From the Field to the Firm: Iona Rugby Standout Turns Legal Internship into Full-Time Role
Entrepreneurship major Archil Buka Kvaratskhelia ’25 combines business strategy and athletic discipline to kickstart promising career
New Rochelle, N.Y. - Long days, late practices and a packed class schedule were nothing new for Archil Buka Kvaratskhelia ’25.
As a rugby player at Iona University and an entrepreneurship major on the Dean’s List, his college career was defined by balancing the classroom and the playing field.
But even with a packed schedule, the Georgia native managed to land an internship that turned into a full-time role.
“During my internship at Michael E. Skiber Law Firm, I developed strong communication skills, learned to explain legal matters clearly to clients and worked professionally with attorneys and insurance companies,” he said. “Michael also connected me to a second internship in criminal law with attorney Barry Butler. So I was doing both injury and criminal law at the same time — one in the office, one in court.”
While Iona’s LaPenta School of Business and Hynes Institute for Entrepreneurship & Innovation helped sharpen his strategic thinking and problem-solving abilities, Kvaratskhelia also points to the rugby field as a key factor in his personal and professional growth.
“Rugby has been a huge part of my journey at Iona,” he said.
“Being part of the team has given me more than just a competitive edge, it’s taught me discipline, teamwork and the importance of pushing myself beyond limits. On top of that, it’s allowed me to build amazing friendships and strong connections with teammates who have become some of my closest friends.”
Now working as a full-time legal assistant case manager, Kvaratskhelia handles a range of responsibilities, from assisting with legal documentation, communicating with clients and coordinating with insurance companies on personal injury claims.
When asked how Iona prepared him for this full-time opportunity he said: “The business program sharpened my strategic mindset, while rugby gave me lasting friendships, creating connections that make the journey even more meaningful.”
ABOUT IONA
Founded in 1940, Iona University is a master's-granting private, Catholic, coeducational institution of learning in the tradition of the Edmund Rice Christian Brothers. Iona's 45-acre New Rochelle campus and 28-acre Bronxville campus are just 20 miles north of Midtown Manhattan. With a total enrollment of nearly 4,000 students and an alumni base of more than 50,000 around the world, Iona is a diverse community of learners and scholars dedicated to academic excellence and the values of justice, peace and service. Iona is highly accredited, offering undergraduate degrees in liberal arts, science and business administration, as well as Master of Arts, Master of Science and Master of Business Administration degrees and numerous advanced certificate programs. Iona students enjoy small class sizes, engaged professors and a wide array of academic programs across the School of Arts & Science; LaPenta School of Business; NewYork-Presbyterian Iona School of Health Sciences; and Hynes Institute for Entrepreneurship & Innovation. Iona also continues to be recognized in prestigious national rankings. Most recently for 2025, Iona has been named one of the nation’s best colleges by The Princeton Review, The Wall Street Journal, Forbes and others. Additionally, U.S. News & World Report recognized Iona as one of top for social mobility in the country, while Georgetown University's Center on Education and the Workforce (CEW) ranked an Iona degree in the top 5 percent nationally for long-term return on investment. Iona’s LaPenta School of Business, meanwhile, is also accredited by AACSB International, a recognition awarded to just 6 percent of business schools worldwide. In addition, The Princeton Review recognized Iona’s on-campus MBA program as a “Best Business School for 2024.” Iona also offers a fully online MBA program for even greater flexibility. In July 2021, Iona announced the establishment of the NewYork-Presbyterian Iona School of Health Sciences, which is now principally located on Iona’s Bronxville campus in collaboration with one of the nation’s top hospitals. Connecting to its Irish heritage, Iona also opened a new campus in County Mayo, Ireland, located on the historic 400-acre Westport House Estate. A school on the rise, Iona officially changed its status from College to University on July 1, 2022, reflecting the growth of its academic programs and the prestige of an Iona education.