Djingov, Gouginski, Kyutchukov & Velichkov

The firm: DGKV is one of the largest, oldest, most prominent independent law firms in Bulgaria, known for its solid record of pioneering projects on the Bulgarian market. Founded in 1994, its asset is the unique combination of profound legal knowledge, experience in international transactions and ability to handle large-scale transactions. With 18 partners and about 60 lawyers, DGKV has resources to assemble the right team to address the most complicated matters. Its ever-growing portfolio of over 5,000 multinational clients is a fair attestation of its high-quality legal services.

Areas of practice
M&A: DGKV has a superb reputation for advising on a diverse range of large, medium, and small-scale local and cross-border M&A transactions in various industries. We advise a number of global corporations, strategic investors, private equity funds, venture capital funds and financial institutions. The firm has advised: PPF s.a. on the sale of minority share in CETIN Group N.V. to GIC.; a consortium of lenders including the London-based investment firm Blantyre Capital Limited, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development and Bulgarian Development Bank in relation to the auction process for the contemplated sale of Bulsatcom EAD – the biggest Bulgarian TV and satellite operator; The Rohatyn Group, a global asset management firm, on all local legal aspects of the acquisition from KJK Capital of an indirect majority stake in Leader-96 EOOD. Other key clients: PPF s.a., Blantyre Capital Limited, BlackRock, EBRD, Bulsatcom, Sanmina Corporation, International Business Machines Corporation (IBM), Axxess Capital, The Rohatyn Group (TRG), The State Fund of Oman, Velka Pecka s.r.o., INTEGRAL Venture Partners, Accenture (NYSE: ACN), Kohler Co., AbbVie Inc., Equinix.

Banking and finance: DGKV focuses on secured transactions, corporate finance, public finance and regulation of financial and investment services. DGKV consulted IFC, JP Morgan, Goldman Sachs AG, EBRD, OTP and DSK Bank, UniCredit Bank Austria AG, PPF Group, DSK Bank, Blantyre Capital, Citi Group, Deutsche Bank, UniCredit Bulbank AD, AIG, CAIB, MKB and State General Reserve Fund of Oman,  the World Bank, JBIC, BSTDB, Deutsche Bank, EIB, Procredit Bank, GTC Group on financing of various infrastructure, construction and financial projects in Bulgaria, etc.

Energy and utilities: DGKV provides full-scope legal assistance to clients interested in investing or otherwise engaged in the energy sector in Bulgaria. The firm has advised ABB, AES, the Bulgarian Government, Citibank and US Exim Bank, ContourGlobal, EBRD, GE Power & Water, Marubeni, RWE Power; EZ, Chevron and Lukoil regularly on local operations; J.P. Morgan Energy Europe, OMV Trading and Vitol on energy trading matters; China Development Bank, Credit Suisse,  Mitsui&Co, Raiffeisen, Toshiba, Verbund in numerous renewable energy projects; and on gas pipeline projects.

Competition: with a strong competition practice, DGKV has made a significant contribution to the Bulgarian Commission for Protection of Competition. It’s advised Aurubis, Bunge, MasterCard Europe on competition regulatory issues; Aurubis, Metro Cash and Carry, Nokia, KBC, Devnya Cement, Visa Europe, Coca Cola in relation to antitrust investigations by the regulator and other antitrust matters.

Real estate: DGKV has a strong reputation in the real estate market, advising the acquisitions of: the most expensive real estate in Bulgaria – the EUR 252.9m Paradise Center; NIS Petrol and OMV; numerous operating mall acquisitions; land acquisition and construction and/or acquisition of residential, office, retail and mixed-use developments; large-scale commercial real estate financings. Other recent projects include: Equinix on site acquisition for the establishment of its second data centre in Bulgaria and VMware on the largest office lease deal in Bulgaria in the last 10 years.

TMT: DGKV offers a ‘one-stop shop’ for technology companies with operations in Bulgaria. It represents Google on a regular basis in relation to legal issues associated with online services and customers support in Bulgaria; Deutsche Telekom; Facebook LLC; Instagram LLC; Univeral 1440 Entertainment LLC; Telecom Italia; Tata Communications; Swisscom; PCCW Global; VOXBONE; Progress Software, etc.

Litigation and arbitration: DGKV provides full range dispute resolution services: all types of commercial litigation (including insolvency, debt collection and sophisticated fraud and anti-bribery cases); representation of clients before local and international arbitration tribunals; industry specific property disputes; labour, intellectual property, tax, public procurement, regulatory and administrative litigation; white collar crime; recognition and enforcement of foreign judgements and foreign arbitration awards; all litigation-related work such as collection of evidence, injunctions and other preliminary relief, etc. With more than 20 litigators, the law firm prides of unparalleled depth and interdisciplinary expertise of its litigation team, enabling it to address the most complicated and time-sensitive dispute resolution matters. Recently, the law firm’s Dispute resolution practice group has been further strengthened by the internal promotion of our senior associates and associates from other reputable Bulgarian law firms with clear litigation focus. Currently it represents Mechel International Holding GmbH and Mechel Carbon AG, Bulgarian Mezzanine Partners, Chardash Trading, PJSC Power Machines, NASEKOMO AD, Bulgarian Acquisition Company II, CEZ Electro Bulgaria, Financial Supervision Commission, Glorient Investment BG, SE Bordnetze, etc. For the last year the DGKV could boast with an impressive successful track record in major court cases with very high success rate, including commercial and administrative litigation, and international arbitration.

Intellectual property: Google Inc., Facebook Inc., Instagram LLC, Warner Bros., Teva Pharmaceuticals Europe BV (confidential), Carlsberg Bulgaria, Pierre Fabre Dermo-Cosmetique S.A., Deutsche Telekom AG, Tchibo GmbH, Cargill Inc., Marie Brizard Wine and Spirits Distribution Bulgaria EOOD, Guess Inc are among our IP clients.

Employment and mobility: DGKV’s employment team excels as one of the few stand-alone employment law practices on the Bulgarian market. Its employment lawyers are heavily involved in providing legal field specific knowledge to clients with a view to optimizing every aspect of their operations in Bulgaria and strives to ensure their specific employment needs are met in an ever-changing business world. Major clients are Yazaki Corporation, Turkish Airlines, Ryanair, Volkswagen, Coca Cola, AES Maritza East I, Takeaway.com, ABB Bulgaria, Grohe Adria, etc.