The real estate and construction department at CMS stands out for its work in retail, office, industrial, residential and hospitality transactions. The group also has construction expertise, particularly in FIDIC contracts, regulatory matters, claims and disputes. Practice co-head Jenia Dimitrova has a wealth of experience in real estate, zoning, construction and leasing matters. She leads the team alongside managing partner Gentscho Pavlov, and Antonia Kehayova, who advises on all aspects of real estate transactions, litigation and due diligences.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Accolades
Client satisfaction: Lawyer & team quality
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
- Very high quality of legal service, exceptional attention to detail, adherence to deadlines, coordination with all parties.
- I have worked with Ms. Antonia Kehayova on a transaction to purchase part of a building and parking lot. I am very impressed by her thoroughness, adequate and timely advice, and detailed review of the documentation with the main goal of protecting the client's interests.
- The CMS Real Estate team demonstrated both impressive depth and strong cross-functional breadth. At every stage of the lease process, there was always a specialist available who understood the finer points of Bulgarian commercial property law, market standards, and negotiation tactics. They were able to shift seamlessly between legal, technical, and commercial perspectives, which gave me total confidence that every angle was covered.
- Jenia Dimitrova is an outstanding professional with truly global-level expertise. Throughout our collaboration, she demonstrated exceptional knowledge of the real estate landscape, a deep understanding of the local Bulgarian market, and an ability to navigate complex, high-stakes situations with clarity, confidence, and ease. Her guidance was always commercially aware, practical, and fully aligned with the needs of our business. Thanks to her experience and sharp attention to detail, we felt protected at every step of the negotiation process and confident that no hidden risks or long-term complications were left unresolved. I would wholeheartedly recommend Jenia to anyone handling real estate matters, especially those seeking a reliable partner who can manage sophisticated transactions and deliver real value.
- 'The team is very professional.'
Key clients
- Alpha Bank
- Park Lane Developments
- RokkerX EOOD
- Ocado Bulgaria EOOD
- Endava EOOD
- Cordeel Bulgaria EAD
- GREEN SOURCE
Work highlights
Advised Alpha Bank on the sale of its former headquarters building in Sofia to Space Estates OOD, a joint venture between Ruslan Raychev (founder of EnduroSat EAD, holding 80%) and Big Orange Investments EOOD (20%).
Advising Alpha Bank on disposal of landmark real estate portfolio to Atex Properties CMS Sofia Real Estate team advised Alpha Bank on the sale of its remaining real estate portfolio in Bulgaria to Atex Properties AD.
Advising GREEN SOURCE GmbH on: the development of a 500 MW solar project in development phase in Bulgaria and on the related real estate legal due diligence report.
Lawyers
Next Generation Partners
Junior partners with significant recognition from clients and peers in the market and key roles on multiple matters.
Leading associates
Leading associates with regular involvement in their team's key work, and recognition from peers or clients as being ones to watch.
Practice head
Jenia Dimitrova; Gentscho Pavlov; Antonia Kehayova