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Portrait of Valya Georgieva
Areas of expertise: Commercial dispute resolution

Profile

Valya is an experienced senior associate in the commercial dispute resolution team in London, having successfully represented clients in a wide range of complex, high-value, cross-border disputes across a number of commercial and business sectors, including technology disputes, financial services, company disputes and civil fraud. A member of the firm’s international trade and commerce group, and its North America group, Valya has expertise in complex and high-value international litigation and arbitration.

She also specialises in blockchain related disputes (including those related to cryptocurrencies and NFTs), holding a professional qualification in blockchain law, regulation and policy from the Institute of the Future at the University of Nicosia. Valya is a key member of the firm’s digital assets and cyber security group and is involved in a wide range of firmwide initiatives in connection with Web 3, the metaverse, and blockchain.

Valya has participated in conferences, panel discussions and debates in relation to blockchain, NFTs and crypto assets, including: a ‘Tech on FIRE (Fraud, Insolvency, Recovery and Enforcement)’ panel discussing how the use of traditional litigation tools/procedure can be adapted to 21st century FIRE tech disputes; an NFT minting event panel (Women in Blockchain Talks) discussing the risks and opportunities associated with the use of NFTs; and ‘Open Source Software Developers: Good Samaritans or Baiters of Guinea Pigs?’, in January 2023. She is an editorial committee member of the Tech Disputes Network, as well as a member of Tech London Advocates, CFAAR and AIJA.

Recent work highlights

  • Acting for the owner of software in a circa £24 million claim against a major UK bank for misuse of confidential information, copyright infringement, conversion, breaches of contract and tortious interference with contractual relations.
  • Acting for the claimant in a circa $9 million complex international IT dispute in the Technology and Construction Court, arising out of a major project to modernise the electricity distribution network in Bangalore, India.
  • Advising the Meta Oversight Board in relation to regulatory matters, as part of a wider multi-disciplinary team across the firm.
  • Advising and acting for a Dubai-based company in a claim arising from a fraudulent transfer by the client’s bank relationship manager of circa $4.5 million from the client’s bank account into an account of a company controlled by the bank relationship manager.
  • Acting for a high net worth individual in a successful LCIA arbitration related to a circa $3.4 million dispute arising from the client’s entitlement to a management incentive programme involving phantom options.

Penningtons Manches Cooper LLP

Penningtons Manches Cooper LLP is a limited liability partnership registered in England and Wales with registered number OC311575 and is authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority under number 419867.

Penningtons Manches Cooper LLP