GVINADZE & PARTNERS - Key Persons


Ana Kiknadze

Job Titles:
  • Associate
Ana Kiknadze is an Associate at Gvinadze & Partners. Prior to joining the firm, Ana completed internships at Batumi City Court and the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Adjara. Ana holds a Bachelor's degree in Law from Tbilisi State University, and she continues her studies towards the LL.M degree in European and International Business Law offered jointly by Mykolas Romeris University (Lithuania) and Université Savoie-Mont-Blanc (France). Ana has also completed a CopyrightX course offered by Harvard University as well as a General Course on Intellectual Property by the WIPO Academy. Ana is fluent in her native Georgian as well as in English, with a good command of the Russian language.

Anano Rigvava

Job Titles:
  • Trainee Associate
Anano Rigvava is a Trainee Associate at Gvinadze & Partners. In addition to her duties at the firm, she serves as Vice President and Head of Human Resources at European Youth Parliament - Georgia. Anano is expecting her Bachelor's degree in Law from Free University of Tbilisi. She has attended a number of professional development courses, training programs and legal competitions. Anano is the recipient of a Gold Medal For High Academic Results at High School, as well as of the National Higher Education State Scholarship, both from the Ministry of Education and Science of Georgia.

Anzor Khatiashvili

Job Titles:
  • Senior Associate
Anzor Khatiashvili is a Senior Associate at Gvinadze & Partners, with wide expertise and over a decade of experience in civil, administrative and criminal law. Prior to joining the firm, Anzor worked at another Georgian law firm, as well as two leading Georgian NGOs where he was involved in a wide range of legal consulting and representation, as well as legislative drafting and legal training work. Anzor holds a Bachelor's degree in law from Tbilisi State University of Economic Relations, as well as a Master's degree in Private Law from Tbilisi State University. He has attended a number of professional development courses and training programs, and is a member of the Georgian Bar Association. Anzor is fluent in his native Georgian as well as in English, with a good command of the Russian language.

Diana Takidze

Job Titles:
  • Associate
Diana Takidze is an Associate at Gvinadze & Partners. Prior to joining the firm, Diana completed internships at the Georgian Young Lawyers Association (GYLA) and the New Vision Legal Aid Office. Diana holds a Bachelor's degree in Law from Tbilisi State University, where she continues her studies towards the LL.M degree. Diana has also completed a CopyrightX course offered by Harvard University as well as a General course on Intellectual Property offered by the WIPO Academy. Diana is an alumna of the Future Leaders Exchange Program (FLEX), with successful graduation from Airline High School (Bossier City, Louisiana, USA). Diana is fluent in her native Georgian as well as in English, with a good command of the Russian language.

Elza Lazarashvili

Job Titles:
  • Executive Assistant
  • Legal / Executive Assistant
Elza Lazarashvili is a Legal/Executive Assistant at Gvinadze & Partners. In addition to a broad office managerial role, her duties include legal translations and interpretations, filings, documentary revisions and other valuable support to the legal team. Elza continues her studies towards Bachelor's degree in American Studies at the International Black Sea University. Elza is fluent in her native Georgian as well as in English, and with a good command of the Russian and French languages.

Emmanuel Jolivet

Job Titles:
  • General Counsel of ICC International Court of 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]

Ketevan Kochuashvili

Job Titles:
  • Executive Assistant
  • Legal / Executive Assistant
Ketevan Kochuashvili is a Legal/Executive Assistant at Gvinadze & Partners. In addition to a broad office managerial/administrative support role, her duties include legal translations and interpretations, filings, documentary revisions and other valuable support to the legal team. Prior to joining the firm, Ketevan served as project planner at American Councils for International Education Georgia and as marketing intern at Buckswood International School of Tbilisi. Ketevan is an alumna of the Future Leaders Exchange Program (FLEX), with successful graduation from Olathe West High School (Olathe, Kansas, USA). Ketevan continues her studies towards Bachelor's degree at Business and Technology University of Georgia. Ketevan is fluent in her native Georgian as well as in English, with basic knowledge of the German language.

Lesley Rogers - Chief Legal Officer

Job Titles:
  • Senior Counsel
Lesley Rogers is a Senior Counsel at Gvinadze & Partners. Lesley is an experienced, New York qualified international corporate and finance lawyer based in Tbilisi since 2004. Prior to joining our predecessor firm DLA Piper Gvinadze & Partners, where she worked on inbound investments and cross-border infrastructure projects, Lesley practiced law with US law firms Arnold & Porter LLP and Coudert Brothers LLP in New York, where her practice included cross-border acquisitions, joint ventures, private and public offerings, sovereign debt issuances and securities filings. Lesley has worked for years as a Tbilisi-based consultant to the International Finance Corporation (IFC) on energy policy, climate finance, agri-finance, regulatory reform and investment and trade promotion matters affecting countries in the Europe and Central Asia region. She has also worked as a consultant to Booz Allen Hamilton in Tbilisi and the Embassy of Georgia in Japan, and served on the Advisory Board of the Georgian Institute of Public Affairs (GIPA). Lesley holds a J.D. from Stanford Law School, an MSc from the London School of Economics and Political Science, and a B.A. from Vassar College (Poughkeepsie, NY, USA). Lesley is fluent in her native English as well as in French, with a good command of the Georgian language.

Lika Turmanauli

Lika Turmanauli is a Trainee Associate at Gvinadze & Partners. Prior to joining the firm, she served as legal research assistant at the Free University and USAID Rule of Law program and as volunteer at American Corner Tbilisi. Lika is expecting her Bachelor's degree in Law from Free University of Tbilisi. She has attended a number of professional development courses, training programs and legal competitions. Lika is the recipient of a Gold Medal For High Academic Results at High School, as well as of the National Higher Education State Scholarship, both from the Ministry of Education and Science of Georgia. Lika is fluent in her native Georgian as well as in English, with intermediate knowledge of German.

Luka Avazashvili

Job Titles:
  • Associate
Luka is expecting his Bachelor's degree in Law from Free University of Tbilisi. He has attended a number of professional development courses, training programs and legal competitions. Luka is fluent in his native Georgian as well as in English, with advanced Russian.

Nick Gvinadze - CEO

Job Titles:
  • Managing Partner
  • Member of the Court
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 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 Nick Gvinadze is the Managing Partner of Gvinadze & Partners. With over a quarter century in busy private practice, he has accumulated abundant experience in the whole spectrum of both Georgian and cross-border commercial law, with particular focus on energy, infrastructure, real estate, international project finance, tax and dispute resolution. Nick has advised on a number of key foreign investment projects in Georgia, including major oil and gas transportation projects in the Caspian region, and has acted in a number of higher profile proceedings in the Georgian Courts as well as in international arbitration. 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 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

Nino Baidoshvili

Job Titles:
  • Specialist, Tax and Finance
  • Tax and Finance Specialist
Nino Baidoshvili is a Tax and Finance Specialist at Gvinadze & Partners. Her profound knowledge across the field is a valuable addition to our legal team's tax and finance law expertise, and is called upon as required by client work. For a number of years prior to joining the firm, Nino worked as an Accountant and later as a Chief Accountant with Georgian companies. Nino has obtained her MSc degree from Tbilisi State University, and is currently an ACCA candidate. Nino is fluent in Georgian and Russian, with advanced knowledge of English.

Nino Beruashvili

Job Titles:
  • Executive Assistant
  • Legal / Executive Assistant
Nino Beruashvili is a Legal/Executive Assistant at Gvinadze & Partners. In addition to a broad office managerial/administrative role, her duties include legal translations and interpretations, filings, documentary revisions and other valuable support to the legal team. Prior to joining the firm, Nino worked at European education program Nautilus and youth center New Generation. Nino holds a B.A. in Georgian Philology from Tbilisi State University, and is currently pursuing BA of English Philology at the University of Georgia. Nino is fluent in her native Georgian as well as in English, with basic knowledge of the Russian language.

Nino Gobejishvili

Job Titles:
  • Associate
Nino Gobejishvili is an Associate at Gvinadze & Partners. Prior to joining the firm, Nino served as an assistant editor of the bilingual yearbook of the TSU National Center for Alternative Dispute Resolution. Nino holds a Bachelor's degree in Law (high honors) from Tbilisi State University, where she continues her studies towards an LL.M degree. Nino has attended a number of professional development courses and training programs.

Sophie Panjikidze

Job Titles:
  • Partner
  • Senior Associate
  • Board Member of Harvard Law School Association of Europe
  • Expert
Sophie Panjikidze is a Partner at Gvinadze & Partners. Having started with the legacy firm Georgian Consulting Group (GCG Law Office) back in 2002, Sophie has been responsible for successful incorporation, reorganization and winding up of many dozens of foreign investment vehicles, and has advised on a number of complex cross-border corporate and finance transactions as well as major privatization matters. With over 20 years of extensive private practice experience, Sophie has acquired valuable expertise in corporate, banking and finance, contracts, real estate, labor, insurance, IP and competition law matters, and has also been instrumental in supporting the firm's extensive litigation practice with important background research and due diligence. The clients she has worked for over the years range from pro bono charity clients to energy giants, major infrastructure development companies, leading Georgian banks and international financial institutions. Sophie serves as an Expert on Georgia-EU Association Agreement and free trade issues with the Council of Experts under the EU-Georgia Business Council (EUGBC). She is also a former member of the Commission for Judicial Reforms at the Georgian Bar Association (GBA), a Board Member at Transparency International Georgia and serves on the Board of Directors of the Dispute Resolution Centre (DRC). Sophie is a member of the Independent Review Pool formed by the US Millennium Challenge Account Georgia (MCA-Georgia) in connection with its Bid Challenge System, and sits on the Advisory Board of the US Government Exchange Program Alumni Association of Georgia (EPAG) and on the Board of Harvard Law School Association of Europe (HLSAE). She also acts as International Bar Association's YLC National Representative for Georgia. Sophie has graduated with high honors from the Faculty of International Law and Relations at the Tbilisi State University and earned an LL.M. from Harvard Law School, where she served on the Board of Harvard Women's Law Association. Sophie is also an alumna of the Future Leaders Exchange Program (FLEX) administered by the US Department of State. Sophie has attended a number of professional development courses and training programs, including at the University of Oslo (Norway), Bodo Regional University (Norway), and The Hague Academy of International Law (Netherlands). Sophie is fluent in Georgian, English and Russian, with intermediate knowledge of French. Senior Associate Sophie Panjikidze took part in a panel discussion at a Georgian Association of Arbitrators (GAA) Seminar at Ambasadori Hotel in Tbilisi Sophie Panjikidze has been included in the list of Women Leaders 2021 by International Financial Law Review Senior Associate Sophie Panjikidze delivered a training on EU-Georgia DCFTA at the Georgian MFA Diplomatic Training Centre

Tamar Zhorzholiani

Job Titles:
  • Executive Assistant
  • Legal / Executive Assistant
Tamar Zhorzholiani is a Legal/Executive Assistant at Gvinadze & Partners. In addition to a broad office managerial role, her duties include legal translations and interpretations, filings, documentary revisions and other valuable support to the legal team. Tamar continues her studies towards Bachelor's degree in American Studies at the International Black Sea University. Tamar is fluent in her native Georgian as well as in English, and with a good command of German.

Tamara Rukhadze

Job Titles:
  • Associate
Tamara Rukhadze is an Associate at Gvinadze & Partners. Tamara was actively involved in developing and drafting spatial planning and construction legislation of Georgia in her capacity as the Head of Spatial Planning and Construction Policy Department at the Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development of Georgia. In the same Period Tamara represented Georgia in the Intergovernmental Committee and Bureau at the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE). Earlier in her career, Tamara worked with lead UK law firms Herbert Smith LLP and Clyde and Co LLP in London in the UK, where she provided valuable support to the legal teams in the Trade and Energy and Litigation Departments. Tamara also serves as Secretary for the British-Georgian Law Association (BGLA). Tamara holds an LL.M degree from Ohio Northern University, Claude W. Pettit College of Law (Ohio, USA). Tamara has also earned a Graduate Diploma in Law, and subsequently a Bachelor's degree in Law (LLB) from the BPP Law School in London, UK. She has also received a B.A. from the Tbilisi State University, and has also completed the Media Practice and Legal Drafting courses at the University of London in the UK.

Thomas Dimitroff - Chief Legal Officer

Job Titles:
  • Senior Counsel
  • Partner at Infrastructure Development Partnership
Thomas Dimitroff is a Senior Counsel at Gvinadze & Partners. Tom is a US qualified lawyer (Illinois) with nearly 30 years of uniquely blended experience as a lawyer, risk analyst and business strategist. He has functioned as a member and legal manager of multiple negotiating teams that have delivered globally significant energy projects including the one million barrel per day BTC pipeline, the ten billion cubic meter SCP gas pipeline and the 6.9 billion cubic meter Gas Sales Agreement between Turkey and Azerbaijan (Shah Deniz Phase 1). He was lead negotiator for the Azerbaijan Republic during the multilateral Energy Charter Transit Protocol negotiations, for BP on the Kazakhstan Caspian Transportation System (KCTS) Project and for the Trans-Adriatic Pipeline Project. Tom has developed and negotiated arrangements for the access and sale of upstream oil and gas access arrangements in the FSU and Middle East on behalf of oil and gas companies and private equity funds. Tom is also a Partner at Infrastructure Development Partnership (IDP), a London-based energy and mining sector consultancy firm. Earlier in his career, Tom served as Senior Legal Advisor and subsequently as Regional Advisor to BP plc for Africa, the Middle East, Russia, the Caspian and Turkey, advising on non-technical risks posed to new ventures and existing operations across the region. Tom was Consulting Editor for "Risk and Energy Infrastructure" published in August 2011 by Global Law and Business (London, UK). Tom holds a J.D. from Kent College of Law in Chicago (USA), a B.C.L. (Jurisprudence and Political Theory) from Oxford University (UK), M.A. (Law) from Cambridge University (UK), and a B.A. (Philosophy) from Loyola University of Chicago (USA). Tom is fluent in his native English, with a good command of the Russian language.

Timothy Chase

Job Titles:
  • Associate
Timothy Chase is an Associate at Gvinadze & Partners. Tim's areas of special interest include EU Law, Competition and Intellectual Property matters. Prior to joining the firm, Tim completed an internship with European competition lawyers at a lead international law firm Linklaters, and acquired work experience with a Brussels-based PR company. Tim has studied Russian and has taught English as a foreign language on different occasions and locations in our region. After graduation from the Winchester College, Tim has obtained his BA from the University of Sheffield in the UK, as well as a Graduate Diploma in Law from the College of Law, London Moorgate (London, UK). Tim is fluent in his native English as well as in Russian, with a good command of the German and French languages.

Tinatin Javakhishvili

Job Titles:
  • Senior Associate
Tinatin Javakhishvili is a Senior Associate at Gvinadze & Partners. Prior to joining the firm, Tinatin completed internships at ELSA, AIESEC and the School of Justice. Tinatin holds a Bachelor's degree in Law (high honors) from the Georgian Institute of Public Affairs (GIPA). She has attended a number of professional development courses, training programs and legal competitions. Tinatin is fluent in her native Georgian as well as in English, with advanced Russian.

Tornike Amilakhvari

Job Titles:
  • Partner
Tornike Amilakhvari is a Partner at Gvinadze & Partners. His practice encompasses a wide area of civil, administrative as well as white collar criminal law, with particular expertise in energy and infrastructure, construction contracts and permitting, land and real estate, tax and labour matters. With nearly a decade at the firm, Tornike has advised and represented the interests of numerous foreign investors in Georgia. In addition to his broad transactional experience, Tornike is an experienced dispute resolution lawyer instrumental to the firm's success in Georgian courts as well as in numerous proceedings in front of various governmental, municipal and law enforcement agencies of Georgia. Prior to joining the firm, Tornike completed internships at the Civil Cases Chamber of the Georgian Supreme Court, as well as a major Georgian law firm, and worked as in-house counsel at JSC Healthy Water, one of Georgia's leading natural mineral water extraction and bottling companies. Tornike holds a Bachelor's degree in Law from Tbilisi State University, where he also earned his LL.M (both with high honors). He has also completed an exchange semester at the Faculty of Law of the University of Tartu (Tartu, Estonia), and has attended a number of professional development courses and training programs. Tornike is a member of the Georgian Bar Association as well as Georgian Association of Arbitrators. Tornike is fluent in his native Georgian as well as in English, with a good command of the Russian language.

Willem C. Vis

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

Yulia Muzhichenko

Job Titles:
  • Executive Assistant
  • Legal Assistant
Yulia Muzhichenko is a Legal Assistant at Gvinadze & Partners. Her duties include legal translations and interpretations, filings, documentary revisions and other valuable support to the legal team. Yulia holds a Bachelor's degree in Political Science from the Faculty of Sciences and Art of Ilia State University. Yulia is an alumna of the Future Leaders Exchange Program (FLEX), with successful graduation from the Citrus High School (Florida, USA). She has also completed a remote master summer training course in "Conflict Analysis, Policy Research, Writing and Advocacy" at the University of California (Irvine, USA). Yulia is fluent in Georgian, English and Russian, with elementary German.

Zakaria Shvelidze

Job Titles:
  • Senior Associate
  • ILO Experts, Senior Associate
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