In Georgia, it is rare for a business to maintain its leading position for three decades -  BLB is one of those rare exceptions. Founded against the backdrop of the collapse of the Soviet system, the firm today stands as one of the most stable and influential legal companies in the country.

According to Kakha Sharabidze, BLB’s Managing Partner, the company’s resilience stems from professional integrity, high ethical standards, and the experience accumulated over decades while shaping the country’s first privatization, investment, and landmark legal processes.
Over the past 30 years, BLB has been involved in disputes worth almost USD 3 billion and provided legal support for USD 1.5 billion in investments, while its team - known as the “architects of law” - has built practices that serve as a model for the entire sector.

It is very rare in Georgia to find a business with a 30-year history. What are the values and principles that have ensured BLB’s resilience and growth throughout these three decades - values your company will never compromise?

When we founded the firm with my partners in 1995, Georgia had just emerged from the collapse of the Soviet Union. A private sector was forming, moving chaotically but rapidly toward a market economy. The entire legislative framework changed - almost 100%.
At BLB, we assembled a team of young legal professionals who quickly adapted to this new reality. Most of our team members were directly involved in drafting new legislation. While studying at the postgraduate program at TSU, I myself had the privilege of serving on the commission responsible for drafting Georgia’s Civil Code, working under the guidance of Academician Sergo Jorbenadze.

Our team managed, in a very short period, to accumulate comprehensive professional knowledge of the new legal environment, which was later enriched by years of flawless practice. BLB took part in Georgia’s first landmark privatization and investment projects. As early as the 1990s, in cooperation with international law firms, we represented clients in complex commercial and investment projects. We developed types of documentation that were entirely new to Georgian jurisdiction.

Professional integrity and our team’s diverse experience have always been among our key values. Loyalty to clients, understanding their interests, and commitment - these are fundamental principles of our work. High ethical and professional standards, along with continuous development, form the core of our firm’s culture. The dynamism of our team, the ability to attract and retain talent, has been crucial for the firm’s growth.

Most importantly, we have upheld our core values and principles despite the extremely challenging and turbulent social, economic, and political environments that have changed many times since 1995. Naturally, this will remain so in the future - our firm will always stay true to its values and principles.

How many companies has BLB represented over the past 30 years, and what is the total value of disputes you have handled?

It is difficult to determine the exact number of our clients - keeping statistics has never been our priority [laughs].
As part of our anniversary year, we decided at least to roughly calculate the value of disputes and major investment projects in which we represented clients. We have been involved in disputes amounting to approximately USD 2.9 billion, and we have supported projects worth USD 1.5 billion implemented in Georgia by international financial institutions.

What are the three major projects BLB is most proud of - your firm’s biggest professional victories?

It is difficult to single out only three major projects from 30 years of practice, so instead I will highlight three groups.

The first group includes dozens of projects in which BLB represented international investors and financial institutions, guiding them through Georgia’s complex and constantly changing legal environment. These include the first large-scale privatizations and the development of new industries such as banking, telecommunications, infrastructure, hospitality, real estate, and education. The numerous projects in which BLB represented investors and financial institutions have significantly transformed the landscape of Georgia’s economy - something we are very proud of.

The second group is our litigation practice and the establishment of high ethical and professional standards in the process. You can imagine the challenges Georgia’s justice system has faced since 1995, with different stages marked by various obstacles and deficiencies. Understanding the client’s interests, impartiality, incompatibility with corruption, perseverance, creativity, and high professional standards - these are the principles on which BLB serves its clients within a justice system full of challenges.

The third group includes numerous pro bono projects, where BLB provided free legal assistance. A recent standout example is the representation of Mzia Amaghlobeli by our Senior Partner, Maia Mtsariashvili. Over the past 30 years, we have offered pro bono legal help to many clients - something we value deeply.

BLB positions itself as the “Architecture of Law.” What does this mean professionally, and what does it mean for your current and potential business partners and clients?

Architecture is an art form - the creation of something new through the combination of different elements and components. It is a complex intellectual and creative process in which everything matters: the environment, landscape, aesthetics, efficiency, and more. What is created remains - and has practical value.

Applying legal norms in practice, adapting them to the client’s interests, is very similar to this process and requires significant creativity. Established legal practice can serve as a guide for others in analogous situations. We believe a professional lawyer must apply legal norms in practice with this same creative approach. This is why the concept of “the architecture of law” precisely reflects our worldview and distinctly sets BLB apart from its competitors.

BLB has long been recognized as one of Georgia’s leading law firms. What core services do you offer today, and what new offerings do you plan for the future?

In its early years, our firm positioned itself as a boutique law firm serving only large businesses. However, sharing accumulated knowledge and experience with a larger team enabled us to expand our service offerings and serve a broader range of clients. Today, BLB provides legal services across all branches of law - civil, administrative, and criminal.

We established our criminal law practice three years ago, led by top-level professionals Maia Mtsariashvili and Giorgi Mosashvili.
As we expand our services, we maintain our service standards: in every case, the deep analysis of complex issues and the development of detailed action plans are overseen directly by the firm’s partners.

One of BLB’s most notable recent cases is Nona Gaprindashvili’s dispute with global entertainment giant Netflix. What did this case teach BLB as a company, Nona Gaprindashvili as an individual, and Georgia as a small country capable of prevailing over such a giant?

This case generated enormous public interest, and we are proud to have successfully represented the living legend, Nona Gaprindashvili. Professionally, the case demonstrated that when it comes to representing a client’s interests, neither national borders nor the opponent’s size, power, or influence can be obstacles. With professionalism, the right strategy and tactics, and determination, victory can always be achieved - and shared with the client. We are grateful to have experienced this alongside Ms. Gaprindashvili.
“Nona Gaprindashvili vs. Netflix” reaffirmed that our firm is capable of handling cases of any scale anywhere in the world - geography is no barrier to professionalism.

Who are the professionals behind BLB - the team that continues to drive the firm forward?

Today, our partners include Davit Khaindrava, who has been with me since day one and has been a key architect of BLB’s success for 30 years; Maia Mtsariashvili, who joined 20 years ago and whose arrival marked a new stage of growth for the firm; and our young partner, Ana Rekhviashvili - one of the new-generation legal talents whose contribution has been instrumental to BLB’s evolution into its third decade.
Giorgi (Gogi) Mosashvili, after 18 years of prosecutorial experience, now successfully applies his expertise in criminal law for the benefit of our clients.
Our team also includes outstanding new legal talents who have become indispensable members of the firm over many years: Mariam Vashakidze, Niko Dateshidze, Tengo Mgebrishvili, and Giorgi Chagelishvili.

Throughout 30 years of development, many friends and colleagues have contributed to the firm’s growth. Listing them all would take us too far - perhaps a topic for a future interview.

BLB has served as a springboard for many young legal professionals. What opportunities does BLB offer the next generation of lawyers?

We always strive to attract and retain young talent. A defining feature of our firm is the extremely low staff turnover. We work hard to create the best working conditions for new team members and keep them motivated. Young colleagues enjoy an exceptional environment and the opportunity to work alongside peers with 30 years of experience. We also learn a great deal from our energetic and talented younger colleagues, creating a strong team dynamic that always serves our clients’ interests.

We have introduced an internship program through which we identify young professionals and give them the opportunity to develop their knowledge and skills. They are our future colleagues and partners - that is our vision.

BLB is one of the few Georgian law firms that embraced branding strategy and transformed itself into a brand with the slogan “A Winner Focuses on Victory.” What philosophy stands behind this slogan?

Our brand motto, “A Winner Focuses on Victory,” did not come “from somewhere else.” It is rooted in our worldview and has been part of our DNA for 30 years. Our primary effort is always directed toward achieving the most desirable outcome for our client - whether in litigation, business negotiations, closing deals, resolving disputes, or providing critical advice.
For us, victory means achieving the result our client seeks. That is why we focus on victory - meaning the outcome the client wants.

Where will BLB be in 10 years, when we speak again for another interview?

We are working to ensure the firm’s expansion and maintain leading positions in the market. We hope Georgia’s economic environment will support this goal, and that in 10 years, in a more developed legal market, BLB will be recognized as one of the leading law firms. Together with our colleagues, we hope to work in a justice system that is healthy and guided by Western values. And, naturally, we envision BLB as a modern, technologically advanced, ambitious, and highly successful firm - ready for major victories.