Product Liability 2009 - Arnold & Porter LLP

Borislav Boyanov & Co. Bulgaria
7.3 If so, are there any restrictions on the availability of public
funding?
The law does not provide for any requirements or restrictions on the
availability of legal aid. The judges have discretion to apply the
court fees and costs for proceedings waiver on a case-by-case basis.
7.4 Is funding allowed through conditional or contingency fees
and, if so, on what conditions?
Government funding of legal aid does not operate on the basis of
conditional or contingency fees. However, contingency fee
arrangements between plaintiffs and their lawyers are allowed by
Bulgarian law.
7.5 Is third party funding of claims permitted and, if so, on
what basis may funding be provided?
Bulgarian law does not provide for third party funding of claims.
There is no prohibition for such funding either.
Stela Sabeva
Borislav Boyanov & Co.
82, Patriarch Evtimii Blvd.
1463 Sofia
Bulgaria
Tel: +359 28 055 055
Fax: +359 28 055 000
Email: s.sabeva@boyanov.com
URL: www.boyanov.com
Stela Sabeva is a graduate of the Law Faculty at the Sofia University
(2004, Master of Laws). She is admitted to the Sofia Bar and joined
Borislav Boyanov & Co. in 2005. Presently she is an associate
lawyer in the litigation department of Borislav Boyanov.
8 Updates
ICLG TO: PRODUCT LIABILITY 2009
© Published and reproduced with kind permission by Global Legal Group Ltd, London
8.1 Please provide, in no more than 300 words, a summary of
any new cases, trends and developments in Product
Liability Law in Bulgaria.
Following the entry into force of the new Civil Procedure Code
which introduced for the first time in Bulgaria the class action
procedure, in March 2008, the first class action based on alleged
violation of the consumer protection rules was filed. It must be
noted that the practical issues arising in connection with this case
show that the current class action rules are insufficient and not very
clear as a lot of questions of significant importance for the
development of class action litigation are not regulated at all.
Currently, this case is still at the stage of assessment of
admissibility.
Since its establishment in 1990 Borislav Boyanov & Co. has earned worldwide recognition as a stepping stone for many
international businesses in Bulgaria and in recent years - in the region. The firm has developed a modern, dynamic
and business oriented practice, dominating the market by providing the highest quality and effective legal services.
With more than 40 lawyers working in offices in five major Bulgarian cities, Borislav Boyanov & Co. is uniquely
positioned to deliver innovative and comprehensive solutions to the needs of international and local clients.
Borislav Boyanov & Co. is initiator and co-founding member of SEE Legal (The South East Europe Legal Group) - an
organisation of leading independent national law firms from South East Europe (for more information please visit
www.seelegal.com).
Borislav Boyanov & Co. is also a member of World Services Group, TerraLex (the International Association of
Independent Law Firms), OASIS (the Organisation of Advocates Specialised in International Studies), etc.
WWW.ICLG.CO.UK 105
Bulgaria