Neagu Dinu Partners Sprl

Neagu Dinu Partners is a leading disputes practice in Romania, recognized for handling complex commercial litigation, arbitration and regulatory proceedings. The firm’s Bucharest-based team, led by partners Simona Neagu and Ștefan Dinu, is known for combining deep sector knowledge with strategic advocacy, often resolving matters through negotiation or settlement to protect clients’ commercial interests.

Neagu Dinu Partners approaches disputes with a strategic mindset, anticipating developments several steps ahead and positioning clients for success rather than merely reacting to challenges. The team is committed to problem solving, taking time to understand each client’s business and industry in order to resolve issues, mitigate risks and secure outcomes that are both cost-effective and minimally disruptive. All matters benefit from direct partner involvement, while collaboration across the team ensures that experience and innovative thinking are combined to deliver the best possible results.

Commercial Litigation

Neagu Dinu Partners handles a wide range of commercial disputes across industries, including claims arising from contract breaches, supply chain disruption, and force majeure events. Recent work includes representing a Romanian energy company, backed by private equity, in a natural gas supply dispute with a major industrial consumer arising from Covid-19 disruptions; acting for a Romanian agribusiness in a commodities agreement claim triggered by post-Ukraine conflict market volatility; and advising a Fortune 500 food and beverage company in damages proceedings following termination of a distribution agreement. The firm also represented a leading real estate developer in a lease renewal dispute with a major DIY retail tenant.

Arbitration

With experience dating back to 1995, the team is active in both domestic and international arbitration under ICC, LCIA, VIAC and CCIR rules. Its track record includes representing a financial institution in a London-seated post-M&A arbitration involving indemnity and warranty claims; acting for a global energy contractor in a Vienna-seated ICC case concerning an EPC contract with a Romanian state-owned facility; and advising a major contractor in a Paris-seated ICC dispute on res judicata issues under French and Romanian law. The practice has also handled arbitrations linked to motorway, railway, and energy projects, as well as rare swap disputes in Romania.

Public Procurement Disputes

Recognised for its strength in public procurement disputes, the practice acts across all stages of proceedings, from challenging tender awards to defending successful bids. Work spans key sectors such as infrastructure, energy, IT, pharmaceuticals and defence, with a proven track record in securing annulments of awards based on non-compliant competitor bids and anti-competitive conduct. Its lawyers have also appeared before the European Court of Justice in procurement law matters and successfully applied EU public procurement principles before Romanian courts, obtaining the annulment of a final judgment in a high-profile vaccine procurement case.

Construction Disputes

Construction is a core area of expertise, with long involvement in FIDIC-based contracts. The firm has represented contractors in DAB and ICC proceedings under FIDIC Yellow and Red Book contracts for road infrastructure; acted for a construction company in ICC arbitration against the motorway authority involving delay and archaeological findings; represented a developer in arbitration over defects and delays in a retail and entertainment complex; and advised on solar energy litigation concerning environmental permits. It also assists banks in disputes over performance guarantees.

M&A, Joint Ventures & Corporate Governance Disputes

Shareholder and post-M&A disputes are among the most sensitive conflicts a business can face, often determining control, governance and long-term stability. The corporate disputes group at the firm is frequently called upon when the stakes are highest – whether navigating warranty and indemnity claims for a Romanian financial institution backed by a US investment fund, guiding a minority shareholder through management conflicts in a regulated insurance structure, or helping a global investment fund break through obstruction to secure the appointment of its chosen asset manager. In another matter, the lawyers supported majority shareholders of a media advertising company in regaining control from a former sole owner, preserving continuity and protecting the company’s market position. Across these mandates, the group blends technical precision with strategic advocacy to deliver outcomes that reshape the balance of power inside organisations.

Antitrust Investigations & Litigation

Antitrust cases are often decisive for a company’s reputation and market position, and clients rely directly on the firm’s partners for both strategic advice and courtroom advocacy. The practice has guided businesses through every stage of competition proceedings, from responding to dawn raids to challenging multimillion-euro fines. A recent success was securing the annulment in full of a fine imposed for alleged abuse of dominance – a rare result in this field. The partners have also acted in cartel and dominance investigations across key industries, including advising a pharmaceutical company in a cartel probe, defending a telecom operator in abuse of dominance litigation, representing an automotive parts supplier in an EU Commission investigation, and assisting oil and gas companies in collusion cases before the Romanian Competition Council.

Regulatory Investigations & Litigation

The firm handles high-stakes regulatory disputes across strategically important sectors such as telecoms, energy, financial services and consumer protection, where regulatory intervention can significantly affect market dynamics. In telecoms, the lawyers have represented operators in challenges to interconnection tariffs and licensing decisions, including a high-profile case concerning the refusal of a 5G licence on national security grounds. In the energy sector, they act for utilities in disputes with the state and regulator over reimbursement of compensation funds under price cap schemes. Their experience also extends to financial services and consumer protection, where enforcement measures and fines often involve complex cross-border considerations.

Bucharest Office

6 Alexandru Balasanu St, Bucharest