The Legal 500

Within Banking and finance , PricewaterhouseCoopers Legal LLP is a second tier firm,

Tsvetkova Bebov & Partners (Landwell) advises a predominantly international client base across a varied mix of regulatory, transactional and commercial matters. Such a mix has insulated the firm to some extent from the vagaries of the continued economic downturn. As well as traditional areas of finance, it also handles some of the more niche areas, such as asset finance – where it recently acted for BH Air, the largest domestic charter air carrier and aircraft carrier on the renegotiation of the leasing arrangement for two Airbus A-319 aircrafts. Nikolay Bebov led on this matter and is recommended.

Within Capital markets , PricewaterhouseCoopers Legal LLP is a second tier firm,

Headed by the ‘experienced, well-prepared and professional’ Nikolay Bebov, Tsvetkova Bebov & Partners (Landwell) has a ‘good knowledge of the relevant legal and commercial environment’ and acts for both underwriters and issuers on capital raisings. The team is also singled out for praise for its ‘good knowledge of financial regulation’ and recently advised Bulgarian investment firm, KD Securities, on the voluntary return of its MiFID licence.

Within Corporate and M&A , PricewaterhouseCoopers Legal LLP is a second tier firm,

Tsvetkova Bebov & Partners (Landwell) advises clients across a range of commercial and transactional matters, from the establishment of subsidiaries to M&A mandates. Recent highlights include advising Mars on corporate and commercial matters. The ‘exceptional’ Galina Bunkova receives fulsome praise for her ‘knowledge’, ‘compassion’ and ‘professionalism’, and has a particular niche within the software industry.

Within Legal market overview,

Domestic leviathans Borislav Boyanov & Co and Djingov, Gouginski, Kyutchukov & Velichkov continue to dominate the legal landscape, though firms such as Spasov & Bratanov, Tsvetkova Bebov & Partners (Landwell) and Kambourov & Partners are increasingly viewed by domestic and international corporates as viable alternatives. Of the foreign law firms in the market, CMS Cameron McKenna in cooperation with Petkova & Sirleshtov Law Office continues to blaze a trail and has successfully embedded itself in the market, gaining mandates not only from clients of the network but also increasingly from domestic corporates.

Within Privatisation, PPP and foreign investment, PricewaterhouseCoopers Legal LLP is a third tier firm,

Tsvetkova Bebov & Partners (Landwell) advised Deutsche Bahn on a major foreign investment.

Within Projects, energy and natural resources, PricewaterhouseCoopers Legal LLP is a third tier firm,

Tsvetkova Bebov & Partners (Landwell) provides ‘solution-orientated advice rather than focusing on legal and legislative obstacles and barriers’. Foreign entities account for the majority of the firm’s client base including Spanish renewable company Abasol Group, who it advised with regard to the potential development of a photovaltaic power plant. Peter Takov provides ‘responsive, focused, business-orientated and good-quality advice’.

Within Real estate and construction , PricewaterhouseCoopers Legal LLP is a second tier firm,

Headed by the ‘very focused and business-orientated’ Peter Takov, Tsvetkova Bebov & Partners (Landwell) provides a very ‘well-rounded service’ to an eclectic mix of clients including developers, investors, banks and funds. Particularly accomplished at the intersection between projects and real estate, the practice represents Sky Solar on a due diligence review of a photovoltaic power plant.

Within TMT , PricewaterhouseCoopers Legal LLP is a second tier firm,

Tsvetkova Bebov & Partners (Landwell) provides an ‘excellent and professional service’ to TMT clients engaged in corporate and M&A transactions. The practice assisted IT company C3i on establishing itself in the country, and now advises it on an ongoing basis on corporate and commercial matters. The ‘supportive, compassionate and understanding’ Galina Bunkova is recommended.