A&O launches Romania outpost

#Allen & Overy (A&O) has launched a presence in Romania, signing an exclusive association with local firm Radu Taracila Padurari Retevoescu (RTPR). The alliance will be up and running from the start of July. A&O has announced the move in the same week that magic circle rival Linklaters signalled a retreat from the Romanian market. The associated office will be renamed 'RTPR in Association with Allen & Overy' and will form part of A&O's Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) practice, which is led by Jane Townsend. Townsend said: "Since Romania joined the EU in 2007, clients increasingly expect a CEE practice to be able to give advice in Romania. We feel Romania is an increasingly important part of the region as a whole." The Bucharest office will complement A&O's own CEE offices in Bratislava, Budapest, Prague, Warsaw and Moscow.