The Legal 500

Boyanov & Co’s ‘outstanding’ TMT team continues to advise RBS on its €1.4bn loan to AIG for the acquisition of a majority stake in Bulgarian Telecommunications Company (BTC), and recently advised Telefonika on regulatory matters regarding a resale of telecoms services. It also advises Fox Channel on its activities in Bulgaria, and other notable clients include Blizoo Media and Broadband and Cosmote Telecommunications. The ‘highly regarded’ Damian Simeonov heads the practice.

Dimitrov, Petrov & Co’s ‘excellent’ team advised the Law and Internet Foundation on various projects assigned by the European Commission, and also acted for Getlokal on a variety of e-commerce and data processing matters. Other key clients include Cosmo Bulgaria Mobile and the Society for Electronic Communications. Practice head George Dimitrov is ‘superb’ and ‘a real expert’ in the field.

Djingov, Gouginski, Kyutchukov & Velichkov’s TMT practice has ‘excellent market knowledge’, and fields ‘a strong team advising on telecoms matters’. It recently represented Wind Hellas Telecommunications before the Communications Regulatory Commission (CRC) and the Supreme Administrative Court, and acted for Verint System on the acquisition of Focal Info. It also advises PCCW Global on telecoms regulations, and advises Nokia on its sales operations in Bulgaria. Violetta Kunze has ‘excellent contacts’ and ‘up-to-date knowledge of the sector’.

Georgiev, Todorov & Co continues to advise longstanding client BTC on regulatory matters. It also represented a satellite operator in a dispute regarding TV rights. Practice head Alexander Pachamanov is recommended.

Kambourov & Partners’ ‘solid’, ‘highly professional’ team has ‘rich and diverse’ expertise. It advised bTV Media Group in competition proceedings against Nova TV, and acted for Global Vision in two copyright infringement cases. It also advised Bulgarian Energy Holding on telecoms-related matters pertaining to the restructuring of the Bulgarian energy sector. Mitko Karushkov is ‘always prompt’ and ‘knowledgeable’, and senior associate Margarita Guigova is ‘outstanding’.

Penev LLP is recommended for its ‘vast commercial understanding’. This ‘strong and reliable’ team acted for Turkcell Iletisim Hizmetleri on a $1bn restructuring deal for the acquisition of Bulgarian mobile operator Vivacom, advised AT&T on commercial contracts, and is advising Web Media Group on possible domain and trade mark infringement issues. Managing partner Sergey Penev is recommended.

Penkov, Markov & Partners’ ‘superb’ team acts for clients including BTC and SAP Labs Bulgaria. Svetoslav Dimitrov is singled out for praise.

Andrey Delchev and Partners – Eurolex Bulgaria’s ‘excellent’ group is recognised for its ‘vast experience’ in advising radio broadcasting operators in Bulgaria. It advises Bulgaria’s largest radio group, Communicorp Group, on various commercial matters and also acted for Ecom Group in an IP dispute. Other clients include Ficosota Syntez, Ital Foods and Strata Promo, which the team advises on various matters including statutory compliance for TV and radio advertising. Severina Liubenova and Andrey Delchev are recommended.

Borissov & Partners is recommended for its telecoms expertise. Clients include Net-Connect Internet, Telco, Deutsche See, and Lenso Wheel. Ivan Ivanov and Aglika Rousseva are recommended.

CMS Cameron McKenna LLP – Bulgaria Branch’s ‘excellent’ team advised Balkantel on a project to upgrade systems at several military airports. Notable clients include KDDI, Konami Digital and Sharp. The ‘professional’ David Butts heads the team.

Dinova, Rusev & Partners’ key clients include Sony Ericsson and AP Retail I. Milen Rusev and Iliya Grozdanov are ‘first rate’.

The team at Schoenherr (in cooperation with Law firm Andreev, Stoyanov and Tsekova) shows ‘in-depth knowledge’, and incudes the ‘incredibly focused’ Ilko Stoyanov. Ir advised Pro7Sat.1 on the sale of its portfolio of Bulgarian radio stations to a Bulgarian investor; Integrated Micro-Electronics on the acquisition of EPIQ’s electronics manufacturing business; and Antrator Holding on the sale of the Bulgarian regional daily newspaper, UTRO, to BG Privatinvest.

Tsvetkova Bebov & Partners, Attorneys-at-Law’s ‘renowned’ team acts for clients such as C3i, Stream International, De Agostini, Oxford University Press, and Telerik. Galina Bunkova and Ilya Komarevski are recommended.

Wolf Theiss’ ‘outstanding’, ‘practical’ TMT practice gives ‘direct and accurate advice’ in a ‘timely and concise manner’. Clients include Sportingbet, Cable Partners, Valartis Europe, Aukro Bulgaria, and Mancelord. Anna Rizova and practice head Richard Clegg are recommended.

Andonov & Radinska Law Firm advised Eleven Accelerator Venture Fund on IP and IT rights in Bulgaria, and also acts for Cinema City International and Bio Bulgaria.

Arsov Natchev Ganeva’s Svetlana Ganeva and Jivko Rokov have strong track records in TMT matters.

Danailov, Mihaleva, Nedelchev & Co/Lex Locus is experienced in telecoms matters.

Popov & Partners fields ‘a dedicated and specialist team of lawyers’ for telecoms and media work. This ‘well-organised’ team represented Panda Cooperative in a €15m case against a telecoms service provider, and acted for Algos in a software rights dispute. Emiliyan Arnaudov is ‘excellent’.

TLC – Cheresheva Mileva Tsankova is widely recognised for its IT expertise.

Varadinov & Co Attorneys-at-Law is recommended for its experience in telecoms and technology law.

Atanassov & Ivanov Law Firm’s TMT group has substantial experience in advising clients on trade mark registrations and protection issues.

BWSP Ilieva, Voutcheva & Co Law Firm’s ‘excellent’ team is best known for its media expertise. It advises clients including advertising agency New Moment New Ideas Company and TV and film producer, Camera. Diliana Ilieva is ‘exceptionally knowledgeable’.

CHSH Cerha Hempel Spiegelfeld Hlawati’s TMT practice advised TraxCom on a telecoms project regarding the use of radio frequencies, and was instructed by Fomento de Construcciones y Contratas on data processing agreements.

Georgieva, Petrov, Nenkov, Georgiev Law Firm is recommended for its IP expertise.

Gugushev & Partners Law Office has a ‘truly brilliant’ TMT practice.

Kalaidjiev and Georgiev’s highly regarded TMT department advises on media, advertising and IP matters.

Law Firm Kolcheva, Smilenov, Koev and Partners is experienced in telecoms and IP matters. Petya Kolcheva is recommended.

Boutique firm Patent Universe is instructed on a variety of contentious and non-contentious IP rights matters.

Teralex Consult’s strong media practice acts for various notable radio and TV broadcasters, advises on matters including licensing, contracts and a range of disputes.

Tocheva & Mandazhieva Law Office advises on matters including the production, licensing and distribution of technical equipment and software, as well as transactional work. Zhulieta Mandazhieva heads the team.

Velchev & Co. Law Office’s ‘vastly experienced’ team has expertise in telecoms, technology and media law. Pavel Velchev is the key figure.

Yonev Valkov Nenov has a well-regarded IP practice, and also advises on media, marketing, advertising, publishing, and telecoms issues.