Partner

Assen Georgiev

Head of Litigation, Arbitration, Insurance, Employment, CMS Sofia

Languages

Bulgarian
English

Assen Georgiev is a partner at CMS Sofia and Head of the Litigation, Arbitration, Insurance, Employment practice group.

He represents clients in litigation/court disputes and out-of-court settlement arrangements, as well as mediation and arbitration proceedings in a variety of sectors, including banking and finance sector, agriculture, energy, insurance, life sciences and healthcare, consumer products, and before various courts, including supreme courts and the Arbitration Court at the Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Assen has led a number of regulatory compliance and licensing procedures. He represents clients in international arbitration institutions such as the ICC International Court of Arbitration and the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID) in Washington D.C., USA. He is listed among the leading arbitration practitioners in Central and Eastern Europe in the Legal 500 Private Practice Arbitration Powerlist - CEE Region 2022 and 2023.

Before joining CMS, Assen was co-managing partner of a reputable Bulgarian law firm.

Awards & Recognitions

01 –

Quote

"Assen Georgiev responds quickly and is supportive to clients. He has a very strong problem-solving attitude."

Chambers & Partners Europe
Quote

“Assen Georgiev has a practical approach. He is business oriented and thinks strategically.”

Legal 500
Quote

“Very good professionals, extensive knowledge in the legal area, excellent communication, fast in resolving the legal issues and a very reliable partner.”

Legal 500

Relevant experience

Bulgarian National Bank (BNB) on tens of claims for state liability arising from BNB’s revocation of license of a major Bulgarian bank.
Jack Daniels’ Properties, international distributor of alcoholic beverages, before the highest Bulgarian court – the Supreme Court of Cassation in two complex cases related to trade mark rights, unauthorized import and exhaustion of IP rights; assistance with subsequent enforcement proceedings.
Iberdrola Renovables, the leading Spanish renewables company, on its several million euro dispute with Bulgarian State-owned grid operator arising out of a wind energy project.
SDN Company (South Korea), major energy sector foreign investor, and its local subsidiary in their disputes with Bulgarian subcontractors regarding construction of one of the largest solar parks in the country.
Representing some of the largest foreign investors in renewable energy in Bulgaria - ACWA Power (Saudi Arabia), First Reserve (USA), Crescent (Turkey), Efacec (Portugal), SDN Company (South Korea), Astronergy (South Korea), SPMA (Italy) and their subsidiaries before the Bulgarian administrative courts in appeal procedures against the Bulgarian state energy regulation authority.
Russian state-owned enterprise FGUP in successful enforcement of international arbitration award of the London Court of International Arbitration against debtor in Bulgaria, including blocking the debtor’s real estate property in Bulgaria.
Novera in investment arbitration proceedings against Republic of Bulgaria in the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID) in Washington D.C., USA, arising out of bilateral investment treaty. The client’s claim is based on indirect investment in three local companies holding concessions which were unilaterally terminated by Sofia Municipality.
Bilfinger SE, leading international construction company, in a multi-million dispute in the Arbitration Court at Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce with a local subcontractor arising out of the construction of a major military project in Bulgaria.
Hochtief (Germany), leading international provider of construction-related services, in an arbitration proceeding against the Bulgarian Ministry of Regional Development and Public Works for various claims concerning the construction period of this project, where we convinced our client to take an out-of-court settlement approach, and won a settlement for them.
International investment fund Green Power Development Holding Company B.V. –special purpose vehicle of major Japanese investors in Europe with involvement of Mitsubishi Group – on a multi-million euro arbitration dispute with local developers arising out of a 180 MW wind energy projects in Bulgaria before the Arbitration Court at Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Publications

2014 and 2015 - GAR - The European, Middle Eastern and African Arbitration Review
2014 - Experts review: Arbitration, “Arbitration in Bulgaria – Overview“, CEE Legal Matters,
2013, 2014 and 2015 - Global Legal Insights – Chapter Bulgaria

Memberships & Roles

Member of the Bulgarian Supreme Bar Council
Sofia Bar Association
Certified mediator, Register of the Bulgarian Ministry of Justice
Arbitrator, Arbitration Court at the Confederation of Employers and Industrialists in Bulgaria
Arbitrator, Arbitration Court at the Bulgarian Industrial Association
Arbitrator, Arbitration Court at the Bulgarian Football Union

Awards & Rankings

Ranked for Dispute Resolution, Chambers & Partners Europe
Leading individual for Dispute Resolution, Legal 500

Education

1998 - LL.M., Law, Sofia University "St. Kliment Ohridski"

Practice Areas

Dispute Resolution

sectors

Consumer Products

Insights

Global Reach