#KnowYourColleague – with this series of articles we highlight our colleagues’ hobbies and their stories. We aim to create a safe space where everyone is welcome to bond and share their adventures as we grow as a community.
Our colleague Giorgi Gujabidze is currently working at RightAngle as a Client Solutions Associate.
One of Giorgi’s numerous passions is mediation, wherein parties to a dispute negotiate their problems directly in order to reach a mutually agreeable conclusion rather than going to court or having a neutral third party resolve their differences. Mediation is a process that requires a deep understanding of the negotiating process, active listening, problem-solving, effective communication, and empathy.
During his years as a student at the University of Georgia in Tbilisi, Giorgi participated in many mediation competitions. One of the highlights of his student career was participating in the 2019 ICC Commercial Mediation Competition in Paris, France, which is by some considered the most prestigious law school competition in the world.
Giorgi took part in seven mediation sessions during the competition, taking on a variety of roles depending on the topic that was being discussed. In one scenario, he role-played the CEO of a wealthy space corporation, and in another scenario, he was the manager of a folk band made up entirely of vegan women.
Giorgi’s university team achieved a third-place rating out of 66 top law school competitors from around the world at the conclusion of the six-day competition, a huge victory for both the school and the entire country.
These days, Giorgi uses his knowledge and experience to coach the university’s current team of law school students.
