US-based and other multinational employers with subsidiaries in Bulgaria often include their Bulgarian employees in their equity plans and grant them equity awards. Implementing an international equity plan in Bulgaria for the first time can be challenging for any multinational employer, as they should ensure compliance with Bulgarian laws and regulations. Tax compliance could raise particular concerns, as Bulgarian tax law is silent on many issues and the views of the Bulgarian tax authorities lack consistency throughout the years.

In the past twelve months, energy prices seem to have taken a life of their own. Their continued and, at times, shocking growth has raised concerns across the region and prompted differing responses and policy changes in each country. To get a more accurate picture of recent developments, we reached out to experts in Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Moldova, Montenegro, Poland, and Turkey and asked them about the current energy prices, their impact on local economies, the drivers behind their growth, and whether any plans were in place to address the issue.

Schoenherr and Stuttgart-based Oppenlaender Rechtsanwaelte have advised NTT Data Business Solutions on its acquisition of Business Services and Technologies. Tzvetkova & Partners advised the shareholders of Business Services and Technologies.

Schoenherr has advised Bulstrad Life Vienna Insurance Group on its brokerage and outsourcing agreements with the Global Benefits Group and the related reinsurance agreement with AXA France Vie.

CEE Legal Matters readers will likely be familiar with Patricia Gannon as one of the founders of Karanovic & Partners. Since her withdrawal from the firm (reported by CEE Legal Matters on September 21, 2020), Gannon ran her own "holistic strategic advisory business" (as reported on October 12, 2020) and, recently, she announced she is working on a new social media app for lawyers – Platforum 9. We caught up with her to learn more about her new project.

Following CMS's recent global promotion round, Nevena Radlova, Michal Andruszkiewicz, Cristina Popescu, and Olga Shenk were promoted to Partner, with Partners Gabriela Staber and Andrea Potz becoming Equity Partners.

Recent cyber-attacks, the emergence of AI services, and a new Ministry of e-Government are among the widely discussed issues in Bulgaria, according to PPG Lawyers Managing Partner Irena Georgieva.

Former Counsel Nina Tsifudina has been promoted to Partner at Kinstellar.

Boyanov & Co has appointed Borislav Notovsky and Stela Sabeva to Partner.

War-related concerns have put the new government’s plans and a number of business transactions on hold, according to Schoenherr Local Partner Ilko Stoyanov.

Former Senior Associate Nikola Stoychev has been promoted to Partner at Dimitrov, Petrov & Co.

On April 5, 2022, leading lawyers from across all of CEE will be coming together for the Dealer's Choice Conference and Deals of the Years Awards Banquet. Leading up to the event, we spoke with Vladimir Rangeloff of Kambourov & Partners to learn what they are looking forward to the most.

Contributed by CMS.

On April 5, 2022, leading lawyers from across all of CEE will be coming together for the Dealer's Choice Conference and Deals of the Years Awards Banquet. Leading up to the event, we spoke with Silvije Cipcic-Bragadin of Cipcic-Bragadin Mesic and Associates to learn what they are looking forward to the most.

On April 5, 2022, leading lawyers from across all of CEE will be coming together for the Dealer's Choice Conference and Deals of the Years Awards Banquet. Leading up to the event, we spoke with Gabor Bebok of Pontes Budapest to learn what they are looking forward to the most.

This review was prepared for Ukrainian refugees by the law firm Tsvetkova Bebov & Partners upon request and in coordination with the international legal network Multilaw and Ukrainian law firm Arzinger. The review is as of March 11, 2022, will be updated as relevant, also Ukrainian translations will be added. The review is not a legal advice and is for informational purposes only. For updates, please follow www.multilaw.com and/or www.arzinger.ua

On April 5, 2022, leading lawyers from across all of CEE will be coming together for the Dealer's Choice Conference and Deals of the Years Awards Banquet. Leading up to the event, we spoke with Oana Ijdelea of Ijdelea & Associates to learn what they are looking forward to the most.

On August 19, 2021, CEE Legal Matters reported that Schoenherr had advised the MET Group on the acquisition of a 60-megawatt operational wind park in Suvorovo, Western Bulgaria, from Grupo Enhol. CEE In-House Matters spoke with Sandor Zorad, M&A Legal Counsel at the MET Group, to learn more about the deal.