BGI - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- International Business Consultant to
- International Business Development Manager
Alex is an International Business Consultant to BGI Legal. London based, he provides BGI Legal with support on international business strategy and development. His tasks also include that of providing an interface with clients in the UK.
Alex qualified as a solicitor in the UK in 1984 and practised law until 1998. He worked with DLA (1990-97 and partner from 1992), Richards Butler (1986-90) and was an assistant solicitor with Freshfields (1984-86).
In addition to his law degree, Alex has an MBA from Manchester Business School (2000).
He is also a director of International Law Firm Solutions.
Job Titles:
- Partner
- Partner at BGI Advisory Services Georgia
Giorgi (George) Sarajishvili is a Partner at BGI Advisory Services Georgia, based in Tbilisi. Mr. Sarajishvili joined the firm in September 2010 after earning his Master degree in International Commercial Law at Erasmus University Rotterdam, the Netherlands.
Prior to joining the firm Mr. Sarajishvili served as a Senior Specialist at the Division of International Cooperation at the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia. His responsibilities covered intergovernmental negotiations and reporting to international organizations. Professional experience of Mr. Sarajishvili includes a practice at the Office of the State Minister for Civil Integration Issues (short-term contractual employee) and Tbilisi City Court (legal intern).
Job Titles:
- Senior Partner
- Board Member of the American Chamber of Commerce
- Founding Partner of BGI Advisory Services Georgia
BGI Legal is ‘exceptional' in M&A, financing and real estate, and is especially prominent in the energy sector. Lasha Gogiberidze, whom clients regard as ‘the top lawyer in Georgia for banking, finance and capital markets transactions', and Sandro Bibilashvili handled a number of innovative regional energy projects and joint ventures, such as the Adjaristsqali hydropower project.
Lasha Gogiberidze is a founding partner of BGI Advisory Services Georgia and BGI Legal. Prior to foundation of the BGI in the aftermath of Ernst & Young's global decision to exit law, Lasha served as a director of corporate practice within Ernst & Young's Georgian office, as well as was a leading attorney within Georgian Consulting Group. Prior to private practice, Lasha was associated with the office of American Bar Association Central and East European Law Initiative office in Tbilisi and clerked for the Chairman of the Supreme Court of Georgia.
Lasha has considerable transactional, corporate, capital markets, M&A, project finance, banking, oil & gas, energy, legislative drafting and labor law experience. Together with his colleagues at BGI, Lasha has been involved in nearly every major transaction in Georgia over the past two decades. A brief selection of his most recent representations includes:
Represented underwriters / joint lead managers on listing of two local companies on London Stock Exchange premium listing segment;
Representing a European banking institution in one of the largest financing transaction and ensuing litigation in Georgia;
Represented a wide array of underwriters on several bond placements on London, Dublin and Hong Kong exchanges;
Represented a number of IFI-s on financing of a construction of one of the largest HPP-s in Georgia;
Represented sponsors on negotiation, implementation, financing and construction of Nenskra Hydro Power Plant;
Represented a number of largest telecom companies on one of the largest M&A deals in the country;
Represented of a number of IFI-s and a number of EU funds on project financing and lending transactions in Georgia, including regulatory capital deals;
Represented a private European based fund in a structured acquisition of a systemic commercial bank in Georgia;
Represented joint lead managers on issuance of USD 250 million bonds by Georgian National Oil Company;
Represented a record number of the issuers and underwriters in several capital markets deals during 2011-2012 period;
Represented large Russian based mining conglomerate and its subsidiaries in Georgia on USD 250 million financing project and operational matters in Georgia;
Represented a number of international financial houses on derivative transactions involving Georgian counterparties;
Represented the largest mining company in Georgia on operational and corporate restructuring matters;
Represented one of the largest utility companies in Georgia on a potential corporate restructuring exercise;
Represented joint lead managers on refinancing of USD 500 million outstanding sovereign bonds;
Represented a number international financial institution in financing of a housing projects in Georgia;
Represented private investors on a number of projects involving developments of hydro-power plants in Georgia;
Acted for the adviser to the government of Georgia on development of concession framework for large scale hydro projects;
Represented an IFI on investment into a Belarusian commercial bank owned by a Georgian banking institution;
Represented a number of IFI-s in a corporate restructuring of the largest commercial bank in Georgia;
Represented joint lead managers in the first ever US$ 500 million inaugural placement of sovereign debt securities by the Government of Georgia;
Represents two largest private equity funds in Georgia on a number of transactions, including complex shareholders arrangements, as well as a real estate transaction with the government of the United States;
Represented a number of international financial houses on capital market transactions involving Georgian assets, including first ever Euro bond issuance by a Georgian commercial bank;
Represented local issuers on establishment of GDR programs on NASDAQ stock exchange;
Represented leading European banks on a number of lending arrangements vis-à-vis commercial banks in Georgia;
Represented the Government of Georgia through USAID funded technical assistance program in the largest privatization program for sale of energy generation and distribution assets with the total transaction value in excess of USD 300 million;
Advised Millennium Challenge Georgia Fund (MCG), the US Government-funded USD 300 million project concerning mainly infrastructure and tourism development (won based on a competitive tender);
Represented a major East European banking group on the acquisition and creation of the largest industrial enterprise in Georgia;
Represented a major Russian based investment group in consolidated acquisition of the largest gold/copper mining enterprise from the state and private owners;
Represented Georgian side in USD 70 million construction project of Tbilisi International Airport through BOT arrangement;
Represented US communications company on various negotiations and privatization projects vis-à-vis the government of Georgia;
Represented a major consortium of oil companies in the negotiation and drafting of the host government agreements, and in the drafting of a US$2.6 billion cross-border secured lending facility, including drafting loan and security agreements and preparing negotiation positions;
Advised the IFC, EBRD, BSTDB and other international financial institutions on credit line agreements and derivative transactions, including the work out and drafting of assignment and security agreements with local banks and a Russia-based television broadcaster as participants.
Lasha graduated from Tbilisi State University, Department of International Law, earning a Law Degree with High Honors, and has a LL.M. from the University of Illinois.
Lasha is admitted to practice law in the state of New York, USA, and is a member of Georgian bar.
Lasha is a board member of the American Chamber of Commerce; he co-chairs Commercial and Tax Law Committee within AmCham. He also served on the board of Muskie Alumni Association of Georgia. He is a board member of the EU-Georgian Business Council (EUGBC).
In addition to his native Georgian, Lasha speaks fluent English and Russian, and has a fair command of Spanish.
A leading figure in capital markets and M&A, Lasha Gogiberidze has an enviable track record of acting on the market's highlight deals, primarily advising banks, including international developmental institutions. He wins praise for his responsiveness and is described as "very client-focused and understanding of our needs."
Job Titles:
- Head of Litigation Practice
Lika Topuria is a Head of Litigation Practice at BGI Legal. She joined the firm as an Associate in 2014. Before BGI, Lika worked at BDO Georgia, where she was involved in major investment transactions, tax advisory services and legal due diligence studies.
Job Titles:
- a Junior Associate
- Junior Associate
- Member of Georgian Bar Association
Luka Kodua joined BGI Legal as a junior associate in March 2022. His main practice areas include general commercial and corporate law, property law, FIDIC contracts, litigation and dispute resolution.
Prior to joining the firm, Luka worked for the Munich office of an international law firm, where he was a member of the international arbitration practice team. Throughout his past employment, Mr. Kodua gained experience in various international commercial arbitration disputes and FIDIC dispute board proceedings involving Georgian state entities and corporations. One of the biggest highlights of Mr. Kodua's experience was participation in the multi-billion ad-hoc arbitration case in the oil and gas sector arising out of a Production Sharing Agreement, in which, together with the team, Luka defended the interests of a Georgian state-owned entity. The dispute was successfully resolved in favor of the said state-owned entity.
His professional experience also includes working as a researcher at Ilia State University, in the project funded by Shota Rustaveli National Science Foundation. In 2019, the research team issued a publication named "The Evolution and Problematic Aspects of Investment Protection Mechanisms in Georgia", coauthored by Mr. Kodua.
In the past years, Luka also completed a paid internship at the Department of Insolvency Proceedings of the National Bureau of Enforcement of Georgia.
Mr. Kodua holds a Bachelor's Degree (LL.B.) in Law from Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University and a Master's Degree (LL.M.) in Private (Business) Law from Ilia State University.
Luka is a member of Georgian Bar Association and is admitted to practice law in Georgia.
In addition to his native Georgian, Luka is fluent in English and Russian languages.
Mariam Alasania is a paralegal at BGI legal. She joined the firm as a legal intern in January 2023. Her duties include conducting legal research and due diligence, drafting and translating contracts, memoranda and corporate documents, assisting BGI team in litigations, and performing various duties assigned to her.
Prior to joining the firm, Mariam worked as a specialist at National Center for Educational Quality Enhancement. Mariam was also a teaching assistant at Free University of Tbilisi in 2020-2021.
Mariam is currently completing LL.B degree at Free University of Tbilisi. During her student years, she participated in various national and international moot court competitions and student scientific conferences, including Central and Eastern Europe Moot Court Competition (CEEMC), the Jean-Pictet Competition and Philip C. Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition.
In addition to her native Georgian, Mariam is fluent in English and French languages.
Mariam Zurashvili joined BGI Legal as a paralegal in March 2022. Her duties include conducting legal research, drafting and translating contracts, memoranda and corporate documents, and performing various duties assigned to her by supervisors.
Prior to joining the firm, Mariam was an in-house counsel of a financial company based in Tbilisi.
Mariam holds a Bachelor's Degree (LL.B.) in Law from Caucasus University. During her student years, Mariam successfully participated in different student scientific conferences.
In addition to her native Georgian, Mariam speaks English and Russian languages.
Job Titles:
- Independent Attorney Associated With
- Member of Georgian Bar Association
Saba Tsagareishvili is an independent attorney associated with BGi Legal. Saba is a member of Georgian Bar Association specializing in criminal law, administrative law, domestic violence and juvenile justice. With 15-year professional experience working for Government entities and non-governmental organizations, he has held various positions at the Ministry of Justice and the General Prosecutor's Office. He has also worked at IRC, a USAID and EU-funded Georgian NGO.
Highlights of Saba's work include drafting normative acts, analysis of draft orders and guidelines prepared by Prosecutor's Office; legal expertise of statutory orders of the Ministry of Justice; investigation of comprehensive and significant criminal cases including economic crimes, money laundering and corruption cases; advocacy for persons returned to Georgia under the EU-Georgia Readmission Agreement; and advocating criminal cases of the victims of domestic violence and violence against women.
Saba is a graduate of Tbilisi State University law faculty and has a master's degree in public law. He has completed a training course in Washington State Prosecutor's Office in Seattle. Saba has served twice as a judge in criminal moot courts supported by the EU. Together with his native Georgian, Saba is fluent in English and Russian.
Zaza Bibilashvili is a well-known and highly regarded figure in the Georgian legal market. One of the founding partners of the firm, he oversees projects and is a key contact for clients. Lasha Gogiberidze has been called "one of the leading lawyers in Georgia" and "a central person not just in capital markets, but in the legal market in general." Considered an expert in capital markets and project finance work, particularly in the energy sphere, he is highly respected by his peers, who say: "He`s among the top lawyers who shaped the legal market."
Job Titles:
- Head of Corporate Practice
Sophie is Head of Corporate Practice at BGI Legal. She joined the firm in 2008 working as a Paralegal. Her main practice areas include project finance, secured transactions, real estate, property and land, share transfers and acquisitions, M&A, employment, corporate registrations and incorporation, legal due diligence, as well as general business law, corporate and commercial law. In addition to offering legal advice, Sophie is authorized to conduct registrations related to companies and immovable property through certified access to LEPL National Agency of Public Registry under the Ministry of Justice of Georgia.
Zaza Bibilashvili is able to suggest winning strategies and is active across a range of contentious and non-contentious work, including real estate and intellectual property matters. Previous comments include: BGI Legal fields ‘a team of true professionals with good knowledge of law and a proper understanding of business needs`. It provides full-service support to leading multinational and Georgian clients, handling general legal matters alongside more complex financing, M&A, dispute resolution and capital markets mandates.
Tamar Grigolia is a legal secretary at BGI, providing administrative assistance to our attorneys in case management. Her responsibilities include various clerical and secretarial tasks, such as obtaining and routing information, arranging files and documents as well as organizing client meetings and conferences.
Prior to joining BGI in 2007, Tamar worked as an office manager in a local telecommunications company, Caucasus Online (formerly, Telenet).
In addition to her native Georgian, Tamar speaks English and Russian.
Tamar Iremashvili is an associate at BGI Legal. Her main practice areas include general commercial and corporate law, tax law, property law, litigation and dispute resolution.
Prior to joining the firm, Ms. Iremashvili worked for another Georgian law firm, where she advised clients on corporate and tax law matters. Her professional experience also includes serving as an in-house counsel for JSC MFI IntelExpress and interning at Legal and Compliance Department of JSC Terabank.
Tamar is a visiting lecturer at Free University of Tbilisi. She is teaching Introduction to Civil Law, Property Law and Comparative Corporate Law courses to LL.B. students. Ms. Iremashvili also coached teams of Free University of Tbilisi in several competitions, including Brown Mosten National Client Consultation Competition.
Ms. Iremashvili holds a Master's degree (LL.M) in Business Law from Free University of Tbilisi and a Bachelor's degree (LL.B.) in law from Tbilisi State University.
Ms. Iremashvili is a member of Georgian Bar Association.
Together with her native Georgian, Tamar is fluent in English and Russian languages.
Job Titles:
- Partner
- Member of Georgian
Tamara is a Partner with BGI Legal. She is part of the original team behind the formation of the firm in 2005. Prior to joining BGI Legal, Tamara worked for EY Law and GCG Law Office. Her areas of practice include real estate, secured transactions, property and land, employment, telecommunications, personal data protection, M&A, corporate registrations and incorporation.
Tamara has been a member of Georgian bar since 2004. She has also successfully passed the New York State bar examination and is qualified to practice law in the state of New York, USA.
Job Titles:
- Associate
- Junior Associate
Tekla Khundadze is a junior associate at BGI Legal. She joined the firm in September 2020. Her duties include conducting legal research, assisting BGI team in legal consultations and litigations as well as representing clients in the administrative proceedings before the administrative bodies of Georgia.
Prior to joining the firm, Tekla was an in-house counsel of a development company based in Tbilisi. Her professional experience also includes acting as counsel of a digital marketing company and working as a paralegal at the prominent non-governmental organization - Georgian Young Lawyers' Association.
Tekla graduated from LL.B and LL.M programmes (majoring in Private Law) of Ivane Javakhisvhili Tbilisi State University. During her student years, Tekla participated in different student scientific conferences and moot court competitions. She has also conducted trainings for school students on the subject of juvenile justice and children's rights.
Together with her native Georgian, Tekla is fluent in English language and also speaks basic Russian.
Unana Gogokhia is a partner at BGI Legal. She joined the firm in 2007 from the Ministry of Justice of Georgia, where she had worked as an advisor at the Department of State Debt and Legal Expertise of Contracts. She holds an LLM in International Economic Law (with merits) from the University of Warwick (UK) and is a member of the Georgian Bar Association.
Job Titles:
- Senior Partner
- Founder of BGI Advisory Services Georgia
Zaza Bibilashvili is a founder of BGI Advisory Services Georgia and a Senior Partner at BGI Legal. Prior to the arrival of BGI in the aftermath of Ernst & Young's global decision to exit law in early 2005, Zaza was a director of E&Y's legal services arm, EY Law Georgia as well as the director of its predecessor, GCG Law Office, which was affiliated with Andersen Legal - both dominant players on the Georgian legal services market at the time. Before moving to private practice, Zaza worked with the Permanent Mission of Georgia to the United Nations in New York.
Zaza has an extensive transactional, corporate, M&A, real estate, oil & gas, litigation & arbitration, IP and labor law experience. Together with his colleagues at BGI, Zaza has been involved in nearly every major transaction in Georgia over the past two decades. His key engagements include:
Represented the Ferrero Group, the second biggest chocolate producer and confectionery company in the world, in restructuring of its vast farmlands and workforce in Georgia. 2020-2021.
Zaza Bibilashvili is a well-known and highly regarded figure in the Georgian legal market. One of the founding partners of the firm, he oversees projects and is a key contact for clients. Lasha Gogiberidze has been called "one of the leading lawyers in Georgia" and "a central person not just in capital markets, but in the legal market in general." Considered an expert in capital markets and project finance work, particularly in the energy sphere, he is highly respected by his peers, who say: "He`s among the top lawyers who shaped the legal market."
Zaza Bibilashvili is a highly respected corporate and disputes lawyer with significant practical experience in real estate transactions. Clients note his creativity and availability.