‘A popular choice when it comes to PPP and procurement in Romania’, the team at Tuca Zbârcea & Asociatii is experienced in large-scale social infrastructure, telecoms networks, transport, and utilities projects. Military procurement projects are an area of growing strength for the team, which has significant expertise in regulatory matters: recently, advising the International Finance Corporation on PPP frameworks in Romania and the Republic of Moldova. Șerban Pâslaru, co-head of the team, advises both investors and public authorities on a range of high-value projects. Vlad Cercel co-heads the team alongside Pâslaru and has had notable involvement in Romanian legislative change in the area. Iuliana Leon is described as 'practical and very meticulous’.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
- 'The team’s procurement expertise is well above the market average and they are well known for their ability to work on sophisticated projects in the sector. This firm is a popular choice when it comes to PPP and procurement in Romania or in the region.'
- 'Șerban Pâslaru and Vlad Cercel usually are the main contacts. Serban is a commercially astute lawyer, with outstanding experience in concessions, procurement procedures for large projects in various sectors. Vlad is incredibly experienced, with robust expertise on the regulatory front. His knowledge of the European regulations in this area and of other specific laws which are relevant to the PPP and procurement framework is remarkable.'
- 'Iuliana Leon provides backup on several important matters and keeps a high profile by engaging in various public speaking events. She is practical and very meticulous.'
Key clients
- E-Infra Group
- International Finance Corporation – IFC
- European Investment Bank (EIB)
- Groupe Renault
- MOL Romania Petroleum Products S.R.L.
- Nuctech Warsaw Company Limited SP
- Bepco
- Tesla Group/ Tesla Energy Storage
- Telekom Romania Mobile Communications
- Webuild S.p.A. (the former Astaldi S.p.A.)
- Compania de Salubritate Brantner Veres S.A.
Work highlights
- Provided legal assistance to the International Finance Corporation (IFC), part of the World Bank Group regarding the PPP legal framework in Romania and the Republic of Moldova.
- Provided legal assistance to the European Investment Bank regarding a technical assistance project in the sector of health infrastructure.
- Provided legal assistance to Webuild S.p.A. (the former Astaldi S.p.A.) in relation to various public procurement procedures worth EUR 1.1 billion.
Lawyers
Leading associates
Rising stars with regular involvement in their team's key work, and recognition from peers or clients as being ones to watch.
Leading partners
The strongest partners in their field, leading on market-leading deals and endorsed by peers and clients alike.
Vlad Cercel focuses on PPP/concession and public procurement projects, as well as electronic communications and IT. He has a wealth of practical experience in advising on the application and implementation of the various stages of procedures for awarding PPP and concession contracts, and has in-depth knowledge of the particularities of public procurement, concessions and PPP regulations in specific infrastructure sectors, such as: motorways, national roads, airports, parking facilities, social infrastructure and public utilities. He has represented leading sponsors, lenders, development banks, project originators, equipment suppliers, infrastructure funds, public sector entities, as well as public authorities in relation to public procurement, concessions and public-private partnership agreements. Vlad Cercel has amassed considerable industry knowledge and expertise in advising on regulatory matters affecting the electronic communications and IT field. In his capacity as one of the main coordinators of the firm’s projects in this area, he has been involved in negotiating and drafting sector-specific contracts, including agreements on access and interconnection, facility sharing, value-added services, network building, outsourcing, equipment, service provision, retransmission agreements and so on. He has also covered authorization and licensing procedures and other specific matters in these areas, including mergers and acquisition projects in the TMT sector. Prior to entering private practice, Vlad Cercel worked with the Romanian Regulatory Authority for Communications, where he was directly involved in drafting the primary and secondary legislation applicable to the sector as part of Romania’s integration into the European Union. He also handled a broad range of legal matters in the electronic communications sector.
Serban Paslaru is a Partner at Tuca Zbârcea & Asociatii, specialising mainly in PPP, PFI and concessions, as well as labour/employment law where he heads the firm's practice group. In the course of his legal career, he has achieved a considerable body of expertise in dealing with the various stages of the procedures for awarding public procurement and concession agreements, as well as in the management of the legal risks deriving from the applicable legal framework. In this area he has been involved in major projects, especially in infrastructure and public utilities sectors, acting both on the public and the private side. He also has an impressive experience in the employment area of practice where he has coordinated or been involved in a wide variety of projects including personnel restructuring, transfers of undertaking, negotiation of collective bargaining agreements etc.
Practice head
The lawyer(s) leading their teams.
Șerban Pâslaru, Vlad Cercel