Nadezhda Simeonova Varbanova

Hometown: Vidin, Bulgaria
HLS Class: LL.M. class of 2008

Prior Education: MA in Law 2004, Sofia University, Bulgaria

Career goals: Practice banking and finance law

I am a finance and banking lawyer admitted to practice in Bulgaria. After graduating from the Sofia University Law School I started my legal carrer as an in-house counsel at the Financial Supervision Commission (FSC), a state authority responsible for regulation and control of financial markets in Bulgaria. I was also involved in drafting the new Bulgarian Insurance Code, which implemented the European Community insurance directives and enabled the Bulgarian government to successfully proceed with the EU accession negotiations regarding financial services. Later on I transferred to the private sector where I continued practicing in the field of financial law with a concentration in finance and banking, securities and insurance. My work involved providing legal assistance predominantly to foreign investors with an interest in establishing and/or expanding their activities in Bulgarian financial markets.

I have come to realize that a good transactional lawyer needs to be thoroughly acquainted with more than just the black letter law governing a deal. It also requires an in-depth understanding of the business rationale behind a transaction, soft skills and a strong drive to bring things to a mutually acceptable outcome. I applied to Harvard Law School because of its strong reputation in business and commercial law. The curriculum offers a variety of courses tailored to the current economic realities and future policy development. Here I find a unique approach to solving business problems. It enhances one’s understanding of the economic framework in the world of finance and commercial transactions and remains as an invaluable life-time professional asset.

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