The Legal 500

Boyanov & Co’s comprehensive competition practice matches ‘the best of the best’. Peter Petrov and his team routinely defend multinational clients before the Commission for the Protection of Competition (CPC), and in 2010 defended a leading food retailer in an appeal brought by a competitor relating to its acquisition of a discount retail chain.

Djingov, Gouginski, Kyutchukov & Velichkov’s competition team provides ‘appropriate and timely advice, and strong expertise’. In 2010, it advised clients such as Coca-Cola Hellenic Bottling Company and Devnya Cement on antitrust compliance issues and merger control matters. The team also represented CEZ in its high-profile appeal to the Supreme Administrative Court relating to an abuse of dominant position decision by the CPC, and advised Metro Cash and Carry Bulgaria regarding ongoing antitrust investigations. Practice head Nikolai Gouginski is recommended.

Led by Vladimir Penkov and Svetlin Adrianov, Penkov, Markov & Partners’ competition team handles day-to-day competition issues for its corporate clients, as well as representing them before the CPC in standalone cases. Highlights included defending CMB Bulgaria in alleged violations of the Competition Protection Act, and Chipita Bulgaria in a case of alleged misleading commercial activity.

Name partner Andrey Delchev leads an ‘excellent’ team at Andrey Delchev and Partners – Eurolex Bulgaria that is noted for its ‘thorough knowledge of national and European legislation’. The practice had a busy 2010, including successfully representing Media Group Bulgaria Holding before the CPC in a case concerning its internal restructuring, and advising The Ministry of Regional Development and Public Works on its procurement procedures. Other clients include the Bulgarian Chamber of Mining and Geology, the Road Infrastructure Agency and the Municipality of Sofia.

Highlights for senior associate Pavel Hristov’s team at CMS Cameron McKenna LLP – Bulgaria Branch included successfully representing Europa Capital before the CPC regarding the unconditional merger clearance of its acquisition of the Mall of Sofia. It also advised Strabag on merger control issues, and Diageo on regulatory issues regarding misleading and prohibited comparative advertising.

Georgiev, Todorov & Co advises on a variety of contentious and non-contentious mandates. These included advising Enel on state aid issues and a proposed acquisition by Global Contour, and successfully defending Roche Bulgaria against allegations of cartel participation before the CPC. Other clients include Microsoft Bulgaria, EVN Bulgaria, Cisco Systems and Chaos Group. Alexander Pachamanov heads the team.

Kambourov & Partners’ ‘wealth of experience and expertise is combined with the capability to handle a large amount of work against the tightest of deadlines’, with practice head Stefan Tzakov singled out as being ‘one of the most expert and meticulous lawyers around’. The team represented Alstom Power in its litigation before the CPC against Chinese-Italian consortium Idreco-Insigma concerning the alleged unlawful use of its Maritza East two technology.

Penev LLP has a leading track record within the EU and competition sphere. It recently advised Alpha Bank Greece and EFG Eurobank on antitrust issues relating to their merger, and also advises the European Commission’s Bulgarian office, The Walt Disney Company and Heitman. Managing partner Sergey Penev is recommended.

Andonov & Radinska Law Firm’s EU and competition team provides ‘absolutely perfect advice and interpretation of EU regulations’, as well as a ‘value-for-money ratio which is almost unbeatable’. The team recently successfully defended Gradus and Intersnack in misleading advertising cases before the CPC. Managing partner Hristo Andonov provides ‘fast, efficient and appropriate advice and assistance’.

Arsov Natchev Ganeva handles merger clearance advisory work for clients such as Renault Trucks SAS and Publicis Groupe, and also represents clients before the CPC. Svetlana Ganeva and Vladimir Natchev are the key figures.

In 2010, Borissov & Partners acted on behalf of the Commission for Consumer Protection regarding the implementation of a council directive on package travel, and advised Vitogaz on competition aspects of the sale of its Bulgarian LPG business. Other clients include Crédit Agricole and Rubis.

In 2010, Dimitrov, Petrov & Co successfully defended one of Bulgaria’s biggest telecoms providers before the CPC and Supreme Administrative Court in a case concerning fixed termination prices. Zoya Todorova now leads the team following former practice head Miroslav Ognyanov’s departure to the European Commission.

Dinova, Rusev & Partners’ team advises its multinational corporate clients on non-contentious competition matters, as well as representing them before the CPC. The team advised Restis Group on competition aspects of lease agreements and contracts, and S&B Industrial Minerals on pricing issues. Other clients include Sofia Hotel Balkan. Milen Rusev leads the team, which includes Diana Valkova.

Popov & Partners’ ‘excellent, analytical and specialised’ competition practice is noted for its telecoms expertise, and in 2010 acted for Dicon Group on public procurement matters. It also successfully defended Aiko Multi Concept in an unfair competition case before the CPC. Emilliyan Arnaudov and Elisaveta Yotova are ‘extremely knowledgeable’ and ‘dedicated to their work’, and Galin Popov ‘has rich local and international experience’.

Schoenherr’s practice is jointly led by Ilko Stoyanov and Mariya Papazova, and regularly advises its corporate clients on competition matters. It has handled merger control mandates for Durpack, Procter & Gamble and Raiffeisen, and assisted clients such as Samsung, Mondi and OMV with cartel law compliance and investigations.

Wolf Theiss has a ‘precise knowledge of the market’ and an enviable client list, due in part to its recent absorption of the team from the now defunct Rizova & Partners Law Firm. The team advised Raiffeisen Zentralbank Austria on merger control aspects of its acquisition of Mall Varna, and represented Dr Oetker Group before the CPC and Supreme Administrative Court regarding promotion incentives. Other clients include Bulgarian Energy Holding, Gramercy and Visa Europe. Anna Rizova and Richard Clegg lead the team.

CMS Reich-Rohrwig Hainz in cooperation with Pavlov and Partners Law Firm advised an Abbott subsidiary on the antitrust aspects of its marketing systems; assisted Metro Cash & Carry with an antitrust audit of its sales lines; and represented Techem before the CPC concerning alleged involvement in cartel activities. Dessislava Fessenko leads the practice.

Danailov, Mihaleva, Nedelchev & Co/Lex Locus’ litigation experts have a track record of representing high-profile clients before the CPC and Supreme Administrative Court. Managing partner Dimitar Danailov is recommended.

Dobrev, Kinkin & Lyutskanov advises on public procurement, merger control and general regulatory matters. It also regularly acts in cases before the CPC, representing clients such as Print Green, V Consulting and Bulgarian VIP Travel.

McGregor & Partners provides competition advice to its corporate clients. Neil McGregor and Julian Spassov are recommended.

Tsvetkova Bebov & Partners (Landwell) advises Herbalife on the implementation of EU legislation, and recently advised AstraZeneca on advertising medicines. Venelin Dimitrov leads the practice, and Galina Bunkova is also recommended.