Managing Partners: Ara Khzmalyan
Number of partners: 2
Number of lawyers: 5
Languages: Armenian, English, French, Russian

Firm Overview:
ADWISE was founded in 2015 by Ara Khzmalyan (formerly general counsel at the local subsidiary of Pernod Ricard Group) and Lilit Gharayan (formerly Directorate member at ProCredit Bank Armenia, with a broad background in banking and real sector finance). Bringing together experience and expertise in law, business management and finance, the firm utilizes the synergies of this combination to deliver comprehensive advice to its Clients. The legal practice of ADWISE Consulting is focused on delivering comprehensive legal support to corporate clients, as well as foreign law-firms in need of advice on Armenian law.

Main Areas of Practice:
Civil Law (Property Rights, Transactions, Torts, Real Estate)
Corporate Law
Administrative Law
Labour & Employment
Litigation (Civil & Administrative)
Data Privacy
Pharmaceutical Regulations
IT & Telecommunications
Intellectual Property
Competition/Antitrust Law
International Private Law
Mining, Natural Resources & Energy
Food Safety, Technical Regulation & Consumer Protection
Advertising, Promotion & Labelling
Trade & Retail
Eurasian Union Law
Public International Law
Human Rights
Taxation
Banking & Finance

Corporate/M&A:
2 partners
■ Designing the new shareholding and corporate governance structure for the purposes of expanding the business for Highland Cellars CJSC – one of the largest winemaking companies of Armenia
■ Legal support to Systems Technology Institute in a project involving raising funds through an IPO, coinvesting with the Armenian National Interest Fund (a quasi-government agency responsible for co-financing projects of particular interest for the government). The project involves introducing a 5-tier corporate structure, shareholder agreements at 3 levels (with investors, the Armenian National Interest Fund and individual agricultural enterprises to operate at the lower levels of the corporate structure), as well a structuring the project finance with involvement of investments, government-investment and loans from local banks
Key Clients: Sanmar Invest CJSC, Highland Cellars CJSC, ALKE LLC, MILKO CJSC, Systems Technology Institute, Lite Group CJSC
Contact: Ara Khzmalyan
Tel: +374 95 95 44 50
Email: [email protected]

Banking & Finance:
2 partners
■ Providing legal opinions with respect to loan agreements between local financial institutions and leading international financial institutions (in the field of green funding, SME- and Micro-Finance)
Key Clients: ARMECONOMBANK OJSC, SEF International UCO, KAMURJ UCO
Contact: Ara Khzmalyan
Tel: (+374) 95 95 44 50
Email: [email protected]

Antitrust:
2 partners
■ Representation of ARGE Business LLC before the Competition Regulator in relation to alleged unfair competition actions by a third-party wholesaler and a third-party retailer, allegedly involved in selling counterfeit haircare products
■ Representation of Coca-Cola Hellenic Bottling Company Armenia in negotiating a settlement with the Competition Regulator, which resolved 2 key litigations and ensured settlement terms favorable to the Client
Key Clients: ARGE Business LLC, Coca-Cola Hellenic Bottling Company Armenia
Contact: Ara Khzmalyan
Tel: +374 95 95 44 50
Email: [email protected]

Tax:
2 partners
■ Representing ARGE Business LLC in a tax dispute relating to a penalty of 150 million AMD, in which the firm was able to successfully lobby for a retroactive amendment in the Tax Code relieving the Client of the penalty
■ Assistance to CMH Solutions LLC in securing a full VAT (sales tax) exemption on its exported services by implementing tax-oriented structuring of service agreements and liaising with government authorities to confirm the exemption
Key Clients: ARGE Business LLC, CMH Solutions LLC, Build Armenia Foundation
Contact: Ara Khzmalyan
Tel: +374 95 95 44 50
Email: [email protected]

Labour Law:
2 partners
■ Legal advice in relation to internal labour and HRrelated documentation of Coca-Cola Hellenic Bottling Company Armenia
Key Clients: Coca-Cola Hellenic Bottling Company Armenia, CMH Solutions LLC, DISQO Armenia
Contact: Ara Khzmalyan
Tel: +374 95 95 44 50
Email: [email protected]