BGI Legal possesses a ‘very strong team focused on the local market’ which also has experience in handling transactional work for large international corporations. The practice offers a diverse scope of services covering contracts, negotiation and restructuring tasks across all sectors of the Georgian economy such as energy, telecommunications or transport. Adding to 25 years experience in the local legal market, the firm specialises in representing foreign investors in privatisation deals with the Georgian government. Considered an ‘international-standard high-class professional’ Lasha Gogiberidze co-leads the team and handles one of the largest portfolios of capital market transactions in Georgia. Zaza Bibilashvili has extensive transactional, litigation and aribitration experience and regularly acts for international clients. Tamara Tevdoradze is a key team member with specialisms in real estate transactions and data security issues. Other recommended lawyers include Sandro Bibilashvili and Unana Gogokhia.

BLC Law Office LLC advises international businesses on their activity within the Georgia commercial market, as well as handling the day to day corporate matters of some of the largest domestic corporations. The team offers a breadth of services, ranging from conducting due diligence for potential investments, to managing corporate restructuring mandates. Alexander Bolkvadze personally manages various significant corporate transactions, investment projects and equity financing and specialises in the energy and infrastructure sector. Ketti Kvartskhava is experienced in high profile tax cases, whilst Giorgi Batlidze has a strong specialism in intellectual property issues, with an established reputation in the field of trademark infringement issues.

Dentons, the leading global law firm operating in Georgia, assists with complex corporate and commercial matters, such as M&A, finance transactions, and infrastructure projects, governed by both Georgian and English law. The firm combines its local presence with extensive international experience, representing clients in industries such as energy, pharmaceuticals, and TMT. The team is co-led by Avto Svanidze and Otar Kipshidze. Svanidze, who stands out for his dual qualifications in Georgian and English and Welsh law, has a strong reputation for his work with a wide range of clients whilst Kipshidze has advised on major Georgian oil and gas transportation projects.

MG Law Office has expertise in managing a full spectrum of transactional work including M&A, restructuring and joint ventures, as well as project finance and capital markets matters. The team acts for all types of clients, public or private sector, domestic or foreign corporations, and government bodies, small start-ups and multinational giants. Managing partner Archi Giorgadze co-leads the practice and advises clients on general corporate matters with particular experience in negotiating and drafting contractual frameworks for potential investors and government authorities on public-private partnerships. George Svanadze specialises in international commercial and investment contract drafting, legal due diligence procedures and competition law regulations. Legal director Ana Kochiashvili has been described as ‘hard-working and available’.

BLB (Business Legal Bureau), a full-service law firm,  has ‘deep industry knowledge’ covering multiple sectors and can provide advice on a variety of legal issues associated with conducting business in Georgia. With its all-encompassing approach, the firm has developed long-standing relationships with both local and international clients, managing a breadth of legal affairs. Kakha Sharabidze leads the team along with Maya Mtsariashvili and David Khaindrava. Khaindrava possesses 30 years of experience as a partner, making him one of the most respected corporate lawyers in Georgia. Ana Rekhviashvili has led on a range of matters spanning industries such as media, hospitality and transport.

Gvinadze & Partners LLC offers a full scope of corporate and commercial legal support to major international corporations, including assistance on corporate structuring, tax, employment and compliance matters. Over the past 12 months, the practice has been particularly active in the corporate restructuring and M&A work, acting for major multinationals across a variety of industries including retail, technology and hospitality. These focus areas come in addition to long standing experience in the medical and pharmaceutical sectors. Nick Gvinadze, one of the leading lawyers in Georgia, heads the team, and draws upon 29 years of experience in Georgian and cross-border legal matters to assist on noteworthy projects in fields such as energy, infrastructure and real estate. Sophie Panjikidze, fluent in Georgian, English and Russian, has a specialism in IP matters such as patents and trademarks.

J&T Consulting LLC provides advice encompassing a variety of legal issues to both domestic and international clients. Its comprehensive legal services cover corporate governance issues, mergers and acquisitions, and joint venture agreements, and it often operates across multiple jurisdictions. The team works across a full spectrum of industries, including healthcare, transport, and most frequently, construction, whilst practice head Simon Takashvili is a specialist in issues of labour law. Giorgi Tsertsvadze is renowned for his ability to navigate cross-border issues, whilst Ana Papkiauri has valued knowledge of finance and tax law, making her an asset to the team in large-scale transactions.

EY Law has ‘in-depth expertise’ across a variety of industry sectors, having been particularly active recently in pharmaceuticals, technology, and energy. The team offers insights and solutions to a variety of clients with specialisms including negotiating commercial contracts, managing corporate restructuring, and facilitating M&A deals. It is led by the dual-qualified Tato Chantladze who provides day-to-day tax and compliance advice to businesses, whether they be domestic or foreign. Chantladze is supported by Zakaria Shvelidze, whose ‘attention to detail and responsiveness’ has been praised by clients.

 

 

GLCC Law Firm has a strong local presence and manages the day-to-day corporate matters of Georgian businesses such as employment compliance, lease agreement drafting, and conducting due diligence. The firm boasts an impressive client portfolio in the fashion and retail sectors and has a strong employment law practice, offering labour audit services for large corporations. The team is co-led by Irakli Gaprindashvili, who is ‘highly professional with valuable experience in various fields of law’, and Shalva Tskhakaia who oversees a team of local lawyers in 10 different countries for a large multinational corporation.

Nodia, Urumashvili & Partners‘ corporate team is described as ‘proactive with an in-depth knowledge of the law’; its strengths lie in the fields of processing M&A transactions, managing insolvency proceedings, and providing advice on shareholder disputes. The team is co-led by managing partner Lasha Nodia who advises national and international clients on various matters including restructuring and real estate transactions. Nodia is partnered by Vakhtang Gamtsemlidze to create a ‘great team which combines business awareness with true knowledge of the Georgian laws.’

 

 

The PricewaterhouseCoopers Georgia LLC corporate team regularly acts for international investors leading local businesses on complex transactions and boasts an impressive M&A record. The team is led by Vano Gogelia, who has over 15 years of experience and is qualified under Georgian, British, and New York law. These qualifications allow the team to deliver mandates on cross-border and high-value deals governed under alternative legal systems. Gogelia is supported by Natia Kobosnidze, who is also dually qualified (Georgia, England, and Wales), and Nino Usharauli, who focuses on corporate compliance.

The corporate team at VBAT, described as ‘attentive, supportive and good communicators’, provides a full range of legal services to clients across all areas of the market, whether they be domestic or international. With strength in the hospitality industry, the team has advised a variety of successful hotel chains in establishing their presence in Georgia by negotiating and drafting hotel management and development agreements. Managing partner Davit Kikaleishvili co-leads the practice and has vast litigation experience, whilst Tinatin Tskhvedian has been praised for her ‘extensive knowledge of the field and excellent negotiation skills’. Other key team members include Giorgi Melikishvili and Nana Amisulashvili.

Archil Mchedlidze’s Law Practice LLC is a full-service law firm that assists local individuals and businesses in an efficient manner with a commitment to minimising legal costs where possible. The practice operates across a range of sectors, including construction, IT and telecoms. Managing partner Archil Mchedlidze has 20 years worth of Georgian legal experience and can speak four languages, ensuring he is an asset in both domestic and international affairs.

GRANT THORNTON LLC provides a range of legal services, with a specialty in providing day-to-day transaction and compliance advice. The practice offers assistance to businesses seeking support for all aspects of their operations, including labour compliance, and implementation of data protection protocol, whilst their tax advisory expertise has been called ‘invaluable’. The firm's membership of the Grant Thornton International network allows it to leverage resources to add a global outlook to its local presence. The team is led by Nino Jolia who specialises in managing cross-border mergers and acquisitions.

GRATA International provides ‘timely and professional services’ to local businesses and international corporations operating in Georgia. Its practice spans multiple sectors including infrastructure, mining, pharmaceuticals, and IT. It is able to provide advice and assistance on legal issues such as mergers and acquisitions, competition law, real estate transactions, and data privacy. The team is led by Irakli Kordzakhia and Sofia Roinishvili, who is an expert tax consultant.

KPMG in Georgia has recently assisted with acquisitions in the software and technology areas, as well as handling liquidations and corporate restructuring. Jaba Gvelebiani is the key name.

REVERA law group specialises in providing legal advice to the corporate and commercial matters of businesses operating within the IT sector. Its services include conducting tax compliance audits, providing advice on cross-jurisdiction interactions for businesses with international branches as well as assisting corporations with their entry into the Georgian market. The practice is led by Dmitry Arkhipenko who has recently relocated to Georgia to manage the firm’s expansion. Arkhipenko specialises in structuring the corporate affairs of international groups of companies through his expertise in international tax and immigration law.

Suknidze & Partners LLC are trusted counsel in assisting foreign clientele with entry into the Georgian corporate market. The practice is experienced in managing international corporations’ acquisitions of Georgian businesses and can assist with a variety of matters including employment and tax issues. Moreover, the firm advises domestic clients across a variety of industries, such as telecommunications. Team leader Venera (Nino) Suknidze, described as a 'fantastically diligent advisor', specialises in handling complex corporate and finance matters such as mergers and acquisitions.