Wolf Theiss > Sofia, Bulgaria > Firm Profile

Wolf Theiss > The Legal 500 Rankings

Bulgaria > Banking, finance and capital markets Tier 1

Wolf Theiss acts on both the lender and borrower side on a range of complex financing transactions and projects, corporate bond issuances and financial compliance and regulatory advice in the areas of AI and digitalisation projects, where the team acts for a series of Bulgarian banks, investment funds, financial services companies and corporates. Katerina Kraeva, who is experienced in acquisition and project finance as well as regulatory matters, and Richard Clegg, who advises on diverse financing transactions, jointly lead the team.

Bulgaria > Commercial, corporate and M&A Tier 1

Wolf Theiss’ focuses on advising international investors, especially venture capital and private equity investors, on cross-border acquisitions, where the team provides a ‘seamless service’ in cooperation with their other offices and departments across Europe. The team also excels in large cross-border M&A mandates, while also providing ongoing legal advice to corporate clients on product supply agreements and various other commercial contracts. Richard Clegg leads the team and concentrates on the technology and regulated sectors, where he leads on diverse PE and M&A transactions. Anna Rizova is a key contact and is experienced in market entry and business expansions in Bulgaria, while at associate level Staniella Todorova provides support on contract negotiations and drafting, including share purchase agreements and shareholders agreements.

Bulgaria > Energy and natural resources Tier 1

The team at Wolf Theiss brings its ‘solid expertise and practical approach’ to a broad range of energy matters, including the financing, construction and development of major energy infrastructure projects, regulatory compliance matters, M&A transactions and renewable energy infrastructure portfolio transactions, gas and electricity licensing procedures as well as on mining operations. Anna Rizova, whose expertise lies in regulatory advice for clients in the electricity and natural gas sectors, leads the practice alongside Radoslav Mikov, who has experience in natural gas infrastructure projects. Oleg Temnikov is a recommended practitioner.

Bulgaria > Dispute resolution Tier 2

Wolf Theiss is engaged by clients in commercial and civil litigation proceedings, arbitrations, employment and tax disputes, and demonstrates particular strength in corporate related litigation matters, including on shareholder disputes, insolvency proceedings and corporate investigations. Radoslav Mikov focuses on the energy sector and leads the practice alongside Anna Rizova, who excels in commercial, competition and employment disputes. Oleg Temnikov is a key member of this team and handles a broad range of mandates across litigation and arbitration.

Bulgaria > EU and competition Tier 2

The competition antitrust practice at Wolf Theiss handles a diverse workload, with a focus on national and cross-border merger clearance proceedings, particularly those before the Bulgarian and North Macedonian Competition Authorities. The team also often advises on compliance with FDI regulations. Anna Rizova leads the practice and has a particular focus on regulatory and competition matters in the energy and telecoms sectors. She is supported by Hristina Dzhevlekova in the team, who is described as ‘one of most renowned competition experts on the market’, and Yana Madzharova, who joined the firm in October 2023, from an inhouse position.

Bulgaria > Healthcare and life sciences Tier 2

Wolf Theiss’ healthcare and life sciences practice provides clients with day-to-day advice, including on employment and data protection matters, as well as on transactions and litigation matters, where a range of pharma companies, clinical trials providers and medical devices manufacturers belong to the firm’s client base. Anna Rizova leads the team and handles compliance, licensing and data protection matters in this field. Hristina Dzhevlekova is another key name in the department.

Bulgaria > Projects and PPP Tier 2

Wolf Theiss maintains a strong position in the Bulgarian infrastructure projects space and in particular has extensive experience on energy projects across the CEE region, including oil and gas, nuclear and renewables. The firm advises a stellar client roster of international and domestic state- and privately-owned companies on complex energy facility developments, including their initial market entry, their construction and development and regulatory compliance at local and EU levels. Practice head Anna Rizova has extensive experience in the energy sector and particularly with regulatory frameworks, and leads the practice alongside Radoslav Mikov, who has experience in natural gas infrastructure projects. Katerina Novakova is a key member of the practice.

Bulgaria > Real estate and construction Tier 2

The real estate and construction team at Wolf Theiss handle a litany of matters, including due diligence of properties and land, acquisitions, zoning and planning support and environmental compliance. The team has recently advised a number of real estate investors on diverse real estate developments, including residential, built-to-site, logistics and on renewable energy projects. Praised for her ‘extraordinary specialist knowledge’, Radosveta Kojuharova leads the practice and operates across all areas of real estate and construction law.

Bulgaria > TMT Tier 2

International investment funds, corporates and tech start-ups are among the clients that Wolf Theiss regularly advises on M&A transactions, investments and corporate matters, while also handling day-to-day legal matters across data protection, IP and regulatory. The practice is headed up by Richard Clegg, who has extensive experience handling M&A transactions in the TMT space, and Anna Rizova, who has experience in regulatory and data protection matters.

Bulgaria > Intellectual property Tier 3

The ‘exceptional’ IP team at Wolf Theiss handles a range of IP matters, recently advising on IP commercial contracting, IP employment relations and IP aspects of transactions, as well as trade mark enforcement and litigation matters. The practice is jointly led by Anna Rizova, who is well versed in IT and IP transactions, and Richard Clegg, whose practice is focused on the TMT and regulated sectors.