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Interview with The Firm DGKV
Read our exclusive interview
Mr. Assen Djingov, Managing Partner.
Georgi T. Gouginski, Partner.
Stephan Z. Kyutchukov, Partner.
Marius A. Velichkov, Partner.
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 ATTORNEYS AND COUNSELLORS AT LAW
10 Tsar Osvoboditel Blvd.Sofia 1000, Bulgaria
Tel: (00359) (0)2 932 11 00
Fax: (00359) (0)2 980 35 86
Email: dgkv@dgkv.com
Website: www.dgkv.com |
FIRM OVERVIEW
Djingov, Gouginski, Kyutchukov & Velichkov is one of Bulgaria's largest and most prominent law firms providing a diverse range of legal services to both domestic and international corporate clients with a strong emphasis on foreign investment.
The firm provides legal services to major international investment and commercial banks, securities firms, venture capital funds, industrial, utilities, service, distribution and retail companies, hotel corporations, real estate developers, not-for profit organizations, as well as international development institutions. The firm also maintains good working relationships with leading international law firms and financial and investment firms and banks.
THE PHILOSOPHY
Djingov, Gouginski, Kyutchukov & Velichkov was established in 1994 by the name partners and at present has a staff of twenty-six attorneys, an associated of-counsel, and patent specialists. The firm aims to provide the most efficient and professional team of lawyers throughout all stages of client representation, thus providing its clients with legal service of highest quality.
Every client matter is given immediate priority and is assigned to a select group of attorneys with the relevant experience, coordinated and managed by a partner. This approach, in conjunction with our extensive collection of traditional and technological sources for legal research, enables the firm to provide its clients with both cost-effective and timely legal services.
 Project Finance and Corporate Finance:
The firm has had a leading position in the field of project finance and corporate finance based on high expertise in all aspects of lending, debt finance, securitization, security/offshore agreements and guarantees.
The firm acts as legal advisor to EBRD and IFC with respect to financing of various infrastructure, construction and financial projects, such as the structuring and securitization of the financing of the Sofia water supply and sewerage system and the construction of a superstore in Sofia.
The firm has also represented IFC for its equity and debt investment in Bulgarian American Credit Bank and in Bulgarian Post Bank, and EBRD for its equity investment in Bulstrad, a major Bulgarian insurance company, and Doverie, a private pension fund, and for the extension of credit facilities to local banks for micro finance purposes.
The firm also provides legal counsel to the Black Sea Trade and Development Bank on the structure and security packages of credit facilities extended to KCM, a major national metal manufacturer, in relation to an environmental project, and to Sofia Municipality in relation to an energy efficiency project.
The solid experience of the project finance team of the firm is further confirmed by projects such as structuring the financing of the Sofia Hilton Hotel, and the construction of the "Maritsa" highway and of a cascade of three dams and hydro-power plants on the Gorna Arda River.
Energy, Oil and Gas
The firm advises AES and Entergy in relation to their investments in Bulgaria's two principal electricity generating power plants, Rheinbraun in its participation in a joint venture for the production of coal at the largest lignite deposit in Bulgaria, and Rolls-Royce Power Ventures in its participation in a joint venture with Toplofikacia, Sofia's central heating company, for the construction and operation of a combined heat and power generating facility.
Infrastructure projects, in which the firm has acted as counsel, include, among others, the privatization of the supply and sewerage system of the region of Bourgas, a major port at the Black Sea, the development of the network for the second GSM operator, and representation of OMV for the construction of a multimillion network of petrol stations throughout Bulgaria.
Banking, Finance and Securities
The firm acts as the legal advisor to major international commercial banks, such as Bank Austria, Citibank, Société Générale and TC Ziraat Bank in relation to establishment of their branches and operations in Bulgaria. The firm has also represented major financial institutions, such as IFC and AIG for the acquisition of shares in large Bulgarian banks. It has acted as counsel to the EBRD, IFC and three major German banks for the establishment of ProCredit Bank, a Bulgarian micro finance bank.
Further, the firm has been appointed to act as counsel to Paribas in relation to the first for Bulgaria Euro Bond issue for the City of Sofia in the amount of DEM 100 million. In addition, the firm provides legal advice to a large number of US and European investment banks and securities firms with regard to their interests and operations at the Bulgarian market of stocks, bonds and T-bills.
Joint-Ventures, Mergers & Acquisitions, Privatization
The firm's leading role in the privatization process has received strong international recognition upon the firm's appointment as counsel in Bulgaria's two largest privatizations deals: the privatization of the Bulgarian Telecommunications Company, where the firm represented Deutsche Bank, and the privatization of Bulgartabac Holding AD, Bulgaria's tobacco monopoly, where the firm represented Creditanstalt Investment Bank and Dresdner Kleinwort Benson.
The expertise of the firm in this area has been reaffirmed by its representation of OMV for the acquisition of the state-owned gasoline retail company, Deutsche Bank for its acquisition of the three main domestic pharmaceutical companies, Zeevi Holdings in connection with "Balkan Airlines", the Bulgarian national air carrier, as well as Nomura, Société Générale and KBC Bank in their acquisitions of the three largest banks. The firm also advised Telecom Italia Mobile in its participation in a tender for awarding a license for establishment and operation of a GSM network in the country. Further, the firm acts as legal council to SKF with respect to the privatization sale of the Bearing Plant as a self-standing unit of VMZ EAD, a major Bulgarian machine manufacturer.
General Corporate and Foreign Trade
The firm represents foreign companies and international corporations in connection with the establishment of their subsidiaries, branches and representative offices in Bulgaria, and provides assistance to their managers and personnel in conducting day-to-day business operations. The firm also provides legal advice on incorporation of companies, equity and debt investment, increase of capital, management contracts, shareholder agreements, transfer of shares, in-kind contributions, corporate governance, borrowing and lending, creditors' rights, bankruptcy and reorganizations, as well as obtaining approvals, licenses and registrations related to foreign investments. Advice is also provided on a broad range of international trade issues, including sales contracts, distribution agreements, services and licensing agreements, agency contracts, customs duties, and value added taxes.
Last but not least, Djingov, Gouginski, Kyutchukov & Velichkov has also had extensive and continuous practice in the areas of telecommunications, employment and social security, intellectual property and trademarks, tax, environmental law, not-for-profit organizations, EU and competition law.
PARTNERS
ASSEN A. DJINGOV
Born Sofia, 1965; admitted to the Bar, 1992.
Education: University of Sofia, Faculty of Law (LL.B, 1991), Diploma, Academy of American and International Law, Dallas, Texas (1993).
Languages: Bulgarian, English.
Practice areas: Foreign Investment; Corporate Law; Project Finance; Joint Ventures; Mergers and Acquisitions; Private Equity; Banking Law; Privatization; Concessions; Energy; Mining; Telecommunication Law; Contract Law; Labor Law.
E-mail: assen.djingov@dgkv.com
GEORGI T. GOUGINSKI
Born Sofia, 1966; admitted to the Bar, 1992.
Education: University of Sofia, Faculty of Law (LL.B, 1991); The American University, Washington College of Law, Washington, DC (LL.M, International Trade and Banking Law, 1993).
Languages: Bulgarian, English.
Practice Areas: Domestic and International Banking; Project Finance; Privatization; Infrastructure Projects; Securities Regulation; Mergers and Acquisitions; Telecommunication Law; Competition Law; Aviation Law.
E-mail: georgi.gouginski@dgkv.com
STEPHAN Z. KYUTCHUKOV
Born Sofia, 1965; admitted to the Bar, 1995.
Education: University of Sofia, Faculty of Law, (LL.B, 1991); Rector's Award for Excellence in Study; Diploma, Academy of American and International Law, Dallas, Texas (1992).
Languages: Bulgarian, English.
Practice Areas: Privatization, Foreign Direct Investment, Corporate Law, Project Finance, Secured Transactions, Securities, Financial Law, Taxation, Telecommunication Law, Infrastructure Projects, Real Estate Development, Oil and Gas, Franchising, Social Security Law, Labor Law, Intellectual Property, Patents and Trademarks;
E-mail: stephan.kyutchukov@dgkv.com
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MARIUS A. VELICHKOV
Born Vratsa, 1965; admitted to the Bar, 1995.
Education: University of Sofia, Faculty of Law (LL.B, 1991); Diploma, Academy of American and International Law, Dallas, Texas (1997).
Languages: Bulgarian, English.
Practice Areas: Privatization, Securities Regulation, Foreign Direct Investment, Corporate Law, Joint Ventures, Infrastructure Projects, Energy Law; Telecommunication Law, Aviation Law, Taxation, Franchising, Contract Law and Negotiations.
E-mail: marius.velichkov@dgkv.com
VESSELA N. STANCHEVA-MINCHEVA
Born Sofia, 1962; admitted to the Bar, 1998.
Education: University of Sofia, Faculty of Law (LL.B, 1987); University Institute for European Studies, Turin, Italy (International Trade Law Post-Graduate Course, 1991); College of Europe in Bruges, Law Dominant, Belgium (Diploma of Advanced European Studies, 1991/92); East-West Forum, University Institute for European Studies, Academy on European Law, Florence, Italy (1994); University of Sofia, Faculty of Law (Doctor of Law, Private International Law, 1993).
Languages: English, German, French.
Practice Areas: Securities, Banking Law, Privatization, Foreign Direct and Portfolio Investments, Secured Transactions, Private International Law, Corporate Law, EU Law.
E-mail: vessela.stancheva@dgkv.com
REPRESENTATIVE CLIENTS
Abbott Laboratories
Accor
AES Electric Ltd.
AIG-CEET
AIRO Catering
Alcatel
Aloe Vera of America Inc.
American Chamber of Commerce in Bulgaria
Anglian Water
Argus Capital
Astaldi SpA
Aventis S.A.
Balfour Beatty
Balkanpharma AD
Bankers Trust
Bank Hapoalim B. M.
Banque Nationale de Paris
Benckiser AG
BNP Paribas
Bristol-Myers Squibb International Limited
British Know-How Fund;
Broadnet Inc.
Butler Manufacturing
Bulgarian-American Enterprise Fund
Bulgarian Post Privatization Fund
Bulgarian Stock Exchange
Cable & Wireless
CARE Small Business Assistance Corporation Bulgaria AD
Carrier Corporation
Catholic Relief Services (CRS)
Ceylan Holding
Chase Manhattan
Chevron
Ciments Francais
Citibank
Citicorp Securities, Inc
CNA Financial Corporation
Coca-Cola Bevarages Plc.
Colas
CommerzBank
Compagnie Des Hotels De Luxe AD
Compania Roca Radiadores, S.A.
Concert
CONDEA Vista Company
Conoco UK
Creditanstalt Investment Bank
Cyprus Development Bank
Daimler-Benz AG
Data Information Systems (DIS)
Development Alternatives, Inc.
Devnya Cement AD
Deutsche Bank
Deutsche Post AG
Deutsche Morgan Grenfell
Deutsche Telekom AG
DE-VI A/S
DHL
Diamant-Zuker GmbH.
DMG
Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette International Limited
Dresdner Kleinwort Benson
Dyno Industries AB
ECM
Eli Lilly
Enron Europe Limited
Entergy
Estee Lauder
European Privatization and Investment Corporation (EPIC)
European Bank for Reconstruction and Develpoment
Eximbank
Expandia Finance S.A.
FEAL International S.A.
Federal Bank of the Middle East
F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd.
First Data Corporation
Ford Motor Company
GAF Corporation
General Electric International, Inc.
GE Information Services
Global One
Global Securities Bulgaria
HÄFELE GmbH & Co.
HILTON International Co.
Hughes Training Inc.
Hugo Boss AG
Hunter Douglas-Bulgaria
hewlett Packard
ICL
ICN Pharmaceuticals
ING Barings
Imperial Tobacco Intenational Ltd.
International Finance Corporation
ISP International Corporation
Japan Bank for International Cooperation
KBC Bank
Kempinski Hotels S.A.
Knafaim-Arkia Holdings Ltd.
Lockheed Martin
Lormar Spa.
Marconi Aerospace
Marquitex S.A.
Marriott Worldwide Corporation
Marsh Inc.
Mary Kay Inc.
Mattel, Inc.
MCI Communications Corporation
Merrill Lynch
Mobicom
Modern Times Group Broadcasting AB
Monsanto
Montpelier Asset Management Ltd.
Morgan Stanley
Mountel Communications International
Nitro Nobel AB
NM Rothschild & Sons Limited
Nokia
Nomura International PLC
Northrop Grumman Corporation
Nur Europe S.A.
OMV Aktiengesellschaft
Open Society Institute, New York
OTIS
Palfinger GmbH
Paribas (London)
Percheron
PPF
Quantel Veco Engineering
Ramstore Bulgaria AD
Radisson SAS Hotels Worldwide
Raytheon Company
Recovery Group Boston
Refco Capital Markets, Ltd.
Renaissance Capital Group
Reuters
Rheinbraun AG
R. J. Reynolds Tobacco
Respironics
Sandoz Pharma Services, Ltd.
Schering - Plough
Schindler
Schooner Capital Corporation
Scudder, Stevens & Clark
Shell International Limited
SKF
Small Enterprise Assistance Funds
Snelling Personnel Services
Société Générale
Sony Computer Entertainment Europe
Sony Europe GmbH
Sotheby's
S.R.S. Interntionl, Inc.
Standard Bank London
Sterling Commerce, Inc.
T.C. Ziraat Bank
Telecom Italia Mobile (TIM International)
Texaco
The Ahans Alstatter Eisenbahn Group
TNT Express Worldwide
Trussardi
Unipost
UK Embassy
UOP
US Meds
VELUX Industry A/S
VOLVO Truck Corporation
Vizzavi
Warner Bros
Wood & Co.
WoodCommerz
World Brands International Inc.
Wrigleys
Zeevi Holdings Ltd.
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© World INvestment NEws, 2002.
This is the electronic edition of the special country report on Bulgaria published in Forbes Global . April 29th, 2002 Issue.
Developed by World Investment News Ltd |
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