Prof. Martin Zahariev, PhD

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Martin has not only been consistently providing high-quality legal service but has also become one of the youngest professors in Bulgaria and established himself undisputedly as the most prolific author in the law firm.

The main focus of Martin’s practice currently lies in the area of intellectual property, pharma regulations, AI and data protection, as he leads several of DPC's prominent  practices, but he is also adept in employment and arbitration. Among the clients regularly seeking his advice on IP, GDPR and other compliance matters are leading pharma companies such as Pfizer, electricity suppliers, international media company, Mareshki Group, Yettel Bulgaria, innovative startups such as LucidLink and public and private actors from myriad of areas such as healthcare, tech, insurance, banking & finance, e-commerce, air travel, municipalities, education, construction, production, whole & retail sale, influencer and talent management and many others.

He is author of four monographs on GDPR and ICT law (including the first monograph on the topic in Bulgaria and a cyberlaw encyclopedia “Cyber Law in Bulgaria” co-authored with Prof. DSc George Dimitrov), two student books on regime of information and more than 75 articles, book chapters and analysis on privacy, AI & other ICT problems, employment, commercial and dispute resolution matters. Martin’s book Data Protection in Commercial Arbitration: In the Light of GDPR was ranked number 6 in the prestigious ranking 29 Best New GDPR Books To Read In 2020, 11 Best New GDPR Books To Read In 2021 and included in the 64 Best GDPR Books of All Time by BookAuthority.org - the world's leading site for nonfiction book. Martin is a university lecturer at the University of Library Studies and Information Technologies (ULSIT) – Department National and International Security, and the Sofia University in various disciplines related to privacy & data protection, regime of information, ICT law and basics of law. He is a guest lecturer on privacy & data protection at the Stockholm University, and has been such at the American University in Bulgaria, the Technical University, Sofia, the University of Plovdiv Paisii Hilendarski and the Bourgas Free University.

In 2024 he was awarded with the university award “Apple of Knowledge” for special contributions to raising the prestige of science for the category “Established Scientist” for the Faculty of Information Sciences at USLIT. Martin regularly participates in various scientific projects and currently is the head of a national scientific project funded by the Bulgarian Science Fund related to the reaction in case of GDPR data breach.

He is a Trademark and Design Attorney at the Patent Office of the Republic of Bulgaria, as well as a European Trademark and Design Attorney.

He is also a senior legal expert at the Law and Internet Foundation – an NGO dedicated to the research of the social, legal and ethical implications arising from the development of the technologies where he participates in different scientific and educational initiatives, operates as a data protection officer at certain scientific projects, etc.

Martin is recommended by Lexology Index (formerly Who’s Who Legal) in the areas of Intellectual Property, and Data Privacy and Protection, by IP Stars as a Trademark Star, by the Legal 500 in Intellectual Property, by Chambers Europe in the areas of Intellectual Property and TMT, and by WTR1000 in Trademarks; Clients' Choice Award winner for Intellectual Property - Trademark Agents & Attorneys.

Work highlights

  • Advising Pfizer on all legal matters related to their activities on the Bulgarian market
  • Advising Jobs.BG on privacy and data protection matters
  • Advising CEZ Group, Dir.bg and the V-Box content sharing platform on the implementation of GDPR
  • Part of the team that advised Astaldi S.p.A in an ICC Arbitration with respect to a dispute related to the completion of the Parvomai – Svilengrad railway project
  • Part of the team that advised the venture capital fund NEVEQ II on IP matters, including completing of a due diligence, with regard to structuring of the investment in the technology-based company Biodit and on the acquisition of equity participation in Methodia.

Affiliations

  • Sofia Bar Association
  • International Moot Court Competitions Association
  • Senior Legal Expert at Law and Internet Foundation
  • IT IP Legal Group Europe
  • Pharmaceutical Trade Marks Group

Education

  • Professor and PhD at the University of Library Studies and Information Technologies (ULSIT), Sofia
  • Trade Mark, Geographical Indications and Industrial Design Attorney at the Patent Office of the Republic of Bulgaria
  • Course for education of young arbitrators at the Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry
  • Sofia University St. Kliment Ohridski, Faculty of Law (LL.M.)

Languages

  • Bulgarian
  • English
  • German

Awards & accolades

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''With a deep understanding of IP law and a proven track record, Martin Zahariev provides comprehensive support in protecting and managing intellectual property assets.'' - Legal 500

Publications

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