CEE Legal Matters
In-depth coverage of the news and newsmakers that shape Europe's emerging markets
Moldova’s renewable energy sector has taken a decisive step forward in 2025 with the completion of its first competitive auctions for the designation of Large Eligible Electricity Producers. The process, launched under Government Decision No. 690/2018, demonstrated the growing maturity of the country’s regulatory framework and its alignment with EU-style competitive mechanisms for renewable development.
The Republic of Moldova has positioned itself as a digital frontrunner in the region and an increasingly attractive destination for foreign investors.
In The Debrief, our Practice Leaders across CEE share updates on recent and upcoming legislation, consider the impact of recent court decisions, showcase landmark projects, and keep our readers apprised of the latest developments impacting their respective practice areas.
On October 6, 2025, Filip & Company announced that Victoriabank's acquisition of Microinvest (as reported by CEE Legal Matters on April 15, 2025) has now closed.
Vernon | David has advised Bolt on its expansion into Moldova.
The Moldovan legal market might be relatively static at the moment, but beneath the surface, notable trends are reshaping its dynamics, according to Melnic | Bercu Partner Vlad Bercu, who points to the rise of AI-driven smaller firms, political turbulence around the legal profession’s independence, growing interest in IT, renewables, and labor leasing as developments worth watching.
Former Chief Prosecutor of the Anti-Corruption Prosecution Office of the Republic of Moldova Veronica Dragalin has re-joined Jones Day's Washington Office as a Partner in the Investigations & White Collar Defense practice.
Efrim, Rosca & Asociatii has advised Vienna Insurance Group on its acquisition of an 80% stake in Moldasig.
In the context of the Republic of Moldova’s commitments under the Association Agreement concluded with the European Union in 2014 and its designation as an EU candidate country granted in 2022, the national legal framework is undergoing substantial reform. A large part of the legislative transposition agenda relates to environmental protection, which includes the adoption and implementation of numerous regulatory acts at the national level.
Andronic and Partners and Melnic | Bercu, working with Eversheds Sutherland, have advised the founders and selling shareholders of Planable on the sale of the company to SE Ranking. Gladei & Partners, BPV Grigorescu Stefanica, and Jizdan & Partners, working with Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe, advised SE Ranking.
Dentons has advised the Board of Directors of Purcari Wineries on the RON 604 million public takeover bid launched by Maspex Romania. Schoenherr advised the founders of the winery. CMS, working with Turcan Cazac and Georgiades & Pelides, advised Maspex. Norton Rose Fulbright advised PKO Bank Polski on a loan facility to Maspex Romania to support the acquisition.
On 11 July 2025, Governmental Decision 437/2025 ("GD 437/2025") was published and entered into force. Through this piece of secondary legislation, the Moldovan Government has approved new rules governing the procedure for the prior examination and approval of investments of importance to state security. GD 437/2025 is intended to supplement the provisions of the recently updated FDI Law. But will this actually make things easier for existing and future investors?
Global business doesn’t stop at the border. Neither do contracts. Whether it’s a financing arrangement with a Dutch fund or a supply contract with a Romanian distributor, Moldovan companies routinely deal with foreign partners, and naturally, electronic signatures have become a tool of choice. But one simple question continues to surface: are electronic signatures issued by foreign trust service providers (TSPs not qualified in Moldova) treated the same as those issued locally?
This Legal Monitoring Report highlights key legislative developments in Moldova, including the launch of a grant program for tech start-ups, proposed excise duty reductions for small producers, extended paternity leave, enhanced protections for minor employees, regulation of temporary agency work, and time limits on meal voucher usage. Tax updates feature a new regime for freelancers, extended deductions for rural tourism and sports facilities, broader non-taxable income categories, and incentives for SMEs.
In The Debrief, our Practice Leaders across CEE share updates on recent and upcoming legislation, consider the impact of recent court decisions, showcase landmark projects, and keep our readers apprised of the latest developments impacting their respective practice areas.
Moldova’s legal landscape is undergoing a period of gradual yet meaningful transformation, according to Balaban & Partners Managing Partner Natalia Balaban who reports an increased reliance on alternative dispute resolution, strides in digitalization, and a wave of legislative reforms tied to the country’s EU accession ambitions.
On 17 March 2025, a new Regulation of the Moldovan Competition Council (the "MCC") on Economic Concentrations (the "New EC Regulation") entered into force in Moldova (as secondary legislation). It introduces several key changes aimed at enhancing the enforcement of competition legislation and increasing transparency. The New EC Regulation transposes several European Union regulations, including the Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2023/914 of 20 April 2023 and the Commission Notice on a simplified treatment for certain concentrations 2023/C 160/01.
On 22 April 2025, Law No. 66/2025 on combating delayed performance of payment obligations in contracts between professionals or between professionals and public authorities was published ("Law No. 66").
ACI Partners is a leading law firm in Moldova with an expanding network of partners throughout Europe. ACI Partners was established in 2006 and since then has managed to build a very strong and competitive legal practice. Our business strategy strives to deliver a solid and reliable service, going beyond merely grasping the law, which the clients may turn to whenever they need. In reaching this goal, ACI Partners employs a personalized approach to each client, showing a genuine respect for their values and unqualified commitment to their interests and needs, steadily investing in knowledge and data management and ensuring a working environment consistent with our clients’ quality demands and high expectations.
ACI Partners is a one-stop shop law firm proficient in all possible legal matters a business might come across in Moldova, starting with incorporation of a business, and obtaining of all the necessary regulatory permits, continuing with various daily matters, such as contracts, labor, and migration, and finishing with dispute settlement, insolvencies, and criminal investigations. But we pride ourselves especially for our unmatched expertise in most innovative and complex areas for Moldova, as Modern Financial Products, Data Protection, Renewable Energy, Competition, Clinical Studies, Public Procurement, and Regulatory. In our work, we always involve a team of professionals with the relevant skill-mix, which enables us to provide our clients with an integrated and comprehensive advice, superior to our competitors.
ACI Partners has advised the Government of the Republic of Moldova, businesses, international organizations, and other institutions on most challenging transactions, assignments and projects.
ACI Partners is not just another law firm. Over the course of our existence and working in Moldova, and on the international stage for our non-Moldovan clients, we have developed a strong set of core values which, we believe, guide us in everything that we do and, moreover, gives us a competitive advantage – differentiating us from other firms on the market.
