Boyanov & Co. has a stellar client roster of telecoms service providers, cable operators, and TV and radio stations, as well as international tech companies, including names such as Meta and Apple. The firm is sought out by clients for support with financing large M&A transactions as well as the rolling-out of innovative technologies and services on the Bulgarian market. Further fields of focus for the practice are fintech, cybersecurity, data protection, AI and recently matters at the intersection of telecoms, technology and the automotive sector. Practice head Nikolay Zisov has various specialisms in this sector, including in IP, software licensing, cloud computing projects, fintech and cybersecurity matters. Ralitsa Nedkova provides support with various M&A and financing mandates in this space.

Clients regularly turn to Dimitrov, Petrov & Co for its team of ‘leading legal experts in the country in technology, data protection, telecoms and media law’. Digital services, data protection, cybersecurity and e-commerce are just some of the areas where the firm has extensive experience, meaning the team is well placed to advise on the implementation of digital transformation projects, commercial and regulatory disputes, compliance with data protection legislation and day-to-day matters in the TMT sector. The team is co-led by George Dimitrov, Hristo Nihrizov, Desislava Krusteva-Doncheva and Nikola Stoychev, who advise a wide-ranging client roster which includes both global corporations, namely Google, and some of the largest Bulgarian telecoms and internet providers.

Djingov, Gouginski, Kyutchukov & Velichkov covers a whole host of TMT-related matters, supporting clients with corporate and M&A advice, regulatory guidance across the sector, and data protection advice. Furthermore, the firm's experience extends to advising on the entry of newer technologies, such as IoT, cloud and software-based communication services, and connectivity and digital platforms-based services, into the Bulgarian market, primarily acting for growing global technology companies and service providers. Practice head Violetta Kunze focuses on telecoms and media regulatory matters and has been involved in landmark TMT projects in Bulgaria.

Matters across the media sector are the core focus of CMS‘ TMT practice. The team has extensive knowledge regarding IP and media regulations, positioning it well to advise clients on licensing rights, contract design, outsourcing with regard to data protection, and entry into the Bulgarian media market, in addition to compliance with local regulations. Four lawyers jointly lead the practice - Gentscho Pavlov, Atanas Bangachev and Veliko Savov focus on TMT-related corporate and commercial matters and M&A deals, and Anna Tanova is an expert in media and IP matters.

Publishing companies, telecoms operators (mostly notably Vivacom) and IT companies regularly turn to Georgiev, Todorov & Co for day-to-day legal advice across various matters, including but not limited to commercial issues, M&A transactions and project financing, as well as IP matters and the revision and negotiation of contracts. The firm is also highly regarded for its litigation strength and is frequently called upon to act in disputes in the TMT sector before Bulgarian courts. Practice head Alexander Pachamanov is praised by clients for his 'exceptional' understanding of local and EU regulatory issues in the TMT sector. He is supported by key IP lawyer Tsvetelina Dimitrova.

Kambourov & Partners' client list is made up of major companies across the TMT sector, among which are traditional print media groups, digital services companies and some of the leading Bulgarian telecoms operators, including Bulsatcom. The team covers matters ranging from day-to-day regulatory, compliance, competition and data protection issues to complex M&A transactions and support in disputes. Margarita Guigova leads the practice and focuses on media and telecoms cases. She is supported by Mario Arabistanov and Yana Todorova.

The Kinstellar TMT team impresses clients with its ‘level of understanding of the industry and ability to anticipate and adapt to new developments in the sector’, covering large, complex telecoms-related transactions across the SEE and CEE regions and offering comprehensive advice on telecoms regulations, and media, advertising and digital services, as well as data protection issues and GDPR projects. Practice co-head Georgi Kanev has expertise in IP and IT matters, as well as in the emerging fields of entertainment and gaming. Anita Borisova and Debora Dineva are also key lawyers in the TMT team, which was further bolstered by the arrival of co-head Milka Ivanova from Djingov, Gouginski, Kyutchukov & Velichkov in November 2023.

Technology-related M&A transactions lie at the heart of Schoenherr‘s TMT practice, which recently advised global technology group e& on the high-value acquisition of a controlling stake in PPF Telecom Group’s assets across Eastern and Southern Europe. Other strengths of the team include advising on the launching of operations and new products on the Bulgarian technology market and the surrounding regulations, as well as day-to-day matters regarding data protection, IP and IT. The team assists mobile operators, telecoms providers, international technology companies and fintechs and is led by Ilko Stoyanov. Privacy lawyer Stefana Tsekova is another name to note.

Wolf Theiss advises on M&A transactions, privacy and data protection matters, regulatory and licensing issues, and compliance and IP matters across the software, telecoms and high-tech industries. Start-ups, funds, IT companies, and fintech and agritech organisations belong to the firm’s client roster. Richard Clegg and Anna Rizova jointly lead the TMT practice, with Clegg specialising in high-profile M&A transactions in regulated sectors, and Rizova frequently leading on IP and IT transactions.

Andrey Delchev and Partners - Eurolex Bulgaria counts terrestrial broadcast media, IT companies and digital media providers among its TMT clients, providing advice on day-to-day regulatory, licensing and compliance matters. Advertising law is another area of expertise for the team led by Severina Liubenova, who is a well-regarded competition practitioner.

Jordanov, Ignatov, Ivanov Law Firm has plenty of experience advising e-commerce platforms and digital businesses on various matters, including software licensing agreements, data privacy and IP matters. The team is also well regarded for its expertise in M&A transactions in the TMT sector. The team is jointly led by senior partner and IP rights expert Rumen Ignatov and data protection and cybersecurity regulations specialist Svetlana Valeva.

Penkov, Markov & Partners acts for various telecoms and mobile operators, IT, media and e-commerce companies and diverse start-ups, which it advises on the launch of new digital products and services, data protection and privacy issues, and compliance with Bulgarian and EU regulations. Nikolay Cvetanov leads the practice and excels in the areas of personal data protection, cybersecurity and fintech, and frequently advises start-ups. Boris Strijlev is another key member of the team.