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Dimitar Zwiatkow
Partner

Dimitar Zwiatkow

Co-Managing Partner of CMS Sofia

Languages
  • Bulgarian
  • English
  • German
Social media

Dimitar Zwiatkow is a partner in the Banking & Finance practice in CMS Sofia. He is a Bulgarian attorney with more than 15 years’ legal experience and is one of the preeminent advisers on banking M&A transactions and large-scale portfolio transactions. Among his clients are local and international banking and financial institutions as well as investment funds. Dimitar focuses on real estate finance, regulatory banking matters, non-performing loans, acquisition finance, project finance, corporate lending, financial services and products, and banking litigation.

Relevant experience

  • Тhe biggest Bulgarian Bank | On its disposal of 3 mixed (partially real estate secured) NPL portfolios with a face value of EUR 450 million.
  • Leading financial institutions from the leasing, debt collection and e-money sectors | On transaction and regulatory issues, including NPL portfolios, registration procedures with the Bulgarian National Bank, AML policies, etc.
  • Review of the Bulgarian regulatory framework for the operation of crypto-currency platforms, including review of the 5th AML Directive and the Advice for Initial Coin Offerings and Crypto-Assets issued by ESMA.
  • A long-standing leader in retail banking | On the refinancing of shopping malls.
  • A pan-European Commercial Bank and a leading Bulgarian Bank | On the restructuring of a EUR 116m real estate financing (shopping mall), including on the tax and corporate restructuring, debt deleveraging, new development, amendment and restatement of facilities agreement, and new security package.
  • A French Multinational Investment Bank | On several financings under LMA documentation, including in relation to the refinancing of several hydro power plants within an acquisition process

Memberships & Roles

  • Bulgarian Bar Association
  • Munich Bar Association

Awards & Rankings

  • Next Generation Partner for Banking and Finance, Legal500 (2022)
  • Highly regarded for Asset Finance, IFLR1000 (2022)

Education

  • 2005 – Master of Law, Ludwig Maximilian University, Munich, Germany 

Having an international educational background, Dimitar is highly expert in advising small and mid-sized European companies in the field of corporate transactions and their tax law implications such as VAT, corporate taxation, WHT, DDT, tax structuring. He focuses on cross-border merger and acquisitions, including corporate governance, take-overs, compliance issues and AML policies. He has invaluable experience in dealing with various regulatory bodies, having communicated on several occasions with the Bulgarian Commission for Protection of Competition, the National Revenue Agency and the Bulgarian National Bank. He is further experienced in supporting clients in corporate forensic investigations, and thus has background working with the prosecution authorities. 

Relevant experience

  • Leading of a number of M&A real estate transactions and sale-downs of destressed assets on seller and buyer side, including the set-up of tender rules, VDR, transaction documents, signing, closing;
  • Highly expert in general corporate matters, including company and commercial law, compliance policies, managers supporting services.

Memberships & Roles

  • Bulgarian Bar Association
  • Munich Bar Association

Awards & Rankings

  • Highly regarded for M&A (2021), Real estate acquisitions (2021), Restructuring and insolvency (2022), IFLR1000

Education

  • 2005 – Master of Law, Ludwig Maximilian University, Munich, Germany 

In the area of Energy law Dimitar has strong expertise in renewables and projects, PPP and public procurement. Over the years, he has advised on renewables, combined heat and power (CHP), waste to energy and independent power projects. His clients include a wide range of energy suppliers from the fields of wind power, hydropower, biomass and photovoltaics. Dimitar consults on the construction and acquisition of power plants, testing and commissioning as well as environmental questions, network operation issues and strategic considerations in project management. 

Relevant experience

  • A leading Turkish investor | On their share participation in a Bulgarian company engaged with renewable energy projects.
  • The largest Bulgarian Bank | On the refinancing of five solar parks and on the restructuring of the borrowers.
  • Europe’s leading gas capacity trading platform | On the registration of PRISMA Capacity in the Procurement Agency platform.
  • A leading commercial bank in Bulgaria | On the drafting, negotiating, and signing of a facility agreement with the renewable energy producer.
  • A global leader in the production of high-performance alloy solutions for the energy industry | On its corporate restructuring and internal reorganisations. 
  • The fourth largest Bank in Bulgaria | On the preparation of a market study on the renewable energy market in Bulgaria.

Memberships & Roles

  • Bulgarian Bar Association
  • Munich Bar Association

Awards & Rankings

  • Next Generation Partner for Energy and Natural Resources and Projects and PPP, Legal500 (2022)

Education

  • 2005 – Master of Law, Ludwig Maximilian University, Munich, Germany