Legal 500 has released its 2020 rankings of leading laws firms in Georgia.  Nodia, Urumashvili and Partners was once again ranked as one of the top firms in Georgia within the Dispute Resolution (Tier 2), Commercial, Corporate and M&A (Tier 2), Real Estate & Construction (Tier 2), Banking & Finance (Tier 3).

Dispute Resolution (Tier 2)

According to Legal 500, 2020, Nodia, Urumashvili & Partners is an ‘experienced law firm’ that has a ‘very strong knowledge of local legislation’. It has been kept busy handling general commercial and corporate, banking and finance, real estate, energy and construction, restructuring and insolvency, employment, IP and tax disputes. The team supports on all aspects and forms of disputes including litigation, negotiation and settlements, administrative proceedings and negotiations. Lasha Nodia, who is an ‘excellent attorney’, heads the practice alongside Maka Todua.

Practice head(s):

Lasha Nodia; Maka Todua

Leading Individual:

Lasha Nodia

Rising Star:

Maka Todua

‘We would like to mention professionalism of Nodia, Urumashvili & Partners. It is very important for us to cooperate with an experienced law firm that has a good reputation. Together with professionalism it is very important for us to provide information about the progress of the case to our Company completely and in a timely manner and provide information about anticipated legal risks related with this specific case. Our anticipations and activities of Nodia, Urumashvili & Partners coincide with each other in this respect. In our opinion Nodia, Urumashvili & Partners has had a sustainable progress since the date of the beginning of our cooperation, which is based on professionalism and an experience of the whole team of the firm.’

‘Nodia, Urumashvili & Partners is a strong, highly professional team. Generally, we cooperate with Mr. Lasha Nodia in the firm. Mr. Lasha Nodia is a professional and highly skilled lawyer and excellent attorney. He is very attentive to questions of our company and he always finds a time to inform our company about the progress of the case.’

‘The team is professional, well-organized, trustful and client oriented.’

‘Mr. Alexander Sukhishvili is a highly qualified professional with years of experience in tax advisory and disputes with tax authorities. Mr. Sukhishvili is client oriented, very supportive for our group and always ready for providing high-quality consultations. His outstanding skill is handling complex issues.’

‘Very strong knowledge of the local legislation, careful and profound approach to the client’s needs, good strategical thinking in terms of litigation.’

‘The team always provides timely feedback. Besides, vast practical experience enables the company representatives to provide relevant input in disputable issues. The team also has strong network which allows them to refer to certain industry experts in order to reach the most specific views. Professional excellence in tax and legal matters.’

‘Exceptional knowledge of local tax and legal practices and rules. Proactive and able to work under time pressure. Professional experience from diverse industries.’

Commercial, Corporate and M&A (Tier 2)

According to Legal 500, 2020, Nodia, Urumashvili & Partners ‘covers the whole spectrum of commercial law’ and also handles every stage of M&A from transactional document drafting and negotiations through to legal due diligence and regulatory clearances. The team has a ‘very good understanding of the Georgian business environment in an international setting’ and particular expertise in the telecoms, pharmaceutical, tobacco, retail, professional services and education sectors. Lasha Nodia has a ‘unique ability to see the whole picture of a matter’ and jointly heads the department with Vakhtang Gamtsemlidze, who has 'outstanding experience' in the space.

Practice head(s):

Lasha Nodia; Vakhtang Gamtsemlidze;

Leading Individual:

Vakhtang Gamtsemlidze

‘They cover the whole spectrum of commercial and fiscal law and have been selected by us after a local and personally carried out tender. Not only top from a legal point of view, they are practical as well and have a very good understanding of the Georgian business environment in an international setting. They keep up to their promises and have been of great value in a cross-border SPA.’

‘Vakhtang Gamtsemlidze: Commercial partner, quick thinker, easy to approach and always keeping a perfect balance between the legal aspects of the deal and the practical implementation of it.’

‘Not a big firm, so partners are always engaged and available. It builds confidence easier, makes process smoother, less risky and the possibility of a favorable outcome more likely.’

‘Very creative, trustworthy, intelligent and competent individuals.’

‘Throughout long-lasting relationship between my companies and Nodia, Urumashvili & Partners, I can name the law firm as the best in Georgia. My companies work with both legal and tax teams of the law firm and I would assess them as a knowledgeable team of professionals. In addition, I would highlight company’s experience and dedicated approach to work.’

‘Alexander Sukhishvili has superior knowledge and incomparable experience, making him the best professional in tax field. Alexander shall also be praised for his personal skills and qualities, and the impressive ability of convincing opponents.’

‘Eprem Urumashvili shall be recognized for his outstanding experience in tax advisory services. He has exceptional negotiation skills and ability to promptly identify the most efficient solution for every tax matter.’

‘Aside from being a very skilled lawyer, Ekaterine Danelia is the person to whom you can fully trust, she is especially qualified in corporate and labor law and has the ability to deliver the highest quality service in timely manner.’

‘Lasha Nodia has distinctive knowledge in corporate law, with the unique ability to see the whole picture of matter and quickly find the easiest solution.’

Banking & Finance (Tier 3)

According to Legal 500, 2020, Nodia, Urumashvili & Partners ‘identifies the full picture of matters and comes up with comprehensive and practical solutions’. The ‘professional and highly-skilled’ Lasha Nodia heads the department alongside Eprem Urumashvili and recently acted for Ziraat Bank Azerbaijan on the drafting, negotiation and execution of loan and security agreements. In other work, it advised Blue Orchard Microfinance Funds and Finca Bank Georgia JSC on loans provided by foreign financial institutions.

Practice head(s):

Lasha Nodia; Eprem Urumashvili;

‘What makes working with Nodia, Urumashvili & Partners, and especially with the tax team, a truly unique experience, is that they truly consider themselves as part of our own team. Tax team of the law firm is notable for their high qualification, ability to identify the full picture of the case and come up with comprehensive and practical solutions.’

‘The individuals with which we work stand out for their deep knowledge of the tax law and capability to find tailor made solutions. In particular, Alexander Sukhishvili is an excellent, highly regarded, qualified and skilled lawyer. Alexander is detail oriented and at the same time sees the wider picture of the most complex matters, he always offers flexible and rational solutions and has good interpersonal skills. Jaba Balakhashvili is a very experienced and highly qualified lawyer, with deep knowledge of the tax law. Jaba is very responsive and has the ability to quickly analyze tax issues and identify best possible solutions.’

‘It is very important for us to cooperate with an experienced law company, that has a good reputation. We would like to mention professionalism and operational  efficiency of Nodia, Urumashvili & Partners. Together with professionalism it is very important to provide information about the progress of the case to us completely and in a timely manner and provide information about anticipated legal risks related with specific cases. Our anticipations and activities of Nodia, Urumashvili & Partners coincide with each other in this respect.‘

‘Nodia, Urumashvili & Partners is a strong highly professional team. Generally, we cooperate with Mr. Lasha Nodia in the firm. Mr. Lasha Nodia is a qualified and knowledgeable person. Mr. Lasha Nodia is a professional and highly skilled lawyer and excellent attorney. He is very attentive to our questions and he always finds a time to inform us about the progress of the case. ‘

Real Estate & Construction (Projects) (Tier 2)

According to Legal 500, 2020, Nodia, Urumashvili & Partners stands out for its ‘expertise' and 'commitment to clients’ interests’. Daduna Kokhreidze is a ‘leading figure in construction law and related disputes’ and is routinely engaged for projects in the infrastructure, energy and hospitality sectors. High-value highway and road projects are a core focus and the team is regarded for its ability to handle all stages of the construction process, from inception to competition. Real estate acquisitions. and residential, commercial and mixed-use developments also fall within the team’s specialist areas. Nino Kvinikadze leads the department together with Kokhreidze. Associate Nina Tsaturova is active in the construction field.

Practice head(s):

Nino Kvinikadze

‘Key features of this firm are: expertise, responsibility and commitment to the interests of their clients. Nodia, Urumashvili and Partners has a unique team of lawyers specialized in construction law and dispute resolution. I am not aware of any other firm in Georgia which has a team of lawyers whose educational background and practice focuses specifically on construction law. Nodia, Urumashvili and Partners has an unparalleled capacity in this field.’

‘Very professional lawyers.’

‘It was very pleasant to work with this law firm.’