Ms Irina Stoeva > Stoeva, Tchompalov & Znepolski > Sofia, Bulgaria > Lawyer Profile

Stoeva, Tchompalov & Znepolski
111 EVLOGI & HRISTO GEORGIEVI BLVD
SOFIA 1504
Bulgaria

Position

Partner

Career

Irina co-founded Stoeva Tchompalov & Znepolski in November 2017 after 13 years of being a partner at Stoeva, Kuyumdjieva & Vitliemov law firm. Her previous professional experience comprises 4 years of work as a senior lawyer at one of the biggest law firms in Sofia, Bulgaria, and before that 6 years as an in-house lawyer at Bulstrad Insurance Company (currently Bulstrad Vienna Insurance Group).

Irina has over 28 years of experience in insurance and in all forms of dispute resolution; also focused on healthcare & pharmaceutical, data protection, employment, public procurement law, as well as practicing corporate, M&A, and commercial law.

In her practice across both advisory and trial, Irina has appeared in all levels of Bulgarian courts and before a multitude of arbitration and regulatory panels and has represented clients at all stages of litigation. She advises multinational and local insurers, insurance brokers, healthcare companies, and other large corporations operating in different sectors, as well as small and medium businesses, and individuals.

Recent highlights from Irina’s versatile experience include:

  • In 2020-2021 Irina led the STZ team to assist, as a Bulgarian counsel, GlaxoSmithKline group of companies in relation to the restructuring of their business in several European countries, including Bulgaria, by transferring the activities to new local partners and closing the local GSK entity.
  • as part of the STZ team, Irina assisted Morrison & Foerster in London as a local counsel, advising on Bulgarian law matters Eurohold in its EUR 335 million acquisition of CEZ’s Bulgarian assets;
  • representing Bulgarian renewable energy producers in compensation of damages claims against the Bulgarian State arising out of infringement of the EU law.
  • acting as local counsel to DWF LLP, to a case before an English court concerning insurance damages claim for which Bulgarian law was applicable under Rome I Regulation.
  • acting for the appellant in a EUR 3 million public procurement successful court appeal against the Bulgarian Ministry of Finance.

Languages

Bulgarian, English, basic knowledge of French and Russian.

Memberships

Admitted to Sofia Bar and to practice in Bulgaria (2000).

Education

LLM from University of Sofia, Law Faculty (1994).

Lawyer Rankings

Bulgaria > Banking, finance and capital markets

Praised for their ‘remarkable experience in various capital market and banking issues’ Stoeva, Tchompalov & Znepolski advises on facility agreements, project financing, financial transactions as well as delivering advice related to the anti-money laundering directive and counter terrorist financing requirements. Furthermore, the team’s expertise in the insurance sector is highly regarded, and they continue to act in a series of litigation cases. Iordan Tchompalov is a highly reputed name in the capital markets field, and he leads the practice alongside Irina Stoeva, who is experienced in insurance litigation. Further key names in the department are Natalia Yordanova and Peter Znepolski.

Bulgaria > Healthcare and life sciences

(Leading partners)

Irina StoevaStoeva, Tchompalov & Znepolski

Stoeva, Tchompalov & Znepolski, praised for ‘excellent expertise in the healthcare sector’, advises pharmaceutical and healthcare clients, namely GSK and Haleon, on regulatory compliance, adherence to new legislation and public procurement procedures. Irina Stoeva leads the practice and works on an ongoing basis with the firms leading healthcare and pharmaceutical companies.

Bulgaria > Commercial, corporate and M&A

Stoeva, Tchompalov & Znepolski handles a range of corporate mandates that comprise M&A transactions, advice to shareholders and boards of directors, SPA’s and day-to-day corporate advice, while also having experience in commercial litigation, for a number of leading Bulgarian companies, including Eurohold Bulgaria and SDI Group. The team is led by Irina Stoeva, who has extensive experience in commercial projects and transactions, as well as frequently handling commercial litigation.