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Portrait ofHorea Popescu

Horea Popescu

Managing Partner
Head of CEE Corporate M&A

CMS Cameron McKenna Nabarro Olswang LLP SCP
One Tower
165 Calea Floreasca
12th–14th floors
District 1
014459 Bucharest
Romania
Languages Romanian, English, French

Horea Popescu is the Managing Partner of CMS Bucharest and the Head of the Corporate M&A practice in CEE and Bucharest. 

With over 20 years of experience, he has been involved in some of the largest and most complex, multi-jurisdictional corporate and M&A transactions in Romania and across the CEE region, advising both local and international clients.

Specialised in mergers and acquisitions, private equity, restructuring and commercial transactions, capital market transactions, competition and privatization, Horea has extensive experience in sophisticated, multi-jurisdictional M&A transactions throughout Eastern Europe, and beyond, covering a broad range of sectors, including energy, technology, media and telecommunications, financial services, consumer products and real estate.

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“He's a knowledgeable, diligent and efficient team leader.”

Chambers Europe, 2023

“He is a problem solver.”

Chambers Europe, 2023

“Horea Popescu smoothly led the whole process with an understanding of the business needs.”

Legal 500, 2023

"Horea Popescu is 'one of the most prominent M&A lawyers locally'. "

Legal 500, 2020

"Horea Popescu 'has a long-standing reputation in the legal market and recognised strengths as a transactional lawyer'."

Chambers, 2020

"Market leader in M&A."

IFLR 1000, 2020

Relevant experience

  • Ahold Delhaize on its agreement to acquire leading Romanian grocery retailer Profi Rom Food, in a transaction worth approximately EUR 1.3bn.
  • Ford Otomotiv Sanayi on the successful EUR 700m+ acquisition of Ford’s manufacturing plant Craiova in Romania. This is the largest transaction on the Romanian market in 2022 and one of the largest in the automotive sector ever. 
  • AFI Europe on its acquisition of six companies owning four Class A office projects in Romania from NEPI Rockcastle. This is one of the largest real estate transactions ever concluded in both the Romanian and CEE office markets.
  • Advent International, one of the largest and most experienced global private equity investors, on the €1.9 billion acquisition of the Zentiva’s CEE and Swiss business. This was the largest CEE life sciences transaction in 2018.
  • Liberty Global on the Romanian, Czech and Hungarian aspects of the €18.4 billion sale of its European assets to Vodafone. This was the region’s largest telecoms transaction in over a decade.
  • Bitdefender, a global cyber-security technology company founded and based in Romania, on the sale of a significant minority stake to Vitruvian. The transaction valued Bitdefender’s business at over $600 million.
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Memberships & Roles

  • Member, Bucharest Bar Association.
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Education

  • 2000 – Masters in European Law, College of Europe, Bruges, Belgium
  • 1999 – Masters in Law, Central European University, Budapest, Hungary
  • 1998 – Degree in Law, West University, Timisoara, Romania 
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04/03/2024
CMS advised The Cicor Group on acquisition of Evolution Medtec Srl in Romania
International law firm CMS has advised The Cicor Group (Cicor), one of Europe's fastest-growing developers and manufacturers of high-reliability electronics for the medical, industrial, aerospace and...
25/01/2024
Emerging Europe M&A Report 2023/2024
Despite geopolitical tensions, fears of recession and strong inflationary pressures across the EU, as well as the fiscal tightening needed to contain them, M&A in the CEE region has remained reasonably buoyant. Findings from the CMS Emer­ging Europe M&A 2023/24 report, published in cooperation with EMIS, demonstrate the resilience of the Emerging Europe deals market as activity holds firm against a backdrop of geopolitical tensions and strong inflationary pressures. Welcome to the 2023/24 edition of the Emerging Europe report.
07/12/2023
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International law firm CMS has advised L&C Properties, part of M Core, one of the UK’s largest, privately held commercial property collectives with combined assets in excess of  EUR 6 billion, on its...
30/10/2023
CMS advises Ahold Delhaize on the landmark acquisition of Profi Rom Food...
International law firm CMS has advised Ahold Delhaize (“Ahold Delhaize”) on its agreement to acquire leading Romanian grocery retailer Profi Rom Food S.R.L. (“Profi”) from MidEuropa, in a transaction...
05/09/2023
CMS advises Integral Venture Partners on the acquisition of a majority...
International law firm CMS has advised private equity and growth capital investments firm Integral Venture Partners (“Integral”) on entering into a definitive agreement for the acquisition of a majority...
08/08/2023
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03/05/2023
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24/04/2023
CMS promotes Mihai Jiganie-Serban to Partner in Romania
CMS Romania is pleased to announce that Mihai Jiganie-Serban has been promoted to Partner as of 1 May 2023. Mihai is Head of Criminal Defense Practice and is the firm’s ninth local partner in Romania...
05/04/2023
CEE Greenfield Guide 2023
CEE countries have attracted significant foreign direct investment in greenfield operations in recent years. Indeed, many manufacturing businesses have focused on expanding capacity in CEE countries...
06/02/2023
CMS bolsters its Bucharest office with the appointment of three new lawyers
International law firm CMS is delighted to announce the arrival of three new lawyers to its Bucharest office. Ionut Chisar (senior associate), Florentin Giurgea (senior associate), and Carmen Turcu (associate)...
30/01/2023
Emerging Europe M&A Report 2022/2023
The year 2022 started with various challenges, including rising inflation and energy prices. Then the Russian invasion of Ukraine added yet another one. Nonetheless, the M&A market in emerging European countries proved to be extremely resilient. The region saw M&A activity maintain a steady pace, though deal values were notably lower. Also, variations could be observed across territories and sectors. While 2022 brought a unique set of challenges, dealmaking largely compared favourably to pre-pandemic levels. Welcome to the 2022/23 edition of the Emerging Europe report.
20/07/2022
CMS announces series of promotions in its Romania office with women making...
CMS is pleased to announce the promotion of three new Counsels and two new Senior Associates as of 1 July 2022. The appointments span four practice areas and women account for 80% of promotions in its...