Bulgarian law firm Dinova Rusev & Partners has joined the South East Legal Alliance.

On 4 May 2023 the Bulgarian Act on the protection of persons who report or make public information on breaches ("Whistleblower Protection Act" or "WPA")1 adopted earlier this year enters into force, giving effect to the provisions of Directive (EU) 2019/19372 and imposing a number of obligations on employers in both the public and private sector.

Did You Know that, according to the Activity Rankings function of the CEELMDirect website, only five lawyers in Bulgaria worked on more than one client matter reported in the first three months of 2023?

Wolf Theiss has advised Eleven Ventures on three start-up investments in Bulgaria, including BibeCoffee, True Insight, and Native Teams.

Boyanov & Co has advised Eurobank and Alpha Bank – acting directly and through their subsidiaries – on financing Tyrbul’s acquisition of the United Milk Company. The Legal Consultancy reportedly advised Tyrbul.

A new promotion round saw 62 lawyers become Partners at CMS – spanning 25 cities across the UK, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and Latin America – including Arno Zimmermann, Hans Lederer, and Klaus Pateter in Vienna, Alicja Zalewska-Orabona in Warsaw, and Mihai Jiganie-Serban in Bucharest.

As Lexpo – The Legal Innovation Event returns in 2023 after a three-year hiatus, showcasing the latest trends in legal innovation in Continental Europe, CEELM spoke with Dentons Europe Director of Innovation and Member of Lexpo's Advisory Board Andrea Miskolczi to gain an insight into the current state of technology and innovation in CEE, and what the event's attendees have to look forward to.

Deloitte Legal has successfully represented the Loznitsa Municipality before the Supreme Administrative Court of Bulgaria in a lawsuit against the Managing Authority of Operational Program Environment 2007-2013.

In the beginning of February 2023, amendments to the Civil Procedure Code (“CPC“), dedicated to the digitalization of the order for payment procedure were promulgated. In the motives of the draft law, it is noted that the changes are in line with the tendency in the European Union towards the digitalization of this procedure, as well as with the aim of allocating judicial resources in a more optimal way through the centralized distribution of the order for payment procedures among regional judges across the country. In this way, an attempt is made towards overcoming the uneven workload of the judges from the different regions, respectively towards acceleration of the court proceedings.

On February 21, 2023, CEE Legal Matters reported that Tokushev & Partners had assisted MFG Ins in obtaining an insurance license from the Financial Supervision Commission of Bulgaria. CEELM reached out to Tokushev & Partners Partner Ivan Antov to learn more about the matter.

Did You Know that, according to the Activity Rankings function of the CEELMDirect website, only eleven lawyers in CEE have worked on four or more reported Energy/Natural Resources deals in CEE since March 1, 2022?

Djingov Gouginski Kyutchukov & Velichkov has advised the European Innovation Council on leading a EUR 2.5 million investment round in Transmetrics. Dinova Rusev & Partners reportedly advised Transmetrics.

Gugushev & Partners has advised Alfastar Ventures on the registration of a Bulgarian EuVECA alternative investment funds manager.

On March 23, 2023, Tabakov, Tabakova and Partners announced that Delta Foods’ sale of the United Milk Company in Bulgaria to Tyrbul (reported by CEE Legal Matters on September 7, 2022) had closed.

Djingov Gouginski Kyutchukov & Velichkov has advised Bianor Holding on its acquisition of the Itido Technologies and Databreathe software companies in Bulgaria.

CMS Sofia has successfully represented Xylem in settling a dispute with a Bulgarian hydropower producer before the ICC International Court of Arbitration.

Djingov Gouginski Kyutchukov & Velichkov has advised lender DSK Bank on the EUR 4 million and BGN 3.5 million term facilities agreement with Terra Tour Service for the rebranding of some of its hotels to Hyatt brands.

Contributed by Schoenherr.