The Legal 500

Boyanov & Co provides an ‘excellent’ service to its international client base. It is particularly strong in the nuclear and renewable energy sectors, and advised AOA Atomenergoprom on the construction and operation of Belene nuclear power plant. Other highlights included advising a major Russian energy company on its potential acquisition of ENEL, and advising China Ming Yang Wind Power Group on its joint venture to build a portfolio of wind farms. Practice head Alexander Chatalbashev is recommended.

CMS Cameron McKenna LLP – Bulgaria Branch has a ‘strong’ and ‘knowledgeable’ team noted for its expertise within the power industry. It acted for key client Toshiba in its recently completed €300m refurbishment of Maritza Iztok II thermal power plant, and was also selected by the government to conduct a feasibility study for a coal-fired thermal power plant. It also advised Korean investor SDN on its creation of five solar power projects in central Bulgaria totalling 58MW and valued at €184m. Practice head Kostadin Sirleshtov is ‘outstanding’.

Djingov, Gouginski, Kyutchukov & Velichkov’s legal advice is ‘first class, top quality and tailored to commercial needs’. The team, which is jointly headed by Georgi Gouginski and Milan Pandev, advises on matters across the energy sector. It advised ContourGlobal on its €500m purchase of a majority stake in ENEL’s Maritsa East Three 908MW thermal power plant, and DEG Invest on the project financing of a wind power plant. It also acted for Chevron regarding gas extraction activities. Pandev is a ‘top-class commercial lawyer, with excellent English-language drafting skills’.

Penkov, Markov & Partners is ‘a blue-chip energy firm’, and is extremely active in solar and wind projects. Highlights included advising Innovative Wind Concepts on a 300MW wind farm, and Enertrag on a 500MW wind farm. It is also advising on developing numerous solar power plants for clients such as Solar Vision and Mega Solar. Practice head Svetoslav Dimitrov is ‘a must-have lawyer for any energy project’, and Nickolay Kiskinov is ‘extremely reliable with unmatched understanding of electricity and gas policies and legislation’. Managing partner Vladimir Penkov is a ‘driving force’ within the sector.

Spasov & Bratanov’s ‘very capable and well-respected’ team is led by the hugely experienced Vassil Hadjov, and advises across the full spectrum of projects. The team advised key client AES on the financing, construction and operation of the 670MW Maritza East One coal-fired power plant, on the 156MW St Nikola wind farm, and on its 23MW solar power joint venture with Carlyle Group. It also advised Melrose Resources on all aspects of its oil and gas exploration activities in the Black Sea. Other clients include Bulgarian Energy Holding, Mitsubishi Corporation and EDF Energies Nouvelle.

Arsov Natchev Ganeva handles a range of energy and project work, with key highlights in 2011 including acting for Bulgarian Energy Holding, Edison and DEPA on the development of a €160m natural gas pipeline between Bulgaria and Greece. The team also advised Alpine Bau on its participation in the Gorna Arda hydropower plant, and conducted a full-scope analysis of the new amendments to the Bulgarian Water Act. Other clients include Total France, Areva Technicatome and AS 24 SAS. Marin Arsov is recommended.

Kambourov & Partners’ energy practice represented key client E.ON before the Supreme Administrative Court in an appeal against a decision by the State Energy and Water Commission. The group also advised Merrill Lynch regarding its electricity wholesale trading, and advised Bulgarian Energy Holding on the restructuring of the Belene nuclear power plant. Other clients include Phoenix Solar, BP Solar and Gruppo Societa Gas. Stefan Tzakov heads the practice.

Schoenherr has developed an ‘excellent’ reputation. Highlights included representing EVN as bidder for the Enel Maritza East 3 power plant. The team is also advising OMV on its upstream and downstream business, and Edison in its joint venture with Bulgarian Energy Holdings to create a natural gas pipeline between Bulgaria and Greece. Managing partner Alexandra Doytchinova is recommended, as is Stefana Tsekova, who is praised for her ‘professionalism and extraordinary adaptability’.

Tsvetkova Bebov & Partners (Landwell)’s expertise spans electricity, natural gas and thermal power plants, with the team advising investors in the Bulgarian energy sector on asset sales and purchases as well as general transactional support. Highlights included advising Abasol Group on the potential acquisition of a solar power plant, and advising CEZ on the acquisition of a solar projects company.

Andrey Delchev and Partners – Eurolex Bulgaria’s practice provides a ‘high-quality service’ and has ‘deep knowledge’ of Bulgarian legislation. The team advised Gazprom Neft on the €150m construction and acquisition of gas and petrol stations across Bulgaria. It also acted on a number of government mandates, including advising the Ministry of Environment and Water on the drafting its national water strategy. Team head Andrey Delchev and senior associate Momchil Jivkov are recommended.

Atanassov & Ivanov Law Firm advises clients in the wind, oil and gas sectors, including advising a Chinese investor on its €10m acquisition of a wind farm, and performing due diligence on a solar power business for UniCredit Leasing. The team is also the sole adviser to Park Place Energy, and is representing the company before the courts following a challenge by a competitor. Name partners Stoyan Atanassov and Iliyan Ivanov are the key figures.

Delchev & Partners’ practice continues to advise Alstom on its role as general contractor to AES on its 670MW thermal power plant. It also advised Alpine-Energie Osterreich on construction of a solar power park in Trastiko, and represented Toshiba in its investment into a 10MW solar power park in southeastern Bulgaria. Emil Delchev heads the practice.

Dinova, Rusev & Partners’ ‘well informed and responsive’ team has a ‘vast knowledge not only of legal framework but also of the business environment and trends in the energy industry’. The team has a strong reputation in wind farm projects, and acts for Kaliakra Wind Power, developers of Bulgaria’s first wind farm. Highlights included acting for a London-based private equity fund in its bid for a portfolio of solar power plants, and advising a Bulgarian company on the development of a 120MW wind farm. Anelia Dinova, Milen Rusev and senior associates Todor Kakachev and Iliya Grozdanov are recommended.

Dobrev, Kinkin & Lyutskanov is advising VEZ Svoghe on its development of nine hydroelectric power plants on the Iskar River. It also advised VEZ Martiza on the development of five small hydropower plants in the Maritza River, and acting for Solera Energy on the construction of four photovoltaic energy plants. Adriana Nacheva leads the practice.

Georgiev, Todorov & Co’s practice advised ContourGlobal on issues surrounding exploitation, waste treatments and air pollution. It also acted for Kaolin AD in environmental impact assessment procedures and represented it in a range of legal proceedings. Arno Mamasian heads the team.

Gugushev & Partners Law Office provides regulatory advice on new legislation, licence applications and contractual agreements to clients such as Egyptian renewable energy developer Elsewedy Electric, European investment fund Novenergia and Energiewerkstatt Austrian Group. It also advised Alpiq Eco Power on its application to extend a wind farm. Managing partner Stefan Gugushev has ‘profound understanding of the overall legal environment’, and associate Dobrina Radanova has ‘great energy knowledge’.

Law Firm Kolcheva, Smilenov, Koev and Partners has a ‘well-grounded, fast and client-focused’ practice which produces ‘imaginative solutions and alternatives’. The team is led by the ‘competent and dedicated’ Gergana Ilieva, who advised Eolica Bulgaria and Eolica Suvorovo on the construction and operation of several wind farms.

McGregor & Partners advises on the full spectrum of matters, including land acquisition, construction and financing. It is active in solar, wind and hydropower projects, and in the past three years has advised on various projects totalling around 200MW. Neil McGregor and Julian Spassov are the key partners.

Varadinov & Co Attorneys-at-Law acts for both developers and buyers, and has been particularly active in the solar energy market. Highlights included acting for Solartechnics International on its potential acquisition of a 70MW solar energy project, and acting for the project managers of the crude oil pipeline running from Burgas to Alexandropolis. Anna Penakova leads the practice.

Borissov & Partners’ developing niche in environmental projects complements its existing expertise in solar energy. The team, which includes managing partner Plamen Borissov and Radoslav Alexandrov, recently advised DALU on its acquisition of a solar energy project, and advised a German client on the development of a 47MW solar energy project.

CMS Reich-Rohrwig Hainz in cooperation with Pavlov and Partners Law Firm’s ‘young and highly motivated team’ has expertise in renewable energy. In 2010, it advised EVN on various legal issues arising from the €500m Gorna Arda hydropower plant, and conducted due diligence on three solar energy parks for Alpha Energy Holding. Other clients include Phoenix Solar, Robul, and Notus. Gentscho Pavlov and his team are ‘very well informed’.

Dimitrov, Petrov & Co has notable prowess in wind farms projects, and acted for a German investor on selling half of the capital in its Bulgarian subsidiary to a wind turbine manufacturer. It also acted on all aspects of a 140MW wind farm development in northeastern Bulgaria, and advised an electricity provider on negotiating electricity purchase and sale contracts. Bogdan Petrov leads the team.

KLC Law Firm Branch Bulgaria advises clients on wind and solar energy projects, and represents clients such as Terna Energy Overseas, Anemos, V-Energia and WREL. Senior associate Tanya Ivanova leads the practice.

Sergey Penev leads the practice at Penev LLP, which advised World Energy Systems on its possible entry into the Bulgarian energy market. It also continues to advise longstanding client Statkraft Markets on regulatory and energy matters.

Popov & Partners is advising Ecolonia on developing a micro hydroelectric plant in southwestern Bulgaria, and a subsidiary of GAFM on an agricultural zoning development in Vladaya village, Sofia. Eleonora Sergieva heads the team.

Simeonov & Dermendjiev is noted for its litigation expertise. In 2010, Ivaylo Dermendjiev and Vassil Baichev successfully represented NEK in its arbitration with Ceylan Holding regarding the takeover of the Gorna Arda hydropower plant.

Wolf Theiss advised SunEdison on four solar energy projects, and continues to advise Bulgarian Energy Holding on a variety of energy-related matters. Other clients include Ideema Sun, Euroinvest and Juwi Solar. The hugely experienced Anna Rizova heads the team, which also includes managing partner Richard Clegg.