Giorgi Sarajishvili has been appointed as a senior associate at BGI Legal. He joined the firm in 2010 and has regularly represented foreign investors and local companies operating in various fields of business. His key practice areas include litigation, arbitration, intellectual property, taxation and corporate law.  

BGI Legal confirmed Sandro Bibilashvili's appointment to partner with effect from January 1st 2014. Whilst Sandro originally joined BGI Legal in January 2002, he has also spent time working in both other parts of Europe and the USA. A CEDR accredited mediator, Sandro is keenly involved in all aspects of litigation, arbitration & mediation, corporate and commercial law, contracts, M&A, labour law, environmental law, securities, real estate & construction. He has worked on some of the firm's major deals in recent times.

In accordance with the Law of Georgia on Personal Data Protection (the “Law”), the Personal Data Protection Inspector (the “Inspector”) was appointed by the Government of Georgia this summer. The Inspector's office is now fully functional (although certain functions with respect to the private sector will only enter into force on January 1st 2016) and a meeting was held with the public and private sector last Friday. The Inspector informed the audience that her office is about to start implementing and enforcing the Law. Accordingly, every public or private entity (which has at least 20 employees) has to submit information about its “personal data filing system” to the Inspector prior to January 30, 2014.The Law defines “personal data filing system” as any structured set of personal data which is arranged and accessible according to the specific criteria.The form of submission (i.e. notification form) has been elaborated by the Inspector's office and approved by the Inspector. Note also that transfer of personal data abroad (even to the founding entity or head office) is subject to the Inspector's prior approval.Please let us know if you have any questions.

The latest IFLR1000 rankings have confirmed partners, Zaza Bibilashvili and Lasha Gogiberidze as leading lawyers with senior associate, Unana Gogokhia cited a s a 'rising star' in both Banking & Finance and Capital Markets. Senior associates, Tamara Tevdoradze and Ekaterina Aleksidze who previously practised at Ernst & Young, were also referenced for their corporate transactions work. The new rankings have reinforced BGI's position as the leading independent local law firm.