About Me

Sopiko Gugava is an internationally recognized legal professional, entrepreneur, and founder of the Foreign-Trained Lawyers Association (FTLA), a global platform dedicated to advancing access to the U.S. legal system for foreign-trained attorneys. Her work focuses on legal innovation, cross-border legal integration, and expanding opportunities for highly skilled international professionals within the United States.

Ms. Gugava holds a Master of Laws (LL.M.) from Chicago-Kent College of Law, where she was awarded a competitive merit-based scholarship. She is sitting for the New York Bar Exam and is actively engaged in high-level legal assistance and leadership in the United States. Her professional background spans corporate law, immigration law, and regulatory strategy, with a strong emphasis on complex case management and legal system development.

Prior to her work in the United States, Ms. Gugava held key legal and financial positions at TBC Bank, one of the leading financial institutions in Georgia. In this role, she contributed to multi-million-dollar transactions across sectors including healthcare, education, and real estate development, and played a critical role in ensuring regulatory compliance and advancing large-scale infrastructure projects. Her work included participation in nationally significant initiatives such as the development and financing of the American Hospital Tbilisi and major university and development projects, reflecting her ability to operate at the intersection of law, business, and public policy. 

In addition to her corporate and legal achievements, Ms. Gugava is the co-founder of She Leads Peace, Inc., an international nonprofit organization focused on promoting women’s leadership in law, business, and global security. Through this initiative and FTLA, she has demonstrated sustained leadership in building platforms that empower underrepresented, multilingual professionals and contribute to democratic values and access to justice on a global scale.

Ms. Gugava’s current work centers on developing innovative, AI-driven legal solutions designed to support foreign-trained lawyers in navigating the U.S. legal system, including bar exam preparation, professional integration, and legal career development. Her vision is to bridge systemic gaps in legal access and create scalable solutions that strengthen the U.S. legal profession while unlocking the potential of global legal talent.

Through her leadership, legal expertise, and commitment to innovation, Sopiko Gugava continues to make significant contributions to the legal field, both nationally and internationally. Her work reflects a broader mission to enhance access to justice, promote legal excellence, and support the integration of diverse legal professionals into the U.S. legal system.