Looking at the past 18 months, as economies across CEE contracted, the technology, media, and telecom sector has been surging. A balancing factor for economies, it helped avoid a deeper recession. For CEE law firms, TMT’s solid performance brought in a steady amount of work, helping polish what might otherwise have been a lackluster year.
Guest Editorial: Lawyering in Bulgaria Throughout The Years
Before the democratic changes of 1990 lawyers worked independently but under the supervision of the Minister of Justice. Remunerations were limited, leading to an administrative distribution of work. Lawyers were mainly involved in family and inheritance law, sale-purchase of housing, and cooperative relations.
The Buzz in Bulgaria: Interview with Richard Clegg of Wolf Theiss
With the interim government firmly in charge until the upcoming elections take place, Bulgaria is experiencing strong economic wind in its sails, according to Wolf Theiss Partner Richard Clegg.
Round Table: Examining the 2020 DOTYs
While the Dealer’s Choice Conference in London could not be organized this year in a safe manner due to current events, on July 20, 2021, CEE Legal Matters sat down with several of the event’s sponsors to take a closer look at the Deals of the Year award winners this year.
Deal Expanded: Interview with CMS on 2020 DOTY for Bulgaria
CMS’s Kostadin Sirleshtov and Atanas Bangachev Talk About The Deal of the Year in Bulgaria.
Deal Expanded: Interview with Schoenherr on 2020 DOTY for Bulgaria
Schoenherr’s Alexandra Doytchinova and Stefana Tsekova Talk About The Deal of the Year in Bulgaria.
The Corner Office: Childhood Dreams
In “The Corner Office” we ask Managing Partners at law firms across Central and Eastern Europe about their backgrounds, strategies, and responsibilities. The question this time: “What did you most want to be when you were little?”
The Buzz in Bulgaria: An Interview with Victor Gugushev of Gugushev & Partners
With the country being steered by a caretaker government appointed by President Rumen Radev, the overall outlook for Bulgaria seems to be positive, according to Gugushev & Partners Partner Victor Gugushev.
ICC International Court of Arbitration Appoints Malgorzata Surdek-Janicka as Vice-President
CMS' Malgorzata Surdek-Janicka has been appointed as Vice-President of the International Court of Arbitration at the International Chamber of Commerce in Paris. Aside from Surdek-Janicka, 33 lawyers from CEE were appointed as members and alternate members of the court.
Deal 5: New Vision 3 Partner Yordan Zarev on Investment in MYX
On March 24, 2021, CEE Legal Matters reported that Djingov, Gouginski, Kyutchukov & Velichkov had advised the founders of tech start-up MYX AD on EUR 350,000 invested into the company by a group led by New Vision 3 Fund KD. CEE In-House Matters spoke with Yordan Zarev, Partner at New Vision 3 Fund, to learn more about the matter.
The Buzz in Bulgaria: An Interview with Plamen Peev of Peterka Partners
While the Bulgarian political landscape is not exactly what Peterka Partners Partner Plamen Peev would describe as stable, there seems to be notable movement in terms of legislative updates as well as reasons for cautious optimism related to the Bulgarian economy.
Foreign Direct Investment in Central Europe: Bulgaria
The global pandemic has impacted all markets, with subsequent ramifications for M&A. Investors are now seeking greater protection against general lock-downs and supply-chain disruptions, while governments aim to protect critical supplies and services by imposing new regulations on foreign investment in crucial or strategic industries.
Cybersecurity and Law – Inextricably Linked
Short overview of the importance of the applicable legislation and the need of adequate business reaction in the EU
The Pontes Perspective on CEE
The COVID-19 crisis continues to plague much of Europe. To get an overview of its effects across CEE – both on investment in the region and on the legal industry itself – we reached out to the members of Pontes the CEE Lawyers legal alliance, a Regional Sponsor at the upcoming Dealer’s Choice International Law Firm Summit.
Bulgaria: Tendencies Observed in the Last 12 Months and Expectations for 2021
Unsurprisingly, 2020 saw a reduction in the A-listers on the Bulgarian real estate market, including investors in office, retail, and hospitality properties. The lockdown sent IT companies, which had been dictating the local office space market, into home office. The future of commercial and entertainment properties like shopping malls, cinemas, concert venues, and sports arenas remains uncertain – but tourism remains the hardest hit.
The Future of Finance in CEE: How 2020 Changed the Market and What to Expect in 2021
As last year’s upheavals continue to influence finance markets in 2021, Erika Papp, CMS’s Head of Finance CEE/CIS, and CMS’s Regional Finance Partners Paul Stallebrass in Prague, Ana Radnev in Bucharest, and Elitsa Ivanova in Sofia offer their perspectives on what this year might hold for financing in CEE.
An Unusual Year in Review: Our Annual Expert Round Table
On December 15, 2020 CEELM gathered legal experts from across the region for its annual Year-in-Review Round Table conversation. In a wide-ranging discussion, participants shared opinions and perspectives on their markets, on strong (and less-strong) practices across the region, and the effect of the COVID-19 crisis on both, as well as on how technology is changing the legal industry, and what the industry will look like in 2021.
Bulgaria’s M&A Market – The Calm Before the Storm or Simply the “New Normal?”
It has been a challenging year for the Bulgarian M&A market, with limited activity, just like in 2019. Undoubtedly, one of the reasons for the slowdown is that business is overshadowed by the coronavirus pandemic. Many acquirers abandoned expansion plans in order to focus on protecting both their financial stability and their employees, while waiting to assess the market environment and evaluate potential next steps. Many planned or already-started deals were cancelled at early stages (such as following a letter of intent or during preliminary due diligence) as uncertainty about the fulfilment of potential goals made the transactions risky.