Corporate Law
- Preparation and registration of founding documents for all legal entity types: LLC, JSC, NGO.
- Advice on managing the entity's authorised user account.
- Preparation and registration of corporate changes (change of director, share capital, registered address, etc.).
- Mergers, demergers, and reorganisations.
- Representation at partners' general meetings, preparation of minutes, negotiations.
Employment Contracts
- Employment contracts: initial conclusion, amendments, suspension, termination.
- Collective agreements.
- Legal advice to prevent labour disputes.
Investment Agreements
- Preparation of investment agreements.
- Legal analysis and risk minimisation.
- Legal opinions on investment-related issues.
Intellectual Property Agreements
- Copyright agreements.
- Licensing agreements.
- Franchising agreements.
Personal Data Protection
- Personal data processing policy.
- Internal rules on data processing and transfer.
- Bringing video surveillance into compliance with Georgian law.
Contract form under the Civil Code
The Civil Code of Georgia does not require written form for every transaction. The rules are:
- a transaction may be oral or written. Written form is mandatory if the law requires it or the parties have agreed on it (Article 69)
- for a written transaction the parties' signatures are sufficient. Signatures are certified by a notary or another person named in the law only where the law or the parties' agreement requires it (Article 69)
- if a specific form is prescribed for the validity of a contract, the contract enters into force only once that form is met. An agreed written form can also be met by an exchange of letters (Article 328)
- to acquire immovable property, the transaction must be in writing and the ownership right must be registered in the Public Registry (Article 183)
We support real estate transactions separately, as described on our legal support in real estate transactions page.
Limitation periods
| Claim | Period | Civil Code article |
|---|---|---|
| General period | 10 years | 128 |
| Contractual claims | 3 years | 129 |
| Contractual claims relating to immovable property | 6 years | 129 |
| Claims for periodic payments | 3 years | 129 |
| Depositors' claims against a bank | no limitation period | 128 |
The period runs from the moment the person became or ought to have become aware of the violation of their right (Article 130). So the contract should set clear performance dates, since they determine when the limitation period starts.
Employment contracts: mandatory requirements
The Organic Law of Georgia "Labour Code of Georgia" sets a framework that a contract may not change to the employee's detriment:
- the contract must be in writing if the employment lasts longer than 1 month (Article 12)
- the contract is drawn up in a language the parties understand. If it is concluded in several languages, it must state which text prevails in case of discrepancy (Article 13)
- a trial period is allowed once, for no more than 6 months, only in writing and paid (Article 17)
- a fixed-term contract of less than one year is allowed only on the grounds listed in Article 12, such as seasonal work or replacing an absent employee. If fixed-term employment lasts longer than 30 months, the contract is deemed open-ended
- standard working time may not exceed 40 hours a week (Article 24)
When terminating for economic reasons, mismatched qualifications, long-term incapacity or other objective circumstances, the employer gives written notice at least 30 calendar days in advance and pays severance of at least one month's pay. The alternative is 3 days' notice and severance of at least two months' pay (Article 48).
Video surveillance and personal data
The new Law of Georgia on Personal Data Protection has applied since 1 March 2024. Compliance is supervised by the State Audit Office. For video surveillance the law requires the controller to:
- define in writing the purpose and scope of monitoring, the retention period of recordings, and the procedure for accessing and destroying them (Article 10)
- monitor an employee's work process or workplace only in exceptional cases where the purpose cannot be achieved otherwise, and warn the employee in writing of the purpose
- never monitor changing rooms, toilets or other places where people reasonably expect privacy
- place a visible sign with an inscription, a camera image, and the controller's name and contact details
| Violation | Turnover up to GEL 500,000 | Turnover above GEL 500,000 |
|---|---|---|
| Breach of video surveillance rules | warning or GEL 1,000 | warning or GEL 2,000 |
| Monitoring changing rooms, toilets and similar places | warning or GEL 3,000 | warning or GEL 5,000 |
The fines are set by Article 69 of the law. Banks, insurers, microfinance organisations, medical institutions, and companies processing the data of a significant number of people must appoint a personal data protection officer and notify the State Audit Office within 10 working days (Article 33).
Frequently asked questions
Does a contract in Georgia need to be notarised?
Only if the law or the parties' agreement requires it. Under Article 69 of the Civil Code, the parties' signatures are sufficient for a written transaction. Buying real estate requires a written transaction and registration of the ownership right in the Public Registry.
What is the limitation period for contract claims in Georgia?
Under Article 129 of the Civil Code, 3 years for contractual claims and 6 years for contractual claims relating to immovable property. The general limitation period is 10 years. The period runs from the moment a party became or ought to have become aware of the violation of its right.
Can an employment contract be in a language other than Georgian?
Yes. Under Article 13 of the Labour Code, a written employment contract is concluded in a language the parties understand and may be drawn up in several languages. In that case the contract must state which text prevails in case of discrepancy.
What is the fine for breaching video surveillance rules?
A warning or a fine of GEL 1,000 for a company with turnover up to GEL 500,000, and GEL 2,000 above that. For monitoring changing rooms, toilets and similar places, GEL 3,000 and GEL 5,000 respectively (Article 69 of the Law on Personal Data Protection).