The ‘highly experienced’ team at BGI Legal is popular among large international corporates on transactional and day-to-day commercial work. The scope of the work is broad, encompassing joint venture structuring, reorganisations, commercial contract drafting and M&A activity, with clients spanning a myriad of industry sectors. Lasha Gogiberidze 'can effectively handle challenging legal issues,' including a plethora of work for foreign investors in privatization deals vis-à-vis the Georgian government. Zaza Bibilashvili co-heads the team alongside Gogiberidze and has excellent credibility among TMT and energy clients. Sandro Bibilashvili is dual US and Georgian qualified and is also extremely well-versed at handling work for international clients, particularly within the energy sector.  Recognised as an ‘excellent problem-solver,’ Tamara Tevdoradze has niche expertise advising international corporates on data protection matters. Unana Gogokhia is also recommended.

BLC Law Office LLC handles a mix of transactional and day-to-day corporate and commercial work for an impressive roster of domestic and international clients. Ketti Kvartskhava provides an excellent service to clients on significant M&A mandates, where from a due diligence perspective she adds value as a result of her broader litigation experience. As well as handling work for corporates from a range of sectors including on restructuring mandates, Tamta Ivanishvili has also developed a strong reputation within the investment management sector, including advice to funds on formation issues and ongoing corporate governance. Recently promoted to partner, Rusa Tchkuaseli heads up the M&A offering, and also has niche expertise advising clients on maritime issues.

Inbound international clients and outbound domestic corporates benefit from access to Dentons' vast international network, ensuring a ‘very efficient’ and holistic service on cross-border mandates. This one-stop-shop approach was recently exemplified by Avto Svanidze's collaboration, alongside the firm’s Madrid office, on behalf of Spanish water utility group FCC Aqualia on its $180m acquisition of a majority share in Georgia Global Utilities. Otar Kipshidze co-heads the team alongside Svanidze and has a focus on regulatory and compliance issues, including guidance on IP protection and commercialisation. Irakli Pipia is also a key member of the team, both on the transactional front (including on corporate issues relating to large energy and real estate projects) and day-to-day commercial and compliance issues.

Drawing upon ‘institutional memory and knowledge of all the peculiarities of the Georgian legal system,’ BLB (Business Legal Bureau) provides ‘commercially-driven and responsive’ advice to domestic and international companies across a wide range of corporate and commercial issues associated with conducting business in the country. Kakha Sharabidze is ‘very trustworthy’ and combines his duties as managing partner with a vibrant practice that includes general corporate and commercial, as well as M&A advice. Tapping into ‘extensive legal knowledge,’ Ana Rekhviashvili provides advice across the gamut of corporate and commercial matters, including as it relates to competition law. Maya Mtsariashvili and David Khaindrava co-head the team alongside Sharabidze.

 

 

Leveraging strong longstanding relationships with international corporates and banks, and also drawing upon excellent ties with a raft of large global law firms, Gvinadze & Partners LLC excels at handling the Georgian aspects of cross-border M&A and advice relating to businesses operating and expanding in the jurisdiction. Team head and founding partner Nick Gvinadze draws upon vast institutional knowledge gleaned from his many years practising law in the country, marrying deep local expertise with an international mindset. Sophie Panjikidze is also noted for her diverse skillset, which encompasses a myriad of corporate and commercial matters, including due diligence, employment, competition and IP issues. The arrival in February 2023 of senior counsel Lesley Rogers further enhances the team’s capabilities.

MG Law Office provides ‘knowledgeable and commercially oriented’ advice to private and public sector clients across a broad swathe of transactional and advisory work, running the gamut from M&A and restructuring advice, through to joint venture structuring and compliance. Managing partner Archil Giorgadze embodies this approach, with clients lauding his ‘solutions-oriented and very commercial’ ethos, particularly in the context of energy and infrastructure-related matters. Ana Kochiashvili is appreciated for her ‘professional and timely advice’ across a range of general corporate and commercial law matters, and Lasha Machavariani provides ‘insightful and strategic’ legal support of hospitality services, gambling clients and business process outsourcing companies in Georgia. The ‘excellent’ Nicola Mariani and George Svanadze co-head the team alongside Giorgadze.

 

 

Drawing upon an ‘excellent knowledge of Georgian law and institutions,’ Nodia, Urumashvili & Partners is well-placed to provide a ‘customer-oriented service’ to domestic and international entities on inbound investments. Vakhtang Gamtsemlidze is one of the primary contacts for corporate and M&A matters and is noted for his ability to ‘evaluate a case both from legal and business perspectives.’ As well as his litigation prowess, the ‘attentive and committed’ Giorgi Kekenadze is adept at handling a myriad of corporate and commercial mandates, including assisting companies establish a presence in the country, on M&A due diligence and on the drafting of shareholder agreements. Lasha Nodia co-heads the team alongside Gamtsemlidze.

‘A strong team with good international experience,’ PricewaterhouseCoopers Georgia LLC provides ‘very practical’ advice to international clients on their inward investments, including M&A transactions governed under English law. Vano Gogelia, who is Georgian, England & Wales and New York-qualified, exemplifies this international mindset and has an ‘excellent understanding of the law and at the same time applications of that law to real life cases.’ Nino Usharauli has ‘a solutions-oriented mindset’ and is a pivotal contact to clients in relation to employment, data protection and corporate compliance matters. Dual Georgia and England & Wales-qualified Natia Kobosnidze has a focus on M&A work and commercial contracts drafting.

Led by experienced Georgia and New York-qualified partner Tato Chantladze, and enhanced by the ability to leverage the firm’s broader tax advisory and business consulting and international network, EY Law provides a well-rounded offering to local and international corporates on M&A due diligence, commercial contract drafting, corporate restructuring and day-to-day corporate compliance advice. Although the firm is industry agnostic, it has been particularly active advising technology, energy and real estate companies. As part of her broad-ranging corporate and commercial practice, Elene Sulkhanishvili is particularly adept at handling data protection matters.

GRATA International provides ‘very accessible and cost-effective advice’ to clients from the agriculture, real estate and energy sector, in particular, across a range of corporate and commercial matters, including on contract drafting, due diligence and day-to-day corporate compliance. Sofia Roinishvili is ‘calm and friendly’, and is a key member of the team that includes managing partner Irakli Kordzakhia, whose expertise includes advice on infrastructure projects, corporate law and M&A transactions.

J&T Consulting LLC advises domestic and international corporates from a range of sectors, including technology, healthcare, construction and food/beverages, across a compelling mix of transactional, compliance and commercial matters. Simon Takashvili has excellent labour law credentials, which he utilises to good effect for many Georgian state-owned companies on non-contentious and contentious matters. Giorgi Tsertsvadze co-heads the team alongside Takashvili, noted for his litigation prowess.

 

With an 'aptitude for analytical thinking,' the team at VBAT provides solutions to international and domestic businesses across a broad spectrum of their corporate and commercial needs, with hospitality a particular area of strength. Tinatin Tskhvedian has helped many foreign companies set up in Georgia and is noted for her ‘excellent judgement’ on corporate governance, employment and IP matters. The ‘very determined’ Nana Amisulashvili ‘uses her creativity, knowledge and experience’ to good effect on insolvency matters and has gained accreditation as an Insolvency Practitioner. Davit Kikaleishvili and Giorgi Melikishvili are also key members of the team.

Drawing upon an ‘excellent knowledge of their country’s legal framework’, Archil Mchedlidze’s Law Practice LLC provides advice to domestic and regional companies across a range of ongoing corporate and commercial matters and transactional work. Managing partner Archil Mchedlidze and Valeri Bendianishvili co-head the team and both have experience handling work for companies throughout their business life cycle, including incorporation and establishment, drafting employment contracts, and M&A due diligence.

The ‘very proactive’ team at GRANT THORNTON LLC has a ‘strong awareness of local specificities’ combined with an international outlook, ensuring that corporates secure ‘top-notch results’ across the full range of their local and cross-border business needs. In addition, clients benefit from access to the firm’s wider network as well as its new service delivery model – Virtual Office – which has been well-received by clients, appreciative of its ability to ‘streamline the contact process.’ Team head Nino Jolia has ‘excellent knowledge of local and international laws’ and is well equipped to provide ‘solutions-oriented’ advice.

Tapping into a ‘good understanding of the local landscape,’ the team at MKD Law is ‘adept at providing a bespoke approach’ to clients across a wide range of their day-to-day corporate/commercial needs, as well as on transactional matters, including M&A matters and JV structuring. Vastly experienced senior partner Victor Kipiani also has significant experience advising international entities on both corporate matters and capital markets-related mandates. Other key practitioners include Sandro Samadbegishvili, whose strengths include international arbitration and niche aviation law expertise, and Archil Kbilashvili, who has an excellent track record advising clients in the energy and transport fields, as well as foreign embassies and international organisations. David Dzidziguri's broad corporate practice encompasses M&A transactions, joint ventures, and corporate restructuring matters.

REVERA Law Firm has developed a particularly strong reputation in advising IT clients across a wide array of core corporate and commercial matters, as well as on bespoke contractual issues specific to their business. This includes advice on software development contracts and the general commercialisation of IPR. Ekaterina Pedo heads the team.