Maya Ivanova
Associate
Prior to NBLO, Maya worked for two years in the General Directorate for Combating Organized Crime at the Ministry of Interior of Bulgaria where she dealt primarily with Anti Money Laundering. Later she joined the Bulgarian State Agency for National Security where she worked for 6 years primarily on financial crimes which includes money laundering, investment fraud, tax evasion and more.
She has extensive experience with Anti Money Laundering matters, regulatory, national security, criminal defense and white collar crimes.
Maya has a fluent command of English and Bulgarian, her native language.
Qualifications: Plovdiv University
Languages Spoken: Bulgarian and English
Office Location: Sofia
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Corporate and M&A
Overview Corporate and M&A work is central to our practice, supporting clients through complex commercial change and strategic business decisions. We advise corporate groups, founders, financial investors and management teams on a wide spectrum of matters, including company reorganisations, strategic investments, acquisitions and disposals, and joint ventures. Our approach is grounded in an understanding of […]
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White-Collar Crime and Investigations
Overview New Balkans Law Office (NBLO) advises corporates, financial institutions, executives, and high-net-worth individuals on complex white-collar crime, anti-money laundering (AML), and regulatory compliance matters in Bulgaria and across borders. We assist clients facing regulatory exposure, investigations, and compliance challenges in an increasingly assertive enforcement environment. Our practice combines in-depth knowledge of Bulgarian and EU […]
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Blockchain and Cryptocurrency
Why Bulgaria Bulgaria has established itself as a practical and efficient base for crypto and blockchain businesses seeking access to the European Union market. Companies incorporated in Bulgaria benefit from EU market access while operating in a jurisdiction known for competitive costs and a technology-friendly environment. Regulatory oversight in Bulgaria is structured and transparent. Authorities […]
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Corporate Tax
Tax policies and corporate tax regulations are always of strategic importance to our clients in conducting their business and investment. Tax is a major concern for all businesses and individuals. There are tax related aspects in each transaction and business venture, both at the stage of its structuring and set-up, as well as in the […]
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Real Estate
Оverview The Bulgarian real estate market continues to evolve at a remarkable pace. Both the off‑plan (“on greenfield”) construction segment and the secondary market remain highly dynamic, attracting local and international buyers, investors and developers. This environment requires precise legal guidance, thorough due diligence, and a clear understanding of regulatory frameworks and local practice that […]
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AML Central Point of Contact in Bulgaria
NBLO’s work as Central Point of Contact New Balkans Law Office’s expertise and extensive work in the area of Anti Money Laundering (AML) was recognised by one of the largest global cross-border payment service providers who have appointed NBLO as their Central Point of Contact (CPC) in Bulgaria. What is a CPC? According to […]
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How to Open a Bank Account in Bulgaria as a Foreign Business
In this article, we provide an overview of the criterion that overseas incorporated businesses must generally fulfil in order to open a bank account in Bulgaria. We have restricted our analysis to organisations that are structured as companies or corporations in their home jurisdiction. Although Bulgarian law tends to recognise the legal forms of other […]
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Whistleblowing in EU Financial Regulation
Whistleblowing has ceased to be a peripheral compliance consideration. Across the European Union’s most consequential regulatory regimes – anti-money laundering, crypto-asset regulation, digital operational resilience, financial sanctions, and data protection, it has become a legally mandated governance mechanism whose proper implementation carries significant civil, administrative, and criminal consequences. The foundational instrument is Directive (EU) 2019/1937 […]
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FATF Signals a Regulatory Turning Point on Offshore VASPs
The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) has once again sharpened its focus on one of the most structurally challenging risks in the digital asset ecosystem: offshore Virtual Asset Service Providers. The March 2026 report, “Understanding and Mitigating the Risks of Offshore VASPs”, is not merely a typology exercise. It is a clear regulatory signal that […]
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EU Designation of Russia as a High-Risk Third Country: Legal and AML Compliance Implications
The European Union (EU) has independently designated Russia as a high-risk third country under its anti-money laundering and countering the financing of terrorism (AML/CFT) framework, effective 29 January 2026. This decision comes despite the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) not placing Russia on its high-risk “black list”, reflecting the EU’s autonomous regulatory assessment of systemic […]
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Purchasing and Selling Real Estate in Bulgaria Using Cryptocurrency
In recent years, Bulgaria has seen increasing interest in real estate transactions using cryptocurrency as full or partial consideration. This reflects global trends in digital asset adoption but engages a complex intersection of property law, financial regulation, anti-money-laundering (AML) compliance, and taxation. Although possible, such transactions require adherence to strict legal and regulatory standards. They […]
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UAE Free Zones: Legal Structuring for Bulgarian Tech and Service Companies
UAE free zones have become a cornerstone of the country’s foreign investment and international business strategy and are increasingly utilised by European Union (EU) Tech and service companies seeking regulatory efficiency, ownership, certainty, and access to growth markets beyond Europe. Against a backdrop of heightened regulatory pressure within the EU, rising compliance costs, and evolving […]
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Artificial Intelligence Act and Global AI Regulation: Compliance Requirements and Key Legal Developments
Two recent developments in AI regulation, the entry into force of the European Union’s Artificial Intelligence Act (AI Act) and accelerating national AI regulatory initiatives in multiple jurisdictions have clarified several key legal issues relevant to practitioners and organisations operating with AI systems. In the EU, the AI Act creates a comprehensive horizontal legal framework […]
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Expanding into Dubai: Legal Steps and Pitfalls in Mainland and Free Zone Structures
Over the past decade, Dubai has systematically modernised its corporate and economic regulatory landscape to attract foreign investment and to integrate its commercial ecosystems. For Bulgarian and EU businesses contemplating entry into the UAE market, this evolution has significant legal and practical implications. Traditionally, foreign investors chose between Dubai Mainland companies, governed by the Department […]
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AML Penalties for Venture Capital Firms in the European Union and Bulgaria
Anti-money laundering (AML) compliance for venture capital (VC) companies operating in the European Union has undergone a fundamental transformation following the adoption of the EU AML Package in 2024 and the intensification of national enforcement measures, particularly in Bulgaria. The previous model, characterised by minimum harmonisation through directives and divergent national practices, is being replaced […]
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Managing Multi-Regime Compliance in Cross-Border Crypto Operations
Operating crypto-asset businesses across multiple EU Member States presents significant compliance challenges. Even with MiCA (Regulation (EU) 2023/1114) authorisation, companies are subject to overlapping obligations under the AML Regulation (AMLR) (Regulation (EU) 2024/1624), national AML laws, for example the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, PSD2 (Directive (EU) 2015/2366), EMD2 (Directive 2009/110/EC), and DORA (Regulation (EU) […]
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Cross-Border Compliance Under MiCA: Legal Interdependencies for Multi-Jurisdictional Crypto Operations
The EU’s Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCA) (Regulation (EU) 2023/1114) establishes a harmonised licensing and conduct framework for crypto-asset markets. However, companies operating across multiple Member States are discovering that MiCA alone does not eliminate regulatory complexity. Cross-border operations expose companies to overlapping obligations under MiCA, the AML Regulation (AMLR) (Regulation (EU) 2024/1624), national AML […]
