New Rules on Attorney Fees and Legal Advertising Enter into Force on February 17 2026
As of February 17, 2026, significant legislative amendments regulating the legal profession and the awarding of litigation costs have entered into force in Bulgaria. The changes affect not only the Bar Act, but also several procedural laws, including the Civil Procedure Code and the Administrative Procedure Code.
The central focus of these amendments concerns the determination and awarding of attorney fees as part of court costs. Until recently, judicial practice frequently relied on the minimum attorney fee thresholds established by the ordinance of the Supreme Bar Council. However, following a ruling of the Court of Justice of the European Union, questions arose regarding the binding nature of these minimum fees when courts determine recoverable legal costs.
In response, the legislature introduced clearer criteria for courts to apply when assessing whether a claimed attorney fee is excessive. Reduction of the requested amount will be possible only if the opposing party raises a specific grounded objection of excessiveness – failing to do so means the claimed fee will generally be awarded in full. Where such an objection is raised, the court will evaluate the following factors:
i. factual and legal complexity of the case,
ii. the scope of the legal services provided,
iii. the time required for the work performed, and
iv. the professional experience of the attorney.
This matters both ways. If you are the successful party, you are now better protected against courts awarding you less in recovered attorney fees than you actually paid – under the new rules, courts will no longer be permitted to award litigation costs below the actual fee paid. If you are the losing party, the objection mechanism described above is your primary tool to contest a fee you consider disproportionate, but it must be raised in time and on the correct grounds.
Another notable change concerns the liberalization of the rules governing legal advertising. The long-standing prohibition on advertising by attorneys is replaced with a more flexible regulatory framework allowing promotional activities, if they comply with the principles of professional ethics. Advertising must not be misleading, must not undermine the prestige of the legal profession, and must not disclose client information without the client’s explicit consent. For clients, this means greater visibility into attorneys’ areas of practice and professional profiles – though we encourage selecting representation based on demonstrated experience and direct consultation rather than advertising alone.
Overall, these legislative changes aim to align Bulgarian law with European legal standards, while also promoting greater predictability in the awarding of litigation costs and modernizing the regulatory framework governing the legal profession. From a practical perspective, the new rules are likely to influence both judicial practice and the way attorneys structure their fees and present their professional services to potential clients.
If you have questions about how these changes affect your specific matter, we are available to advise.