Romania);

› acted for Wells Fargo Bank in connection with formalities of recovery of funds from Romanian promissory notes debtor;

› advised a Hungarian bank on issues of cross border merger and absorbtion of Romanian branch into parent company;

› advised the Romanian subsidiary of an Austrian bank on tax and financial strategy concerning non-performing loans;

› advised Landesbank Baden Wurttenberg on legal and tax aspects concerning the trading with financial derivatives on the Romanian specialized market;

› acted for German bank in connection with establishment and registration of security packages;

› advised Anglo-Romanian Bank in connection with various distressed assets, sale of collateral property, regulatory and taxation issues;

› advised a Swiss bank in regards of the incorporation of a branch/representative office in Romania;

› advised for Scandia Romana SA in the process of partial refinancing as well as of financing a EUR 32 million loan by an important Bank Syndicate;

› advised Volksbank Romania SA in connection with the purchase of promissory notes.

During their respective prior or current practice, our professionals had substantial contributions in many projects of this practice area. Some of their work includes:

› acted for CEZ Group on overall tax compliance of CEZ Group and its Romanian subsidiaries;

› advised SN Nuclearelectrica SA on VAT issues concerning cross-border transfer of know-how and technology; also advised on tax issues concerning a purported lease of heavy water;

› advised Tango Group International and represented its parent company and Romanian subsidiary during pre-trial proceedings and the various rounds of litigation against the Romanian Customs Authorities - a dispute relating to international operational leasing and tax regime issues, with an amount in controversy of cca € 500,000 in value; also advised on taxation issues in connection with lease and temporary import of industrial equipment;

› advised NameDrive LLC on tax issues that might occur during the existence and operation of its newly established Romanian subsidiary;

› advised a multinational tobacco group on taxation issues concerning the termination of its business in Romania via a voluntary liquidation;

› advised major real estate developer on various taxation aspects in relation with the acquisition and subsequent re-sale of real estate;

› advised CN Loteria Româna on tax implications of various aspects of joint-venture, supply and construction contracts; the issues verified and the opinions rendered relate to facts that may lead to a multimillion € tax exposure by the client and also possibly more than €50 million in contract damages that the client may be able to assert against various other parties; also advised and represented the client on an €35 million litigation against tax authorities concerning alleged breach of obligation to withhold VAT and income tax for monies paid to foreign contracting partner over several years;

› acted for Worldspan Romania srl, a subsidiary of Worldspan LP, USA, a global leader in web-based travel and e-commerce, on tax litigation involving the Romanian tax authorities (VAT reimbursement);

› acted for Nacco SAS, the French Subsidiary of Nacco Industries, Inc. (North America’s third largest railcar lessor) on tax litigation involving the Romanian tax authorities related to € 300,000 VAT reimbursement.

During their respective prior or current practice, our professionals had substantial contributions in many projects of this practice area. Some of their work includes:

› acted for major European steel producer in regards of implementation of a green field investment amounting to EUR 6,5 billion in Romania, including real estate acquisition for industrial development and negotiations with the Romanian Government, Ministries, banks and local authorities;

› acted for AE&E Austrian Energy GmbH & Co KG in regards of the performance of a construction contract amounting to EUR 220 million concluded as a result of an international public procurement procedure;

› acted for a golf resort developer in connection with the real estate acquisition and rezoning process for the golf resort;

› acted for a shopping center developer in connection with construction permitting;

› acted for a national food producer in connection with a real estate secured lending;

› acted for a national company in regards of expropriation procedures for the construction of motorways and national routes.

During their respective prior or current practice, our professionals had substantial contributions in many projects of this practice area. Some of their work includes:

› advised an US based investment fund on legal and taxation issues concerning Romanian portfolio assets operating in the area of oil drilling, transportation and refinery, with special focus on acquisition of refinery through privatization from the Romanian state, fulfillment of investment duties through debt-to-equity swap, bond issuing, restructuring and optimization of downstream operations and upgrading and expansion of retail network;

› advised an US based petrol company on legal and taxation issues concerning Romanian on-shore and off-shore drilling operations, including aspects of exploration and exploitation licensing, farm-in/farm-out agreements, in-bound transfer of technology, transfer-pricing and permanent establishment issues, corporate restructuring and labor issues;

› advised an UK bank on a security package extending over off-shore oil and gas drilling rights acquired pursuant to farm-in agreements with Romanian entity;

› advised a group of Bulgarian and Russian investors in connection with an attempted acquisition of Romanian refinery through reorganization in insolvency;

› advised a majority shareholder of Romanian oil drilling, transport and refinery operation on issues concerning increase of share capital and bond issuing and other financing operations.

During their respective prior or current practice, our professionals had substantial contributions in many projects of this practice area. Some of their work includes:

› advised Banca Comerciala Romana in regards of completion and submission of the bidding documents for a public procurement procedure related to granting a EUR 187 million credit to a national company;

› acted for a regional insurance carrier in connection with obtaining permits from the Romanian Insurance regulator;

› advised Cord SA, one of the major Romanian cord and wire manufacturers, on certain issues related to the company’s reporting obligations to the National Securities Commission.

During their respective prior or current practice, our professionals had substantial contributions in many projects of this practice area. Some of their work includes:

› acted for Kastamonu Entegre A.S., Turkey, a world leading company in the forestry product sector, member of the Hayat Group regarding complex litigation with the Agency for the Management of State Assets (AVAS) in connection with two claims by AVAS amounting to $ 66,000,000;

› acted for Canam Steel Romania s.r.l., a subsidiary of The Canam Group, Inc., Canada, in arbitration case pending before the Court of International Arbitration attached to the Romanian Chamber of Commerce and Industry regarding claims amounting to approx. € 4.5 million against Bog’Art s.r.l., and Centrul International CDG s.r.l. (Avrig 35 SA), the general contractor, and developer respectively of the Vodafone office building;

› acted for Coca - Cola HBC Romania regarding successful defense against a claim for patent infringement;

› acted for Ferrero S.p.A. in trademark infringement case against Heidi Chocolates Suisse SA;

› acted for Medochemie Ltd., a generic drugs manufacturer re trademark dispute with Lek/Novartis;

› acted for Volksbank in connection with the recovery of due debts and forced execution of various enforceable titles;

› acted for Bezema AG, a major Swiss investor carrying on its activity in the chemical products industry, in connection with the recovery of due debts resulting from the delivery of goods in Romania;

› acted for Nacco SAS in connection with a € 1.2 million claim against the Romanian Railways Company - Compania de Transporturi Feroviare S.A.

This is our new web-face and our fist address to you. It is not realy a newsletter, but rather a bow of welcome.

We will soon populate this space with legal news of what we deem to be of great interest for the business community, social news that rock the city and other stuff that may change your mood for the better.

At some point we may even turn this into an interactive exercise, but not now.

So check this section often. This is how we talk to you.

We hire talented professionals, of strong character and balanced personality. If you think you are what we are looking for, send us your resume.

office@epure-lizac.ro

Epure, Lizac & Associates

Str. Frumoasa 41
RO-010986 Bucuresti S1
Romania

T +40 21 529 27 00
F +40 21 529 27 10

office@epure-lizac.ro