Otar Kipshidze > Dentons > Tbilisi, Georgia > Lawyer Profile

Leveraging the firm’s vast global resources, Dentons is a popular choice among international and domestic entities raising finance for myriad purposes. Capital markets and project finance work remains a strength, with dual UK and Georgia-qualified practitioner Avto Svanidze regularly advising corporate issuers on bond issuances and also being well-versed in handling work for International Financial Institutions (IFIs). Managing partner Otar Kipshidze co-heads the team alongside Svanidze and has a broad-based finance offering which includes regulatory knowledge, project finance and transportation finance expertise. Neli Tsivtsivadze has been an integral part of the firm’s success on the capital markets front, while Sopho Mebonia is adept handling project finance mandates.

Regularly instructed by firmwide clients and also on a standalone basis, Dentons maintains a thriving litigation practice, including for clients in the energy, aviation and telecoms, both on domestic mandates, as well as in cross-border disputes. Team head Otar Kipshidze exemplifies the varied nature of the firm’s workflow, being as comfortable handling complex corporate disputes, as he is competition and insolvency litigation. IP work also plays an increasingly prominent role for the team, with the firm regularly acting for clients engaged in trade mark and copyright disputes. Other key practitioners are Zurab Kiliptari and Natela Otaridze.

Effectively combining ‘knowledge of the local legislation with significant international experience,’ Dentons provides a ‘very efficient and results oriented’ service to foreign stakeholders across a wide array of real estate and construction-related work. The energy sector remains a particularly fertile source of work, both on the renewables and oil and gas front, with work spanning the transaction life-cycle, through contracts governed by both Georgian and English law. Avto Svanidze is pivotal to the firm’s success in the energy space and recently advised a private equity fund as investor on the first ever hydro power project concession under the new PPP law of Georgia. ‘Personable, knowledgeable and cost conscious’ Irakli Pipia is well-liked by international stakeholders for his ability to provide ‘local problem solving capability of the highest order,’ including as it relates to real estate due diligence and contractual matters. Managing partner Otar Kipshidze co-heads the team alongside Svanidze.

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.