Kamen Shoylev

Partner, Head of International Transactions and Corporate Law 

Kamen Shoylev is a Barrister (England and Wales), Advocate (Bulgaria) and the founding partner of Cardinals, where he leads the firm’s International Transactions, Corporate Law and International Sanctions practices.

In England, he appears regularly in High Court proceedings, in particular in the Commercial Court and Chancery Division and he is instructed in proceedings in support of arbitrations seated both in England and internationally. He has acted as counsel in international arbitrations and regularly in a variety of cross-border litigation for his firm in Bulgaria.

Kamen Shoylev - Partner at Cardinals, Head of International Transactions, Corporate Law, International Sanctions and Digital Assets practices.

Kamen has a deep interest in technology and its financing; banking and finance generally; corporate disputes including among shareholders; medicine, biotech and pharmaceuticals; digital assets and crypto; gaming; shipping and intellectual property.  

Kamen’s representative matters

UK-based business structuring
Advising a UK client on the acquisition of properties in Bulgaria, including setting up a UK holding, incorporating a Bulgarian subsidiary and facilitating the acquisition of the properties through it. English and Bulgarian.
Acquisition of hotel properties
Advising a Bulgarian client on the acquisition of hotel in Greece, including setting up a company for the acquisition, liaising with Bulgarian banks and Greek authorities, notaries, sellers, third parties financing the.
Challenge of freezing order
Advising two MENA clients on challenges in an EU member state of national freezing orders issued pursuant to suspicions of money laundering where the predicate offences were breaches of US-Venezuelan sanctions.

 

 
Assets release

Assisted a variety of clients with release of assets funds held via Euroclear, following an amendment to EU law permitting such. EU law.

 
OFAC license

Represented an EU importer on an application to OFAC to unfreeze funds paid to an Asian company, frozen under US Iranian sanctions.

 
Challenge of national freezing orders

Advised two MENA clients on the prospects of challenges in an EU member state of national freezing orders issued pursuant to suspicions of money laundering where the predicate offences were breaches of US Venezuelan sanctions.

 
Acquisition of hotel properties

Advised a Bulgarian client on the acquisition of hotel properties in Greece. The process included the set-up of an appropriate structure under which the client could acquire the properties, liaising with Bulgarian banks and Greek authorities/notaries/sellers/third parties, financing the project, and ensuring the successful acquisition of the properties.

 
Restructuring of EU holding

Advised a large Scandinavian family office on the restructuring and optimisation of its EU holding. 

 
Restructuring of fintech business

Advised a Southeast European consumer finance and fintech business on its restructuring in anticipation of a prospective London IPO.

 
Acquisition of an AI start-up

Acted for a Swiss investor in the acquisition of an AI start-up with an enterprise value of EUR 100 million.

 
Restaurant franchise

Acted for an UAE-headquartered restaurant franchise on its expansion in Eastern Europe.

 
Transfer of shares

Advised a Bulgarian entity, with Swedish shareholders, on a range of corporate and commercial matters. Notably, this included the smooth transfer of shares between two shareholders and complex commercial issues surrounding the entry into a marketing agreement. Comprehensive advisory services were provided to ensure a seamless and legally compliant transaction, addressing legal requirements, documentation, and compliance with applicable regulations.

 
Export of motor vehicles from EU

Acted for an Egyptian buyer in relation to a contract relating to the export of motor vehicles from the EU.

 
Registration of Alternative Investment Fund Manager

Assisted a Taiwanese client on its registration of an EU Alternative Investment Fund Manager and Fund for investments in exchange-listed companies. EU financial regulation law.

 
Obtaining a gaming license

Assisted a leading Armenian company in the offline and online gaming industry with obtaining a licence in Bulgaria.

 
Medtech expansion

Advised a Swiss medtech on its expansion into England and Wales. Advising on the diagnostic imaging regulation framework within England and Wales. English Law.

 
DAO Token launch

Advised the founders of a Decentralised Autonomous Organization (DAO)  on a token launch including coordinating international securities, tax and corporate law advice relating to the USA, EU and the UK.

 
Trade mark dispute

Advised a German business on its potential trade mark dispute with a UK competitor in relation to a niche Amazon vertical in the UK. 

Qualifications

· Barrister (England & Wales);
· Advocate (Bulgaria).

Education

· MA in Law, Cambridge University.

Languages

· Bulgarian;
· English;
· Russian;
· German;
· Italian;
· French.