Elene Sulkhanishvili > EY Law > Tbilisi, Georgia > Lawyer Profile

Elene Sulkhanishvili

Elene.Sulkhanishvili@ge.ey.com

Work Department

Law

Position

Senior Manager

Career

Elene is a senior manager at EY Georgia with 12 years of experience in the legal profession. Elene joined the firm in 2015 and has a busy practice spanning almost all areas of private law (corporate, competition, regulatory, labor & employment, and litigation).

Elene is well experienced at conducting due diligence in technology, energy, and free industrial zone sectors and supports clients in drafting transaction-related documentation.

Being a certified information privacy professional in Europe, Elene has extensive knowledge of personal data protection regulations and advises clients on regulatory compliance matters, including personal data protection.

Elene is an invited lecturer at Tbilisi State University and Ilia State University. Starting from 2018, she is conducting regular law update lectures at the Georgian Federation of Professional Accountants and Auditors under the Continuing Education Program.

Elene, a Senior Manager and Attorney-at-Law at EY Law practice in Georgia, is distinguished as an accomplished legal professional, swiftly earning recognition in the market. Elene has shown remarkable growth at EY, securing five promotions, including double promotions — an extraordinary achievement demonstrating her rapid advancement within the company. In 2022, she reached the role of a Senior Manager in the legal practice, highlighting her exceptional skill set and mindset.

As a Senior Manager, Elene builds and maintains close relationships with the clients. She is responsible for her personal portfolio, which has seen a remarkable 55% growth compared to the last year. With an outstanding 13-year legal career, she has expertise in various private law areas (M&A, due diligence, transaction structuring, corporate, competition, regulatory compliance, etc.). Her excellent leadership shines through in her ability to consider different perspectives, build strong client relationships, and lead effectively in every project she takes on.

Elene is a leading figure who helps foreign companies to enter the Georgian market. Notable examples include a prominent digital marketing and technology consulting firm listed on the Madrid Stock Exchange, as well as the world’s leading electricity company. Facilitating their entry into the market involves introducing them to our legal system and target companies, managing transactions comprehensively to address all aspects and mitigate risks in various areas such as corporate governance, competition, regulatory compliance, etc. This also includes preparing comprehensive document packages to set up corporate governance. Elene’s proficiency in soft negotiation ensures transactions proceed smoothly and efficiently. She plays a vital role to implement clients’ global approaches in local companies’ internal processes to ensure seamless transactions.

Exemplary engagements:

• Elene assisted the client in the acquisition of a 100% shareholding in a target company that covers over two million households in the destination country and has distribution agreements with more than 150 platform operators. The deal was of massive significance for the Georgian market and involved multiple jurisdictions.
• Advised a Georgian-based technology company offering organizations various solutions to revolutionize data into valuable information. Elene led the team and assisted the client in developing and implementing a privacy policy document reflecting the requirements of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).
• She led a comprehensive legal due diligence of three top innovative Georgian software development companies for a client that was chosen as SME of the year by the Madrid Chamber of Commerce. The transaction served to support the development of an innovative IT ecosystem in Georgia, attracting major investments and creating vast employment opportunities.
• Elene advises one of the largest local players in the gaming industry on a litigation case in front of the Constitutional Court of Georgia. The case concerns the amendments made to the Tax Code of Georgia that increased the client’s tax burden. The case is a landmark because of its legal significance and the striking impact of the gaming industry on the country’s economy.

Elene is highly engaged in the market, ensuring that companies efficiently and timely receive and implement legislative trends and updates. She organizes and leads events (for example, this year she held a webinar for 400 participants from IT and other sectors and a live event for 60 leading lawyers and HRs) to share her distinct knowledge gained through practicing in various industries, drafting legislative acts, including academic contributions such as co-authoring commentaries for codes (for example, the commentaries on the Labour Code of Georgia) used by judges and other professionals in Georgia. Through these events, she offers close assistance to clients in structuring their corporate governance, leveraging her strong relationships with regulators to address regulatory concerns.

Elene’s adaptability stands out as she navigates various industries including IT, energy, and more, rapidly learning and adapting to different sectors. She has a strong understanding of these diverse industries, skillfully identifying risks and proposing effective solutions.

Languages

Georgian, English, Russian, French.

Memberships

Georgian Bar Association.

International Association of Privacy Professionals.

Education

Ph.D. Candidate, Tbilisi State University, Tbilisi, Georgia, 2019 – Present.

Master of Laws, Chicago-Kent College of Law, IIT, Illinois, USA, 2014-2015.

Bachelor of Laws, Tbilisi State University, Tbilisi, Georgia, 2010-2014.