How we would work together
First we clarify what lies ahead
Before I propose changes to the company documentation or to organisational processes, I want to understand what you wish to achieve, who takes part in carrying out the decision and what has already been agreed. From there we determine whether work on the matter is needed and what its scope should be.
The situations with which the work begins and the forms of work are set out on the page “How I can help” →
1. Introductory call (optional)
If you are not yet sure where to begin, we can have a short conversation by phone or video conference. You tell me in general terms what lies ahead, and I clarify whether I can be of use and what kind of meeting would make sense.
The purpose of the call is to establish whether your situation matches the work I do. In this conversation I do not review documents and do not give an opinion on the matter. There is no need to share sensitive details.
The call lasts up to 20 minutes and is free of charge. It does not commit you to any engagement.
Introductory calls take place on Thursdays, between 9:00 and 12:00 Bulgarian time, on working days, in 20-minute slots. They are requested through the contact form, after which I propose a specific time in view of the commitments for that week, or another option.
2. In-person working meeting
When we move on to work on the matter, I insist on meeting in person. It matters to me to understand not only the facts, but also how the participants see the decision ahead.
The meeting takes place at the office of my law practice: 105 Knyaz Al. Dondukov-Korsakov Blvd., ground floor, apt. 3, Sofia. Another place may be agreed if necessary.
We agree the subject, the participants and the terms in advance. Before the meeting only organisational matters are settled. The review of documents and the actual analysis begin after the in-person meeting.
At the meeting we sign a confidentiality agreement and carry out the identification required by the Measures Against Money Laundering Act, including the completion of the related questionnaire.
The usual guide for the meeting is between 30 and 60 minutes. If a wider task emerges, we discuss it before any further work.
Terms of the meeting
The in-person working meeting is paid: EUR 150 per hour excluding VAT, with a minimum of EUR 75 excluding VAT. On the first engagement the amount paid for this meeting is credited against the fee for that engagement.
Before we confirm the meeting, you will receive the applicable terms and the expected cost.
3. Written proposal
After the meeting you will receive a written proposal. In it I state which facts and circumstances need to be established, which documents I will review and with whom it is necessary to speak: partners, heirs, managers or the accountant. I describe what actions and resources are needed and what the result will be: a written conclusion, draft documents or a plan with a sequence and time limits.
The proposal sets out the fee, the manner of payment, the time required and what will be needed from you. I also state what can be achieved, what it depends on and what remains outside the scope. The work begins once you accept the proposal.
If new circumstances arise that change the task, we discuss them before the work is extended.
4. Review of the situation
We establish what is settled in the company documentation, what remains unclear or unsettled and what solutions can be proposed. We test how the structure would hold up under the events that most often put it under pressure: the absence or death of the owner, a parting between the partners, the handover to the next generation, claims by third parties.
For a review with a scope determined in advance, the usual time for the written opinion is up to 10 working days from receipt of the necessary documents and information. The specific time is stated in the proposal. Urgent actions are agreed separately.
5. Action plan
We determine the necessary changes and their sequence.
6. Preparation and implementation
The preparation of documents and the implementation are engaged separately, according to the agreed scope.
In the opinion I state the grounds, the assumptions and the limits of my recommendations. When I also take part in the implementation, I follow whether the agreed solution has been applied and whether new circumstances call for a change.
Why an adviser should bear responsibility for the advice given is discussed in the re-reading “Who pays when the decision is wrong?” →
7. Follow-up review (if needed)
When circumstances change, we check whether what was agreed in the company documents still reflects the shared will of those involved and what needs to be updated.
For owners who prefer this review to take place regularly, there is the form “Standing adviser” →
What the action plan looks like
The action plan is a written document of several pages. It contains a map of ownership: the companies, the properties and the other assets, who owns them and how they are connected. It contains the points of instability, ranked by significance, with a description of the event that would trigger them. For each point it states what must change, by what document, with whose participation, within what time and at what approximate cost. It ends with the sequence of actions and with what can be postponed at an acceptable risk.
What you can expect
I will name the risks I see, including those that are uncomfortable to discuss within the family or between the partners.
Before every task we agree the scope, the fee and the time required, including the circumstances on which they depend.
When the question requires a tax adviser, a valuer or a specialist from another field, I will tell you so at the very beginning and, where necessary and as agreed, will coordinate their involvement.
Discretion
Before we exchange sensitive information, we agree the participants, the necessary terms of confidentiality and the way documents will be provided.
In the first enquiry it is enough to state the subject and what you would like to discuss.
Questions before the first meeting
What should I prepare? Nothing special. It is enough to know which companies and properties are connected with the question. The documents are reviewed after the meeting.
I live outside Bulgaria. We can get acquainted by phone or video and clarify whether there are grounds for work. If we continue, we will need to plan an in-person meeting. We will agree the place and the arrangements in advance.
Could you just look at the contract? Yes. That is the second opinion: an independent review of a document prepared by another specialist, against the purpose it has to serve. Before it we clarify what you wish to establish and what the context is. Reviewing a document is work and is engaged separately from the introductory call.
We already have a lawyer and an accountant. It is useful to clarify what has already been engaged and which question remains open. If my involvement makes sense, we define its scope and how it works with the specialists already engaged.
We do not know whether we need a complete change. You do not need to decide this in advance. First we determine what needs to be checked. The result may be a limited change or a clear reason to keep what exists for now.
What happens if it turns out that my work is not needed? I will tell you so and will direct you to the appropriate specialist.
If you are still finding your bearings, the short check can help you choose the topics for a conversation.
Sending an enquiry does not confirm an appointment and does not create a paid commitment.