News & Publications

Conference on Arbitration & ADR in Georgia and the Wider Region
In partnership with the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) and the US Department of Commerce’s Commercial Law Development Program (CLDP), Gvinadze & Partners co-organized a major regional conference in Tbilisi on 14 June 2024 dedicated to the inaugural publication of the ICC Arbitration and Mediation Rules in the Georgian language [read more]

Azerbaijan Arbitration Days 2024
Nick Gvinadze spoke on the regional importance of the UNCITRAL Model Arbitration Law at the opening panel of the inaugural Azerbaijan Arbitration Days in Baku on 25 April 2024 [read more]

“Energy and Infrastructure Projects in Georgia”
Hogan Lovells and Gvinadze & Partners organized a conference under the auspices of the British-Georgian Law Association on 15 February 2024 in London [read more]

Georgian Arbitration Days 2023
Gvinadze & Partners was a Gold Sponsor partner and supporter of the special 10-year anniversary edition of the GIAC Arbitration Days 2023 [read more]

Nick Gvinadze continues to top the lawyer rankings
Gvinadze & Partners pleased to report continued inclusion of Nick Gvinadze in LEGAL500’s most prestigious “Hall of Fame”, as well as his continued top-tier ranking in all practice areas covered by the lead legal directory in 2023 [read more]

HLSAE Annual Reunion Luxembourg 2023
As Board Member of Harvard Law School Association of Europe, Sophie Panjikidze was responsible for co-organizing HLSAE’s hugely successful Luxembourg Reunion during 18-21 May 2023 [read more]

London International Disputes Week 2023
Nick Gvinadze spoke at the Caspian Regional Session of LIDW 2023 which was hosted by Herbert Smith Freehills LLP on 15 May 2023 [read more]

Gvinadze & Partners assists ADB strengthen corporate governance of Georgia’s state-owned enterprises
We are delighted to continue to assist the Asian Development Bank (ADB) in its important effort to improve the institutional capacity and corporate governance of state-owned enterprises in Georgia. ADB has recently approved a $100 million policy-based loan to deepen Georgia’s reforms to fiscal management, capital markets, and its pension system [read more]


Gvinadze & Partners assists Viber in the setup of its Georgian operations
Gvinadze & Partners delighted to have assisted VIBER, the world-famous international digital technology company connecting over a billion people worldwide, on all legal aspects of the setup of its Georgian operations, including obtaining the special “international company” tax status in Georgia [read more]

Nick Gvinadze included in Legal500’s “Hall of Fame”
Gvinadze & Partners pleased to announce the inclusion of Nick Gvinadze in Legal500’s most prestigious “Hall of Fame”, as well as his top-tier ranking in all practice areas covered by the lead legal directory in 2022 – making him the only Georgian lawyer so highly recognized [read more]

Eastern Europe & CIS International Arbitration Conference
In partnership with International Chamber of Commerce in Georgia and the US Department of Commerce’s Commercial Law Development Program (CLDP), Gvinadze & Partners co-organized a major post-pandemic event of the wider region, bringing to Tbilisi the President of the ICC International Court of Arbitration Claudia Salomon and over a dozen Members of the ICC Court [read more]

"Warding off the pandemic - Georgian and UK perspectives"
Stephenson Harwood LLP and Gvinadze & Partners co-organized the British-Georgian Law Association event in London on 4 November 2021 [read more]

Sophie Panjikidze recognized among IFLR's Women Leaders 2021
Sophie Panjikidze has been included in the list of Women Leaders 2021 by International Financial Law Review [read more]

Nick Gvinadze listed as a Global Leader in International Arbitration 2021
Prestigious Who’s Who Legal publication continues to recognize Nick Gvinadze among Global Leaders in International Arbitration [read more]

Gvinadze & Partners continues to top the lawyer rankings
Legal500 EMEA 2020 lists Gvinadze & Partners "among the biggest names", with Sophie Panjikidze and Zakaria Shvelidze in prestigious “Next Generation Partners”, and Nick Gvinadze in top tiers in all practice areas of Georgian rankings [read more]

Continued Legal Education Conference
Zakaria Shvelidze reported on the latest developments of Georgian labor law and court practice at the CLE conference organized by Georgian Law Institute [read more]

DWV Business Forum on Labor Safety Regulations
Sophie Panjikidze moderated panel discussion regarding new labor safety regulations in Georgia at the business forum organized by German Business Association (DWV) [read more]


IBA Europe-Caucasus-Asia Forum 2019
Nick Gvinadze chaired the “Dispute Resolution in the Region” session at the IBA ECA Forum co-hosted by Gvinadze & Partners between 31 October – 2 November in Tbilisi [read more]

EPAG Intellectual Property Law Trainings
Under the auspices of the US Government Exchange Program Alumni Association of Georgia (EPAG), Sophie Panjikidze has co-organized a series of trainings on trends and challenges of protection and enforcement of intellectual property rights in Georgia [read more]


Georgian Arbitration Days 2019
Gvinadze & Partners sponsored GIAC Arbitration Days 2019, with Nick Gvinadze moderating “Business on Dispute Resolution” panel [read more]

ICC Arbitration Workshop
Nick Gvinadze moderated the construction arbitration panel at the regional ICC Arbitration Workshop for government officials and representatives of state-owned companies [read more]

World Cleanup Day 2019
As proud patrons of Tbilisi’s landmark Turtle Lake, we are delighted to have inspired other companies join the “Keep Georgia Beautiful” campaign and help take care of our environment [read more]

Nick Gvinadze appointed as Belt & Road Ambassador of the ICC International Court of Arbitration
Gvinadze & Partners pleased to announce the appointment of Nick Gvinadze as an Ambassador of the ICC International Court of Arbitration Commission on the Belt & Road Initiative [read more]

Memorandum between Georgia and the ICC International Court of Arbitration
We are proud of our contribution to this historic step towards promoting Georgia as the regional hub for international arbitration [Paris, 20 December 2018]

"Georgia in the Spotlight: Renewable Energy and Infrastructure Projects on the Rise"
Clifford Chance LLP and Gvinadze & Partners co-organized this year’s BGLA seminar in London on 8 November 2018 [read more]

ICC-FIDIC Conference
Nick Gvinadze spoke about enforcement of FIDIC contracts in Georgia at the ICC-FIDIC International Construction Contracts & Dispute Resolution Conference held in Tbilisi on 20-21 September 2018 [read more]

Gvinadze & Partners Tops the Lawyer Rankings
Gvinadze & Partners pleased to announce its top-tier ranking in Dispute Resolution, Real Estate, Construction and Projects categories of the newly released Legal500 EMEA 2018, with Nick Gvinadze listed in Legal500’s “Hall of Fame,” and partners Sophie Panjikidze and Zakaria Shvelidze also recommended [read more]


Nick Gvinadze re-elected to the European Boards
In recognition of our strong commitment to Georgia’s European way, we are pleased to announce the re-election of Managing Partner Nick Gvinadze to the 2018-2021 Boards of both EU-Georgia Business Council (EUGBC) and Georgian Swiss Business Association (GSBA) along with top managers of leading European and Georgian companies

Willem C. Vis International Commercial Arbitration Moot
Gvinadze & Partners supported Georgian participation in 2017 Willem C. Vis International Commercial Arbitration Moot

"Doing Deals in Georgia: Opportunities and Challenges for International Investors"
Baker McKenzie and Gvinadze & Partners co-organized this year’s BGLA event in London [read more]

Harvard European Conference
Sophie Panjikidze was among the organizers of Harvard European Conference 2017 [read more]

The ICC International Commercial Mediation Competition
Gvinadze & Partners supported Georgian participation in 2017 ICC International Commercial Mediation Competition

Georgian Arbitration Days 2016
Gvinadze & Partners co-sponsored GIAC Arbitration Days 2016 that took place at Holiday Inn in Tbilisi [read more]

IBA ECA Forum 2016
Nick Gvinadze spoke on tax and legal aspects of regional infrastructure and business migration at the International Bar Association’s ECA Forum [read more]

Kiev Arbitration Days 2015
Nick Gvinadze moderated the “Applicable Law” panel at Kiev Arbitration Days 2015 [read more]

Training for Georgian Diplomats
Senior Associate Sophie Panjikidze delivered a training on EU-Georgia DCFTA at the Georgian MFA Diplomatic Training Centre [read more]

4th Business Law Symposium
Senior Associate Zakaria Shvelidze was among the speakers and delivered a presentation on latest legal tendencies at the National Center for Commercial Law at Free University Tbilisi [read more]

"EU Association Agreements Signed a Year Ago: Progress and Prospects"
Nick Gvinadze spoke at the opening panel of the Europe-Caucasus-Asia (formerly CIS) Legal Forum at Radisson Iveria Hotel in Tbilisi [read more]

"Conflicts of Interest - Independence and Impartiality of Arbitral Institutions"
Senior Associate Sophie Panjikidze took part in a panel discussion at a Georgian Association of Arbitrators (GAA) Seminar at Ambasadori Hotel in Tbilisi [read more]

International Arbitration Conference
ICC International Court of Arbitration, ICC Georgia and Gvinadze & Partners co-organized the first major International Arbitration Conference of Georgia and the wider region [read more]

Training for Georgian judges
Senior Associate Zakaria Shvelidze moderated an ILO training for Georgian judges in Kvareli, Georgia [read more]

EUGBC visit to Brussels
In the framework of EUGBC visit to Brussels, Nick Gvinadze addressed Belgian business community at the Brussels Enterprises Commerce and Industry (BECI) [read more]

"Intellectual Property Protection: Why Patents and Trademarks are important for your business"
German Business Association and Gvinadze & Partners co-organized an IP seminar [read more]

"Update on the Political and Investment Climate in Georgia"
Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP and Gvinadze & Partners co-hosted a BGLA seminar in London [read more]

International Taxation Seminar
Under the auspices of the German Business Association in Georgia, Gvinadze & Partners co-organized a seminar on Georgia-Germany Double Taxation Treaty at ProCredit Bank in Tbilisi [read more]

First Georgian-Swiss Business Forum
Nick Gvinadze spoke on Georgian legal framework for business at the First Georgian-Swiss Business Forum at Krtsanisi Residence in Tbilisi [read more]

"International Labor Standards: Procedures, Substance, Application"
Together with ILO experts, Senior Associate Zakaria Shvelidze moderated a workshop for Georgian MPs and senior members of the Government in Kobuleti, Georgia

Gvinadze & Partners boosts its IP Law practice
Gvinadze & Partners pleased to announce qualification of its Senior Associate Sophie Panjikidze as licensed Patent and Trademark Attorney

Willem C. Vis International Commercial Arbitration Moot
Gvinadze & Partners supported Georgian participation in 2013 Willem C. Vis International Commercial Arbitration Moot

"Main Features and Advantages of ICC Arbitration"

Emmanuel Jolivet, General Counsel of ICC International Court of Arbitration, and Nick Gvinadze, Member of the Court, conducted an ICC arbitration seminar at Radisson Iveria Hotel in Tbilisi [read more]



"Flexibility in the Labor Code: A Positive Sign for European Integration?"

Article by Sophie Panjikidze and Zakaria Shvelidze

As Georgia takes a historic journey back to its European routes, with the recently launched Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area (DCFTA) negotiations... [read more]



"Georgia's Perspective on Dispute Resolution"

Norton Rose LLP and Gvinadze & Partners co-organized this year’s conference under the auspices of the British-Georgian Law Association. Speakers included Georgia’s Ambassador HE Badridze, Norton Rose’s Head of International Arbitration and ADR Joseph Tirado, as well as senior members of the Georgian judiciary [read more]



Georgian Oil, Gas, Infrastructure and Energy Conference & Showcase
Gvinadze & Partners participated in the 10th Georgian International Oil, Gas, Energy and Infrastructure Conference & Showcase (GIOGIE). Nick Gvinadze was among the speakers of the conference and delivered a presentation on legal aspects of horizontal infrastructure projects in Georgia [read more]

"Georgia's Strategic Role in European Energy Security"
Together with Sullivan & Cromwell LLP, Gvinadze & Partners co-hosted a conference in London under the auspices of the British-Georgian Law Association. Speakers included Georgia's Ambassador HE Badridze, Deputy Prime Minister Baramidze and Julian Bowden of BP [read more]

EPC Roundtable on EU-Georgia Economic Relations
In the framework of EUGBC Board's visit to Brussels, Nick Gvinadze spoke on Georgia's increasingly attractive investment climate at the European Policy Centre roundtable "EU-Georgia Economic Relations - Achievements and Challenges" [read more]

"Doing Business in Georgia - a Legal, Commercial and Political Analysis of the Current Climate"
Managing Partner Nick Gvinadze spoke at the seminar co-organized by the British-Georgian Chamber of Commerce and the British-Georgian Law Association in London, the UK [read more]

"Eminent Domain in Georgia: What Works, What Doesn't"
Article by Nick Gvinadze and Nick Keen

Georgia: a country situated on the old Silk Road; a country which, because of its geographic location, is today still of enormous importance as a commercial bridge between Europe and Asia... [read more]


 

 

 

Dispute Resolution

 

Extensive experience of working with foreign law firms in support of numerous foreign arbitral and court proceedings, including Georgian law research and advice as well as project-managing Georgian law expert witness testimony;

Assistance with recognition and enforcement of a number of foreign arbitral awards and court decisions in Georgia;

Representation of a Turkish investor on its ICC arbitration claims against a state entity regarding alleged expropriation of rights in an international terminal;

Representation of a Baltic investor in multiple high profile Georgian court proceedings (both civil and administrative) against state entities, in relation to alleged expropriation of the foreign investor's rights and property in favor of a state gasification project;

Representation of European real estate Cooperatives in complex Georgian court proceedings in relation to alleged misappropriation of significant investment funds by a former partner; representing the same clients in multiple civil and administrative proceedings for the demarcation and  development of a major real estate project in central Tbilisi;

Representation of lead Turkish and Cypriot manufacturers and wholesalers of construction machinery in Georgian court and domestic arbitration proceedings;

Representation of an European software company in negotiating and documenting a settlement with a lead Georgian bank;

Representation of a sovereign government in an ICSID arbitration regarding the alleged expropriation of foreign investors' alleged rights and property with respect to an energy pipeline;

Representation of major international petroleum consortia on hundreds of cases in the Georgian courts arising out of the construction and operation of three oil and gas pipelines transiting Georgia, including property damage, environmental and right of way disputes;

Representation of a sovereign government in an ICSID arbitration regarding the alleged expropriation of foreign investment in a steel plant;

Representation of a Black Sea petroleum terminal operator in the defence of claims by the Georgian Railroad and pursuit of counterclaims in the Georgian courts;

Representation of an Australian mining company in a Georgian court litigation and international arbitration to defend its interest in a joint venture gold mining project;

Representation of a leading glass manufacturing plant in defence of substantial claims arising out of a property sales transaction;

Advising the Turkish corporate shareholder in a Georgian GSM provider on international arbitration and local litigation against various entities in connection with a GSM joint venture;

Advising a Turkish steel producer on international arbitration claims arising out of its contracts with a Georgian steel plant;

Advising a major European nutrition company on its dispute with a former Georgian distributor;

Acting as Georgian counsel to a Greek shipping company in an LCIA arbitration case against a state petroleum products company for breach of contract related to marine delivery of petroleum products;

Acting for an American-owned Georgian real estate company in a high-profile property dispute with a neighbouring landowner;

Acting for the Embassy of a major European country in a construction dispute with a neighbouring landowner;

Acting for a major international oil company in defence against demurrage claims by the Georgian Railroad;

Acting for an international construction company in a high-profile tax dispute with the Tax Inspection;

Acting for an international airline in a dispute with the landlord of office premises;

Acting for an international oil drilling contractor against an international oil production company operating in Georgia;

Acting for a Scandinavian NGO against a Georgian microfinance organization that allegedly defrauded the NGO's microfinance program;

Acting for an international construction company in a tax dispute with respect to obtaining a VAT exemption certificate;

Acting for a major international insurance company against a ship owner and another insurance company for recovery of insurance payment paid for loss of cargo at Batumi port;

Acting for an international insurance company in relation to arrest of a ship at Poti Port;

Acting for an international transportation company in relation to arrest of cargo at Poti Port;

Acting as Georgian counsel to a Scandinavian shipping company with respect to claims for unpaid freight charges against a leading Georgian beverages manufacturer;

Acting for an international shipping company in relation to a vessel mortgage;

Acting for a major European airline in its extensive consultations with the Georgian authorities and subsequent representation in the Georgian courts;

Acting for one of the largest and oldest American higher education institutions in the Georgian Courts against claims brought by a construction subcontractor with respect to major education infrastructure development project;

Acting for a lead international tobacco conglomerate in a high-profile, multi-million Georgian Court litigation matter related to alleged antitrust violations and dumping of imported products on the Georgian market;

Representation of a top French luxury goods conglomerate on intellectual property matters involving a complex legal battle against import and circulation of counterfeit products by local and international infringers;

Representation of a UK-based investment management company in their dispute with the Georgian State authorities and a mineral use licensee in relation to the status of thousands of hectares of land leased through their local SPV – including civil proceedings in the Georgian Courts as well as parallel administrative proceedings within the Georgian Government;

Assisting London and New York offices of an international law firm in connection with pending disputes and internal investigation into a major upstream oil and gas joint venture in Georgia;

Representation of the Georgian operations of a lead German cement producer with respect to complex investment protection, mineral use and tax compliance dispute with the state authorities, including advice on potential recourse to the Constitutional Court of Georgia;

Representation of the UK and Netherlands based funds in multiple parallel proceedings (both civil and administrative) before the state administrative organs and Georgian courts in connection with pending disputes with a co-owner, demolition, demarcation and development of a major real estate in central Tbilisi;

Acting for a London-based client on Georgian law aspects of a multimillion-dollar matter pending in the English courts related to a dispute between the two prominent Georgian businessmen for damages arising from allegedly wrongful asset transfers;

Defending the world's largest transnational food and beverage company in a highly complex and sensitive dispute matter involving claims brought before the courts in Georgia and through the central compliance channel within the global corporate structure of the corporation;

Acting for a leading ship service/marine terminal in the Black Sea Port of Poti in a high-profile labour injury matter in the Georgian Courts;

Acting for German healthcare companies in their court dispute with a major Georgian medical institution stemming from joint participation in a Georgian state tender for medical supplies;

Acting for an East European technology developer and service provider to the mobile telecommunications sector in a multi-million IP dispute (breach of patent rights) against a lead Georgian telecom operator;

Acting for lead Turkish and Cypriot manufacturers and wholesalers of construction machinery in Georgian court and domestic arbitration proceedings;

Advising a Swiss-based global travel retailer on a pending arbitration dispute against the local airport operator;

Assisting a major Swiss-German packaging solutions company to successfully settle its contractual dispute and collect receivables from a major Georgian supermarket chain and its affiliated production company;

Assisting an Italian banking software and digital financial services firm to successfully settle its contractual dispute and collect receivables from a leading Georgian commercial bank;

Assisting an East European hospitality systems and technologies firm to successfully settle its contractual dispute and collect receivables from a real estate arm of a major Georgian conglomerate in connection with its new hotel project in Georgia’s wine region;

Assisting a lead German railway operator and their engineering consultancy firm to successfully conclude their disagreement and collect receivables from a Georgian contract party;

Acting for a major Turkish investor in a shareholders dispute relating to alleged financial fraud;

Acting for a major Baltic investor in high profile Georgian court proceedings against state-owned oil and gas corporation with respect to claims of expropriation/infringement of private property;

Acting for a Georgian branch of a lead international real estate firm as claimant in bringing a brokerage contract lawsuit before Georgian courts, including securing successful asset freeze/injunctive relief orders for the client;

Acting for a EU mission member in Georgian courts, involving successful suspension of the enforcement proceedings against the client on the basis of diplomatic status defense;

Acting for one of Germany's leading sweets producers in parallel proceedings before the court and the National Intellectual Property Centre of Georgia (Sakpatenti) in a dispute relating to the registration and protection of the company’s international marks in Georgia;

Representation of a major Baltic timber industry company in a debt collection matter;

Advising an Asian multinational telecommunications giant, regarding the possibility of filing a contractual law claim against its counterparties in Georgia;

Acting for one of Europe’s longest-standing architecture and building consultancy firms in a dispute with its Georgian client in relation to a contract for the construction and interior concept design of a top class international brand hotel in Tbilisi;

Acting for one of the largest and oldest Russian confectionery conglomerates in Georgian court proceedings to protect their intellectual property rights in Georgia;

Acting for a Swiss-UK client against a lead Georgian bank in a banking negligence matter concerning a multi-jurisdictional fraudulent transfer of funds from the client’s UK bank account;

Representing an Austrian construction engineering management and consultancy firm against the Roads Department of the Ministry of Regional Development and Infrastructure of Georgia with respect to a public procurement for Georgia’s main highway construction.
 

 

 

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