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Antonia Kehayova

Senior Associate
Attorney-at-Law

Picture of Antonia Kehayova

Antonia Kehayova

Senior Associate
Attorney-at-Law

T +359 2 447 1322
F +359 2 447 1390
CMS Sofia
Landmark Centre
14 Tzar Osvoboditel Blvd
1000 Sofia
Bulgaria
Languages Bulgarian, English, German
Dispute Resolution

Expertise

Antonia Kehayova is a senior associate primarily working in the field of dispute resolution and heads the litigation practice in Sofia. Her expertise includes advising and representing domestic and international clients in complex commercial and civil litigations as well as court proceedings, managing complaints procedures and administrative proceedings before all courts and relevant bodies in Bulgaria, out-of-court settlements, arbitration cases as well as representing clients in cross-border court proceedings to obtain and impose securities, criminal pre-trial investigations and criminal proceedings.

Previous work experience / training

Before joining CMS in 2012, she gained professional experience at one of the leading law firms in Sofia, where she worked for eight years. In the period between 2001 and 2002, she worked at the Ministry of Labour and Social Policy, where she was responsible for  various legal projects in the National Assembly of the Republic of Bulgaria.
Antonia Kehayova has also participated in a number of specialisation trainings such as:

•    Workshop on the Art of Arbitration Advocacy, ICC Bulgaria and White & Case Law Firm, 2013
•    CrossBorder Dispute Resolution Training, Professional Association of Mediators in Bulgaria, 2012

Lecturing activity

In October 2018, Antonia Kehayova was a panelist in a seminar held in London on the topic of insurance claims and the latest court practice in court cases on insurance compensations.

Ranking

Legal 500 for 2018

Dispute resolution – ranked: tier 1
CMS provides ‘timely and thorough legal advice’ to clients in a variety of sectors, including energy, retail, telecoms and aviation; handling public procurement, IP, insurance and employment litigation; insolvency cases; and national and international arbitration. Assen Georgiev has experience in major commercial disputes; Antonia Kehayova handles real estate, IP and insurance litigation; and senior associate Maria Lazarova specialises in employment cases. The team acted on behalf of Burger King in court proceedings to obtain security for costs in an international arbitration procedure relating to claims for compensation under several franchise agreements in Bulgaria.
 

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Dispute resolution - ranked: tier 1 | CMS’ international footprint gives it ‘the best capacity to handle complex, multi-jurisdictional cases’. Its recent work includes representing a multinational technology company in arbitration proceedings (including successfully appealing a related injunction in the Bulgarian courts), and acting for Austrian Volksbanken in a number of disputes regarding the restructuring of its Bulgarian investments. Key individuals Antonia Kehayova are recommended.

Legal 500 for 2016

Dispute resolution - ranked: tier 1 | CMS’ international footprint gives it ‘the best capacity to handle complex, multi-jurisdictional cases’. Its recent work includes representing a multinational technology company in arbitration proceedings (including successfully appealing a related injunction in the Bulgarian courts), and acting for Austrian Volksbanken in a number of disputes regarding the restructuring of its Bulgarian investments. Key individuals Antonia Kehayova are recommended.

Legal 500 for 2016

Relevant experience

  • Representing a leading Austrian energy company and its subsidiary in a number of public procurement lawsuits and injunction proceedings against public tenders for providing electricity and construction services (with regard to electricity power supply).
  • Representing one of the leading Austrian banks in a number of disputes regarding the restructuring of its Bulgarian investments, including in corporate insolvency proceedings and enforcement proceedings.
  • Representing and advising the Bulgarian subsidiary of an Austrian leasing company on a number of arbitration, enforcement and litigation proceedings concerning non-performing leasing portfolios, the return of leased assets, preliminary injunctions, securities, etc.
  • Representing a leading Austrian company dedicated to the idea of “innovative hygiene” and its Bulgarian subsidiary on several IP litigations regarding the EU patent and EU industrial design before Bulgarian courts, including support in preliminary injunctions, execution proceedings and criminal investigations.
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Education

  • •    2019 – One-year study programme on EU Law, Sofia University•    2012 – International Legal English, Sofia University •    2003 – Sofia University, Master of Laws (LL.M.)
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Memberships

  • Sofia Bar since 2004
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Publications

  • Survey of International Litigation Procedures: A Reference Guide, Part Bulgaria, The Foundation of the International Association of Defense Counsel, October 2014
  • Finanzielle Haftung des Arbeitgebers im Fall eines Arbeitsunfalls gemäß der bulgarischen Gesetzgebung (Employers’ financial liability for accidents according to Bulgarian legislation, German publication) – Wirtschaftsblatt, Bulgaria, July 2014
  • Alle EU-Bürger werden ab 17. August 2015 ein Europäisches Nachlasszeugnis nutzen (All EU citizens to use a European Certificate of Succession from 17 August 2015, German publication) – Wirtschaftsblatt, Bulgaria, April 2015
  • Versicherungsregelungen in Bulgarien ab 2016 (Insurance schemes in Bulgaria from 2016 onwards, German publication) – Wirtschaftsblatt, Bulgaria, January 2016
  • Captive Insurer – Capital, Bulgaria, July 2016
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Commercial

Expertise

Antonia Kehayova has extensive experience in advising clients on on-going commercial matters such as General Terms and Conditions, commercial agreements, frame agreements with buyers, lease agreements, legal implications on different commercial actions and deals, legal risk assessments, etc. She is also experienced in general contract law, corporate governance and M&A transactions. She primarily advises international clients such as retail chains, energy suppliers, IT companies, investment funds and financial institutions.  

Previous work experience / training

Antonia Kehayova has gained significant experience in the field of insurance law by advising one of the major insurance companies in Bulgaria. She always keeps an eye on the latest developments in EU insurance law and the resulting impact on the EU insurance market. Her experience in insurance includes the preparation of General Terms and Conditions and their amendments, insurance agency contracts, the legal review of insurance claims, out-of-court settlements of insurance claims and litigation in insurance disputes. She also has experience in regulatory matters and corporate issues with regard to insurance matters (mandatory corporate requirements for insurers, capital changes, corporate meetings, corporate changes, etc.).

  • Advising an Austrian leasing company and its Bulgarian subsidiaries on various commercial issues (General Terms and Conditions, supply agreements, frame agreements with buyers, lease agreements, legal risk assessments, etc.), including on commercial disputes.
  • Advising an Austrian steel trading company on on-going commercial matters and on commercial disputes.
  • Advising a major Bulgarian insurance company on various commercial issues (General Terms and Conditions, frame agreements with agents, preparation of different kinds of mandatory internal rules, legal risk assessments, etc.) and on commercial disputes.


 

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Relevant experience

  • Representing a leading Austrian energy company and its subsidiary in a number of public procurement lawsuits and injunction proceedings against public tenders for providing electricity and construction services (with regard to electricity power supply).
  • Representing one of the leading Austrian banks in a number of disputes regarding the restructuring of its Bulgarian investments, including in corporate insolvency proceedings and enforcement proceedings.
  • Representing and advising the Bulgarian subsidiary of an Austrian leasing company on a number of arbitration, enforcement and litigation proceedings concerning non-performing leasing portfolios, the return of leased assets, preliminary injunctions, securities, etc.
  • Representing a leading Austrian company dedicated to the idea of “innovative hygiene” and its Bulgarian subsidiary on several IP litigations regarding the EU patent and EU industrial design before Bulgarian courts, including support in preliminary injunctions, execution proceedings and criminal investigations.
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Education

  • 2019 – One-year study programme on EU Law, Sofia University
  • 2012 – International Legal English, Sofia University 
  • 2003 – Sofia University, Master of Laws (LL.M.)
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Memberships

  • Sofia Bar since 2004
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Publications

  • Survey of International Litigation Procedures: A Reference Guide, Part Bulgaria, The Foundation of the International Association of Defense Counsel, October 2014
  • Finanzielle Haftung des Arbeitgebers im Fall eines Arbeitsunfalls gemäß der bulgarischen Gesetzgebung (Employers’ financial liability for accidents according to Bulgarian legislation, German publication) – Wirtschaftsblatt, Bulgaria, July 2014
  • Alle EU-Bürger werden ab 17. August 2015 ein Europäisches Nachlasszeugnis nutzen (All EU citizens to use a European Certificate of Succession from 17 August 2015, German publication) – Wirtschaftsblatt, Bulgaria, April 2015
  • Versicherungsregelungen in Bulgarien ab 2016 (Insurance schemes in Bulgaria from 2016 onwards, German publication) – Wirtschaftsblatt, Bulgaria, January 2016
  • Captive Insurer – Capital, Bulgaria, July 2016
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Public Procurement

Expertise

Antonia Kehayova has substantial professional experience in the field of public procurement. She has acted as a legal adviser in many different tender proceedings either on behalf of the business/contractor or on behalf of the contracting authorities. She has advised one of the largest Austrian energy companies in a multi-million-euro tender in Bulgaria as well as a giant German construction company with regard to participation in a tender in Bulgaria. Antonia Kehayova has also acted as a legal representative in numerous administrative and court proceedings to appeal public tenders.  

Previous work experience / training

Antonia Kehayova participated in several trainings concerning the preparation and implementation of public tenders organised by ZOP Plus and the Bulgarian Public Procurement Agency with regard to the digitalisation of tender procedures in Bulgaria from November 2019.  

  • Advising a leading Austrian energy company and its subsidiary on all aspects of organising and implementing several public procurement proceedings regarding electricity and excavation works in the whole license territory of the client, including representing the client before the Bulgarian Public Procurement Agency as well as drafting and amending PP documentation. Legal services included the organisation of the qualification stage of the proceedings, drafting documents, organisation and implementation of the public tenders (second stage), negotiations with bidders as well as drafting contracts and submitting documents to the Public Procurement Agency.
  • Advising a leading Austrian energy company and its subsidiary on general public procurement matters and on the implementation of four public procurement proceedings regarding the delivery, installation and putting into operation of two water heating systems, including representing the client before the Bulgarian Public Procurement Agency as well as drafting and amending PP documentation. Legal services included drafting documents, the organisation and implementation of the public tenders (second stage), negotiations with bidders, and support by drafting and submitting documents to the Public Procurement Agency.
  • Advising a giant German construction company with regard to participation in a public tender in Bulgaria, including assistance with the preparation of tender documents and assessment of legal risks.
  • Advising a leading Bulgarian communication and high-tech company on various matters with regard to participation in several public tenders, including successful legal representation in a PP lawsuit before the Bulgarian Commission for the Protection of Competition and the highest administrative court.


 

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Relevant experience

  • Representing a leading Austrian energy company and its subsidiary in a number of public procurement lawsuits and injunction proceedings against public tenders for providing electricity and construction services (with regard to electricity power supply).
  • Representing one of the leading Austrian banks in a number of disputes regarding the restructuring of its Bulgarian investments, including in corporate insolvency proceedings and enforcement proceedings.
  • Representing and advising the Bulgarian subsidiary of an Austrian leasing company on a number of arbitration, enforcement and litigation proceedings concerning non-performing leasing portfolios, the return of leased assets, preliminary injunctions, securities, etc.
  • Representing a leading Austrian company dedicated to the idea of “innovative hygiene” and its Bulgarian subsidiary on several IP litigations regarding the EU patent and EU industrial design before Bulgarian courts, including support in preliminary injunctions, execution proceedings and criminal investigations.
more less

Education

  • 2019 – One-year study programme on EU Law, Sofia University
  • 2012 – International Legal English, Sofia University 
  • 2003 – Sofia University, Master of Laws (LL.M.)
more less

Memberships

  • Sofia Bar since 2004
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Publications

  • Survey of International Litigation Procedures: A Reference Guide, Part Bulgaria, The Foundation of the International Association of Defense Counsel, October 2014
  • Finanzielle Haftung des Arbeitgebers im Fall eines Arbeitsunfalls gemäß der bulgarischen Gesetzgebung (Employers’ financial liability for accidents according to Bulgarian legislation, German publication) – Wirtschaftsblatt, Bulgaria, July 2014
  • Alle EU-Bürger werden ab 17. August 2015 ein Europäisches Nachlasszeugnis nutzen (All EU citizens to use a European Certificate of Succession from 17 August 2015, German publication) – Wirtschaftsblatt, Bulgaria, April 2015
  • Versicherungsregelungen in Bulgarien ab 2016 (Insurance schemes in Bulgaria from 2016 onwards, German publication) – Wirtschaftsblatt, Bulgaria, January 2016
  • Captive Insurer – Capital, Bulgaria, July 2016
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