Mateeva & Partners Law Firm, in association with KPMG Bulgaria > Sofia, Bulgaria > Firm Profile

Mateeva & Partners Law Firm, in association with KPMG Bulgaria > Firm Profile

The firm: The legal practice of KPMG in Bulgaria was established in 1995. In 2012 Mateeva & Partners Law Firm, associated with KPMG, was registered as a law firm (“адвокатско дружество”) within the meaning of the Bulgarian Advocacy Act. Currently the firm has 16 legal professionals, with one Managing Partner – Juliana Mateeva and acts as a full-service law firm providing legal services to local and international clients.

Mateeva & Partners Law Firm is part of KPMG Global Legal Services Network which provides access to more than 2750 + lawyers in over 81 countries. The lawyers in KPMG’s Global Legal Services network have expertise across a wide range of industries and practice law in an array of specialty areas. As part of this global network, our lawyers are valued for the strategic market insights we can offer, the ability to anticipate trends and deliver advice on business critical legal issues.

Mateeva & Partners Law Firm offers a wide range of legal advisory and legal representation services, and helps companies manage the complexities of both local and international business. Our lawyers come from a wide range of legal backgrounds including generalists, and sector-focused legal professionals. We advise clients in integrated teams using a multidisciplinary approach that leverages subject matter experts and industry focus to deliver tailored and insightful legal advice.

The firm’s expertise cuts across the entire spectrum of business and commercial law. From M&A legal to labour law and to competition law, from local challenges up to the most complex cross-jurisdictional projects, the firm’s clients can expect to receive reliable and straightforward solution.

Geopolitical and pandemic situations have highlighted structural and strategic challenges associated with establishing and maintaining cross-border commercial arrangements and the architecture and operation of global supply chains. Organizations continue to face an extraordinary trading environment impacted by unpredictable supply and demand dynamics that are accelerated by acute geopolitical and geo-economic uncertainty and the interconnected nature of economic, trade and security policy, regulatory oversight and the operation of global markets.

Understanding the mosaic of considerations and situations that define regional supply chains and the associated network of consequences associated with implementing change requires a combination of specialist skills and experiences.

As part of its diversified portfolio of integrated business services, Mateeva & Partners Law Firm provides legal advice and assistance to a wide range of industries and sectors that cuts across all legal areas and serves businesses working and investing in Bulgaria. Our clients, whether local enterprises or international corporations, run businesses that span virtually the entire spectrum of economic activity. Our lawyers have distinct but also complementary industry experience, standing by and keeping clients abreast of the latest developments in their area.

Areas of practice: Corporate and M&A: In the area of Corporate law we provide full-range services regarding incorporation, corporate governance and compliance of Bulgarian companies, e.g. capital restructuring, exercising of shareholders rights, annual closing procedures, liquidations. Our M&A services encompass legal due diligence, full-scope sell-side and buy-side transaction assistance, including drafting and negotiation of SPAs and other relevant transaction documentation, execution and closing of transactions, post-closing assistance. We also provide legal advice and assistance in mergers, acquisitions, spin-offs and other forms of corporate restructuring on a local and cross-border basis.

Real Estate & Construction: We provide advice and assistance with regard to real estate due diligence, real estate transactions (on transferor and acquirer side), financing for acquisition of real estate and establishment of securities over real estate. We also advise and support clients in development of construction projects (on constructor and assignor side), compliance with environmental and other applicable regulations, assistance with regard to registrion in Constructors’ Register at the Construction Chamber, drafting and negotiation of construction, rental, lease and other real estate contracts.

Financial services: We stay up to date with the developments at EU and national level in the financial services market and advise in the areas of banking, financial services, insurance and capital markets. Our services in this regard relate to registrations, compliance and corporate governance of banks, financial institutions, insurers and payment institutions (including of foreign EU institutions operating in Bulgaria under the single-passport regime), restructuring projects (mergers, spin-offs, transfers of business, etc.), regulatory matters, corporate governance and reporting obligations, collaterals, leasing and factoring, consumer protection and anti-money laundering regulations.

Energy & Natural Resources: Our lawyers understand the market regulations and trends in energy and oil & gas sectors, as well as the legal challenges faced by the energy industry. We consult clients on energy, renewables and oil & gas regulations and the relevant licensing and pricing regimes and incentives as well as in drafting and negotiating various types of agreements such as power purchase agreements, grid access and connection agreements, energy and gas sales agreements. We can also provide support in obtaining of natural resources exploration permits and production concessions, electricity trading and production licenses.

Employment: In the area of Employment law, we provide assistance with regard to preparation of employment contracts, employment regulations compliance, employer policies and procedures, employees’ remuneration and benefits, codes of conduct and collective bargaining agreements, personnel reorganizations, transfers of employees. Furthermore, our practice can also offer compliance quick scan of employment relations, anti-discrimination assistance, legal advice with regard to personnel restructuring and retrenchment procedures, as well as tailored trainings for employers and employees.

Immigration: In the area of Immigration, we provide services with regard to issuance of work permits, visas, residence permits, EU blue cards, ICT permits, as well as assistance with secondments and intra-group mobility, business visitors and short-term assignments, posting of employees in the framework of provision of services, relocation and travel policies and obtaining of a Bulgarian citizenship.

Regulatory & Compliance: Our team of experienced regulatory professionals brings a multidisciplinary approach to delivering an integrated, business-focused solution for managing regulatory change and assisting organizations optimize their internal compliance functions and align with leading practices. We also provide services for implementation of procedures on internal reporting and whistleblower protection in accordance with the EU Whistleblowing Directive and local law, including gap analysis of the existing solutions, designing and implementation of a new whistleblowing policy or necessary changes to the existing policies and procedures, support in investigations initiated by whistleblowers. Another key area is the legal input in forensic procedures, including support in internal audits for fraud investigation, recommending legal measures and gathering evidence for court proceedings, representation in court and assets recovery proceedings. We also provide AML compliance services to our clients, including preparation of AML internal rules, risk assessment documents and methodologies, delivery of trainings, etc.

Antitrust & Competition: We provide legal advice and assistance in the areas of Antitrust law, Competition compliance, Merger control, State aid, including advising and representing clients in proceedings before the Commission on Protection of Competition.

Privacy & Data Protection: We have a strong track record of handling data protection-related matters. We provide advice and assistance in all aspects of privacy and data protection laws, regulations and practices (local and European) with regard to developing privacy guidelines, policies, procedures, notices, consent forms and records of processing activities; data mapping; identification of gaps; reviewing and advising on Data Protection Impact Assessments and legitimate interest assessments  (balancing tests); drafting and reviewing data processing/sharing agreements; providing guidance on data subject requests and data breaches and assistance in data transfer procedures, developing and conducting privacy related trainings.

Dispute resolution: In this area we provide assistance with regard to tax, commercial and labour litigation, as well as with enforcement proceedings, administrative appeals and proceedings before public authorities, negotiations and settlement agreements, arbitration proceedings, mediation and other ADR, and insolvency proceedings. We have successfully represented clients before local courts as well as before the Court of Justice of the European Union.

Life Sciences: We offer legal advice and assistance with regard to compliance with Bulgarian pharmaceutical regulations, ethical compliance obligations, reimbursement of medicinal products, interaction and signing of discounts contracts with the National Health Insurance Fund. We can also assist with procedures before the National Council on Prices and Reimbursement of Medicinal Products, maintenance of reimbursement status, inclusion and exclusion from the positive drug list, reporting changes in referential prices, procedures before the Bulgarian Drug Agency.