Dentons > Tbilisi, Georgia > Firm Profile

Dentons Offices

Dentons
Dentons Georgia
8a, Melikishvili street/1 Erekle Tatishvili Street
0179 Tbilisi
Georgia
Visit website 995 32 2509 300 995 32 2509 301

Dentons > The Legal 500 Rankings

Georgia > Banking and finance Tier 1

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.

Practice head(s):

Avto Svanidze; Otar Kipshidze

Other key lawyers:

Neli Tsivtsivadze; Sopho Mebonia

Key clients

AFD

ADB

ING Bank

OeEB

EBRD

Mizuho Bank Europe

PROPARCO

IFC

Responsability Investments

J.P. Morgan Securities

Work highlights

  • Advised ADB, IFC and FMO on issuance of a $80m first-ever green secured bond offering by Georgian Renewable Power Operations.
  • Advised AFD on a credit facility with Georgia, in a maximum aggregate amount of €70m, to finance the policy and infrastructure components of the Program to Support the Development of Irrigated Agriculture in Georgia.
  • Advised ING Bank on a $130m Pledge agreement with Argomax Energy Group.

Georgia > Commercial, corporate and M&A Tier 1

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.

Practice head(s):

Avto Svanidze; Otar Kipshidze

Other key lawyers:

Irakli Pipia

Testimonials

‘The team is very efficient and easy to work with.’

Key clients

FCC Aqualia

Adjara Group Holding

Energo-Pro

Mondelez Georgia

APR Energy

Georgian Industrial Group

Ralph Lauren

William Grant & Sons

Sinohydro Holding

Sev.en Global Investments

Work highlights

  • Advised FCC Aqualia on the second phase of $180m acquisition of an 80% share in Georgia Global Utilities from Georgia Capital Group.
  • Advising Sinohydro (Hong Kong) Holding, wholly-owned subsidiary of Power China Resources in connection with its potential acquisition of 100MW Imeretti Wind Power Project in Georgia.
  • Assisted AKFA Group in drafting and negotiating of the English law governed joint venture agreement with respect to setting up an aluminium manufacturing facility in Georgia

Georgia > Dispute resolution Tier 1

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.

Practice head(s):

Otar Kipshidze

Other key lawyers:

Zurab Kiliptari; Natela Otaridze

Key clients

Batumi Oil Terminal

Trans Optima Group

City Loft

Logic Group

SOCAR Georgia Petroleum

Oceaneering International Services

ArcelorMittal Temirtau

Primera Golf & Residence

RazGal Energy Group

BP

Work highlights

  • Advised SOCAR Georgia Petroleum in a claim against the Competition Agency concerning the imposition of fines for alleged violation of competition law.
  • Advised Trans Optima Group on a multimillion US dollar civil dispute against Georgian Railways.
  • Advised Razgal Energy on legal proceedings regarding a squeeze-out of the shares held by the minority shareholder in Razgal Georgia to a majority shareholder – Razgal Energy.

Georgia > Real estate and construction (and projects) Tier 1

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.

Practice head(s):

Otar Kipshidze; Avto Svanidze

Other key lawyers:

Irakli Pipia

Testimonials

‘They are very efficient and results oriented.’

‘They effectively combine knowledge of the local legislation with significant international experience.’

‘We especially appreciate the interpretation of international regulatory documents in accordance with local legislation by the company’s specialists.’

‘Respond promptly to our requests, demonstrate a specific approach to each issue, establish a culturally sensitive relationship with the client, and ensure productive collaboration and coordination with other third-party consultants collaborating with the client.’

‘Irakli Pipia is personable, knowledgeable and cost conscious.’

‘Providing local problem solving of the highest calibre, Irakli Pipia is a trusted partner who provides us with the reassurance our business needs to be operating so far from home.’

‘Highly qualified and experiences. Deep knowledge of industry and existing practices. Always provide good insights and recommendations.’

‘Working with the team is a real pleasure. We find the team to be highly skilled and always keen to add value to any matter or project.’

Key clients

Universal Pictures

Cerberus Frontier

Kenya Electricity Generating Company

OMV Petrom

Avenium Investments

Concentrix

World Fuel Services Corporation

Signature Solar

Shell Brands International

Energo-Pro

Work highlights

  • Advised Cerberus on the First ever hydropower project concession under the new PPP law of Georgia, Bakhvi 1.
  • Advised Accor Hotels on negotiating several new contracts on the construction and operation of hotels in Georgia.
  • Assisted Hans, real estate company on drafting a contract with the winner of international architectural competition of a new art centre in Tbilisi.

Dentons > Firm Profile

Across over 80 countries, Dentons helps you grow, protect, operate and finance your organization by providing uniquely global and deeply local legal solutions. Polycentric, purpose-driven and committed to inclusion, diversity, equity and sustainability, we focus on what matters most to you. www.dentons.com

Dentons’ Tbilisi office opened in May 2017. With a legacy dating back to 1996 the team is among the most experienced and respected on the Georgian market. Having worked on many of the most important M&A and real estate deals, financing transactions, energy and infrastructure projects, we offer you unique insights into the country’s legal and business environment. We are a full service law firm in Georgia with key capabilities in banking and finance, litigation and dispute resolution, corporate, intellectual property, energy and infrastructure and PPP.

Main Areas of Practice:
Dentons’ lawyers and professionals provide services in the following practice disciplines and industry sectors:

Corporate and M&A: With a corporate practice that encompasses multibillion-dollar purchases of public companies, corporate governance and formation, venture and private equity investing, compliance and operations, and alliances and breakups in virtually every corner of the world, Dentons’ scope and reach is as broad as the universe of corporate interests.

Competition and Antitrust: Dentons provides legal advice and judicial assistance in all aspects of national and EU competition law, consumer law, state aid, tender procedures and regulatory issues. Clients receive tailored, industry-focused advice on complex litigation, investigations by competition authorities, merger control, competition compliance, or commercial arrangements.

Intellectual Property and Technology: Dentons’ lawyers identify, protect and help commercialise IP in the most highly developed markets — and in jurisdictions where IP laws and enforcement are still evolving. Dentons’ lawyers and technical/scientific advisors represent global corporations, academic and research institutions, inventors and artists, venture capital firms and others invested in patents, trademarks, copyrights and proprietary property.

Banking and Finance: Dentons covers every aspect of banking and capital markets transactions and regulation in the world’s leading financial centres. Dentons helps clients access and invest new sources of capital, develop and use financial products, structure financing transactions, comply with regulations, respond to investigations and resolve disputes.

Litigation, Dispute Resolution and Arbitration: Dentons’ highly reputable Litigation and Dispute Resolution lawyers are particularly well known for helping clients resolve disputes in energy, construction and engineering, banking, restructuring and insolvency, life sciences and retail. The team is also highly experienced in EU trade disputes, investigations and international arbitration.

Restructuring, Insolvency and Bankruptcy: Dentons’ teams formulate strategies that result in the optimal solution for trustees, bondholders, investors, traders, debtors, creditors and creditor committees around the world as it pursues claims for clients through negotiation and litigation.

Public Law and Regulatory: Dentons has unique regional and global capabilities in advising clients on complex and multi-jurisdictional regulatory issues. We help clients navigate the most pressing regulatory challenges such as: ESG, greenwashing, chemicals, climate change, circular economy, public procurement, and defense and security.

Real Estate: The Real Estate practice at Dentons is the largest in the world, and advises real estate owners, investors and lenders on some of the most complex development, acquisition, disposition, debt and equity transactions undertaken in today’s market. Dentons’ hotels and leisure practice is consistently ranked among the best in the world.

Tax: With experience in worldwide jurisdictions, Dentons provides comprehensive tax advice to individuals, private companies, multinationals and other entities on tax planning, compliance, M&A structuring tax advantaged investing, transfer pricing, disputes with tax authorities and more.

Sector focus:
To ensure our lawyers understand the key trends and developments facing your industry, we have established dedicated sector groups focused on the following: Consumer Goods, Energy, Family Office and High Net Worth Individuals, Financial Institutions, Industrials, Insurance, Life Sciences and Healthcare, Private Equity and Venture Capital, Real Estate, Sovereign, Technology Media and Telecommunications, and Transport and Infrastructure.

 

Main Contacts

Department Name Email Telephone
Tbilisi office Otar Kipshidze otar.kipshidze@dentons.com +995322509300
Tbilisi office Avto Svanidze avto.svanidze@dentons.com +995322509300

Lawyer Profiles

Photo Name Position Profile
Zurab Kiliptari photo Zurab Kiliptari Counsel View Profile
Otar Kipshidze photo Otar Kipshidze Managing Partner   View Profile
Sopho Mebonia photo Sopho Mebonia Senior Associate View Profile
Natela Otaridze photo Natela Otaridze Senior Associate  View Profile
Irakli Pipia photo Irakli Pipia Senior Associate  View Profile
Avto Svanidze photo Avto Svanidze Partner  View Profile
Neli Tsivtsivadze photo Neli Tsivtsivadze Senior Associate View Profile

Staff Figures

Number of lawyers: : 5,900+
Total number of people: : 12,500+
At this office: : 10
Number of locations: : 160+
Number of countries: 80+ : 80+

Languages

70+ languages including:
Arabic
Azerbaijani
Afrikaans
Bulgarian
Czech
English
French
Georgian
German
Hungarian
Italian
Kazakh
Mandarin
Polish
Romanian
Russian
Slovak
Spanish
Turkish
Ukrainian
Uzbek

Other

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