Did You Know that, according to the Activity Rankings function of the CEELMDirect website, Djingov Gouginski Kyutchukov & Velichkov worked on 15 reported client matters in Bulgaria in 2022 – more than any other law firm?

The growth of e-commerce and online advertising in Bulgaria in the last two decades has been impressive. The COVID-19 pandemic gave an additional boost to the digital economy. Amid such rapid development and almost 16 years after its entry into force, the Bulgarian Electronic Commerce Act (the ECA) feels quite outdated.

Stoeva Tchompalov & Znepolski, working with Morrison & Foerster, has advised Eurohold Bulgaria on accessing a EUR 40 million loan facility. Boyanov & Co, working with Linklaters, has advised arranger, agent, and original lender JP Morgan. Loyens & Loeff reportedly advised Eurohold on Dutch law-related matters.

Going through hard times, Bulgaria’s newly elected political parties are still unable to form a government, yet the market is showing positive developments in some sectors, according to Boyanov & Co. Managing Partner Borislav Boyanov.

Did You Know that, according to the Activity Rankings function of the CEELMDirect website, Sokol Nako, the Managing Partner of Wolf Theiss Albania, has worked on more reported deals in Albania over the past nine years – eight, in total – than any other lawyer?

Boyanov & Co has advised BioIVT on its acquisition of Fidelis Research. Divjak Topic Bahtijarevic & Krka, BDK Advokati, Nestor Nestor Diculescu Kingston Petersen, and Kolcuoglu Demirkan Kocakli have advised BioIVT on Croatian, Serbian, Romanian, and Turkish law-related matters, respectively. Hristov & Partners advised Integrity Capital Investments on the sale. Penkov Markov & Partners advised the other sellers.

Did You Know that, according to the Activity Rankings function of the CEELMDirect website, CMS has worked on 15 reported Banking & Finance deals in Bulgaria in the past five years – more than any other law firm?

Dentons has advised a syndicate of banks led by Ceska Sporitelna, and including Ceskoslovenska Obchodni Banka and Komercni Banka, on the financing of KKCG Group and Aricoma Group’s acquisition of Musala Soft. Polenak, Boyanov & Co, and, reportedly, Andric and TM & Partners advised the banks as well. Clifford Chance advised Aricoma Group on the deal.

Boyanov & Co has advised Yara International on the sale of Bulgarian and Romanian businesses Yara Bulgaria and Yara Digital Romania to the Nik Group. Wolf Theiss advised the buyer.

On August 25, 2022, Boyanov & Co announced that Mondelez International's acquisition of Chipita S.A. (reported by CEE Legal Matters on June 1, 2021) had closed. 

Djingov Gouginski Kyutchukov & Velichkov has advised Maple Bear on its EUR 100 million investment program for the CEE region through a partnership with Vantage Capital. MFW Fialek advised Vantage Capital on the partnership. Boyanov & Co reportedly advised Vantage as well.

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, Savoric & Partners, and Filip & Company have advised Borealis on a binding offer for its nitrogen business from the Agrofert group. Wolf Theiss advised Agrofert. Oppenheim, Boyanov & Co, and PRK Partners reportedly advised Borealis as well.

Boyanov & Co has appointed Borislav Notovsky and Stela Sabeva to Partner.

In 2012, the Bulgarian Parliament introduced statutory rules regarding the activities of temporary staffing enterprises (TSAs). Before that, their existence and operations were recognized and tolerated in practice, but their activities took place in a legal vacuum.

With the country still helmed by an interim government, it would appear that Bulgaria remains in a position to grow and prosper and is a fruitful target for investors, according to Boyanov & Co Partner Damian Simeonov.

Looking at the past 18 months, as economies across CEE contracted, the technology, media, and telecom sector has been surging. A balancing factor for economies, it helped avoid a deeper recession. For CEE law firms, TMT’s solid performance brought in a steady amount of work, helping polish what might otherwise have been a lackluster year.

Bulgaria, it seems, is in good shape. Fueled by a buoyant tech sector, the country’s economy is registering impressive growth, incomes are rising, and unemployment is down. Still, with corruption still a problem and the prospect of a global slowdown around the corner, few are willing to bet on the good times sticking around long. As always, in the Land of Roses, the thorns are not far away.

The Deal: In May, 2018, CEE Legal Matters reported that Linklaters, Kocian Solc Balastik, the BLC Law Office, Paksoy, and Tsvetkova Bebov Komarevski had provided advice on Czech, English, Georgian, Turkish, and Bulgarian law, respectively, to Energo-Pro a.s. on its EUR 250 million Eurobond issue in London. Allen & Overy, BGI Legal in Tbilisi, Boyanov & Co. in Bulgaria, and Turkey’s Gedik & Eraksoy advised the joint bookrunners, BNP Paribas, Citigroup Global Markets Limited and J.P. Morgan Securities plc, and the Trustee, Citibank, N.A., London Branch.