Competition/Antitrust
Europe Guide 2024 : Bulgaria
Band 1
Email address
[email protected]Contact number
+359 2 932 1100About
Provided by Djingov, Gouginski, Kyutchukov & Velichkov
DGKV has one of the oldest, largest and most accomplished competition practice among Bulgarian law firms. We advise on:
- Cartel and abuse of dominant position: We’ve represented clients such as OMV Bulgaria, Metro Cash & Carry, Aurubis Bulgaria, Devnya Cement, Kaliakra, CEZ and others in some of the most significant investigations carried out by the CPC over the past couple of years;
- Competition compliance: We provide ongoing competition support to clients from variety of industries: banking and finance and financial services, pharmaceuticals, consumer goods, automotive, construction materials, food and beverages, sanitary fixtures, logistics, oil and gas, etc;
- Merger Control: DGKV made the first merger control filings in Bulgaria and the present merger control application guidelines of the CPC are largely based on the documentation developed by us in those years;
- Distribution & vertical agreements: DGKV has a strong track record with respect to high profile competition counselling on distribution and supply systems, restructuring for clients in compliance with the competition rules and the measures imposed by the CPC;
- Unfair trade practices and consumer protection: We regularly advise on compliance matters relating to advertising and labelling of products. We represent clients in proceedings before the CPC regarding alleged unfair trade practices.
Chambers Review
The team at Djingov, Gouginski, Kyutchukov & Velichkov remains an established leader in the Bulgarian competition law market, with notable experience in significant cartel damages actions and representing clients in investigations by the Commission on Protection of Competition (CPC) into allegations of anti-competitive behaviour. Additionally, the law firm assists clients with obtaining approval from the Bulgarian authorities for proposed mergers. It has a number of clients from the energy, transportation and TMT sectors.
Work Highlights
- Djingov, Gouginski, Kyutchukov & Velichkov represented Traton and MAN Truck & Bus in potential damages claims arising from the European Commission's decision in its trucks cartel investigation.
Strengths
Provided by Chambers
"I have always appreciated DGKV's thoroughness and fast replies."
"The team is very responsive and deliver high-quality work, paired with the perfect amount of pragmatism for practical and truly useful advice."
"It is a very good, knowledgeable and experienced team."
"I have always appreciated DGKV's thoroughness and fast replies."
"The team is very responsive and deliver high-quality work, paired with the perfect amount of pragmatism for practical and truly useful advice."
"It is a very good, knowledgeable and experienced team."
Notable Practitioners
Nikolai Gouginski remains one of the leading competition lawyers in Bulgaria thanks to his work on CPC investigations and high-profile follow-on damages actions. He also assists clients with merger clearance filings and the competition compliance aspects of commercial agreements.
"Nikolai Gouginski is a very sound and level-headed lawyer with a lot of knowledge, as well as astute and practical judgement."
"He impresses us with his legal proficiency and his perfect service orientation. He is extremely nice to work with and we would always recommend him to anyone requiring competition law advice in Bulgaria."
"He has a very high level of knowledge, experience and business acumen."
Dessislava Iordanova often assists clients with CPC investigations into alleged cartels or abuses of a dominant position. She has further experience in merger control filings and competition compliance mandates, including in relation to distribution agreements.
"She fights for her clients and has a lot of practical experience."
"She was really helpful in suggesting alternative ways of doing things, and really answered quickly and did everything on time."
Ranked Lawyers at
Djingov, Gouginski, Kyutchukov & Velichkov
Bulgaria
Members
Provided by Djingov, Gouginski, Kyutchukov & Velichkov
Dessislava Iordanova
Katina Petrova
Head of Department
Vladislav Antonov
Clients
Provided by Djingov, Gouginski, Kyutchukov & Velichkov
ABBOTT Products
AOL Time Warner
Actavis Group
Atomstroyexport
Aurubis Bulgaria AD and Aurubis AG
BMW
Bank Austria
Beiersdorf
Bristol-Myers, Squibb
Bunge
Central Europe Media Enterprises
Chevron Corporation
Chipi Bulgaria
Cisco Systems
Clorox
Coca Cola Hellenic Bottling Company Bulgaria AD
Contour Global L.P.
Copenhagen Airports A/S
DZI AD (part of the KBC Group)
Daimler Chrysler AG
Danish Investment Fund for Central and Eastern Europe
Devnya Cement AD
ENI S.p.A.
Empower Capital
Ford Motor Company
General Motors Corporation
GlaxoSmithKline
Goldman Sachs Group, Inc.
Goldman Sachs Group, Inc.
HYPO Investmentbank AG
Haos Invest EAD
Hewlett-Packard
Ideal Standard
Intel Corporation
Intersnack
KBC Bank and Insurance Holding Company
Kaliakra AD, Bunge s.a. and Bunge Zrt.
Magyar Telecom Rt.
MasterCard Europe
Merck
Metro Cash and Carry Bulgaria
Mitsubishi Motor Corporation
Mitsui & Co
Mondi Packaging
MoneyGram
Nokia Corporation
Novartis
Novator Partners LLP
OMRON Corporation
OMV AG
OMV Bulgaria OOD
Orgachim AD
Progress Software
Qatar Holding
Rail Cargo Austria AG
Reader’s Digest
Reader’s Digest
Reader’s Digest
SKF
Sanoma Magazines B.V.
Schneider Electric
Société Générale
Sony Computer Entertainment Europe Ltd
State Reserve Fund of Oman
TeleTech Holdings, Inc.
Thyssen Krupp AG
Toshiba Corporation
Tymbark Bulgaria
Visa Europe
Western Union
Wind Hellas Telecommunications S.A.
ČEZ
Industries
Provided by Djingov, Gouginski, Kyutchukov & Velichkov
Automotive
Banking and finance
Charities/Non for profit
Commercial & professional services
Construction & materials
Consumer goods
Energy
Financial services
Food and beverage
Forestry and paper
Gas & oil
Heavy industry
IT
Industrial engineering
Life sciences
Logistics
Media
Mining & metals
Pharmaceuticals
Real estate
Retail
Sanitary fixtures
Software and computer services
Telecommunications
Utilities