Telecom, IT & Media
Our team has an impressive track record of assisting businesses across all parts of the international and local Communications, Media and Information Technology industry. We have a growing portfolio of innovative clients, global and local. The deals on which we advise in this sector are often high profile and headline grabbing. Our reputation is based on the quality of regulatory and transactional advice we give to both buyers and sellers of communications services. We advise in all areas of communications, broadcasting, E-commerce, Internet services, software development and licensing, infrastructure, project and equipment finance.
Our clientele includes private clients and state-owned entities involved in mobile and traditional telephone systems, cable and TV broadcasting, voice data transmission and satellite operations, hardware and software producers and suppliers and various users of information technology services. We have also advised local service providers and networks operators on regulatory and licensing matters.
Our recent instructions include:
- Advising Transfond S.A., the Romanian inter-banking payment system operator, on complex legal issues ranging from IT Law, E-Signature and Data Protection, Intellectual Property including without limitation legal assistance with respect to related service agreements concerning the implementation of the Electronic Banking Payment System.
- Retained by Ministry of Communication and Information Technology for an in-depth legal analysis of the IT, Telecom & Media regulatory related matters in connection with the National Radiocommunication Company and Posta Romana (the National Post Network), including reviewing the portofolio of contracts, licences permits, authorisations, etc.
- Legal assistance to the SBS Broadcasting Group in relation to the Romanian legal issues arising from its EUR 3.3 billion acquisition made by ProSiebenSat.1 Media AG. After the closing of the share purchase agreement by which ProSiebenSat.1 Media AG acquired 100 percent of the shares in SBS Broadcasting Group, ProSiebenSat.1 started the integration of both companies into one pan-European broadcasting group. In its new form, the ProSiebenSat.1 Group will be active in 13 European countries. Its assets include 24 free TV channels, 24 pay TV channels and 22 radio networks.
- Advising SBS Broadcasting and New Century Media Holdings for the acquisition of Canet Radio, a company holding Mix FM. The firm performed an extensive due diligence report, as well as drafted and negotiated the sale-purchase agreement and related documentation.
- Advising SBS Broadcasting S.A. on regulatory matters in connection with the takeover of Amerom Television SRL and Prima Broadcasting Company S.A..
- Advising SBS Broadcasting and Amerom Television (the owner of the Prima TV brand) with respect to the acquisition of the TV Klumea brand from SC Dacia RTV Bucuresti S.A.. We performed an extensive due diligence report and assisted the preparation, negotiation and signing of the buying offer.
- Assisting SBS Broadcasing S.A. with respect to the EUR 30,000,000 acquisition of Romania's leading FM radio station Kiss FM and of the FM radio station Radio Star as well as with respect to the transaction by which SBS Broadcasting S.A. increased its participation in the Romanian television station Prima TV. We performed extensive due diligence and provided assistance during negotiations and closing operations.
- Assisting the Romanian-based branch of British Telecommunications on regulatory reporting requirements and different aspects related to the applicable regulatory framework enforceable on the electronic communication sector and advice in connection with the legal provisions on the Premium Rate Services in Romania.
- Assisting Informatica Feroviara S.A. with respect to the EUR 22,000,000 software development agreement concluded with the Romanian railway passengers company CFR Calatori and Hewlett Packard Romania, having as object the production and implementation of a railway transportation software system for ticketing operations.
- Advising Swisscom, Switzerland's leading telecommunications company, with respect to various regulatory and taxation issues related to the supply of electronic communication services.
- Advising Hospitality Services Plus S.A., a subsidiary of Swisscom and a leading global provider of high-speed Internet based services to the hospitality industry, with respect to various regulatory issues related to the supply of electronic communication services.
- Assisting Amazon Technologies Inc., a worldwide IT software development company, and Amazon Development Centre Romania, its Romanian subsidiary, with regard to various legal issues in connection with software development agreements.
- Advising Quintiles, an American company, leader in electronic commerce and payment services, with respect to data privacy registration with the Romanian Ombudsman.
- Advising Oracle Corporation and Oracle Romania, its Romanian subsidiary, with respect to various legal issues in connection with software development agreements.
- Advising Yahoo! with respect to a large set of questions regarding legal aspects of Romanian advertising legislation, in view of a planned advertising campaign on the Internet, under the Romanian jurisdiction.
- Advising Google in relation to various legal issues related to the E-commerce European Directive implementation in Romania; the localization of various Google online products for Romania and the incorporation of Google Bucharest SRL, the sole Google entity registered in Romania.
- Assisting Epicor Software Romania with respect to various legal issues in connection with software development agreements.
- Advising Orange (the largest GSM telecommunication provider) with respect to various legal issues (including regulatory) related to the supply of telecommunication services.
- Advising AT&T Corporation in the transaction concluded with IBM Romanian network services, as part of AT&T international acquisition of IBM Global Network.
- Advising Invitel with regard to Romanian legal issues in connection with the USD 30,000,000 acquisition of Euroweb's International Corp. compounded of two internet and telecom-related operating subsidiaries, Euroweb Romania S.A. and Euroweb Hungary Rt.
- Assisting in the transaction involving the transfer of the controlling interest of Radio Contact Romania S.A., the operator of Kiss FM radio station, formerly known as Radio Contact.
- Advising on the financing transaction by which Atlas Telecom Holdings Inc., the provider of a complete range of wholesale voice, data and internet services, established a limited mobility telephony network using DECT technology.
- Advising the Credit Bureau, the national repository of consumer credit information, including the drafting and negotiating of the agreement for the supply and implementation of the integrated sole IT system for monitoring the financial conduct of debtors, either individuals or legal persons, as part of their relationships with Romanian financing institutions.
- Assisting European Media Enterprises Group with respect to several investments in various Romanian companies, such as in mobile telecommunications (Mobil Rom S.A.), television (Pro TV, Acasa), radio (Pro FM), as well as in their affiliates in Moldova (Media Pro Chisinau, Pro TV Chisinau and Pro FM Chisinau).
- Assisting AT&T Global Network Services Romania, the Romanian-based subsidiary of AT&T Global Network, the international networking company, with respect to regulatory issues and requirements and to the reauthorization procedure for data transmission services following the market liberalization in 2003.
- Advising Viasat Broadcasting UK on the agreement with Romanian CATV companies for the distribution of the Viasat Explorer Channel, including without limitation advising on the general authorization regime of the Romanian audiovisual sector and the retransmission of TV 1000 Central in Romania.
- Advising Ogilvy & Mather, an international advertising and marketing agency founded by David Ogilvy, on various legal matters in connection with advertising and media activities in Romania.
- Advising Leo Burnett Co., a Chicago-based agency and one of the largest worldwide advertising agencies, on the acquisition of equity interest in various media and advertising companies in Romania, including reviewing and negotiating various advertising agreements.
- Advising Reader’s Digest, the largest-selling magazine in the world, with respect to drafting promotional campaign regulations, as well as providing legal assistance with regard to direct mail campaigns.
- Retained by the Government of Moldavia for providing legal assistance in respect of the privatisation of Moldtelecom S.A., the largest state-owned Moldavian company. We reviewed the telecommunications services agreements and licenses, international and domestic interconnection agreements, as well as the IT systems and software characteristics.
- Advising the National Regulatory Authority for Communications with respect to the issuance of secondary legislation in the telecommunications domain, as part of the consultancy process initiated by the National Regulatory Authority for Communications.
- Assisting Astral Telecom, one of the most significant national providers of integrated services in electronic communication in Romania, including an extensive due diligence report on the telecom and broadcasting licenses thereof.
- Advising with regard to investment operations involving France Telecom and Mobil Rom S.A., including the acquisition of a GSM licence in Romania, various commercial agreements, as well as legal assistance on shareholders agreements, corporate finance agreement, loan agreements and securities.
- Advising Intel Capital (Intel Corporation's venture investment program) and Enterprise Investors with respect to the USD 12,000,000 investment in Siveco Romania, a leading local software provider.
- Advising with respect to corporate restructuring following the acquisition of Orange Plc. by France Telecom as well as on the transfer of Mobil Rom’s shares to the newly incorporated Orange S.A., an indirect subsidiary of France Telecom.
- Assisting Harris Corporation in connection with the review of the telecommunications equipment sale purchase agreements concluded with several business partners, as well as with respect to matters ranging from tax to real estate matters.
- Advising on a major telecommunications project to be implemented by Star One and Target Telecom, involving building and operating a national network. We prepared the tender documentation and assisted in the negotiations with the National Agency for Telecommunications and Information Technology.
- Advising Alcatel, the French leading company in fixed and mobile broadband networks, applications and services, with respect to the implementation of different investment programs in Romania.
- Advising on a joint venture agreement between Global One Communications and Romtelecom S.A., including without limitation legal advice with respect to all corporate legal issues arising from Romtelecom S.A. withdrawal from the Romanian GOC Affiliate Company.
- Assisting a major Central European telecom operator with respect to a telecommunication project implemented for the building of a telecommunications network in Romania, as well as with respect to the required licenses and authorizations, technical regulations, interconnection between networks, authorization of the operators of value-added services.
- Advising Astral S.A. (owned by AIG Fund), one of the largest cable television companies in Romania, with regard to the acquisition of various cable television operators in Romania. We provided legal assistance with respect to the sale documentation as well as in connection with all related corporate matters.
- Advising Epicor Software Corporation on the acquisition of Scala Business Solutions SRL (Scala Romania), a distributor of Scala’s software products and related consulting services in the Eastern European region.
- Advising Alcatel CIT on a telecommunications joint venture with the Romanian PTT having as object the delivery of a telephone package in Timisoara (the third largest city in Romania).
- Advising Nortel Networks with respect to an international sale of Tie Romania, a telecom operator on the Romanian market.
- Retained by Intelsat in connection with the privatization transaction with an international satellite organization. We advised on the Romanian regulatory environment for foreign satellite operators;
- Assisting the Romanian National Television in connection with drafting and reviewing of various marketing agreements.
- Advising Skytel S.R.L. for preparing the documents and assisting in negotiations with Orange Romania S.A. with regard to a telecommunication project for installing and operating a public national digital radio-communication multipoint network for the provision of data transmission services, including drafting and negotiating the agreements.
- Assisting Omnilogic BGS in reviewing the service agreement to be concluded with Infcon, the winner of the bid organized by the General Customs Division in view of improving the communication systems of the Romanian Customs Administration.
- Assisting Swisscom, Switzerland's leading telecom company, in connection with the incorporation and operation of its Romanian subsidiary Air Bites Romania, a wireless internet service provider.
- Assisting Tibco S.A. with respect to drafting and negotiating of with various clients in the telecom business, as well as advising on the incorporation of its Romanian subsidiary.
- Advising MBL Computers SRL, Radcom SRL and Media Com’95 SRL (the Romanian shareholders) in connection with the transaction whereby the shares in Mobil Rom S.A. were transferred to an international consortium of financial investors including AIG Fund, Société Générale Romania Fund and Sogenif Investments.
- Advising Camusat on various telecom matters, including drafting and negotiating of leasing agreements, assignment agreements, service agreements and sale purchase agreements in connection with GSM equipment.
- Retained by Devasat SRL in connection with the sale to Metrocable Inc. of its wired cable television system in Romania.
- Assisting the Romanian Ministry of Communications and Information Technology, General Inspectorate of Communications, Eurostrategies and InterConnect Communications in conducting legal and legislative research as part of a major project for the re-evaluation and harmonization of communications legislation in Romania.
- Advising the Romanian subsidiary of AT&T Global Network, the largest US telecommunications company, in respect of all corporate and legal regulatory requirements.
- Advising FirmNet AG, an international Internet and e-commerce consulting company, on various telecommunications and corporate matters in connection with its operations in Romania.
- Advising SAP AG, the market and technology leader in business software solutions, in view of the localization of its standard software licence and maintenance agreement.
- Advising Romtelecom S.A. with respect to the consultancy process initiated by the National Regulatory Authority for Communications in connection with the issuance of secondary legislation in the field of telecommunications.
- Advising First Data Corporation with regard to the data privacy registration with the Romanian Ombudsman.
- Advising Télédiffusion de France (TDF) in connection with drafting and negotiating a joint venture with Romanian partners from the TV industry.
- Assisting Siveco Romania S.A. with respect to the closing of several multi-million USD agreements having as object provision of educational information services to a major Romanian public institution. Our services included legal assistance during the negotiation phase, legal support for financial arrangements and agreement drafting, as well as regulatory assistance throughout the project and involvement in complex contracts with major players on IT&C market as well as central Romanian public institutions.
- Assisting Interroute Communications Ltd. with regard to the legal review of its Standard Master Agreement for provision of telecommunications services, to be implemented in Romania.
- Assisting Microsoft Corporation with respect to the standard license agreement, as well as regarding consumer law and legal review of various contracts.
- Advising Choicepoint and i2 Ltd. in connection with a software license agreement concluded with the Ministry of Internal Affaires.
- Advising Dell with respect to various Romanian law issues.
- Legal assistance to CSC Computer Sciences Ltd. in relation to reviewing various software agreements for their compliance with the Romanian law.
- Asisting Informatica Feroviara in relation to the implementation of a new ERP software project for CFR Marfa, the biggest railway cargo company in Romania.
- Assisting Neoworks Ltd. in relation to the conclusion of a software services outsourcing agreement with a Romanian software producer.
- Assisting CGI Information Systems and Management Consultants in relation to the contemplated provision of computer and software services to a Romanian financial institution.
