BGI Legal — Georgia

Giorgi Sarajishvili

Head of Litigation Practice • Represented the interests of foreign investors operating in various fields of business in Georgian Courts.• Represented foreign companies in local procedures for recognition and enforcement of foreign awards.• Advised and represented Apple, Facebook, Hewlett-Packard, Ferrero Group, Amazon.com, Sony Corporation and other international companies on Intellectual Property matters.• Represented a client in the biggest ever (from financial standpoint) matrimonial case in Georgia.• Represented the interests of one of the largest companies in Georgia (producer of fertilizers) concerning the dispute on over USD 100 mln.• Represented foreign investor (exclusive operator of parking services in Tbilisi, Georgia) in a series of disputes with the central and municipal Governments of Georgia.• Successfully established the court practice on veil piercing in private disputes in a case representing the interests of a subsidiary of the international commodity giant Glencore.• In representing the interests of Facebook.Inc, established a court practice on the cancellation of domain names incorporating a trademark.• Successfully completed two landmark cases in favour of multinational confectionary giant Ferrero Group, establishing practices for: a) the registration of a trademark which "acquired distinctiveness through usage," b) the exception from general prohibition of the registration of a geographical indication as a trademark.• Revised a taxation section of the Prospectus of the Georgian Government for the issuance of sovereign debt securities at an amount of USD 500 mln.• Revised a taxation section of the Prospectus of a Georgian bank for the issuance of Securities for the London Stock Exchange.• Represented the Georgian Government in bilateral negotiations with the European Commission on Visa Facilitation and Readmission Agreements. · Litigation

Lasha Gogiberidze

Senior Partner · Banking & Finance

Sandro Bibilashvili

Partner Advising Israel's largest brewer and the country's second-largest beverage company in acquiring majority stake in one of Georgia’s largest beverage company. Representing a leading telecommunication operator in the CEE region, Türkiye, Caucasus, Middle East and Asia in insolvency proceedings of its Georgian contractor. Advised global industrial and energy company in respect of contract termination and potential dispute matters with a Georgian state-owned employer. Advised the Delegation of the European Union to Georgia on Georgian law matters. Advised a German listed company in respect of acquisition of a Georgian fintech company. Advised international group of companies in respect of proposed acquisitions of one of the largest cement production companies in the region and a leading brand on the Georgian market. Advised the European corporation specializing in all areas of crude oil and natural gas production in respect of a multi-jurisdictional M&A deal involving sale of the investor and operator under the PSC related to the largest oilfield discovered in Georgia to date. Advised a major European consulting engineering company in respect of a potential dispute with the municipal authorities of the capital city Tbilisi in connection with a sustainable urban mobility project. Acting for one of the largest Georgian universities in a number of employment and commercial litigation matters. Represented a trade organization that represents the Scotch whisky industry in a number of trademark disputes. Advised a British client on Georgian law matters in connection with a litigation pending before the English courts. Advised multinational oil and gas company and one of world's largest companies in major review of regulatory framework of health and safety sector. Advised famous US fast food chains in connection with its operations in Georgia. Representing one of the most reputable and well-known aesthetic medicine centers in Georgia specializing in plastic surgeries in a medical malpractice case. Acting for a subsidiary of publicly traded British multinational alcoholic beverage company in several trademark litigation cases. Advised a retail company operating shops of more than 20 worldwide popular international brands in respect of a massive employee fraud case. Acted for a Swiss company involved in international grain trading as well as gas and energy trading, in a maritime dispute that included arresting the counterparty’s vessel in a Georgian port. Advised a multilateral development bank in connection with the enforcement against a Georgian guarantor in a dispute involving a cross-border element. Advised multinational electric utility company owned by the French government in respect of potential development of the largest renewable energy project in Georgia in cooperation with the Georgian government. Advised a French concessions and construction giant in respect of a multi-jurisdictional M&A deal with a Georgian component (involved the target's activities representing revenues of ca EUR 6 billion). Represented an American publicly traded company operating a cryptocurrency exchange platform in potential dispute with multiple of its Georgian customers. Advised a Swiss multinational food and drink processing conglomerate corporation in a major cross-border M&A transaction, with Georgian component involving one of the most famous Georgian brands and one of the biggest export products of Georgia. Advised one of the largest Japanese utility companies in respect of its potential investments in Georgia’s energy sector. Acted as a Georgian law expert before Singapore courts in litigation matter worth ca $900 million. Acted as a Georgian law expect in a litigation worth ca $700 million pending before a foreign court. Represented multilateral development bank in a precedent-setting litigation where Georgian courts recognized that the bank enjoyed immunity from legal process in Georgia. Advised a publicly traded Israeli company building and operating solar and wind power plants in connection with potential development of 100MW wind farm in Georgia. Advised Japanese energy giant on acquisition of stake in a Georgian hydropower project in what has been the largest Japanese investment in Georgia’s energy sector. Advised a Spanish conglomerate in respect of development of a 100MW wind farm in Georgia. Represented number of IFIs in USD 250 million financing of one of the largest hydro-power plants in Georgia and subsequent restricting of the financing. Advised a Turkish construction company in connection with development of 7 small and medium sized HPPs in various regions of Georgia. Advised a European EPC company in a dispute with an employer related to the development of a hydro power plant in the southwestern Georgia. Represented a Luxembourg bank in a Georgian litigation worth US$ 100 million involving assets of one of the largest industrial enterprises in Georgia. Advised the largest Georgian bank in respect of risks of granting credit facility to one of the largest industrial enterprises of Georgia. Advised a Canadian-based mining corporation in respect of a proposed acquisition of mineral concessions in Georgia. Advised IFIs in financing 434 MW cascade in the Western Georgia. Represented a large European infrastructure company in a procurement-related dispute with local authorities in Georgia. Represented a major European oil & gas company in respect of a production sharing contract and in a shareholder dispute involving operating licensed blocks in the Eastern Georgia. Advised major Chinese enterprise in respect of proposed M&A deal involving potential large HPP cascade in Georgia. Advised a Korean government agency on developing a 280 MW hydro-power plant jointly with a state-owned investment fund of Georgia. Represented the largest bottler and distributor of soft drinks in Georgia in a successful refusal of recognition and enforcement of foreign arbitral award in Georgia. Advised major Georgian-American manufacturer of ferroalloys in relation to a dispute with environmental authorities. Represented the large Chinese energy company in connection with the real estate privatization deal. Represented joint lead managers in connection with refinancing of 2012 Eurobonds by the national oil company of Georgia. Advised major Italian manufacturer in connection with the municipal procurement in Georgia. Advised the joint bookrunners in connection with the IPO and listing on LSE of one of the Georgia’s leading commercial banks. Advised Georgian franchisee of the major US franchise in international arbitration against its supplier. Represented a large UK trade organization representing whisky industry in number of IP disputes. Represented one of the largest world’s brewing groups in litigation against its Georgian distributor. Advised a foreign reinsurer on a potential insurance litigation matter. Represented a major multinational manufacturer of medical, pharmaceutical and consumer packaged goods in litigation against its Georgian distributor. Represented a major foreign manufacturer of alcoholic beverages in IP litigation in Georgia. Advised British receivers regarding potential litigation against a Georgian bank. Represented joint global coordinators in London IPO of one of the largest commercial banks of Georgia. Advised one of the largest commercial banks in Georgia in respect of a multi-million lawsuit. Represented a large foreign investor in negotiating with the Government of Georgia a privatization deal and associated commercial real estate development project in downtown Tbilisi. Advised a major oil company on multi-million real estate project in Georgia. Advised a major international insurance group on restructuring its Georgian operations. Advised a large ship management group in privatization negotiations with the Government of Georgia. Represented a foreign based business in multi-million recognition and enforcement proceedings in Georgia. Advised major oil company on a large environmental project. Represented joint lead managers on issuance of USD 250 million bonds by Georgian national oil company. Advised large European banks on a USD 45 million loan facility agreement. Represented large Georgian bank in obtaining USD 33 million term loan facility from the Dutch financial institution. Represented a large multi-national franchise in negotiations for securing OPIC loan facility. Represented a major oil company in numerous commercial disputes. Represented major American insurance company in an insurance dispute. Represented a large Central European investor in several real estate development projects. Represented a major international tobacco company in various ongoing legal matters, participated in legislative drafting in the Parliament on its behalf. Assisted various foreign embassies in Georgia in various land and real estate-related transactions. Represented a joint lead manager in IPO of a large Georgian company. Conducted a due diligence review of one of the largest state-owned companies of Georgia for privatization purposes. Acted as a counsel of a large US-Government funded project in Georgia. Conducted a due diligence exercise of the largest commercial bank of Georgia on behalf of a large Eastern European bank. Advised and represented several European and Middle East based investors in acquisition of real estate in Georgia and negotiations for development of such real estate. Contributed to the World Bank and International Financial Corporation study of Georgian legal environment. Conducted a large environmental research project for a major multinational oil company. Conducted a due diligence review of the largest mobile operator company of Georgia. Advised and represented a large foreign investor and negotiated with the Government officials in a deal to transfer mineral extraction licenses. Conducted a due diligence review of a Georgian company engaged in copper exploration and extraction activities, for the purposes of M&A. Undertook numerous due diligence studies of Georgian companies for the purposes of privatization, including privatization of the largest gold mining company. Advised a large German financial enterprise on the issues of acquisition of Poti Port. Advised a foreign investor and conducted a due diligence review of one of the largest railway factories in Georgia for the purposes of privatization. · Corporate / M&A

Tamara Tevdoradze

Partner · Real Estate

Unana Gogokhia

Partner · Capital Markets

Zaza Bibilashvili

Senior Partner · Corporate / M&A