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 Antonia Kehayova
Counsel

Antonia Kehayova

Co-Head of Dispute Resolution and Real Estate

Languages
  • Bulgarian
  • English
  • German
Social media

Antonia Kehayova joined CMS Sofia in 2012 and has since been jointly in charge of the Dispute Resolution practice in Sofia.

She has more than 15 years’ experience in the fields of Civil law and litigation, real estate, public procurement, and insurance law. She represents clients in corporate litigations before civil courts, commercial arbitration hearings and in relation to out-of-court settlements, as well as in preliminary injunction court proceedings and post-judgment enforcements.

Antonia has acted for leading local and international banks, financial institutions, and foreign and local companies in numerous disputes regarding restructurings, corporate insolvency and enforcement proceedings. She also advises and represents international clients in EU related court procedures and local implication and recognition/enforcement.

Relevant experience

  • An Austrian energy giant and its Bulgarian subsidiary | On a number of public procurement lawsuits and injunction proceedings against public tenders for providing electricity and construction services of significant value (with regard to electricity power supply).
  • The Bulgarian branch of a wind-down company owned by the Republic of Austria | On various commercial arbitrations, enforcement, and litigation proceedings, concerning non-performing leasing portfolios, returning leased assets, preliminary injunctions, securities etc.
  • An Austrian Bank | On numerous lawsuits with reference to contractual, commercial, real-estate and other legal disputes, including representation before all civil court instances, claims for collaterals, etc. with respect to restructuring of a large investment project in Bulgaria – building and operation of shopping mall/commercial spaces. Successfully representing the client in lawsuits concerning enforcement of special pledges on restructuring a loan agreement, declaring invalid /null and void an enterprise purchase agreement for a significant amount.
  • A Turkish energy investor | On a court representation before the Bulgarian courts regarding several commercial disputes for annulment of an enterprise purchase agreement, unlawful registrations in the Commercial Register, corporate/shareholders litigations etc.
  • A German aviation re-insurer | On application of the Bulgarian insurance and procedural law in the out-of-court settling of a large insurance claim 
  • A Finnish Bank | On the cancellation and lifting of a garnishment, representing the balance on an irrevocable letter of credit.
  • An American fast-food company | On a preliminary injunction related to an international arbitration.
  • An Israeli air transport company | On the enforcement of a foreign court decision in Bulgaria and on an out of court settlement.
  • An Austrian family-run company, leader in innovative hygiene solutions and its Bulgarian subsidiary | On several IP litigations regarding EU patent and EU industrial design before Bulgarian courts including on preliminary injunctions, execution proceedings and criminal investigations.

Memberships & Roles

  • A member of the Sofia Bar Association since 2004

Awards & Rankings

  • Rising Star for Dispute Resolution, Legal500, since 2021

Education

  • 2019 – One-year study programme on EU Law, St. “Kliment Ohridski” University
  • 2012 – International Legal English Course (ILEC)
  • 2004 – Master of Law, St. “Kliment Ohridski” University 

Antonia Kehayova is one of the most long-standing and experienced public procurement experts in CMS Sofia. 

She has sector-specific knowledge especially in the areas of construction, energy and transport infrastructure, IT and manufacturing. Her specific procurement law expertise includes assistance to institutional and sector assignors, and to private contractors/bidders, procurement preparation and implementation, claim management and PP dispute resolution before institutional tribunals and courts. 

Among her clients are big energy, transport, construction, manufacturing and software companies – both international and local – such as EVN, ELL Austria, Carl Zeiss, Prisma European Capacity Platform GmbH, SmartCom Bulgaria, etc


 

Relevant experience

  • Europe’s leading gas capacity trading platform | On its registration in the Procurement Agency platform, preparation and submission of tender documentation, post-selection assistance. 
  • A Bulgarian IT Leader | On the preparation and filing of an appeal with the CPC against a decision to open a multi-million public tender in the field of IT and telecommunications, including representing the client before the CPC and the Supreme Court.
  • A European-based technology leader in construction services | On concession matters in relation to its participation in a consortium for a concession project.
  • A German manufacturer of optical systems and optoelectronics | On preparing documentation and filing an offer in a public tender with the National Science Academy for delivery of a microscope equipment system.
  • An Austrian Energy Giant | On the execution of public procurement proceedings regarding electricity and excavation works on the whole territory licensed to the client, including acting as a representative of the client before the Bulgarian Public Procurement Regulator, elaboration and amendments of PP documentation.
  • An Austrian Energy Giant | On general public procurement matters and on the implementation of a public procurement proceeding regarding delivery, installation and putting two water heating systems into operation, including representing the client regarding part of the public procurement works before the Bulgarian Public Procurement Regulator, elaboration and amendments of PP documentation.
  • An Austrian Energy company | Before the Commission for Protection of Competition and the Supreme Administrative Court in an appeal against a public procurement procedure for electrical works in the amount of approx. EUR 45 Mio.
  • An EU leading locomotive leasing company | On public tender for supply and lease of electric locomotives for the needs of the Bulgarian State Railway Company.
  • A Croatian cut and sew apparel manufacturing company | On the preparation and filing of documents for a public tender with the Bulgarian Ministry of the Interior for the delivery of clothes.

Memberships & Roles

  • A member of the Sofia Bar Association since 2004

Education

  • 2019 – One-year study programme on EU Law, St. “Kliment Ohridski” University
  • 2012 – International Legal English Course (ILEC)
  • 2004 – Master of Law, St. “Kliment Ohridski” University

Antonia Kehayova jointly heads the Real Estate Department of CMS Sofia. She primarily advises clients in various real estate transactions, including conducting complex due diligences for shopping centres, production facilities, office and residential properties, negotiating long-term lease agreements, drafting preliminary and final sale and purchase agreements, advising on construction agreements, property management projects and establishing real estate collaterals. Antonia advises clients from various sectors, including real estate funds and financial institutions, on all legal aspects of real estate law.


 

Relevant experience

  • A German client | On the acquisition of real estate in Bulgaria suitable for production facilities (green field investment), including due diligence for several sites, structuring and negotiations with the potential sellers.
  • An Austrian real estate company | On the sale of two office buildings in Sofia through a share deal
  • Austrian real estate developers | On the largest office real estate deal (EUR 80 mill.) in Bulgaria in ten years.
  • The Bulgarian subsidiary of the largest Hungarian commercial Bank | On the financing of Mall Sofia for the construction of a new office building.
  • The biggest Bulgarian Bank and a Bulgarian financial services group, specialized in insurance and asset management | On the EUR 22 million acquisition financing provided to a leading worldwide producer of sunflower seeds. We performed a due diligence on the borrower’s properties and assisted with a full security package.
  • The biggest Bulgarian Bank | On the whole process of the financing, including, but not limited to, the preparation of a limited legal due diligence for seven separate companies.
  • A Bulgarian real estate developer | On acquisition of a large real estate, property development issues and the construction of a large multi complex with mixed use, including structuring, negotiations with finance partners and a hotel chain.
  • An Austrian-owned real estate developer | On acquisition of a real estate property for the construction of a residential building

Memberships & Roles

  • A member of the Sofia Bar Association since 2004

Awards & Rankings

  • Rising Star for Real Estate, Legal500 since 2021

Education

  • 2019 – One-year study programme on EU Law, St. “Kliment Ohridski” University
  • 2012 – International Legal English Course (ILEC),
  • 2003 – Master of Law, St. “Kliment Ohridski” University