Two concentrations recently prohibited by the Bulgarian Commission for the Protection of Competition with limited analysis have been widely criticized for their lack of valid economic arguments. Because both decisions were highly publicized and concern the politically sensitive sectors of media and energy, they are worth special attention.

Johannes Juranek has been appointed Managing Partner of CMS Reich-Rohrwig Hainz and will assume the role at the start of the firm's financial year on February 1, 2019.

The amendments provide new business opportunities to banks to enter into repo transactions and derivatives with Bulgarian pension funds.

The particularly-challenging nature of CEE law firm marketing becomes especially relevant as we bid adieu to a good friend in Bulgaria, who, after more than four years doing law firm marketing and business development with several of Bulgaria’s leading law firms, is leaving the profession altogether. We asked her some final questions on her last day, honoring her request for anonymity in the process.

White & Case has advised Piraeus Bank SA on the sale of its 99.98 percent shareholding in Piraeus Bank Bulgaria AD to Eurobank Bulgaria AD. The buyer was reportedly advised by Milbank.

Companies have until 1 February 2019 to register their beneficial owners in the Bulgarian Commercial Register and Register for Non-profit Legal Persons (the "Commercial Register"). This obligation comes as a result of the adoption of a new Law on the measures against money laundering in March this year (the "AML Law").

The Supreme Court of Bulgaria has clarified important aspects of enforcement over real estate assets that form part of an enterprise pledge.

Ever since the CEE market opened for private practice CEE lawyers have sought to work on international mandates in collaboration with international lead counsels. Apart from the obvious (we take an oath to serve justice, but it is no secret that we also in fact work for money), the benefits of this cooperation also include the opportunity to draw on the international counsel’s expertise, particularly in transactional work. Such cooperation has greatly influenced the work of local counsel. Those who seized the opportunity had a steep learning curve and developed their practices to a level that is generally referred to, mostly in lawyers’ own pitches, as reaching an “international standard.”

In The Corner Office we ask Managing Partners across Central and Eastern Europe about their unique roles and responsibilities. The question this time around: Who was your mentor, and what was the most important lesson you learned from him or her?

CMS Sofia has advised UniCredit Bulbank on the sale of a real estate-secured NPL portfolio to Debt Collection Agency, a subsidiary of the Norwegian financial services group B2Holding. The buyer was supported on the transaction by the Bulgarian office of Schoenherr.

With Decision No.1046 issued on 20 September 2018, the Bulgarian Commission for the Protection of Competition (the "CPC") gave the green light to the acquisition of Rapido Express and Logistics OOD by its competitor Speedy AD, in accordance with Article 26(1) of the Act for the Protection of Competition (the "APC").

CMS Sofia has advised the UK-based oil and gas company Petroceltic on remedying a force majeure event related to the offshore production of natural gas in Bulgaria.

Kambourov & Partners has advised the Stillfront Group on its EUR 10 million acquisition of 100% of the shares in Imperia Online JSC. The acquisition is expected to close in early October 2018.

Former Penkov, Markov & Partners Partner Svetlin Adrianov has joined EY Law as Associate Partner and Law Leader for EY Bulgaria, Albania, and Macedonia, in a move the firm claims "strengthens one of the firm’s core practice areas – corporate and transaction law, and adds further depth to the firm’s offering."

CMS has advised ING Bank on financing provided to two companies from the Ukrainian agribusiness sector.

“It’s never boring in Bulgaria – we always have some hot topics to handle,” says Stefana Tsekova, Partner at Schoenherr Bulgaria, who reports that on August 10 the country’s trade registry collapsed and remained unavailable for 18 days, causing a “total nightmare for the business sector.”

Anna Tanova, Executive Director of the Bulgarian Broadcasters Association, has joined CMS Sofia to lead its IT & Media Practice.

Kambourov & Partners has advised PREEMZ on Bulgarian IP law and the U.S.'s DME Law has advised PREEMZ on US law regarding ROW8, a consumer premium video on-demand platform.