DLA Piper: We are coming to Romania because it is unaffected by the crisis

DLA Piper, one of the world’s largest law firms with 3,700 lawyers and offices in 25 countries, will open and office in Bucharest in November, starting off with a team headed by Romanian Marian Dinu, according to a statement for Business Standard by Ivo Deskovic, Regional Managing Partner for CEE. For the time being, the Bucharest Office will be called DLA Piper and will have a single partner, Marian Dinu.

“Romania is an important market, still unaffected by the crisis, or less affected than others around the world, so there is more business opportunity for law firms,” added Deskovic. He went on to say that the company does not intend to transfer foreign lawyers to work in Romania.

“A good start for the office would be a team with 10-15 lawyers, to be doubled in time. We are still negotiating with several lawyers on the market,” said Deskovic. He did not state how many lawyers have been recruited by the firm to date, but the team is expected to be made up foremost by staff from Linklaters’ Bucharest office, where Dinu is coming from. Marian Dinu was supposed to take on position of partner in the company to be created after Linklaters left the region, and which is to start up this month. Information to the effect that DLA Piper will open an office in Romania headed by Marian Dinu with a team of former Linklaters laywers was first published in Business Standard one week ago. DLA Piper also hired two Romanian lawyers from the local office of Schoenherr, Ramona Galetuse and Sabin Volciu, who are working for DLA Piper Vienna.

According to Deskovic, the company is aiming for a local portfolio made up of multinational and local clients.

DLA Piper has collaborated on the local market with Radu Taracila Padurari Retevoescu SCA (RTPR, which associated with Allen&Overy) and Bulboaca&Asociatii law firms. The local law firm market could reach €150-200 million this year, and is dominated by companies such as NNDKP, Musat&Asociatii and Tuca Zbarcea&Asociatii.

DLA Piper was formed as a result of the 2005 merger of San Diego-based Gray Cary Ware & Freidenrich LLP, UK-based DLA LLP (previously Dibb Lupton Alsop 1996-2000), and Piper Rudnick LLP (itself a 1999 merger of Baltimore-based Piper & Marbury and Chicago-based Rudnick & Wolfe). This is the third major law firm to come to Romania this year, the first two being the American White&Case, and Allen&Overy, part of the five leading London-based law firms that make up what is known as the Magic Circle. The Spanish Garrigues law firm also arrived in Romania this year through an association with Mares&Asociatii.

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