Sharkawy & Sarhan is a corporate law firm in Egypt established in 2006.
Focusses / specialisms
The firm has a strong practice in banking and finance work as well as M&A transaction and within these areas they specialise in working on bank lending transactions.
Key clients
Key clients of the firm include The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, The International Finance Corporation, European Investment Bank, Proparco, Majid Al Futtaim Properties, Dell Technologies, Vodafone Group, EFG Hermes Private Equity, Saham Sante, Sanofi, Hikma, Kuwait Food Company (Americana), and Chubb Services UK.
Research period review: 33rd edition (2023/2024)
During the research period, the firm was active in banking, M&A, project development and project finance.
In banking the firm worked on financings and loans for mainly lenders connected to banking and financial services.
In M&A the firm worked on acquisitions and joint ventures for clients linked to technology and telecommunications, energy, manufacturing and real estate sectors.
In project development the firm worked for developers, project companies and concessionaires on projects connected with the transport, oil and gas, energy, and technology and telecommunications sectors.
In project finance the firm worked on financings for mainly lenders in the financial services and maritime sectors.
Deal highlights: 33rd edition (2023/2024)
Egypt Green Hydrogen $80 million loan
Chimera Investments $340 million acquisition of MNT Halan subsidiaries
SCZone Container Terminal Expansion project
Client Feedback: 33rd edition (2023/2024)
Bank lending
“Very efficient and proactive, commercial and reasonably priced. Great value for money.”
Banking
“Prompt, commercially aware and detailed advice. Good knowledge of the practice of Egyptian authorities and regulations.”
Financial services regulatory
“One of the strongest client-facing law firms in the Egyptian market that provides accurate and to-the-point advice.”
M&A
“Very responsive and technically very strong. They work well on cross-border transactions – many of their lawyers have international experience.”
"They are very responsive, reliable and diligent. They understand the client's commercial intention and is able to negotiate with the seller on local law-specific points and they are able to draft due diligence reports in very sophisticated way. Overall they have delivered a very high-level quality service, exceeding our expectation of a 'local counsel'.”
Project finance
“S&S are technically competent, professional, commercially minded and always available and cooperative.”
"A firm with a long track record and precedents they can draw from. Well connected to the business and governmental authorities.”
"A great firm – very responsive, with vast experience and well connected.”
"They have in-depth knowledge of the sector, provide a detailed legal analysis with practical solutions, and have the ability to liaise effectively with all parties involved and particularly governmental entities.”
Nesma Abdelbary
“A problem-solver, proactive and with a very good knowledge of the energy sector.”
"Nesma is a very knowledgeable and responsible lawyer. She has a vast experience and is constructive in finding ways to break deadlocks.”
"Nesma is a very responsive and experienced lawyer. She is business- and solution-oriented and can find ways out of deadlocks in negotiations.”
Ahmed Haggag
“Switched on and practical.”
"I have known and worked with Ahmed for many years and he is always great with clients and very commercial and proactive.”
"He is technically competent, professional, commercially minded and always available and cooperative.”
Mohamed Nabil Hazzaa
“Mohamed is an excellent lawyer and negotiator who remains level-headed even in very tough negotiations. He has a vast experience and has worked on many project finance and other transactions from which he can draw precedents. He is very well connected to the local business community and public authorities. A pleasure to work with and a safe pair of hands!”
"A very experienced partner who has a wealth of experience and a sharp mind. Well connected in the business communities and public sector. Great negotiator who never loses his cool even with tough counterparties.”
"He has deep understanding of the sector and excellent legal knowledge, with the ability to come up with commercially suitable solutions. A readiness to work hard and provide extensive legal advice.”
Lamiaa Youssef
“A very clear understanding of the requests provided to her, with a detailed attention to industry specifics.”
Naila Ramsay
“She is very professional, competent and attentive, great at relationship-building, with extensive market knowledge and an impressive focus on diversity.”
Heba Raslan
“She was the main transaction lawyer on the Transglobe deal and was very responsive and technically sound.”