This page is for companies, lawyers and investors who need to sign a contract with a foreign partner or submit a foreign-language contract to a Georgian bank, the Public Registry or a court. Three things we do on every order: a bilingual format (the original and the translation side by side), an NDA before you send the file, and delivery of a standard contract the same or next day.
Other areas of legal translation - court materials, notarial acts, corporate documents - are described on the legal translation page.
Why a "good translation" is not enough for a contract
In ordinary text a synonym is a matter of style. In a contract a synonym is a new obligation. If "Goods" is translated into Georgian as "saqoneli" (goods) in Article 3 and as "produktsia" (products) in Article 9, the other party's lawyer will ask: are these two different things?
That is why we start translating a contract not with the first sentence but with the Definitions clause. We find an equivalent for each defined term once and use only that equivalent throughout the document, annexes included. If your company has translated versions of earlier contracts, we align the terms with them, so the new contract does not contradict the old ones.
Bilingual format: two columns, one document
A bilingual contract is a single document with the original in the left column and the translation in the right. Each clause sits directly next to its translation.
- One signature - the parties sign one document, not two separate versions that may drift apart over time;
- Quick comparison - a lawyer sees at a glance whether clause 12.3 matches its translation;
- Uniform numbering - articles, sub-clauses and annexes are numbered the same way in both languages;
- Prevailing Language - the contract states which language prevails in the event of a discrepancy.
We prepare the bilingual format in Word, as a table, so your lawyer can edit it. Where needed, we keep the original's headings, logo and signature block. How a bilingual contract differs from an ordinary translation, in detail: bilingual or ordinary contract.
When you order, tell us which country's law governs the contract and which language will prevail. These two facts determine the choice of terminology throughout the text.
Critical clauses we check twice
Force Majeure
What counts as force majeure, within what period one party must notify the other, and what happens if the event continues. A single omitted "including but not limited to" turns the list into an exhaustive one - and a party affected by a pandemic or sanctions is left without protection.
Jurisdiction and Governing Law
Which country's law applies and where a dispute will be heard. "Exclusive jurisdiction" and "non-exclusive jurisdiction" have different legal consequences: the first excludes other courts, the second does not. In an arbitration clause we render precisely the name of the institution, the seat of arbitration and the language.
Liability and Indemnity
The Limitation of Liability, Liquidated Damages and Indemnity. In Georgian, Indemnity and Guarantee are often translated with a single word - that is a mistake, because they are two different obligations.
Termination and Notices
The grounds for unilateral termination and the notice period and form. Confusing "business days" and "calendar days" changes how a period is counted and can make a termination late.
Shall, May, Must
"Shall" is an obligation, "may" is a right. The translation has to preserve this difference in every clause, or a party's obligation turns into a mere option on paper.
Annexes, specifications and schedules
The main body of a contract is often 10-15 pages, while the annexes are twice that: the technical specification, the price table, the delivery schedule, the service level agreement (SLA), the bank guarantee form. In a dispute, it is the annex that shows what a party was supposed to deliver and when.
We translate the annexes with the same terminology as the main text and keep the structure of the tables. If the main text defines "Delivery Date" in clause 4.1 as the date of delivery, the schedule in the annex will use the same term - not "day of handover".
Types of contracts we translate
- international sale and supply contracts (Supply, Sale and Purchase Agreement);
- distribution and agency agreements;
- lease and leasing agreements;
- loan, pledge and mortgage agreements;
- employment and consultancy agreements;
- shareholders' agreements (Shareholders Agreement) and share purchase agreements (SPA);
- non-disclosure agreements (NDA);
- memoranda of understanding and letters of intent (MoU, LoI);
- construction contracts, including FIDIC forms.
Languages: Georgian - English, Russian, Turkish, German, French, Italian, Spanish and others. Where needed, we also translate directly between two foreign languages, for example from English into Spanish, without an intermediate Georgian version.
Contract already translated? We will check it
If your employee or partner has already translated the contract, before signing we can carry out legal editing only: we compare the translation with the original clause by clause and return the corrections in Track Changes, with comments at every disputed point.
What we find most often: "shall" and "may" mixed up, omitted sub-clauses, amounts and currencies transferred incorrectly, three different translations of the same term, and Warranty and Indemnity merged into one word. Checking of general texts is described on the editing and proofreading page.
A foreign-language contract in Georgia: bank, registry, court
The reverse situation is common too: the contract was signed in English or Russian and you need to submit it to a Georgian institution. Under the Public Registry instruction, a transaction in a foreign language must be accompanied by a Georgian translation. A Georgian bank also asks for a Georgian translation when reviewing a loan or pledge, and court proceedings are conducted in Georgian.
In that case we translate into Georgian with notarial certification and keep the numbering of the original's clauses, so any reference in the Georgian text points to the same place in the original. If the contract already has a Georgian column, we check whether it matches the foreign-language text.
Notarization and apostille
A bank, the Public Registry or a court often requires a notarized translation of the contract: the notary confirms the authenticity of the translator's signature. If the contract is to be submitted abroad, you may additionally need an apostille or legalization - we check the receiving party's requirements in advance. In detail: notarial certification and apostille.
Confidentiality
Until it is signed, a contract is a trade secret: prices, discounts, exclusivity terms, the identity of the partners. That is why, where needed, we sign an NDA before we receive the file - on your template or ours. Only the translator and the editor assigned to the project work on the document, and we never upload the text to public online translation tools. In detail: confidentiality.
How the process works
NDA
Where needed, we sign a non-disclosure agreement before we receive the file.
Terminology
We draw up a glossary of the definitions and use the terms from your earlier contracts, if you have them.
Translation and review
In bilingual or separate format. A second specialist checks the figures, amounts, deadlines and critical clauses.
Delivery
Word and PDF, with notarial certification where needed. A standard contract - the same or next day.
Translating or checking a contract before signing? Send it to us - we will tell you which format works best and when it will be ready.
Call: 501 113 200Frequently asked questions
How long does a contract translation take?
A standard contract is ready the same or next day. A large contract with annexes is delivered in parts, on a schedule built around the signing date.
Which is better - a bilingual or a separate translation?
If both parties are signing, the bilingual format is better: one document, one numbering, a prevailing language clause. If you need the translation only for internal use or for a bank, a separate translation is enough.
Can you take our lawyer's comments into account in the translation?
Yes. We work in Track Changes and agree the terminology with your lawyer before we deliver the final version.
The contract is governed by English law. Does the translation take that into account?
Yes. We choose terms according to the legal system named in the contract. English-law concepts such as "consideration" or "warranty" do not match a Georgian concept exactly - in such places we keep the original term in brackets, so the meaning is not lost.
Who will see our contract?
Only the translator and the editor assigned to the project. Where needed, we sign an NDA before we receive the file.
Do you translate a scanned or signed PDF?
Yes. We translate the signed copy, noting the seals and any handwritten notes.
Can you translate a contract directly from English into Spanish or from Russian into Turkish?
Yes, we translate directly between the two languages, without an intermediate Georgian version. Before you order, we check whether notarial certification is possible for that specific language pair.