Mușat & Asociații advised Leviatan Design and Ubitech Construcții on the successful award and defence of the new Henri Coandă Airport terminal project

Mușat & Asociații advised the consortium formed by Leviatan Design S.R.L. and Ubitech Construcții S.R.L. in the public procurement procedure for the design of the new terminal at Henri Coandă International Airport Bucharest, one of the most significant infrastructure investments currently under development in Romania and a project expected to play a key role in shaping the future of the country's air transport infrastructure. The project has been described by the specialised press as the largest airport development initiative ever undertaken in Romania. 

The Mușat & Asociații team was led by Iulian Popescu, Deputy Managing Partner, and Ana Maria Abrudan, Partner, together with Iuliana Iacob (Partner), Ioana Cojocaru-Dumitru (Managing Associate), Georgiana Negulescu (Senior Associate), Alexandra Boiangiu (Associate) and Sorina Drughi (Junior Associate), who provided legal assistance and representation throughout the procurement process and the subsequent disputes arising both during the clarification phase and following the challenges brought against the award decision. 

The project concerns the design of a new terminal for Romania’s largest airport, an investment set to support the development of the national airport infrastructure for decades to come. According to publicly available information, the new terminal will cover approximately 176,000 sqm and is designed to accommodate an estimated 30 million passengers annually by 2040, compared to more than 17 million passengers handled in 2025. The investment also includes at least 48 new aircraft parking stands, a minimum of 20 boarding bridges, advanced baggage handling systems, and integrated road and rail connections, aimed at transforming Henri Coandă Airport into a modern regional hub aligned with the standards of major European airports. 

The success achieved by the Leviatan Design – Ubitech Construcții consortium is all the more remarkable given the highly competitive nature of the procedure, which attracted the interest of several experienced operators active in major infrastructure projects. At the same time, the project highlights the ability of Romanian companies to successfully compete for strategically important investments and to contribute to the modernisation of infrastructure essential to Romania’s long-term economic development.

The award decision was subject to extensive legal scrutiny. Following challenges submitted by competing bidders, the National Council for the Settlement of Contestations (CNSC) upheld the legality of the evaluation process and confirmed the designation of the Leviatan Design – Ubitech Construcții consortium as the successful bidder. The contract was subsequently signed at the beginning of July, allowing the project implementation phase to commence.

The disputes nevertheless continued before the courts. Following a detailed review of the case, the Bucharest Court of Appeal dismissed the complaints filed against the CNSC decision and fully upheld the outcome of the procurement procedure, confirming the legality of the evaluation carried out by the contracting entity and further strengthening the stability of one of the most important airport infrastructure projects currently under development in Romania.

The mandate involved integrated legal assistance both during the procurement phase and throughout the subsequent litigation, addressing complex issues specific to large-scale infrastructure projects and high-stakes public procurement procedures.

“We were delighted to assist Leviatan Design and Ubitech Construcții, two leading Romanian companies with whom we have had the privilege of working on numerous complex and strategically significant projects. The design of the new Henri Coandă Airport terminal represents one of the most important investments currently underway in Romania and will directly contribute to the modernisation of the country's airport infrastructure for decades to come. The fact that the outcome was upheld both by the CNSC and by the Bucharest Court of Appeal confirms the soundness of the evaluation carried out by the contracting entity and the strength of the solution proposed by the successful consortium. We are also pleased to continue supporting our clients during the implementation phase of this strategic project, providing legal assistance in connection with its delivery and execution”, stated the mandate coordinators.

Through this new achievement, Mușat & Asociații further strengthens its position as a strategic partner for investors, developers, contractors and public authorities involved in some of Romania’s most significant infrastructure and public investment projects, while reaffirming its recognised expertise in public procurement procedures and complex disputes relating to projects with substantial economic and social impact. As the project moves into its implementation phase, the firm will continue to support the client by providing legal advice on contractual, regulatory and execution-related matters that may arise during the course of the project.