Lebanon

Abou Jaoude & Associates Law Firm is a leading multi-practice law firm headquartered in Beirut founded in 1996. The firm boasts of advising on complex first-of-its-kind transactions across all practice areas and industries. The deal team consists of prominent Lebanese practitioners such as Souraya Machnouk led by managing partner and founder Carlos Abou Jaoude. The firm is one of the dominant market advisors in Banking, finance and capital markets.

Highlights

A recent example of the firm’s work includes advising Credit Suisse Lebanon on its strategic exit from the Lebanese market amidst the merger by absorption between the parent holding companies of the UBS and Credit Suisse banking groups, involving highly complex regulatory approvals and creditor issues.

The firm also advised CMA CGM on its strategic acquisition of three generation licenses for the development of grid-connected privately-owned photovoltaic solar power plants in Lebanon.

Key clients

Amazon, CMA CGM, Credit Suisse, Ernst & Young and Total Energies.

Alem & Associates has a history stretching all the way back to 1959. The firm has a well-established presence in the Middle East and GCC regions with offices in Beirut, Abu Dhabi and Dubai. The deal team is made up of well-seasoned practitioners such as partner Rola Tabsh and partner Maya Tabet Chidiac led by managing partner Mohamed Alem. The firm is broadly strong in financial and corporate work and known for advising a wide spectrum of international and local financial institutions.   

Highlights

In recent years the firm has been strong in banking and capital markets practice, where it has advised on debt restructurings, financing and refinancing.  

The M&A team has advanced capabilities in advising on complex and impactful transactions in Lebanon including corporate restructuring.  

The firm also has a credible project offering, with the firm advising on all financing and developmental aspects of projects in Lebanon.   

Testimonials

“We greatly appreciated the full dedication and coordination with the team members of Alem & Associates whereby they were keen on a continuous cooperation along with high-end legal advice and prompt legal support.” (Restructuring client)

“The team is knowledgeable, expert and delivers on time.” (Project development client)

"Alem & Associates has a good responsiveness, personalization of advice, competence.” (Financial services regulatory client)

“They give straight forward answers, responsive, and meticulous.” (M&A client)

Key clients

European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, Emirates NBD, KPMG Advisory, Lucid Investment Bank and Sidra Capital.

Badri and Salim El Meouchi Law Firm is a leading firm whose history stretches back to the 19^th century when it was founded. Today the firm has offices in Beirut Lebanon and Qatar. The firm has prominent Lebanese practitioners led by managing partner Chadia El Meouchi. The firm advises on complex cross-border transactions and co-operates closely with major international law firms. It has a wide sectoral coverage of the most significant sectors in the Lebanese economy.  

Highlights

The firm is one of the most experienced firms for transactional advice in Lebanon, particularly in banking and M&A practice.

In banking the firm specialises in a broad array of financial transactions including commercial banking and debt restructurings. 

In corporate work the firm is active in M&A, specifically acquisitions, corporate restructurings, joint ventures and corporate advice. 

Key clients

CDCI International, Debbaneh Saikali Group Holding, EIB, Secil / Ciment de Sibline and White and Case.

Eptalex - Aziz Torbey Law Firm is an international law firm headquartered in Beirut with offices in United Arab Emirates and Italy. The firm’s history dates to 1973 when it was founded by founding partner Aziz Torbey. The team consists of well-seasoned practitioners such as managing partner Ramy Torbey. Eptalex has a robust corporate and financial law practice offering a wide array of legal services including private acquisitions.

Highlights

The firm’s corporate team advises on debt and equity placements, debt restructurings, domestic and international mergers, acquisitions, divestitures, private equity, corporate governance and general corporate matters.

In recent years the firm has strongly advised on fund formation, share buyback and private acquisitions.

Testimonials

“They are highly responsive and detail-oriented, demonstrate strong and in-depth legal knowledge, and thoroughly mitigate any risk the client might face.” (Insolvency client)

“They are not only lawyers, but they are also business minded. This feature makes them powerful. The team is kind, friendly and also serious in their work.” (Banking client)

Key clients

Altas Yapi, Crédit Libanais, Folda, HMD Group and Siira.

AbdelSater AbuSamra & Associates is a Beirut-headquartered law firm founded in 2005. ASAS Law boasts of being the first law firm in the Middle East and one of the few in the world to have a legal machine learning practice. Led by managing partner Nada AbdelSater and supported by well-seasoned practitioner such as Serena Ghanimeh, the firm is renowned in financial and corporate law practice with strong expertise in supporting cross-border corporate, banking, M&A transactions. 

Founded in 1995, Airut Law Offices is a Lebanese law firm with offices in Beirut, Lebanon, Erbil, Kurdistan Region, Iraq and Baghdad.

The firm’s Beirut based legal teams are highly experienced in serving clients, in Lebanon and overseas, on swathes of banking, investment funds, M&A and project development mandates each year.

Key clients

Bader Nasser Al Kharafi, IFA Group, HRH Prince Al Waleed Bin Talal bin Abdel Aziz, BRH Group, The Lebanese American University, The Lebanese American University Medical Center – Rizk Hospital, Philip Morris International, Novartis, Booz Allen Hamilton, Verdun Mall, Four Seasons Hotel, Bank of Beirut, Crédit Libanais, Bank Med, Algorithm, BMB International, Taanayel Les Fermes and Bonjus.

Founded in 1995, Airut Law Offices has offices in Beirut, Erbil, Baghdad and Dubai.

The firm’s Beirut-based legal teams are highly experienced in serving clients, in Lebanon and overseas, on swathes of banking, investment funds, M&A and project development mandates each year.

Key clients

Key clients include Bader Nasser Al Kharafi, IFA Group, HRH Prince Al Waleed Bin Talal bin Abdel Aziz, BRH Group, The Lebanese American University, The Lebanese American University Medical Center – Rizk Hospital, Philip Morris, Novartis, Booz Allen Hamilton, Verdun Mall, Four Seasons Hotel, Bank of Beirut, Crédit Libanais, Bank Med, Algorithm, BMB, Taanayel Les Fermes and Bonjus.

Baroudi & Associates is one of the oldest and most prominent law firms of Lebanon founded in Beirut in 1912. The firm is proud of its global reach built through strong networks, specifically being the local best friend of Eversheds Sutherland. The deal team is led by Lebanese lawyers, most notably managing partner Jean Baroudi, who is highly regarded in the market. The corporate and finance team can advise clients across a range of practice areas, including acquisitions, joint ventures and restructurings. 

Bijjani Advocates is a boutique law firm based in Rabieh. It was established in 2016.

The firm specialises in corporate and commercial work, with the bulk of its engagements being M&A, private placements, capital markets and securities transactions.

The firm serves Lebanese corporations and regional entities and has in recent years secured work for clients in Kuwait, KSA, UAE and Qatar.

Key clients

The firm’s key clients include Le Monde Magazine, Hera Spain, ZAIN Telcom, UBS Bank (Lebanon), Panasonic, Pharma International, Bank of Cyprus, FOO, Convo Hotels, HTG, Kitwood, Card Group, Catholic Church (Maronite Diocese of Antelias Lebanon), Fahed Chain Supermarkets, Lutheran World Relief, Healing Children’s War Wound, Arc-En-Ciel and Codebrave.

El-Aref International Law Office is a Beirut-headquartered firm founded in 1942. The firm has significantly expanded within the Middle East and Africa region. The deal team consists of both locally and internationally licensed lawyers, most notably partner Aref El-Aref. The firm advises clients on a wide range of financial and corporate matters and boasts of being a leading law firm in mergers and acquisitions practice in Lebanon and the Middle East. 

The Beirut-headquartered law firm HNS Legal is the resulting entity of the recent merger between Hayat Law and NSP Legal. The firm has built extensive experience in Lebanon and across multiple jurisdictions in the Middle East and Africa. The firm was founded by three partners namely: Ali El Maoula, Joseph Nasrallah and Jad Skaff. The Corporate and M&A team is known for delivering strategic advice as well as handling simple and complex client matters. 

Rasamny Law Firm is a full-service law firm based in Beirut.

The firm’s financial and corporate practice focuses mainly on capital markets, restructuring and insolvency and corporate and M&A. The firm’s industry sector strengths are automotive, energy, banking, financial institutions, private equity, technology, consumer products and hospitality.

Key clients

The firm’s key clients are Rymco, InterContinental Phoenicia Hotel, Al Mawarid Bank, Boecker, Virgin Megastores, Almarai, Agility, Rubaiyat and La Société Des Grands Hotels du Liban.

Rasma Legal is a UAE-headquartered multi-service law firm founded in 2007 by Mazen Rasamny and has office in Lebanon. The firm offers clients exceptional regulatory experience in the UAE, KSA and across the GCC region, specifically in the financial services and financial technology sectors. Rasma Legal has a strong focus on corporate advisory work with a good record of steering companies through complex mergers and acquisitions, private equity and other significant corporate transactions in the Middle East.