Meglena Konstantinova

Senior Associate

Practice areas

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Meglena has been with the firm since 2009. Over the years, she has litigated numerous disputes in the areas of consumer protection, judicial review of administrative acts, insurance, real estate, non-discrimination, enforcement and tax. She has proven to be a highly skilled litigator, having successfully managed more than a hundred of simultaneous disputes involving similar issues, and has established herself as a knowledgeable and capable litigator, able to handle high-profile disputes and difficult procedural situations with ease. She deals effectively with complex cases requiring in-depth knowledge of procedural and substantive civil, commercial, administrative and administrative-criminal law. She has submitted numerous requests for preliminary rulings to the Court of Justice of the EU on various legal issues concerning the correct interpretation of provisions of Bulgarian law. She has lectured on several occasions at the Academy for Partners organised by the firm for GCs and other client representatives.

Her professional journey began as a Legal Trainee at Penkov, Markov & Partners, Attorneys at Law (2004–2006), followed by a role as an Insurance Specialist at ZAD Victoria AD (2007–2008). She joined BOYANOV & Co. in 2009 as a Junior Associate, became an Associate in 2011, and has been a Senior Associate since 2021.

EDUCATION

Faculty of Law, Sofia University St. Kliment Ohridski, MA in Law (2006)
Academy of American and International Law, The Center for American and International Law, Dallas, USA (2015)

RECENT WORK

Consumer protection and banking

Advising and representing Eurobank Bulgaria AD, one of the largest banks in Bulgaria, since 2012 in a significant number of consumer protection cases (more than 180) where the claims are for the declaration of invalidity of certain clauses in the credit; and for the reimbursement of amounts already paid as monthly repayments of the credit loan, allegedly paid in excess of those initially agreed, including in cases concerning the interpretation of the provisions of Directive 93/13/EC.
Advised and represented UniCredit Bulbank AD, one of the first banks in Bulgaria, in a class action regarding invalid clauses in loan agreements and general terms and conditions. The case was dismissed following an out-of-court settlement with the claimant Bulgarian National Association “Active Consumers”.

Judicial review of administrative acts

Representing and advising Heidelberg Materials Devnya AD, the largest cement producer in Bulgaria, in administrative and judicial proceedings relating to the orders and instructions within inspection protocols issued by the State Agency for Reserves and War Stocks, as well as in connection with interpretation cases before the Court of Justice of the EU.
Representing and advising Solvay Sodi AD (a company of the Solvay Group and one of the largest industrial companies in Bulgaria and the largest European producer of synthetic soda ash) since 2021 in several administrative and judicial proceedings related to the orders issued by the State Agency for State Reserves and Wartime Stocks on the basis of the national law – the Law on Stocks of Crude Oil and Petroleum Products, including in Case 784/22 of the ECJ on the interpretation of the provisions of Directive 2009/119/EC.

Insurance

Advising FM Insurance Europe S.A., France, in connection with claims for payment of substantial insurance compensation against UNIQA Insurance Company AD under motor liability insurance. Solvay Sodi AD is an injured party who suffered material damages as a result of the insured event.

Dicrimination protection

Advised and represented Eurobank Bulgaria AD in administrative court proceedings against the Commission for Protection against Discrimination and in several civil court proceedings against former employees of the bank challenging the legality of the decision of the Commission upholding the claims of the former employees complaining of unfair treatment at the time and in relation to their dismissal during the merger process between the bank and Alpha Bank Bulgaria Branch, when almost half of the employees of Alpha Bank Bulgaria Branch were dismissed.

Real estate

Advising and representing Eurobank Bulgaria AD, one of the largest banks in Bulgaria, on a court case concerning the division of a property in Sofia, which is a cultural monument. The case involves 15 parties, some of whom do not reside in Bulgaria, and requires procedural and substantive knowledge and skills in various areas of law.
Represented a private client in a dispute over more than 10 inherited properties in Bulgaria. The claimant (a co-heir and relative of the client) alleged that our client had unlawfully disposed of the inherited property, causing her and her late mother to suffer. The court found that our client had a power of attorney and that his actions were valid and legal.

Enforcement of domestic and international judgments and court acts

Advised and represented Nicos Gleoudis KAVEX S.A., a Greek tobacco manufacturer, in enforcement proceedings under EU Regulation 1215/2012 against Sofia – Bulgartabac AD (Sofia-BT), a Bulgarian joint stock company. The Greek judgment was fully enforced, and the debtor paid a significant amount in full.
Advised and represented Uniper Global Commodities SE, a major German trader of bulk electricity, gas and heat to industrial companies and utilities throughout Europe, in enforcement proceedings against Gazprom Export LLC. The enforceable decision orders the Russian company to pay Uniper a substantial advance on the costs of fulfilling Gazprom's supply obligation by a third party of Uniper's choice. At Uniper's request, the enforcement in Bulgaria was directed against claims that Gazprom may have against Bulgargaz EAD, a Bulgarian joint stock company.

Taxes

Advised and represented Chipita (part of Mondelez Group) in appeal proceedings against the tax authority rejection to recover default interest over the Corporate Income Tax advance payments for the 2021 fiscal year. The final judgment of the Supreme Administrative Court is a new case law and is important for companies with a similar issue.

Automotive

Representing and advising Silver Star Group, the official distributor of Mercedes-Benz vehicles and services in Bulgaria, in complex legal cases brought by customers of their Mercedes-Benz vehicles and repair services, often involving complex expert opinions and numerous procedural steps.

Energy

Representing and advising Elektrorazpredelenie Yug EAD, a company of the EVN Group and one of the electricity distribution companies in Bulgaria, in an administrative procedure and a complaint to the European Commission, following various administrative and legislative measures taken by the State in response to the electricity cuts at the end of 2024.

Aviation

Advised Bulgaria Air AD, the national carrier, in cases brought by customers claiming material and non-material damage during flights with Bulgaria Air, concerning the interpretation of the provisions of the Montreal Convention. The cases were settled out of court with the claimants.

Administrative-criminal law

Representing and advising Solvay Sodi AD (a company of the Solvay group and one of the largest industrial companies in Bulgaria and the largest European synthetic soda ash production plant) in several administrative-criminal proceedings against extremely high fines imposed for non-compliance with the Orders of the State Agency for State Reserves and Wartime Stocks.
Representing and advising Heidelberg Materials Devnya AD, the largest cement producer in Bulgaria, in several administrative-criminal proceeding against penalty decrees in significant amounts issued for monetary sanctions for non-compliance with the orders issued by the State Agency for State Reserves and Wartime Stocks.
Representing and advising private clients in administrative-criminal proceedings against penalty decrees for fines imposed for non-compliance with orders issued by the State Agency for State Reserves and Wartime Stocks.

LANGUAGES