Vasil Pavlov

Vasil Pavlov is the managing partner of Pavlov & Co, a Bulgarian intellectual property law firm whose work spans the full lifecycle of IP rights, from acquisition through to enforcement and litigation. His recognition as Intellectual Property Law Expert of the Year in Bulgaria at the Corporate INTL Global Awards 2026 reflects a career built on more than two decades of specialist practice in one of the most technically demanding areas of law.

A specialist career in intellectual property

According to the firm, Vasil Pavlov launched his IP career in 2001 and went on to serve as managing partner at another Bulgarian practice from 2006 to 2012 before establishing Pavlov & Co. Over that time he has developed a practice covering patents, trademarks, geographical indications, copyright and design protection, alongside IP litigation, enforcement and data-exclusivity matters. The firm notes that its team brings more than 25 years of extensive experience in the protection of intellectual property, emphasising objective analysis, professional assessment and the design of an adequate strategy for protection.

His litigation record is central to that reputation. The firm reports that he has handled hundreds of court cases and hundreds of proceedings before the Bulgarian Patent Office, together with oppositions before the EU Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO). Pavlov & Co also highlights that he was involved in the first successful Bulgarian court case concerning infringement of data exclusivity, and that he pioneered the use of customs border measures in Bulgaria as a practical tool against counterfeit goods.

Enforcement, anti-counterfeiting and litigation

Intellectual property is only as valuable as the ability to enforce it, and enforcement sits at the heart of the firm's offering. Pavlov & Co structures its work across patents, trademarks, industrial design, copyright, anti-counterfeiting, IP valuation and monitoring, as well as adjacent areas including unfair competition, privacy and data protection, and corporate and commercial law. For rights holders operating in or exporting to Bulgaria and the wider European Union, this combination of registration, monitoring and litigation capability provides a route from securing rights to defending them in court and at the border.

The firm's recognition in leading international directories underlines its standing. Pavlov & Co reports rankings in the WTR 1000, Chambers Europe, IP STARS and The Legal 500, and notes that in 2023 it received a Global IP Award from IAM and World Trademark Review. The WTR 1000 is quoted describing Vasil Pavlov as "tremendously sharp" and among the best IP litigators in the country, a peer- and client-driven assessment that speaks to his courtroom reputation.

Contribution to the profession

Beyond client work, the firm indicates that Vasil Pavlov has contributed to the development of Bulgarian intellectual property practice, including through his appointment as a Bulgarian expert to an international anti-counterfeiting college of experts. This kind of institutional involvement is significant in a jurisdiction where IP enforcement practice continues to mature, and where practitioners with deep litigation experience help shape how rights are protected in the courts and before the administrative authorities.

Recognition at the Corporate INTL Global Awards 2026

Bulgaria's position within the European Union means that intellectual property protection there is closely tied to the EU trademark, design and customs frameworks, as well as to national patent and court procedures. A practitioner who can operate confidently across both national and European systems, and who has the litigation experience to see contested matters through, is a valuable partner for both domestic and international clients. Winning Intellectual Property Law Expert of the Year in Bulgaria at the Corporate INTL Global Awards 2026 recognises Vasil Pavlov as exactly that kind of practitioner: a specialist litigator and adviser whose long focus on IP acquisition, enforcement and anti-counterfeiting has made Pavlov & Co a reference point for intellectual property protection in Bulgaria.