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, globally and locally. 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.

We also advise on compliance and regulatory issues concerning data protection and privacy matters, including, but not limited to, notification formalities, data controller’s obligations, cross-border data transfers, outsourcing projects and internal assessments and anti-corruption investigations.

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.

 

A selection of our recent instructions include advising: 

  • AT&T Global Network Services Romania, the Romanian-based subsidiary of AT&T Global Network, with respect to ongoing corporate and regulatory issues regarding the localization of its global services agreements. Also advising the client in connection with several legal issues regarding Data Protection and drafting a regulatory survey report concerning various issues related to personal data processing, data controllers obligations, notification formalities.
  • The Romanian-based branch of British Telecommunications on regulatory reporting requirements and different aspects related to the applicable regulatory framework enforceable in the electronic communication sector and advice in connection with the legal provisions on the Premium Rate Services in Romania.
  • Swisscom, Switzerland's leading telecommunication company, with respect to various regulatory and taxation issues related to the supply of electronic communication services.
  • Telecom Italia, the leading network operator in Italy, in relation to general telecommunication regulatory requirements, as well as to the operation of its subsidiary, Telecom Italia Sparkle Est SRL.
  • Transfond, the Romanian inter-banking payment system operator, in relation to the implementation of a complex nationwide system that will allow all credit card owners to directly contact the card issuing bank helpdesk, in the event of card theft, card loss or other similar situations, by dialing a unique countrywide phone number. Further assisting Transfond in implementing a recent innovative project developed together with BCR (the Romanian Commercial Bank) in the field of e-invoicing that would replace, by logging into a secure system, issuing, transmitting and archiving hard-copy invoices for its clients.
  • Samsung in relation to regulatory issues concerning the deployment of several Samsung projects in Romania, such as Samsung Social Hub, Samsung Bada Server, Samsung Find Buddy, Samsung A-Store, as well as legal assistance in relation to the Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policies applicable to such online services.
  • The Romanian subsidiary of Prosiebensat.1 Media AG Group, SBS Broadcasting Media SRL, on daily corporate and regulatory matters for its radio and TV networks (Prima TV, Kiss TV, Kiss FM, Rock FM and Magic FM), as well as advising on legal issues arising from broadcasting various TV shows, and representing the client before the National Audiovisual Council of Romania and in several court litigations.
  • SBS Broadcasting Media S.R.L., the Romanian subsidiary of Prosiebensat.1 Media AG Group, for representation before the National Audiovisual Council of Romania and in several court disputes regarding the breach of certain advertising clauses, alleged damages caused to the image of certain natural persons through the shows broadcasted by the company and alleged infringement of the legal requirements applicable in the audio-visual field.  
  • The Ministry of Communication and Information Technology for an in-depth legal analysis of the IT, Telecoms & Media regulatory-related matters, in connection with the National Radiocommunication Company and Posta Romana (the National Post Network), including reviewing the portfolio of contracts, licenses, permits, authorizations, etc.
  • 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.
  • 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 and regulatory matters related to its development activities in Iasi.
  • Oracle Romania with respect to day-to-day local operations, including software development, outsourcing activities and corporate and employment legal matters.
  • Yahoo! with respect to a large set of questions regarding legal aspects of the Romanian advertising legislation, in view of a planned advertising campaign on the Internet, under the Romanian jurisdiction.
  • Google in relation the localization of various Google online products for Romania and the incorporation of Google Bucharest, as well as assisting Google in relation to regulatory issues concerning the legal regime of defamation in Romania, as well as data protection aspects triggered by the launch of Google’s Street View Project in Romania.
  • Biroul De Credit (The Credit Bureau), the national repository of consumer credit information, in connection with the implementation of the integrated sole IT system for monitoring the financial conduct of debtors, as part of their relationships with Romanian financing institutions, as well as drafting and negotiating the necessary agreements for implementing the FICOŸ Score credit scoring system in Romania, fully operational starting March 2009. Further advising Biroul De Credit on data protection matters, including obtaining the relevant clearances from Data Protection Authorities for the transfer of historical data from banks and, furthermore, drafting and negotiating the agreements for participation in the Credit Bureau System, concluded with the vast majority of banks and financial institutions.
  • Epicor Software Romania in connection with the renewal of the standard End-User License Agreement used by Epicor for its Romanian client.
  • Capgemini, one of the world’s leading companies in consulting, technology and outsourcing, in connection with the recent opening of its outsourcing centre in Iasi, Romania.
  • Viasat Broadcasting UK on the agreement with Romanian CATV companies for the distribution of the Viasat Explorer Channel, including advising on the general authorization regime of the Romanian audiovisual sector and the retransmission of TV 1000 Central in Romania.
  • The Romanian Ministry of Communications and Information Technology, General Inspectorate of Communications, Eurostrategies and InterConnect Communications in conducting a legal and legislative research as part of a major project for the re-evaluation and harmonization of Romanian communications laws.
  • Accenture in relation to data protection issues referring to cross-border electronic services provided by Accenture to a group of clients.
  • BNP Paribas (the London Branch) on several legal issues regarding Data Protection and drafting the notification to be submitted to the Romanian Data Protection Authority.
  • Sony Pictures Home Entertainment in relation to regulatory aspects pertaining to its online services’ Terms and Conditions, Privacy Policy and Registration Page. 
  • L’Oreal in drafting an online distribution agreement with an online retailer, comprising clauses related to electronic commerce regulations, liability of online retailers, intellectual property and online contract formation, also several Data Protection matters, including reviewing and amending a data protection policy and drafting terms and conditions regarding personal data issues.
  • F. Hoffman la Roche and Roche Romania on several legal issues regarding Data Protection and legal assistance with respect to the Client’s relationship with the Romanian Data Protection Authority.
  • Generali in relation to a software copyright settlement between Generali and the author of such software.
  • 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.
  • France Telecom with respect to corporate restructuring, following the acquisition of Orange Plc. , as well as on the transfer of Mobil Rom’s shares to the newly-incorporated Orange S.A., an indirect subsidiary of France Telecom.
  • SAP AG, the market and technology leader in business software solutions, in view of the localization of its standard software license and maintenance agreement.
  • Choicepoint and i2 Ltd. in connection with a software license agreement concluded with the Ministry of Internal Affairs.
  • CSC Computer Sciences Ltd in relation to reviewing various outsourcing agreements for their compliance with the Romanian law.
  • Informatica Feroviara in relation to the implementation of a new ERP software project for CFR Marfa, the biggest railway cargo company in Romania.
  • Astellas Pharma International on several legal issues regarding Data Protection and drafting the required consent letters, data processing agreements, data transfer agreements and specific formalities related to the notification process before the Romanian Data Protection Authority.
  • Campofrio Food Group on several legal issues regarding Data Protection and legal assistance with respect to drafting and executing the necessary documentation and registration of the Client, as data controller, with the Romanian competent authority.
  • Dover Corporation on several legal issues regarding Data Protection and drafting answers to a questionnaire received from Client in relation to formalities and sanctions provided by the Romanian applicable data protection legislation, the mandatory content of the consent form and notification and review of a Safe Harbor Privacy Policy.
  • Bank of America on several legal issues regarding Data Protection, reviewing the personal data transfer agreement and drafting a summary of the data protection/privacy, bank secrecy/confidentiality, and financial outsourcing requirements that may apply to cross-border customer data transfers outside Romania.
  • RBS on several legal issues regarding Data Protection, including reviewing and amending a consent letter to be executed by the clients of a bank in relation to processing their personal data.