Firm Profile > Dimitrov, Petrov & Co > Sofia, Bulgaria

EU and competition Tier 1

Dimitrov, Petrov & Co's 'highly efficient' team advises on abuse of dominance, collusive agreements, incompatible state aid and unfair competition matters. Practice head Zoya Todorova specialises in merger clearances and senior associate Donka Stoyanova is 'able to address regulatory matters before the respective authorities'. Other key lawyers are the 'distinguished' Metodi Baykushev and senior associate Dimitar Karabelov, who is 'highly reliable and available at any time'. The team's client roster includes global companies such as Google, Johnson & Johnson, Pfizer and Fox Networks Group, and the Bulgarian subsidiaries of multinationals such as Telenor and Société Générale. Recent highlights include defending Sofia Airport against a claim of abuse of dominance via predatory pricing offered by some low-cost airlines in a high-profile case before the Bulgarian competition regulator.

Healthcare and life sciences Tier 1

The department at Dimitrov, Petrov & Co is 'highly dedicated and competent' and 'strives to deliver high-quality advice'; it handles the full spectrum of issues for clients in the life sciences and pharmaceutical sectors including regulatory matters, clinical trials, marketing work and data protection mandates. Zoya Todorova and senior associate Biliyana Angelova jointly lead the practice; Todorova acts for domestic and international life sciences companies, and Angelova focuses on clinical trials and regulatory work in the food sector. Clients also single out litigator and 'brilliant adviser' Metodi Baykushev, who is 'always available'; and senior associate Donka Stoyanova, who 'gives clients the value they need'. The team advised OptimaPharm on clinical trial and research issues relating to its entry into the Bulgarian market. Pfizer, Janssen-Cilag and Johnson & Johnson are also clients.

Intellectual property Tier 1

Dimitrov, Petrov & Co has ‘a well-established structure and a competent and qualified team’, which is ‘very considerate, quick and cost efficient’ and provides 'an excellent service'; it regularly advises on the protection and defence of innovations, brands, designs and creative works. Senior associate Bilyana Angelova leads the group and is singled out as ‘an outstanding young expert, recognised not only nationally but also at an EU level’ thanks to ‘impressive competency levels and organisational talent’; associate Alexandra Lassina also attracts praise for her 'responsiveness and professionalism'. Clients include Google and Johnson & Johnson; the group acted for the latter in a trade mark infringement claim against a Bulgarian distributor.

Real estate and construction Tier 1

The 'knowledgeable experts' at Dimitrov, Petrov & Co assist with real estate investment, development, management, financing and litigation, as well as providing a complete range of legal services in the construction sector, especially with regard to infrastructure projects. Practice heads Alexander Todorov and Boyana Milcheva are both ‘competent, experienced and highly respected in the sector’ and ‘have an impressive way of managing projects’. Major clients include Astaldi, Agrix Bulgaria and Pepkor. The firm regularly handles high-value cross-border deals, and is advising private fund Black Sea Property on various issues surrounding the acquisition of apartments in a holiday complex.

TMT Tier 1

The 'responsive and business savvy' team at Dimitrov, Petrov & Co is 'unique in its devotion to its clients' interests and determination to find the best possible solution' with 'laser-focused advice and in-depth knowledge'. The TMT practice is divided into distinct groups, including the telecoms and media, information and communications technology, and privacy and data protection teams. Hristo Nihrizov, Prof Dr George Dimitrov and Desislava Krusteva lead the groups respectively; Nihrizov 'stands out for his professional approach and constant dedication to perfection', and Krusteva 'has unparalleled knowledge of e-identity, privacy and personal data law'. Key clients include Google and ContourGlobal; the team advised the latter on its GDPR compliance.

Banking, finance and capital markets Tier 2

Dimitrov, Petrov & Co’s team is ‘comprised of specialists in every aspect of the law’, with ‘excellent response times, quality service, ethics and morale’. Hristo Nihrizov, who regularly acts for banks in insolvency proceedings, heads the banking and finance practice. Capital markets team head Dimitar Karabelov assists clients with licensing, the listing and delisting of companies, tender offers and compliance matters.

Commercial, corporate and M&A Tier 2

Dimitrov, Petrov & Co's ‘distinguished, competent, well-organised and highly responsible’ team advises clients including Philips, Fox Networks Group and Alpiq on joint ventures, M&A, the transfer of assets and shares, and outsourcing, among other matters. The ‘very positive’ Zoya Todorova, who specialises in complex cross-border transactions, and corporate and tax expert Boyana Milcheva  are key contacts. In a recent highlight, Todorova, Milcheva and the ‘always accessible’ Hristo Nihrizov acted as local counsel to King & Wood Mallesons, acting on behalf of a foreign bidder, on a high-profile M&A transaction.

Dispute resolution Tier 2

Dimitrov, Petrov & Co advises on high-value cross-border disputes in the telecoms, energy, banking and pharmaceutical sectors. Metodi Baykushev has expertise in debt collection, insolvency, public procurement and construction disputes and medical malpractice litigation, and Hristo Nihrizov often handles major regulatory lawsuits. Key clients include Telenor and Bulgarian National Bank. Alexander Todorov is also recommended.

Projects and PPP Tier 2

Dimitrov, Petrov & Co attracts praise from clients as ‘one of the most experienced teams in telecoms infrastructure projects and financings’; the group recently advised UTI Group on a tender process relating to a surveillance system, and also assisted Mareshki Group with its investment in a business centre in downtown Sofia. The 'very communicative' Boyana Milcheva and managing partner Metodi Baykushev jointly lead the department; other key practitioners include the 'responsive and extremely smart' Hristo Nihrizov and senior associate Boyan Ivanov, who handles e-procurement matters.

Energy and natural resources Tier 3

The 'loyal, efficient and highly motivated' team at Dimitrov, Petrov & Co is noted for its 'customer-oriented and pragmatic approach and excellent knowledge', as well as for providing 'thorough advice' to clients such as Alpiq, VM Petroleum and Windkraft Simonsfeld. The practice is led by Bogdan Petrov, who mainly advises on launching and running energy businesses in Bulgaria, and Zoya Todorova, an ‘exceptional professional with deep knowledge of her field’, who advises on licensing. Boyana Milcheva and senior associate Pencho Stanchev, who are 'experts in the oil and gas retail sector', are also recommended. The team advised the Mareshki Group on the establishment of a petrol station chain in Bulgaria, and recently represented the client in a case before the Commission for Protection of Competition based on allegations of below-cost sales.

Transport (including shipping) Tier 3

Key practitioners at Dimitrov, Petrov & Co include senior associate Donka Stoyanova, who leads the team and is active in the aviation sector, and associate Tsvetelina Georgieva, who is recommended for contentious work. Clients include Tradenet Varna and Sofia Airport; the group acted for the latter in a case before the Bulgarian competition regulator relating to alleged abuse of dominance through predatory pricing. The practice also handles public infrastructure projects, contractual disputes and passengers' rights issues.

Client Testimonials

CLIENT: Stanyo Stanev

COMPANY/FIRM: VM Petroleum

TESTIMONIAL: Being our legal advisors for more than 10 years, the lawyers of DPC have been supporting our oil and gas retail and wholesale business exposed to daily challenges and severe competition. The legal advice we have received in the grand corporate restructuring project, on financing, commercial, competition and tax issues, has always been timely, reliable, innovative. What we appreciate is the lawyers’ dedication and efficiency, the way they add value to our corporation. With a team of highly competent experts in all areas, DPC take care of our business to remain compliant to the dynamically evolving regulatory requirements and to conquer new market niches.

CLIENT: D-r Nikolay Georgiev

COMPANY/FIRM: Medical Centre for Plastic Surgery D-r Nikolai Georgiev

TESTIMONIAL: Dimitrov, Petrov & Co. have lawyers very knowledgeable in medical malpractice matters. They represented our clinic in a complex two-instance court procedure and achieved success that was extremely important for our reputation. I remained impressed by their professionalism and creativity in building the winning strategy but also by the accuracy and transparency of the legal service.

CLIENT: Konstantin Bezuhanov

COMPANY/FIRM: Evrotrust Technologies AD

TESTIMONIAL: As CEO of a start-up company that seeks to impose an innovative product on the market, I highly value the legal advice given by DPC’s experts. Without their unique expertise in the FinTech sector our project would not be given green light. Subsequently, they helped us with corporate restructuring what ensured additional funding and paved the way to the company’s growth. This is indeed a full-service law firm on which I rely for this and other corporate projects.

CLIENT: Teodora Petrova

COMPANY/FIRM: Fox Networks Group Bulgaria

TESTIMONIAL: The lawyers of DPC have been supporting the in-house team of the Bulgarian subsidiary of 21st Century Fox for several years. We rely on their competent advice on versatile legal matters – from general corporate, commercial and employment issues to compliance and data privacy matters. They have outstanding lawyers in all areas but what the IP team make for us is quite impressive. They take care of our copyright day-to-day protection and achieve ground-breaking court decisions. I personally respect the precise work, client focused approach and the strong service standards of the law firm.