BLC Law Office LLC > Tbilisi, Georgia > Firm Profile

BLC Law Office LLC
129A DAVID AGHMASHENEBELI AVENUE
TBILISI 0102
Georgia

Georgia > Banking and finance Tier 1

BLC Law Office LLC has a comprehensive team of lawyers, experienced in handling a broad range of banking and finance-related mandates. The team advises local and international lenders and borrowers on a wide range of issues, and has strength in matters relating to Georgian capital markets. Transactions, bond issues, and the registration of investment funds and asset managers with the National Bank of Georgia are covered by the team. Practice head Rusa Tchkuaseli has a breadth of specialisms, including structuring capital market transactions, including local issuers. Alexander Bolkvadze has notable experience in handling the financing of energy and infrastructure matters, whilst Tamta Ivanishvili regularly advises clients on cross-border investments and debt finance structuring.

Practice head(s):

Rusa Tchkuaseli

Other key lawyers:

Alexander Bolkvadze; Ketti Kvartskhava; Giorgi Batlidze; Tamta Ivanishvili

Key clients

Asia Development Bank

DFC

Pace Terminals

Proparco

OFID

Gazelle Finance

Small Enterprise Assistance Fund

JP Morgan

FMO

TBC Capital

Small Enterprise Assistance Fund

Alpha Capital

Work highlights

  • Engaged by Future Laboratory Ventures to form the first venture capital fund in Georgia.
  • Acting for the investors, BLC closed the first-ever gender bonds issued at the Georgian market. JSC Crystal successfully closed a 25 million GEL bond offering in 2023.
  • Acting as the local counsel to Jeton Georgia throughout the process of obtaining a digital banking license.

Georgia > Commercial, corporate and M&A Tier 1

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.

Practice head(s):

Alexander Bolkvadze; Ketti Kvartskhava; Giorgi Batlidze; Tamta Ivanishvili; Lasha Uplisashvili; Rusa Tchkuaseli; Anri Khonelidze

Work highlights

Georgia > Dispute resolution Tier 1

BLC Law Office LLC‘s designated dispute resolution practice ensures they are positioned to handle both conventional litigation proceedings, as well as a range of ADR. The broad team have been active in a range of marked disputes across sectors such as agriculture, energy and corporate governance. Ketti Kvartskhava has vast experience handling disputes in both Georgian courts and international arbitration, with particular expertise in corporate and tax issues. Giorgi Batlidze is an arbitration specialist and focuses his practice on intellectual property issues, whilst Rusa Tchkuaseli has a notable track record in defamation disputes. Davit Tabatadze is the team’s head of litigation.

Practice head(s):

Ketti Kvartskhava; Giorgi Batlidze; Rusa Tchkuaseli; Davit Tabatadze

Key clients

Anaklia DevelopmentConsortium LLC

Block Invest

Anagi LLC

Mtkvari HEPP LLC

TBC Capital

Georgian Airways Group

PrivatBank

Eltel

Omega Group

Flexo Tech

BK Distribution

Work highlights

  • Advising Anaklia Development Consortium (ADC) and a private individual in pending arbitrations before the Arbitration Court of International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) and ICSID, respectively.
  • Acted for Georgian Oil and Gas Corporation and the State Agency for Oil and Gas in arbitration proceedings arising from and relating to breaches by Frontera Resources Georgia Corporation of its obligations under its 1997 Production Sharing Agreement with those entities.
  • Represented Georgian Airlines in the most high-profile and publicized insolvency case of recent times. The rehabilitation plan of the company is soon to be approved by the creditors.

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

BLC Law Office LLC advises national and international clients in high-value real estate and construction projects. Despite possessing a wide range of capabilities, the team have a particular strength in the fields of hospitality and renewable energy-related projects. The practice is active on a variety of notable hotel and resort construction projects, offering counsel in financing, project management and compliance matters. Alexander Bolkvadze has experience in handling energy, real estate and construction projects for both private and public-body clients. Bolkvadze leads the team along with Lasha Uplisashvili and Rusudan Khazaradze, who have specialist sector knowledge.

Practice head(s):

Alexander Bolkvadze; Lasha Uplisashvili; Rusudan Khazaradze

Key clients

Pontus Capital

Anagi Development

Accor Group

European Village

Lechkombinati

Girteka Logistics

Veolia

Work highlights

  • Advising Ambassador Batumi Island on the construction of an artificial island in the sea.
  • One of the largest construction and development companies in Georgia. Advising on different construction and development matters, including new projects with the value of 1.4 billion USD.
  • Advising Accor Group on drafting and negotiating agreements for its participation in a landmark development project in Georgia.

Based in Georgia and described by Clients as “fully comparable with the Magic Circle”, BLC is a true leader of the market practicing in virtually all areas of law. Having thorough knowledge of Georgian legislation and legal practice, as well as various key industries, lawyers of BLC are devotedly serving the interests of their clients. With 25 qualified attorneys currently employed full time with BLC and several off counsels, BLC certainly has larger capacity to handle several complicated transactions and cases at a time than most of the law-firms in Georgia. Most importantly, BLC Law Office is the only legal practice in Georgia having a branch in Batumi (the investment center of the West Georgia).

BLC is truly exceptional with the approach to the Client’s needs as well as the best possible understanding of the respective business environment. Our approach to each particular matter is to adapt to and understand the commercial, as well as policy and strategic rationale behind the relevant issue with the purpose to create value through legal advice.

Main Areas of Practice:
■ Banking & Finance, Capital Markets
■ Competition Law
■ Corporate Matters and M&A
■ Criminal Law & International Courts
■ Dispute Resolution
■ Employment Law
■ Energy & Infrastructure
■ Hospitality
■ Intellectual Property
■ Legislative Drafting
■ Personal Data Protection
■ Privatisation & Government Relations
■ Real Estate & Construction, Project Development
■ Tax & Customs Advice
■ Telecommunications, Media & Information Technologies

Key Clients:
ADB (Asia Development Bank); Adjara + (Georgia); Alfred Kärcher GmbH & Co KG (Germany); Anadolu Group (Turkey); Anaklia Development Consortium (Georgia/USA); Bank Republic (Société Générale Group) (Georgia); Bauer (Germany); BNP Paribas (Switzerland); China Development Bank Corporation (China); City Loft (Georgia); CMA-CGM (France); Credit Suisse (UK); Diplomat Georgia (Georgia/Israel); Gazelle Finance (USA), Georgian Co-Investment Fund (Georgia); Georgian Healthcare Group (Georgia); Georgian Oil and Gas Corporation (Georgia); GRDF (The fund managing the US Millennium Challenge Georgia funds); EBRD (International); EIB (International); Embassy of the Republic of France in Georgia; Embassy of Swiss Confederation in Georgia; Embassy of German Federal Republic in Georgia; EU Delegation in Georgia; Embassy of Brazil in Georgia; General Electric Co. (USA); JSC Georgian Railway (Georgia); Gras Savoye (France); Hewlett-Packard (USA); HSBC Bank Georgia (UK-Georgia); IBM (USA); ING Bank (Netherlands); INTERRAO UES (Russia); IFC (International); IS Bank (Turkey); Johnson & Johnson (USA); Panalpina (Switzerland); Partnership Fund of Georgia (Georgia); Pace Group (Georgia); Pave Bank (Singapore); Philip Morris (International); Premier League (Uk); Pepsi Bottlers in Georgia (Georgia/Armenia); Procredit Bank (Georgia); R. Bosch GmbH (Germany); Sayali LLC (Subsidiary of Azercon Holdings, Georgia/Azerbaijan); Sabah Group Georgia (Georgia/Azerbaijan); Sheraton Batumi (USA); Socar Petroleum (Azerbaijan); Teliani Valley (Georgia); TBC Bank (Georgia); TBC Bank Group plc. (UK); Tiffany & Co.

Number of lawyers : 25
Number of partners : 7
Georgian
English
French
German
Russian
Branch in Batumi : 29 Memed Abashidze Street, Batumi, Georgia
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BLC Law Office operates a head office in the capital of Georgia – Tbilisi and a branch in the emerging Black Sea port and city – Batumi. Operation of the branch in Batumi insures efficiency in provision of timely and cost effective legal support to its clients in all parts of Georgia.


CLIENT: GAZELLE FINANCE
COMPANY/FIRM: BLC LAW OFFICE
TESTIMONIAL: Gazelle Finance, a global asset manager, has been working with BLC since its inception. During this time, BLC provided critical legal support during our start-up phase in the Republic of Georgia helping us to establish our subsidiary non-banking financial institution and draft our transaction documents. BLC has a very strong multi-lingual team who can work seamlessly between the Georgian and international legal worlds. We outsource most of our legal work in Georgia and are always confident that BLC is working in our best interests as our trusted partner.


CLIENT: JSC Georgia Healthcare Group
COMPANY/FIRM: BLC LAW OFFICE
TESTIMONIAL: Our Group appreciates all those services that BLC, as our partner, provides to us. Their work and attitude is always flawless, timely and professional. We always feel safe when having BLC team on our transactions. BLC truly is a tremendous company with amazing and dedicated team.


CLIENT: BLOCK ENERGY PLC.
COMPANY/FIRM: BLC LAW OFFICE
TESTIMONIAL: Block Energy have been using BLC for over 2 years now. The service provided by the team is excellent and their ability to problem solve is exceptional. A professional well rounded firm, who work efficiently and effectively.


CLIENT: ADJARA GROUP
COMPANY/FIRM: BLC LAW OFFICE
TESTIMONIAL: BLC Law Office is a long time partner of Adjara Group, holding company operating in hospitality and agriculture sector. As the client, we enjoy BLC Law Office’s constant helpful involvement, its deep understanding of laws and its pragmatic, solution oriented and diligent advice, always issued in prompt and efficient manner. They have great eye on strategic issues and their advice is always tailored to the specificities and dynamics of the particular case.


CLIENT: Export-Import Bank of the Slovak Republic
COMPANY/FIRM: BLC LAW OFFICE
TESTIMONIAL: BLC lawyers are always to the point and very reliable. We appreciate their advice which is based on a thorough understanding of the Georgian law.


CLIENT: TBILISI HILLS RESIDENCES LLC
COMPANY/FIRM: BLC LAW OFFICE
TESTIMONIAL: They are solution-oriented, knowledgeable and reliable people. BLC is always up to speed on recent developments in the country and are super comfortable to work with, even during late hours. They understand the needs of the client and try to put the law on client’s side.


CLIENT: ANAKLIA DEVELOPMENT CONSORTIUM
COMPANY/FIRM: BLC LAW OFFICE
TESTIMONIAL: BLC is always delivering a very high standard of service and expertise. Its team members are always very responsive, strong and business-oriented professionals.


CLIENT: WINGS & FREEMAN CAPITAL LLC
COMPANY/FIRM: BLC LAW OFFICE
TESTIMONIAL: BLC is a team of highly professional enterprising lawyers. We had a pleasure of engaging BLC as the local legal counsel for several projects financed by DEG and OPIC (now DFC) in Georgia. The most challenging projects such as American Hospital Tbilisi and Pace Terminal in Poti Port (so-called, critical infrastructure projects) deserve special attention, because of the legal complexity associated with them. We cannot emphasize enough the strong work ethic and the degree of professionalism of BLC team brought about throughout the project implementation. BLC has done its best to facilitate the resolution of multiple legal issues and to ensure the effective project flow over various project stages. Overall, our experience with BLC is excellent and we would highly recommend them.


CLIENT: TBC CAPITAL
COMPANY/FIRM: BLC LAW OFFICE
TESTIMONIAL: We have been working with BLC for many year already and their expertise, knowledge, attention to details and ability to deliver good results has been consistent and top notch. I will continue working with BLC law going forward and recommend them to our partners/clients.