Penkov, Markov & Partners

Chairman & Senior Partner: Vladimir Penkov

Managing Partner: Nikolay Cvetanov

Number of partners: 12

Number of other lawyers: 26

Languages: Bulgarian, English, German, French, Russian 

Firm Overview:  

Established in 1990, Penkov, Markov & Partners is one of the first law firms in Bulgaria which is respected both domestically and internationally. The firm currently has approximately 38 partners and associated members, several external legal consultants, 8 trainees, 12 assistants and staff members. It publishes an own newspaper PMP Legal News, circulation 2200 (in Bulgarian, English and German), also available on its website.

PM&P is a member of Lex Mundi, FLI Net and Lex Adria and is the first law firm in Bulgaria certified under the ISO 9001:2000 and re-certified under ISO 9001:2008 and ISO 9001:2015. PM&P was awarded Superbrands of the year award in 2007, 2015, 2017, 2019 and 2021 as recognition for its exceptional reputation.

Main Areas of Practice: M&A, Banking & Finance, Anti-Money Laundering, Terrorist Financing, Fraud Prevention, Commercial & Company, Bankruptcy & Restructuring, Energy & Natural Resources, Real Estate & Project Development, TMT, Competition & Antitrust & Consumer Protection, Public Procurement, Labour & Social Security, Tax,State Regulatory, Pharmaceutical

Trademarks & IP, Litigation & Arbitration,Compliance & Personal Data Protection

Banking & Finance:  

4 partners, 7 fee earners  

■ Advises Allianz bank Bulgaria on variety of matters (factoring, litigation, etc.)

Partners: Ivan Markov, Nikolay Cvetanov, Asen Apostolov

■ Advises MoneyGram International SPRL on PSD2 related issues, currency exchange, payment limitations, remote provision of services rules, etc., as well as AML/CFT regulations.

Partner: Nikolay Cvetanov, Asen Apostolov  

Key Clients: KBC Group, MoneyGram International SPRL

Contact: Mr. Ivan Markov / Mr. Nikolay Cvetanov 

Tel: + 3592 971 39 35  

Email: [email protected] / nikolay.cvetanov@ penkov-markov.eu

Anti-Money Laundering, Terrorist Financing, Fraud Prevention:

2 partners, 4 fee earners  

■ Structured AML/CFT policies, procedures and internal rules of more than 50 companies (most of them market leaders in their filed).

Partners: Nikolay Cvetanov, Asen Apostolov ■ Developed leading practice on the market on conduct of AML/CFT trainings to various categories obliged entities under the AML Act.

Partners: Nikolay Cvetanov, Asen Apostolov  

Key Clients: Zagorka (part of Heineken Group), Doverie (pension fund part of Vienna Insurance Group), MoneyGram International SPRL, Karelia Bulgaria, Bulgartransgaz

Contact: Mr. Nikolay Cvetanov  

Tel: + 3592 971 39 35  

Email: [email protected]  

Commercial, Corporate & M&A:  

4 partners, 7 fee earners  

■ Represented Fidelis Research AD shareholders in the sale of 100% of the shares of the company to Linden Group

Partners: Nikolay Cvetanov, Roman Stoyanov, Boris Lazarov

■ Represented Global Biomet EOOD in the acquision of 100MW Solar Project

Partners: Nikolay Cvetanov, Boris Lazarov 

■ Represented Unilink S.A., Poland on the acquisition of largest Bulgarian Insurance Brokerage company and other companies in the sector

Partners: Nikolay Cvetanov, Ivan Markov, Boris Lazarov

■ Represented ČEZ a.s. on the sale of the last remaining asset in Bulgaria to a publicly listed company

Partner: Ivan Markov, Boris Lazarov 

■ Represented Enikom-M Sever EOOD on the sale of a plot of land together with administrative building located in Sofia with total built-up area of 4,974 sq.m.

Partner: Milena Gaidarska 

Key Clients: Unilink S.A., Fidelis Research AD, Global Biomet EOOD, ČEZ a.s.Contact: Mr. Nikolay Cvetanov

Tel: + 3592 971 39 35  

Email: [email protected]  

Competition, Antitrust & Consumer Protection:  

1 partner, 5 fee earners  

■ Represented Bulgartransgaz before CPC for assessment of concentration related to acquisition of 20% share in Gastrade S.A., Greece.

Partners: Vladimir Penkov, Ivan Markov, Smilena Hrusanova

■ Represented Unilink SA before CPC for clearance of the acquisition of sole control over I&G Insurance Brokers Ltd.

Partner: Ivan Markov, Smilena Hrusanova  

Key Clients: Unilink SA, Bulgartransgaz, ČEZ a.s.  

Contact: Vladimir Penkov, Smilena Hrusanova  

Tel: + 3592 971 39 35  

Email: [email protected]  

Energy & RES:  

4 partners, 5 fee earners  

■ Represents Global Biomet EOOD on the acquisition of an SPV developing solar power plants with a total capacity of 100 MW.

Partner: Nikolay Cvetanov, Nikolay Voinov  

■ Represents Eura Energy, a joint venture of Renalfa Group and Eurowind Energy Group, on acquisition of RES projects in Bulgaria.

Partner: Roman Stoyanov, Nikolay Voinov, Boris Lazarov

■ Represents over 60 RES producers in court cases against Bulgarian State.

Partner: Atanas Valov, Pavel Tsanov  

Key Clients: ČEZ a.s., Mondi Stambolijski EAD, Minstroy Group, Eura Energy OOD, Global Biomet EOOD

Contact: Nikolay Voynov  

Tel: + 3592 971 39 35  

Email: [email protected]  

Real Estate:  

2 partners, 4 fee earners  

■ Represents Arteks Group in the development of luxury residential projects.

Partners: Milena Gaidarska, Atanas Valov  

■ Represented Enikom Sofia-Sever EOOD on the sale of its real estate portfolio to Streal Global (Bulgaria) EOOD.

Partner: Milena Gaidarska  

■ RepresentedNedvizjimi Imoti SIPJV in a deal with Kaufland.

Partners: Milena Gaidarska  

Key Clients: Arteks Engineering AD, Bul Dom OOD, Nedvizjimi Imoti SIPJV, Enikom Sofia-Sever EOOD

Contact: Milena Gaidarska  

Tel: +3592 971 39 35  

Email: [email protected]  

Litigation & Arbitration:  

2 partners, 8 fee earners  

■ Represented Toto Costruzioni Generali SpA under case C-581/20 of CJEU

Partner: Atanas Valov, Pavel Tsanov  

■ Represented Hong Kong based Viva Incubator Investment Management and French company IDI on a series of e-fraud cases.

Partner: Atanas Valov, Pavel Tsanov  

■ Represents DNV GL SE in a tort dispute for the boat accident in the Ohrid Lake in Northern Macedonia.

Partner: Atanas Valov  

Key Clients: Arteks Engineering AD, Toto Costruzioni Generali SpA, Viva Incubator Investment Management, DNV GL SE, BA Glass Bulgaria AD, Contact: Atanas Valov

Tel: +359 2 971 39 35  

Email: [email protected]