Yoanna is a Partner and the Head of the Intellectual Property and Data Protection Department at Gugushev & Partners Law Office. She has more than 15 years of experience as an attorney and specialized in intellectual property, data protection, telecommunications, media and digital technologies as well as in litigation. Since 2015 has been appointed as Head of IP and Data Protection Department. Yoanna is a member of the Board of the national group of International Association for the Protection of Intellectual Property, known as AIPPI and is recommended by the international legal directories Legal 500 as a leading individual in the IP area for Bulgaria. 

Department head Yoanna Ivanova is „an IP expert who adds tremendous value to a matter through her excellent communication skills, accuracy and efficiency“ – Legal 500 (2019) 

Awards & Rankings

  • Leading Individual for Intellectual Property for Bulgaria – Legal 500, (2019) 

Professional experience 

  • HTC Corporation, Taiwan – leading the team advising the client with regards to the conditions of use and commercial warranty of a virtual reality headset device
  • ZTE Corporation, China – leading the team advising the client on the legal compliance of the anti-bribery and anti-money laundering  internal policies of the company
  • Furla SpA, Italy – leading the team advising the client on the development of local terms & conditions of the online store as well as a data protection policy
  • Debt Collection Agency JSC, Bulgaria – leading the team designated as Data Protection Officer and advising the client on the implementation of the General Data Protection Regulation (Regulation 2016/679/EU)
  • Konservinest Ltd., Bulgaria – legal representation in key litigations regarding disputes between trademarks and geographical indications and related infringement proceedings for one of the biggest food producers
  • Rozaimpex Ltd., Bulgaria - legal representation for leading Bulgarian cosmetic company with more than 25 years traditions in opposition, administrative and court procedures against trademarks registrations and non- registered signs on the base of actual commercial usage
  • Amarant Bulgaria Ltd., Bulgaria – advised one of the largest insurance brokers in the country on data protection issues related to the development of the Amarant Bulgaria mobile application, including drafting general conditions of sale and privacy policy
  • Softgroup Ltd., Bulgaria - leading participation in the due diligence of an innovative Bulgarian IT company specialized in the design, development, implementation, and customization of commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) software products and software solutions to customers in the pharmaceutical industry
  • Remix Global JSC, Bulgaria  - Providing complex legal services of one of the biggest sites for online shopping- regarding copyrights and industrial property rights, compliance with Personal Data Protection legislation,  Consumer Protection legislation, Law on Protection of Competition; drafting  Heads of Terms and Cookies Policies, etc. as well as registration of several trademarks on European and on an international level
  • Efficiency First Media Ltd., Bulgaria – full legal services of WNESS TV including advising the company on the issues related to IP rights, product placement, the conclusion of license agreements and advertising contracts with local and international media agencies, TV programs and websites 

Education

  • Sofia University „S Kliment Ohridski” (1998 – 2003), Master of Laws
  • Industrial Property Representative and European Trademark and Design Attorney before the Bulgarian Patent Office and the European Union Intellectual Property Office 

Membership

  • Member of the Board of the Bulgarian national group of International Association for the Protection of Intellectual Property (AIPPI)
  • Sofia Bar Association 

Publications

Article in CEE Legal Matters:

  • On the Protection of Intellectual Property Rights over Agricultural Products and Foodstuffs in the EU, 2018 

Articles in Media Law International:

  • Processing Personal Data under the new European Union Data Protection Regulation, 2018
  • The Figure of the Producer and the Different Meanings of the Concept, 2017
  • Requirements for Payable Licensed Distribution of Television Channels in Hotel Complexes, 2016
  • An Overview of Surreptitious Commercial Communication, 2015 

Languages

  • English
  • French