The Legal 500

Borislav Boyanov & Co provides expertise across the scope of competition matters from advising on merger control issues to state aid and unfair competition cases. As a result of its corporate transactional expertise, the firm is able to provide a one-stop-shop service to companies engaged in significant mergers and indeed has handled more than 60 merger control cases where clearance was obtained. Led by department head Peter Petrov, the firm obtained merger clearance on behalf of Russian conglomerate Mechel on its proposed acquisition of sole control over the district heating and electricity company in Ruse, Bulgaria, Toplofikatsia – Ruse.

As well as handling a raft of merger control-related matters for its extensive corporate client base, Djingov, Gouginski, Kyutchukov & Velichkov is also regularly involved in standalone work. Recent highlights include advising Atomstroyexport on the competition law issues associated with its acquisition of Nukem Technologies. Cartel work has also accounted for a significant proportion of the group’s work including a recent price-fixing investigation before the Bulgarian Competition Authority (CPC) on behalf of Kaliakra against 15 oil producers and the respective trade association. Milan Pandev is recommended.

Corporate heavyweight Penkov, Markov & Partners receives a regular flow of work from its impressive roster of clients as well as receiving standalone work. Active across the spectrum of competition matters including merger clearance concerns, the firm also regularly appears before the CPC. The practice represents Coca-Cola Hellenic Bottling on the competition issues associated with its marketing promotions as well as representing it in all proceedings before the CPC. Vladimir Penkov and Svetlin Adrianov are recommended.

Andonov & Radinska’s market profile was enhanced by its recent high-profile success for Intersnack before the CPC, where it managed to decrease by ten times the expected multimillion-euro sanction on an unfair competition claim. The team is also regularly engaged by General Electric, Avestus Capital Partners and SEEF II on merger control issues.

Leveraging off its ‘superior’ public sector expertise, Andrey Delchev and Partners – Eurolex Bulgaria has been busy advising the Road Infrastructure Agency on the public procurement-related competition issues associated with its €220m highways construction project. The team also derives a significant amount of competition work from its impressive corporate client base including merger clearance instructions. Magdalana Valova heads the team.

Arsov Natchev Ganeva provides EU and competition law expertise as part of a full-service approach. However, as well as picking up work off the back of its corporate client base, the firm also frequently handles standalone mandates. Notably, the team recently successfully represented airport-handling company Swissport Bulgaria in a case concerning the abuse of a dominant position against the state operator Sofia Airport. In addition, the firm successfully approached the European Commission, which subsequently commenced an infringement procedure against the Bulgarian government for non-compliance with the EC competition law. Svetlana Ganeva heads the team.

Borissov & Partners has a strong position in the market and has been involved in the competition aspects of an impressive raft of complex, often cross-border M&A mandates. As well as its recent work on behalf Rubis on its acquisition of Shell’s gas business in Bulgaria, the practice also represented Credit Agricole on the competition issues associated with its indirect acquisition of Emporiki Bank Bulgaria.

CMS Cameron McKenna in cooperation with Petkova & Sirleshtov Law Office benefits from the ‘tremendous expertise’ of senior associate Pavel Hristov. Leveraging off its formidable corporate client base, Hristov handles the concomitant competition clearance advice on M&A transactions and also regularly appears before the CPC.

Danailov, Mihaleva, Nedelchev & Co/Lex Locus received significant market recognition as a result of its recent representation of both Rizova & Partners Law Firm (part of DLA Piper) and Wolf Theiss in the defence of the competition case brought against them by a number of domestic firms. The team also recently represented Publicis before the CPC regarding an alleged misleading advertisement. Dimitar Danailov is recommended.

Headed by Miroslav Ognyanov, the ‘responsive and business-sensitive’ team at Dimitrov, Petrov & Co handles the full spectrum of competition matters including unfair trade practices and cartel cases. Notably, the team advises Cosmo Bulgaria Mobile and has recently represented the mobile operator in a number of lawsuits concerning unfair competition practices, price policies and the abuse of a dominant position in the national telecoms market.

Headed by the ‘efficient and solution-orientated’ Milen Rusev, Dinova & Rusev ‘provides an excellent service and benefits from a well co-ordinated team of lawyers that are knowledgeable, experienced, dedicated, hardworking and ethical’. As well as regularly picking up the concomitant clearance work associated with big-ticket mergers the firm also regularly appears before the CPC. The firm is advising Restis Group on a range of matters including the competition law issues associated with real estate acquisitions in Bulgaria and ensuring compliance with unfair competition rules in relation to its advertising and marketing campaigns. Other clients include Reckitt Benckieser, Daskalantonakis Group and Alpha Bank. Diana Valkova is also recommended.

At Georgiev, Todorov & Co, competition and EU law are the cornerstones of the firm’s expertise. Leveraging off a significant corporate client base, as well as generating regular standalone mandates, the firm is a ‘prominent player in the market’. The ‘very impressive and professional’ Alexander Pachamanov excels at the EU and competition matters affecting the telecoms sector and recently advised Balkan News, the owner of BTV, on an abuse of a dominant position matter before the CPC.

Kambourov & Partners has forged an increasingly pervasive presence in the market particularly on behalf of one of its core clients E.ON. Indeed, the firm has successfully represented the aforementioned energy company in several abuse of dominant position proceedings before the CPC. ‘Very experienced in competition law’, department head Stefan Tzakov is ‘incredibly precise, to the point and thorough in legal issues on all aspects’.

Led by the ‘excellent and responsive’ Sergey Penev, Penev LLP provides a ‘highly commercial and excellent value for money service’ to corporates across a range of mandates from merger clearance notifications to unfair competition and state aid cases. The team advised Antenna on the sale of TV Channel Nova Television to the media group of the Modern Times Group. The practice also continues to advise the European Commission’s Bulgarian office on the compatibility of EU and domestic law.

Popov & Partners has ‘excellent business knowledge’ and provides ‘strategic and analytical thinking’ to clients engaged in competition disputes as well as advisory work. ‘Always able to evaluate the perspectives to find alternative solutions if necessary’, the firm recently represented Panda Co-operative in a competition dispute with the second largest domestic mobile operator. The ‘excellent’ Emiliyan Arnaudov is an integral part of the team.

Jointly headed by Ilko Stoyanov and Mariya Papazova, Schoenherr’s competition group regularly handles work on behalf of its corporate clients engaged in M&A matters. The team recently advised Procter & Gamble on the competition law aspects of its acquisition of the worldwide air care business of Sara Lee. The firm has also handled a raft of cartel compliance work on behalf of clients such as Mondi, Samsung and Praktiker.

McGregor & Partners represents clients on traditional merger clearance and unfair competition work, as well as in more esoteric areas such as advising corporates on how best to deal with dawn raids.

Yonev Valkov Nenov represents clients across a range of EU and competition matters, including merger control and public procurement procedures.