Topline Analysis on the Google Shopping EU Case
The Google Shopping case is now one last step away from final decision following Advocate General Kokott’s opinion from last week. The AG sided with the European Commission and the General Court which upheld Google’s 2.4bn fine for preferencing its comparison shopping service over rivals in Google’s general search results website. A few interesting takeaways […]
Hristov & Partners Promotes Dragomir Stefanov to a Partner
We are delighted to announce an expected partner promotion. Our colleague Dragomir Stefanov will join the partnership with effect from 1 December 2023. ‘Congratulations to Dragomir! The partnership is befitting and suits him perfectly. We are excited about the opportunities for our firm that lie ahead. Hristov & Partners wants to be a platform for the new […]
Latest trends in competition enforcement pose challenges to legal certainty in deal making
Growing concerns about the effect that some acquisitions falling below the mandatory merger notification thresholds may have on innovation and effective competition are increasingly shaping competition policy within the EU. Last week the Belgian competition authority closed an investigation opened earlier in March 2023 involving a possible abuse of dominance arising from an acquisition in […]
The EU Foreign Subsidies Regulation – an Overview
The European Union’s Foreign Subsidies Regulation (FSR) entered into force on 12 January 2023 and establishes a new legal framework protecting against distortions of competition on the EU internal market caused by foreign subsidies. Starting from 12 October 2023, acquisitions of significant EU businesses and large EU public tenders will be subject to mandatory notification […]
AIOPSGROUP and valantic Combination – an Interview for CEE Legal Matters
The regional legal publication CEE Legal Matters interviewed our partner Pavel Hristov on the valantic/AIOPSGROUP deal. Our firm acted for the founders of AIOPSGROUP and coordinated legal advice of leading law firms in Germany and Serbia. ‘Hristov & Partners have done an amazing job! It’s not every day you find individuals or firms that go […]
Bulgaria Deal of the Year Award of CEE Legal Matters goes to Hristov Partners
Hristov & Partners won the 2022 Bulgarian Deal of the Year Award for BioIVT‘s acquisition of Fidelis Research. Our team included partners Pavel Hristov, Biliana Shagova and senior associate Dragomir Stefanov. Winners of this year’s Deal of the Year Awards were announced on April 25, in Istanbul, during the CEE Legal Matters Deals of the Year Awards Banquet. The black-tie ceremony celebrated the largest and most […]
High Rankings of Hristov Partners in Legal500 EMEA 2023
The leading international legal directory The Legal 500 EMEA just published its 2023 annual rankings. The independent research confirmed our firm’s high Tier-2 standing in both categories in which we compete: Commercial, Corporate and M&A, and EU and Competition. We are grateful for our clients’ praise of the quality of our work and reliability, and […]
Case C-449/21 (Towercast): A transaction not caught by EU or national merger control rules may still be assessed under the abuse of dominance prohibition
On 16 March 2023 the European Court of Justice rendered its awaited judgement in Case C-449/21 (Towercast) dealing with the possible application of the abuse of dominance prohibition to corporate transactions falling below the established thresholds for merger control. Facts On 13 October 2016, the largest French television transmission service operator Télédiffusion de France (TDF) […]
Hristov Partners Celebrate 10th Anniversary
We celebrate our firm’s 10th anniversary. On reflection, together we have created a reliable, reputable and sustainable law firm. With: * world class lawyers * a roster of fantastic loyal clients, multinational, international and domestic * an international strategy focused on our capabilities in M&A transactions * a strong long-standing international referral network * lasting […]
The EU Whistleblowing Directive finally implemented in Bulgaria
On 2 February the Bulgarian Whistleblower Protection Act (WPA) was published in the State Gazette, implementing 1 year late the requirements of the European Whistleblower Protection Directive (the Directive). Companies will be required to ensure compliance with the new law within: 2 May 2023 – for companies with 250 and more employees and for companies […]