THE STRUCTURE

The Lawyers’ Partnership “SPASOV & BRATANOV” (“SPASOV & BRATANOV” or the “Partnership”) was established in 1999 by the two name partners. It is a civilian partnership under the Bulgarian Obligations and Contracts Act and the Advocacy Act. The Partnership has developed and maintains correspondent contacts with lawyers and law firms in Sofia and throughout Bulgaria, as well as with governmental and municipal agencies and non-profit organisations.

The Partnership also works with and provides legal opinions on international matters for a number of western law firms – notably in the U.K. and Central Europe, following on from its earlier affiliation with a now restructured international law firm. SPASOV & BRATANOV is included in the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development’s (EBRD’s) list of local legal consultants, as well as in the EBRD DIF database, the Black Sea Trade and Development Bank consultant list and the World Bank/IFC consultant database DACON. The Partnership is a member of the British Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce and of the Bulgarian International Business Association (BIBA).

The Partnership was highlighted, “following strong client recommendation”, in the 2003 Chambers Global Guide as a leading Bulgarian “boutique” law firm.

The Partnership is among the very few independent Bulgarian law firms to have taken up professional liability insurance.

THE ACTIVITIES

The Partnership acts as counsel to state, municipal and private (local and foreign) entities in the following areas: legal structuring of business organisations, mergers, acquisitions and demerger transactions, liquidation and insolvency procedures; commercial contracts; privatisation; foreign investment; concessions; competition law; taxation and tax relief; banking and financial contracts; commercial paper and securities.

The Partnership is particularly strong in representing foreign investors in connection with their investments and projects in Bulgaria. We act either directly for the foreign investor or for the international law firm representing him. Our representation includes negotiating, advising and documenting the international transaction or project in a timely and cost-efficient manner.

In order to meet short-term human resource requirements for very large projects, the Partnership has established team arrangements with a number of other independent, established local lawyers. Such team co-operation has proved itself effective, flexible and financially advantageous to the client. We can (and have done so in the past) form special purpose teams with economists and engineers for particular projects.

The Partnership works in Bulgarian, English and Russian.