Associate

CMS Sofia Lawyers Partnership is seeking a driven and talented Associate to join our Corporate practice.
Our team advises domestic and international clients on complex transactions, including M&A, corporate governance, restructurings, joint ventures, and regulatory compliance. We pride ourselves on teamwork, excellence, and a collaborative culture that encourages professional growth. We work in close collaboration with CMS colleagues worldwide, providing opportunities to participate in cross-border projects, training programmes, business development initiatives, and integration events held across our international CMS offices.
We are looking to recruit, for our office in Sofia, a highly motivated individual to work as part of our international M&A team on cross-border transactions in Central and Eastern Europe, for the position of
Associate
in Corporate (Ref: CORP-A)
Your role
The successful candidate will work on a broad range of corporate matters, supporting senior lawyers and partners while developing their own expertise in transactional and advisory work. Your key responsibilities will include:
· Drafting and reviewing transactional documents, including share purchase agreements, asset purchase agreements, disclosure letters, shareholders’ agreements, subscription agreements, and similar corporate/M&A documentation;
· Assisting with project management and transaction management on deals for large international corporate clients and private equity clients;
· Advising clients on deal structuring, transaction execution, and corporate governance matters arising in the context of transactions;
· Conducting legal research and preparing transaction-related memoranda, reports and client updates;
· Supporting senior lawyers on high-profile cross-border transactions.
Your team
You will work in CMS Sofia’s Corporate team. CMS is the largest international law firm in Bulgaria and our team provides legal advice to clients to assist them in structuring, managing and growing their business. Our main focus is corporate governance, M&A and similar transactions and we have topped the deal tables and legal rankings for a number of consecutive years. We are also involved in multi-disciplinary projects with our commercial, banking, EPC and litigation teams. Your role is Bulgaria focussed, but as part of a global team you should expect to participate in knowledge sharing and standard setting throughout CMS for M&A and corporate matters.
Your expertise
You are:
· UK-educated candidate holding an LLB from a UK university; candidates may or may not have passed one or both of the SQE1 and SQE2 examinations; qualification as a solicitor under the laws of England and Wales is preferable but not essential; corporate law experience is preferable but not essential;
· Proactive, motivated, and eager to learn;
· Accurate and concise communicator.
You have:
· Knowledge of English corporate law and practice;
· Native or near-native English, including excellent legal English;
· Ability to work as a team player and under compressed timeframe;
· Relevant experience in using AI platforms.
We offer
· Competitive remuneration and benefits package;
· Exposure to high-profile, complex corporate transactions with one of the most recognised Corporate experts on the market;
· Company training and excellent opportunities in multinational environment;
· Work with a positive and supportive team, dedicated to your development;
· Office in the heart of Sofia.
Interested applicants are invited to send their CV and motivation letter by 31 October 2026.
Only short-listed candidates will be invited for an interview.
What’s in it for you?
As a future facing firm, we take a bold, dynamic and agile approach to help clients of every size face the future with confidence. We empower and support our people to realise their ambitions through access to high quality, interesting and engaging work alongside a competitive package.
Please note that we have a preferred agency panel in place. Only applications submitted via the portal at the point of instruction will be accepted.