The Legal 500

The ‘first-rate’ Peter Petrov heads Boyanov & Co’s ‘quick and effective’ team, which represented Quadrant Beverages in a matter regarding sanctions in respect of alleged unfair promotional practices. Other highlights included advising a leading international pharmaceuticals company regarding a local distributor’s claim before the Commission for the Protection of Competition (CPC) that it refused to authorise participation. It also advised Doka in aproceeding before the CPC regarding allegations of unfair competitive practice.

Djingov, Gouginski, Kyutchukov & Velichkov is recommended for its ‘ability to communicate complicated solutions in clear and simple language’. It advised Metro Cash and Carry during a CPC cartel investigation into six retailers. The firm is also advising Bunge Zrt and its Bulgarian subsidiary Kaliakra in proceedings before the CPC including a newly opened investigation into resale price maintenance and horizontal price fixing. It is also defending Wind Hellas Telecommunications in Bulgarian court matter against the three mobile telecoms operators. Milan Pandev and practice head Nikolai Gouginski are recommended.

Penkov, Markov & Partners has ‘an excellent track record’ of advising its corporate clients on competition matters. It is representing CMB Bulgaria before the CPC. Clients also include Vienna Insurance Group and TBIH Group. Vladimir Penkov and Svetlin Adrianov are recommended.

Andrey Delchev and Partners – Eurolex Bulgaria has ‘an excellent reputation’ for EU and competition matters. It is advising the Ministry of Environment and Water on the draft Climate Change Mitigation Act to harmonise Bulgarian and EU regulation. It also represented Gazprom in a successful CPC proceeding regarding the effect of acquisitions on the market. Severina Liubenova heads the practice.

CMS Cameron McKenna LLP – Bulgaria Branch is recommended for its expertise in antitrust and unfair competition matters as well as merger control advice in the context of cross-border transactions. It advised Delhaize Group on the Bulgarian merger control aspects of its acquisition of Delta Maxi Group and acted for a leading Bulgarian supermarket chain regarding investigation proceedings before the CPC. Pavel Hristov is recommended.

Georgiev, Todorov & Co represented Bulgarian Telecommunications Company in several proceedings before the CPC and acted for Municipal Health Insurance Fund before the CPC and the Supreme Administrative Court with regards to an appeal against a public procurement process. Practice head Alexander Pachamanov is recommended.

Stefan Tzakov heads Kambourov & Partners’ ‘responsive and result-oriented’ team, which has ‘great business acumen’. It represented Alstom Power before the CPC in unfair competition litigation; and Maxima Bulgaria in proceedings before the CPC, where Maxima’s retailer T-Market was one of six large retailers that were respondents to antitrust infringement allegations. It also advised Kamenitza on competition matters relating to its acquisition by CVC Capital Partners.

Penev LLP provided competition and antitrust advice on the merger between Alpha Bank and EFG Eurobank. It also advised Turkcell Iletisim Hizmetleri on competition issues relating to a $1bn restructuring deal as part of the acquisition of the Bulgarian mobile operator Vivacom. Sergey Penev is well regarded.

Key work for Andonov & Radinska Law Firm included representing Cinema City Bulgaria before the CPC in cartel proceedings. Hristo Andonov is recommended.

Arsov Natchev Ganeva advised Société Générale on antitrust matters relating to the sale of its consumer finance subsidiary in Bulgaria. The team is also representing Sodexo in numerous litigation proceedings before the CPC and the Bulgarian Supreme Administrative Court regarding antitrust and competition cases. Its client base also includes Swissport Bulgaria. Svetlana Ganeva and Vladimir Natchev jointly head the team.

Borissov & Partners recently provided competition advice to Vitogaz regarding the sale of its Bulgarian LPG business, and advises Rubis on its global acquisition projects.

Dimitrov, Petrov & Co successfully represented a major DTH television operator before the CPC, and was also instructed by the Society for Electronic Communications to advise on an ordinance imposing an obligation on all traders to maintain a permanent connection between their electronic cash registers and the National Revenue Agency. Zoya Todorova is recommended.

Dinova, Rusev & Partners’ ‘skilled’ team has an ‘excellent reputation’. It was instructed to advise S&B Industrial Minerals on a pricing issue in a dominant market, and acted for Reckitt Benckiser regarding product imitation proceedings before the CPC. Milen Rusev and Diana Valkova are recommended.

Popov & Partners’ ‘highly professional’ team is praised for its ability to provide ‘excellent services through a well-organised work flow’. The group advised Gorubso Kardzhali in proceedings to obtain temporary state financial aid worth €2m, and also acted for Mobbo in a case before the CPC regarding accusations of false advertising. The key contacts are Emiliyan Arnaudov, Galin Popov and Elisaveta Yotova.

The ‘focused’ Ilko Stoyanov heads Schoenherr (in cooperation with Law firm Andreev, Stoyanov and Tsekova)’s ‘client-oriented and well-prepared’ department, which advised a client in a cartel investigation and acted for VTB Capital on the merger control filing for the acquisition of a controlling stake in Bulgartabac.

Wolf Theiss’ ‘strong, practical and proactive’ group is ‘exceptionally hardworking’. It advised Metinvest on the merger control filing and clearance for its acquisition of Zaporizhstal. Clients also include National Instruments, Gramercy Emerging Markets Fund and Lukerg Renew. Richard Clegg and the ‘brilliant’ Anna Rizova are recommended.

BWSP Ilieva, Voutcheva & Co Law Firm continues to advise TBWA-Sofia on competition matters, and acted for New Moment New Ideas Company on competition issues relating to various contracts and advertising projects. Diliana Ilieva and Rossitsa Voutcheva are recommended.

CMS Reich-Rohrwig Hainz in cooperation with Pavlov and Partners Law Firm has ‘an excellent reputation for competition work’, and its experience spans in Bulgarian and European antitrust, merger control and state aid regulations. It advised Limagrain Group on the proposed joint venture between Limagrain Group and KWS SAAT, and advised the Directorate General for Justice of the European Commission on the implementation of the Unfair Commercial Practices Directive 2005/29/EC in Bulgaria. Dessislava Fessenko heads the team.

Danailov, Mihaleva, Nedelchev & Co/Lex Locus is experienced in advising clients in proceedings before the CPC and Supreme Administrative Court. Dimitar Danailov is well regarded.

Dobrev, Kinkin & Lyutskanov’s ‘top-quality’ team provides ‘prompt and professional advice’. It advised Sparky Eltos on the violation of its trade mark rights and acted for V Consulting in a matter relating to infringements of the competition rules by a competitor in the advertising market. Grozdan Dobrev heads the team.

McGregor & Partners advises its corporate clients on EU and competition matters. Neil McGregor and Julian Spassov are the key contacts.

Peterka & Partners Law Firm’s clients include Veolia Voda, Infram and Sia Jysk Linnen ‘n Furniture. Martin Vacek and Plamen Peev are recommended.

Simeonov & Dermendjiev acted in a case regarding the ban on smoking in sheltered public places in the municipality of Kiustendil, and advised a client in proceedings before the CPC concerning a violation of competition rules in the automotive sector.

Vienna Insurance Group and Herbalife are key clients of Tsvetkova Bebov & Partners, Attorneys-at-Law’s ‘smooth and efficient’ team, which includes Venelin Dimitrov.