20+ Years of Courtroom Experience
Levan Makharashvili
Levan Makharashvili is the Managing Partner at DLG & Case, a Member of the Executive Board of the Georgian Bar Association, a former prosecutor, and a trainer at the Bar Association Training Centre.
He has represented clients before the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) in Strasbourg and the United Nations Committee Against Torture (CAT), bringing extensive expertise to extradition, international criminal law, and complex cross-border legal matters.
The firm provides comprehensive legal services across a wide range of practice areas, with a focus on criminal, civil, administrative, and constitutional law.
Levan serves on the Executive Board of the Georgian Bar Association and is a full individual member of the European Association of Lawyers (AEA-EAL, Brussels). He is a certified trainer in Jury Trial Advocacy Skills, having trained with U.S. judges and trial lawyers through programs organized by the U.S. Embassy in Georgia and the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL).
About Levan Makharashvili
Litigation lawyer with 20+ years of experience in criminal and civil law, combining courtroom advocacy with public-sector legal leadership and academic training.
Professional Experience
- 2025 – PresentMember, Executive Board — Georgian Bar Association
- 2022 – 2025Chairperson, Jury Trial Working Group — Georgian Bar Association
- 2020 – PresentTrainer — Georgian Bar Association (Criminal Law, Criminal Procedure, Juvenile Justice)
- 2016 – PresentVisiting Lecturer — National University of Georgia (SEU)
- 2016 – 2018Legal Project Manager — Center for Competition
- 2012 – PresentManaging Partner — DLG & Case, Law Firm
- 2012 – 2014Associate Professor — East European University
- 2011 – 2012Head of the Department of Procedural Supervision over Investigation — Office of the Prosecutor General of Georgia
- 2009 – 2011Head of the Legal Department — Office of the Prosecutor General of Georgia
- 2006 – 2009Prosecutor, Department on Procedural Supervision on Investigation — Office of the Prosecutor General of Georgia
Education
- PhD in Law (Candidate) — Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University, 2006 – Present
- Master’s Degree in Law — Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University, 2000 – 2005
Memberships & Recognition
- Member, Executive Board, Georgian Bar Association — elected by the General Assembly, since 2025
- Member, Georgian Bar Association (General Specialization) — since 2012
- Full Individual Member, European Association of Lawyers (AEA-EAL), Brussels — since 2025
- The Order of Honour — awarded by the President of Georgia, 2012
- Certified: Training of Trainers – Jury Trial Advocacy Skills (INL / U.S. Embassy Georgia), 2023 & 2024
Languages
- Georgian — native
- English — C1 (proficient)
- Russian — C2 (proficient)
Practice Areas
Makharashvili Law Office handles all types of cases — criminal law, civil law, administrative law, constitutional law, and beyond — bringing 20+ years of courtroom experience to every matter, with particular depth in criminal defense and procedure.
Criminal Defense
Representation at every stage of criminal proceedings — investigation, pre-trial motions, trial, and appeal — drawing on direct experience inside the Office of the Prosecutor General.
Jury Trial Advocacy
Certified trainer in jury trial skills; applies advanced case-preparation, witness examination, and closing-argument technique developed alongside U.S. judges and trial lawyers.
Juvenile Justice
Defense and procedural guidance in cases involving minors, informed by ongoing training delivered to fellow members of the Georgian Bar Association.
White-Collar & Financial Crime
Defense in complex financial, asset, and money-laundering allegations, including cross-border evidentiary disputes.
Civil Litigation
Civil and administrative disputes, contract matters, and general litigation support for individuals and businesses.
International Legal Cooperation
Mutual legal assistance, extradition, and transfer-of-proceedings matters, handled with deep experience in cross-border criminal cooperation.
Administrative Law
Disputes with state bodies, licensing and permitting matters, and administrative-court litigation against public agencies.
Constitutional Law
Litigation involving constitutional rights, procedural safeguards, and fundamental freedoms before the Georgian courts.
Experience & Notable Matters
A selection of the professional experience behind every case Levan takes on. Specific case studies are added with client consent.
20 Years Inside the System
Levan began his career as an intern and prosecutor at the Office of the Prosecutor General of Georgia (2006–2012), rising to Head of the Legal Department and then Head of the Department of Procedural Supervision over Investigation — overseeing procedural supervision across the Ministry of Internal Affairs, Special Foreign Intelligence Service, Ministry of Defense, and Ministry of Corrections. That vantage point now informs every defense he mounts.
Giorgi Bachiashvili — Financial Crime Defense
Serving as Georgian defense counsel to Giorgi Bachiashvili, founder of the investment firm Mission Gate, in a high-profile cryptocurrency financial-crime prosecution that has drawn sustained domestic and international media coverage.
Giorgi Ermakov — White-Collar & Financial Crime Defense
Represented Giorgi Ermakov, former Mayor of Batumi, in a high-profile criminal prosecution involving the allocation of public funds and allegations of official misconduct. The defense successfully overturned the principal embezzlement charges before the Kutaisi Court of Appeals, securing his full acquittal on those counts and his immediate release from custody.
Training the Next Generation
As a Member of the Executive Board of the Georgian Bar Association, former Chairperson of its Jury Trial Working Group (2022–2025), and a certified Bar Association trainer, Levan shapes how Georgian lawyers approach criminal procedure, juvenile justice, and jury trial advocacy nationwide.
International Standards
Study visits and trial-advocacy training in the United States (Florida, 2022 & 2023) alongside American judges and public defenders, applied directly to case strategy and courtroom technique in Georgia.
Detailed case studies and client references are available on request, subject to confidentiality and client consent.
Corporate Clients
A selection of corporate clients Makharashvili Law Office represents across security, hospitality, entertainment, and maritime logistics.
Algani Security Company
Security — corporate legal support for a private security services provider.
Billionaire Ramada Plaza By Wyndham Batumi
Hospitality — corporate legal support for a Wyndham-brand hotel property in Batumi.
Billionaire Casino
Gaming & entertainment — corporate legal support in the gaming sector.
“Terminal 1” LLC
Energy & maritime logistics — management company of the oil terminal and sea port located in Batumi.
Photos
Case Law Library
A working reference of European Court of Human Rights judgments concerning Georgia, drawn from the Court’s public HUDOC database.
This library is provided as general legal reference material only — it is not a record of cases litigated by this office. Full text of every judgment is available on the Court’s official HUDOC site.
Latest News
Updates and announcements from Makharashvili Law Office.
July 28, 2026
Registration Open for Bar Exam Preparatory Courses
Registration for the preparatory courses for the Advocates’ Qualification Exam has opened and will continue until September 11, 16:00.
The course, organized by the Georgian Bar Association, is focused on results and success in the qualification exam and includes study components tailored to the exam program, summary thematic sessions, and midterm and final exams based on the actual exam program.
Led by highly qualified legal experts — including Levan Makharashvili — the course deepens theoretical knowledge and develops the practical skills necessary to pass the exam successfully, covering exam-oriented thinking, effective problem-solving strategies, mistake analysis, and time management.
The course is held in a hybrid format, with evening sessions on working days and morning sessions on non-working days. Details will be shared only with registered participants after registration closes. The fee is 700 GEL for criminal or civil law specialization, and 800 GEL for general specialization, payable in two installments.
Note: lectures may not be recorded, stored, or distributed. The Bar Association does not endorse or take responsibility for unofficial electronic preparatory programs circulating separately.
To register, please complete the registration form via the link below.
Register Here
July 28, 2026
Legal Assistance in Obtaining a Crypto Exchange License in Georgia
Georgia has become a growing hub for virtual asset and cryptocurrency businesses, with the National Bank of Georgia overseeing the registration and licensing of Virtual Asset Service Providers (VASPs), including crypto exchanges. Makharashvili Law Office offers clients comprehensive legal support in obtaining a crypto exchange license — from preparing and submitting the required documentation to ensuring full compliance with AML/CFT regulations and ongoing reporting obligations.
Our team guides operators through every stage of the licensing process, helping them meet regulatory requirements efficiently and structure their operations in line with Georgian law.
Contact us for a consultation on obtaining a crypto exchange license in Georgia.
July 28, 2026
Legal Services for Gambling & Gaming Licenses in Georgia
Operating a gambling, betting, or gaming business in Georgia requires a mandatory state license. Makharashvili Law Office assists clients throughout the entire licensing process — from initial application and documentation to compliance with regulatory requirements set by the Georgian Revenue Service and other relevant authorities.
With extensive experience in this field, our team helps operators secure the appropriate licenses efficiently, navigate regulatory changes, and maintain full legal compliance for their gaming operations. We also advise on corporate structuring, ongoing regulatory obligations, and represent clients in any disputes with licensing authorities.
Contact us for a consultation on obtaining or renewing your gambling license in Georgia.
July 28, 2026
New Work Permit System for Foreign Nationals in Georgia
Georgia has implemented a new work permit system for foreign nationals. Under the updated regulations, employers are now required to advertise vacancies locally before hiring foreign talent. Additionally, foreign employees currently working in Georgia must transition to the new permit framework.
Levan Makharashvili Law Office provides comprehensive legal support, ensuring a seamless transition and full compliance at every stage of the process.
July 29, 2026
Red Flags: Common Triggers for Financial Crime Investigations in Georgia
Financial crime investigations in Georgia rarely start with a dramatic raid — they usually begin quietly, with a flagged bank transaction or a routine audit. Our latest Insights article breaks down six common triggers, from unusual banking activity to cross-border transaction scrutiny, and explains why early legal advice matters once one appears.
Read MoreContact
Consultations available in Georgian, English, and Russian.
Makharashvili Law Office
Phone
+995 599 35 15 15 (Mobile)
+995 32 243 48 74 (Office)
Bar & Professional Profile
Georgian Bar Association — Executive Board Member (since 2025), Member since 2012
European Association of Lawyers (AEA–EAL) — Full Individual Member since 2025