BGI Legal

BGI Legal is a leading law firm in Georgia. Previously Andersen Legal's Georgian practice it also shares the legacy of EY Law Tbilisi. BGI Legal has been involved in nearly every major transaction in Georgia in the past 10 years. The firm represents major foreign investors and lending institutions, national companies, joint ventures, diplomatic missions and international organisations.

The firm is regularly asked by the Government and the Parliament of Georgia to contribute to the legislative process by drafting and submitting key pieces of legislation such as the Criminal Procedure Code, the Law on Eminent Domain, licensing laws, adoption laws, legislation governing oil & gas transit and the labour code.

Main areas of practice include:

Energy & Power

BGI legal has represented foreign utilities, developers and lenders as well as undertaking extensive regulatory work relating to the privatization of energy generation and distribution facilities and regulatory reform in the electricity sector.

Project and trade finance

The firm has represented international financial institutions, private commercial lenders, and government export-import agencies in over several hundred million USD of debt and equity investments in the financial services and commercial sectors, as well as in trade finance.

Banking and securities

BGI Legal's lawyers are experts in this field with extensive experience in various lending transactions. The team has been involved with almost every transaction concerning the placement or listing of securities on international markets (New York, London, Oslo) by various companies operating in Georgia, as well as advising clients on matters of Georgian securities law.

Joint ventures

BGI Legal has advised numerous clients on the establishment of joint ventures with private and public sector counterparts, including advice on the selection of corporate vehicles, the drafting and negotiation of complex shareholder agreements and corporate charters and legal due diligence on domestic partners and target companies.

Real estate

The firm's lawyers are leading experts on the complex aspects of land registration, leasing and privatization and have been actively involved in the design of Georgia's new land legislation.

Litigation and arbitration

The firm can provide local support for numerous international arbitration and litigation matters and handles mostly civil disputes, including general contractual/commercial claims, privatisation related issues, tort and property damage disputes, as well as intellectual property matters.

Telecommunications

The firm has considerable experience in the telecommunications sector having represented and dealt with fixed line, satellite link, fiber optic, mobile, internet, long distance and international operators.

Intellectual property

The team assists with trademark and patent registration and has represented global brands in claims over the infringement of intellectual property rights, copyright, product certification and related product liability matters.

Tax

The firm's comprehensive corporate tax services encompass domestic tax planning, tax compliance reviews and assistance with representations to the tax authorities. BGI's tax advice covers both business and personal tax services.

Corporate registrations and incorporation

The team handles all enquiries from the registration of representative offices of foreign entities to the full incorporation of local vehicles. It also has an impressive track record in the registration of NGOs and non-profit organisations.

Legislative drafting

BGI's lawyers been extensively involved in legislative processes relating to both clients and specific projects. They have also served on exclusive panels working on various draft pieces of legislation for the Parliament and the Government of Georgia.

Criminal law

BGI Legal has been involved and successfully defended clients in several very high profile criminal investigations undertaken in Georgia.