Svetoslav Ivanov
Partner
Svetoslav has more than 20 years of experience, having previously been the Head of Legal at Bulgaria’s national totaliser, and a senior member of the team advising the largest domestic petroleum and petrochemicals producer, Petrol AD.
Since 2004, Svetoslav has practised as an advocate at the Sofia Bar and he is involved in a variety of matters ranging from very high-value to personal pro bono matters with the highest degree of dedication, responsiveness and client commitment.
Qualifications: Sofia University, LL.M.
Languages Spoken: Bulgarian and English
Office Location: Sofia
Member of: Sofia Bar Association
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Family and Children
Overview Family and children matters often involve deeply personal issues combined with significant legal and financial consequences. New Balkans Law Office advises individuals and families on a wide range of family law matters connected to Bulgaria, with particular strength in cases involving an international or cross-border element. We understand that family disputes and decisions can […]
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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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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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Insolvency and Restructuring
Overview We assist and advise Bulgarian and international clients on insolvency, corporate restructuring and distressed situations involving Bulgarian entities or assets. In this regard we help creditors, debtors, shareholders and investors protect value, manage risk and navigate Bulgarian insolvency and stabilisation procedures in a focused, commercial and time‑sensitive way. Drawing on strong corporate, finance and […]
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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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Real Estate Litigation
Bulgarian real estate boomed in 2004-2008 and again (in a smaller wave) around investment in renewables benefitting from FiT-subsidies in 2008-10. These booms created their mirror waves of real-estate litigation and NBLO’s practice since its creation in 2005 has been very much bound up with property dispute representation. We have advised a variety of international […]
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Shareholder, corporate, JV and M&A disputes
In the field of corporate disputes, building on the knowledge acquired in venture and seed fund-raising and investing, M&A and general business law, we seek the best outcome for clients. Our experts advise on potential and actual claims from private M&A and joint ventures on issues connected to breaches of SPAs, SHAs, JV As and […]
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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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Bulgaria’s inadequate Hague Convention compliance – returns of internationally abducted children – case before the European Court of Human Rights
In a case in which NBLO acted for the applicant and against the Bulgarian Government, the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) recently handed down its judgement concerning a refusal to return an internationally abducted child. The applicant, whose child was abducted by the child’s mother, had duly applied to the Bulgarian courts pursuant to […]
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New Bulgarian Act Implements EU Sanctions on Russian Oil and Petroleum Products
Diverse and swingeing international and EU sanctions have been imposed on Russia for its actions in Ukraine by a range of Western countries. Initially sanctioning Russia more mildly in 2014, the EU added new sanctions in 2022 and 2023. Bulgaria has generally participated in and applied EU sanctions against Russia keenly, but has been doing […]


