Atanassov & Ivanov, Law Firm in Sofia
Serdika 23 Str., Sofia, 1202
359-2983-SHOW,
Atanassov & Ivanov is a successor to Totev & Ivanov Law Firm. Totev & Ivanov was active in the period as from August 2001 until May 2004.The firm is known for its expertise in Project Finance, Energy, Tax, Labor and Commercial Law. Former Big Four experience of key members of the firm provided us with valuable knowledge and understanding of problems which multinationals face in their entrance in Bulgaria.We have enriched this knowledge and experience through our practical and focused approach in solving day to day challenges of not only large multinational clients but also of Bulgarian and European SMEs.We have managed growth so that we never compromise the quality of our services. At Atanassov & Ivanov, clients can always reach partners.Our chosen markets are:- Energy- Oil & Gas- Real Estate and Construction- Retail and Automotive- IT and telecommunications- Pharmaceuticals & Foods- Financial Institutions- Consumer ServicesTo serve clients in these markets, we work constantly on improving our internal procedures, knowledge base and IT systems.Corporate & CommercialFor businesses that engage in commercial transactions, ranging from the purchase and sale of goods in the ordinary course of business to acquisitions of businesses, Atanassov & Ivanov can help add value to transactions by aiding clients with practical, cost-saving advantages.Our team provides a broad range of transaction-related legal services to enterprises of all types and sizes, financial institutions such as, establishment of companies, corporate restructuring, mergers and acquisitions and other business combination transactions. Our experience includes:- Registration of companies, branches, representative offices, cross border structuring, corporate governance solutions;- Regular work on agreements for financing of various purchases and on distribution agreements;- Regular work on franchise and lease agreement, and related documentation;- Franchise based corporate structuring;- Regular work on collaterals.Atanassov & Ivanov advices the Bulgarian distributor of a Japanese car manufacturer and a main distributor of mobile telecommunication related services and products. Recent experience includes negotiations on project documentation in relation to the development of a co-generation facility in Sofia.Mergers & AcquisitionsAtanassov & Ivanov's experience of mergers, acquisitions and similar transactions covers a wide range of industry sectors including retail, construction, engineering, mobile telecommunications, IT, pharmaceuticals. Our team assists a number of foreign clients in corporate reorganizations, such as mergers and split-offs. Banking & Financetanassov & Ivanov provides legal services related to various aspects of private and public bank issues. Our experience includes:- Advice on institutional and private banking regulations and requirements;- Day-by-day banking operations;- Drafting of standard bank agreements;- Financing and security of bank transactions;- Finance futures and options, bank guarantees, letters of credit;- Factoring and clearing.Atanassov & Ivanov represents one of the biggest local banks in court in numerous debt-recovery proceedings. EmploymentWe provide advice on a range of employment and labor matters. Our team helps clients to avoid employment crisis through prevention. The range of Employment law issues on which we counsel include:- Compliance programs;- Compensation law;- Health and safety requirements;- Policy manuals;- Employment contracts;- Covenants not to compete;- Commission agreements;- Personnel practices audit;- Discipline and termination;- Reductions in force;- Employee and supervisory training;- Union organizing and election campaigns;- Collective bargaining;- Labor arbitration;- Work permits regulations.We have provided a wide range of legal services such as negotiation, drafting of documentation and assistance on energy issues in relation to the transfer of a power plant's employees to a project operating company, as well as advice in relation to health and safety rules.Recent work includes:- Advice on regulatory matters to the human resources consulting company ConsulTeam;- Advice on employment law matters to the Austrian arm of the German construction company;- Advice and preparation of all employment internal policies and procedures of the Bulgarian office of an international pharmaceutical company;- On-going assistance for issuance of work permits by the expatriates seconded to work in Bulgaria.Foreign InvestmentsWe are particularly experienced in:- Structuring of foreign investments, cross border and treaty network solutions;- Valuations and legal analyses on the statute of the companies to be privatized;- Preparation of legal due diligence (for tax DD please refer to “Tax”);- Documentary attendance on the privatization transactions and representation before the respective institutions related to the privatization process;- Consultations and attendance on foreign investments, advise on protection of foreign investments and optimization of the tax regime;- Representation in applying for concession rights upon exclusive state and municipal properties.We have advised an Italian energy giant in relation to its participation in the privatization of the country's seven electricity distribution companies. The firm also advises a number of small and medium sized EU businesses on contemplated investments in Bulgarian assets. Project Finance & ConstructionExperience is the key to finding resources to support major project finance transactions around the world. We represent project participants and other entities, including:- Joint venture companies;- Sponsors;- Borrowers;- Guarantors;- Equity investors;- Underwriters;- Lenders;- Advisors;- Contractors;- Suppliers.In addition, Atanassov & Ivanov prepare and negotiate all types of project documentation and financing agreements and work closely with local counsel in addressing local law issues:- Bank credit facilities;- Capital market offerings;- Private Placement.Atanassov & Ivanov acted as a local counsel on the largest ever foreign investment in Bulgaria. The firm advised a US-based company on a complex investment issues covering the takeover, rehabilitation, exploitation and transfer back of the lignite-fired electrical power utility Maritza East 3 . Other work includes providing financing advice on the construction of a co-generation power plant and advising a US investor on a gas exploration project. The firm advises on an on-going basis a top 10 Bulgarian owned construction and real estate management company. A client of the firm is also the Austrian arm of a German construction company in relation to the Sofia Airport Reconstruction, Development and Extension Project. Tax & PlanningAt Atanassov & Ivanov our Tax and Planning services are fully integrated of our Corporate and Commercial services. As a result, we provide clients with both a broad range of general commercial skills and highly technical tax knowledge in areas of:- Tax policy matters;- Tax Due diligence;- Corporate taxation;- Taxation of individuals;- Value added tax (VAT);- Fees;- Excise and duties;- Registration procedures before tax authorities;- Interpretation and application of Agreements on avoidance of double taxation to which Republic of Bulgaria is a party;- Advising with clients' accountants and auditors;- Tax levying acts;- Legal advice on financial statements;- Taxable and tax-exempt financing;- Public and private securities offerings;- Tax litigation and other tax controversy work before authorities;- Joint ventures;- Financial instruments;- Project financings and other complex credit transactions;- Partnership taxation;- Manufacturing and distribution arrangements;- Public and private debt financings.Atanassov & Ivanov represent a variety of clients including domestic and international public corporations, private companies (such as limited liability and joint-stock companies), partnerships, non-profit organizations (associations and foundations), and individuals. Our experience includes numerous disputes on various tax issues, including representation on major CIT and VAT cases. We also advice an Austrian construction company in connection with their project for reconstruction of the Sofia Airport. Recent work includes advice to the Bulgarian distributor of Japan automobiles on withholding tax issues as well as advice to the Bulgarian representative of the world's largest manufacturer of chewing gum on VAT and customs issues. ADR & MediationIt is our understanding that alternative dispute resolutions have to be considered before resorting to court. Therefore we strive to utilize these methods to resolve disputes to the satisfaction of our clients.Alternative dispute resolution (ADR) refers to a range of dispute resolution options, which are different from litigation. ADR processes can be characterized with couple of common features:- provide means to keep confidentiality;- neutral standards of conduct;- rules of evidence not strictly applicable;- part of a contract and/or party agreement;- parties and attorneys tailor the process to the dispute;- consensual or court-annexed.ADR processes range from most facilitative such as mediation to more or less facilitative such as arbitration. Mediation is the most facilitative process where parties have the control over the procedure. According to the Bulgarian Mediation Act “Mediation is a voluntary and confidential procedure aimed at out-of-court dispute resolution and involving a third party - mediator that assists the parties to the dispute in reaching a settlement”.It's main features are:- a neutral person, mediator, leads the session;- joint sessions and/or caucuses are possible during the mediation procedure;- everything depends on the free will of the parties and their informed consent;- partie
practice areas
Banking LawCommercial LawCorporate Commercial LawCorporate LawFinanceInvestmentsLabor and EmploymentLitigationMergers and Acquisitions and DivestituresReal EstateTaxation