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 regulatory frameworks with practical experience in investigations, dispute resolution, and cross-border asset recovery. We are particularly active in matters involving allegations of fraud, corruption, financial crime, and regulatory misconduct, where legal, commercial, and reputational risks intersect. 

Managing White-Collar and Financial Crime Risk

Allegations of white-collar crime and failures in AML compliance can give rise to criminal liability, regulatory sanctions, reputational damage, and asset loss. Enforcement authorities in Bulgaria and across the EU continue to broaden their scope through enhanced investigative powers, increased cross-border cooperation, and stricter compliance expectations.

NBLO provides integrated legal support across prevention, response, and defence. We work closely with clients to identify and mitigate risk, manage investigations, and protect their interests at every stage, including matters involving parallel criminal, civil, and regulatory proceedings in multiple jurisdictions.

Core Areas of Expertise

We advise on a wide spectrum of white-collar crime and compliance matters, including:

• money laundering and terrorist financing; 
• corporate and investment fraud;
• bribery and corruption; 
• market abuse and insider dealing; 
• regulatory enforcement; 
• whistleblowing and internal investigations; 
• ESG-related offences and 
• asset tracing and recovery. 

Our lawyers frequently handle matters with both domestic and international dimensions, ensuring coordinated and effective representation.

AML & Regulatory Compliance

NBLO has a well-established AML/CFT practice, advising on compliance with Bulgarian legislation and evolving EU-wide standards. We assist clients with the design and implementation of AML governance frameworks, risk assessments, and internal controls, as well as customer due diligence, enhanced due diligence, beneficial ownership obligations, and reporting requirements.

We also advise regulated entities on AML compliance in the context of data protection, licensing, and sector-specific regulation, particularly in financial services, payments, and other high-risk industries. Since 2020, our AML practice has been led by a former special agent of the Bulgarian State Agency of National Security, providing first-hand insight into enforcement priorities, investigative techniques, and supervisory expectations.

Regulatory Context and Forward Planning

Our advice reflects recent amendments to Bulgarian AML and criminal legislation, as well as ongoing alignment with EU AML reforms, including the new EU AML Regulation and Directive and the establishment of a centralised EU AML Authority. We monitor increased scrutiny of cross-border transactions, high-risk jurisdictions, and complex ownership structures.

Beyond current obligations, we help clients prepare for forthcoming regulatory changes, supervisory trends, and enforcement approaches, enabling them to anticipate risk rather than respond reactively.

Investigations, Enforcement & Defence

NBLO has extensive experience representing companies, senior management, regulated entities, and individuals in investigations and proceedings relating to alleged money laundering, fraud, corruption, and other regulatory breaches. We advise and represent clients before investigative authorities and regulators, provide strategic guidance during dawn raids and information requests, and defend clients in criminal and administrative proceedings.

Our approach includes managing parallel proceedings across jurisdictions and supporting clients with crisis management and reputational risk mitigation where matters attract public or regulatory attention.

Asset Tracing, Recovery & Cross-Border Fraud

We regularly advise on cross-border asset tracing and recovery in high-value fraud and financial crime cases where assets are at risk of dissipation. Our work integrates investigative coordination, interim measures, enforcement strategies, cross-border litigation, and AML-driven asset freezing and recovery mechanisms, particularly where regulatory breaches and fraud-related claims intersect.

Industry Focus and Client Approach

We advise clients across financial services and fintech, investment and fund structures, energy and natural resources, real estate and construction, manufacturing and trade, regulated and high-risk industries, as well as private wealth and family office structures. This sector-specific experience enables us to tailor compliance solutions and defence strategies to each client’s operational and risk profile. Clients choose NBLO for our deep regulatory expertise, practical enforcement experience, strong cross-border capabilities, and discreet, commercially focused approach. We understand that white-collar and AML matters demand not only legal precision, but also sound judgement and decisive action.