OUR EXPERTISE

Antitrust, Competition, and Trade

We advise our clients on the potential antitrust and competition risks associated with their corporate activities. We review, negotiate and draft agreements to be in compliance with antitrust regulation, notify our clients of their regulatory obligations and necessary disclosures, and represent them in litigating and enforcing claims related to antitrust and competition disputes. Our practice includes advising business seeking to undertake trade activities with Egypt on the legal and regulatory framework governing their business. Shereen Dawoud has years of in-depth arbitration experience in some of the most high-profile competition claims related to the telecommunications industry in Egypt.

Banking and Finance

We advise on all aspects of financial services provided by banks, holding companies, and other financial institutions. Our comprehensive banking and finance practice includes lending transactions, bankruptcy and insolvency, consumer law and regulatory compliance, payment systems, electronic banking and data security, as well as representing our financial services clients in litigation and enforcement matters.

Employment, Social Security and Benefits

We offer comprehensive legal advice and representation to individual and business clients including local and international employers, plan administrators, financial institutions, and public and private pension and benefits policy providers under a spectrum of matters related to employment, social security and benefits. We represent our individual clients in their claims against employers related to discrimination, harassment, unpaid wages/compensation, workplace safety, and wrongful termination. We advise local businesses and international businesses looking to do business in Egypt on the legal and regulatory framework that governs the hiring, management, compensation, benefits, and termination of employees.

General Corporate and Capital Market Transactions

The Firm routinely advises on all matter of corporate and capital market transactions in Egypt. We provide strategic planning and advice for various types of business transactions, including public and private mergers and acquisitions, management buyouts, purchases and sales of business assets, corporate establishment and restructuring, and corporate investments. We help our clients navigate securities laws and regulations and represent them in all their Egyptian Exchange transactions, not limited to registration, IPOs, private placements, compliance and enforcement.

Litigation and Dispute Resolution

We handle all manner of claims between businesses and their clients, co-contracting parties, and shareholders, and between companies and states. We advise our clients on the merits and values of their cases and on the best dispute resolution strategy whether it be litigation through the courts or alternative dispute resolution such as mediation and arbitration. Shereen Dawoud has advised and continues to advise on ad-hoc proceedings and under most major arbitration rules including the International Chamber of Commerce in Paris (ICC), the London Court of Arbitration (LCIA), the Dubai International Arbitration Centre (DIAC), and the Cairo Regional Centre for International Commercial Arbitration (CRCICA)

Mergers and Acquisitions

We advise local and international businesses and investors on their private and public business purchases and strategic transactions. Our depth of experience in due diligence and Egyptian capital market law allows us to provide comprehensive legal advice to our clients in all areas of mergers and acquisitions, including but not limited to advising on due diligence and disclosure requirements, negotiating and drafting purchase and sale agreements, advising on establishing joint ventures or limited partnerships, and advising on corporate governance matters. We make sure that all necessary legal provisions are in place to manage and protect our clients against risk during their transition. Our experience includes: 2007-2009 | Advising and acting on behalf of our clients in hundreds of M&A transactions, including all due diligence procedures for 20 second-tier telecom companies in the Middle East and Asia being partially or fully merged and/or acquired by Orascom Telecom Holding 2009-2016 | Managing Partner Shereen Dawoud acts as counsel and international arbitrator in complex multi-billion dollar telecom and energy disputes in matters related to erroneous practices in acquisitions and deals structuring 2016 | Advising and conducting negotiations with Lockton London insurance brokerage firm in their acquisition of an Egyptian portfolio 2017 | Lobbying the Egyptian government on matters of value added tax executive regulations for sectors which included telecom, shared economy transportation, and online banking wallets. 2018-2019 | Conducting five due diligence proceedings on behalf of international capital venture funds related to their acquisition of local companies Articulating the terms and conditions of at least one hundred shareholder agreements across most segments of the economic spectrum in Egypt and the Middle East, including loan arrangements, escrow accounts, complex transactions and innovate control management. At present we are advising up to thirty Egyptian startups on due diligence requirements and procedures related to investment fundraising

Media and Intellectual Property

We provide a full spectrum of legal services to publishers, internet service providers, radio and television broadcasters, advertising agencies, and other media and communication companies. We represent our clients in traditional media-related matters such as litigation, regulatory compliance, contracts, and advertising law, and also cover new media laws that apply to online activity including protection and use of information, e-commerce, and preparation of internet-related contracts. Our Intellectual property practice covers litigation, dispute resolution, and enforcement relating to patents, trademarks, copyrights, and licensing.

Project Finance and Public Private Partnerships

We are engaged at various stages of the project finance process, from commercial contracts and financial services to construction and operations. Our expertise on Egyptian industry and host government and experience with project finance structures, due diligence, and credit and security documentation allows our clients to navigate both public and private cross-border project finance issues while mitigating project risk. The Firm has participated in a variety of projects involving clients in the oil and gas, renewable energy, and construction sectors.

Tax

We advise clients on tax implications and strategy related to a range of business transactions including mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, structuring and restructuring, financing agreements, sale and purchase agreements, and succession planning. Our practice provides comprehensive solutions to a myriad of tax issues faced by individuals, small businesses, multinationals, and financial institutions.

Construction and Real Estate

We have a unique understanding of the construction industry in Egypt and are ideally placed to advise local and international clients on a range of complex construction issues, including bidding, tendering and awards, public-private partnerships, construction contracts and subcontracts, loan arrangements, and related claims taken to arbitration and litigation.

Hospitality & Tourism

We advise owners, developers, operators, investors, and financial institutions on a range of legal issues related to hospitality and tourism, including financial structuring and restructuring, development agreements, management agreements, mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures and other partnerships, licensing, and dispute resolution. Shereen Dawoud has years of in-depth arbitration experience in some of the most high-profile competition claims related to the telecommunications industry in Egypt.

Information Technology and Telecommunications

Our practice is primed to provide strategic advice to our clients on intellectual property, agreements related to development and licensing of software and hardware, e-commerce, hosting agreements, systems integration agreements, cloud computing, enterprise management systems, data security, and other matters under the spectrum of IT and telecommunications. Our lawyers have in-depth knowledge of the legal and regulatory framework governing the telecommunications industry as demonstrated in years of experience representing a top-tier telecommunications company in Egypt.

Oil and Gas

We advise on a diverse range of legal issues related to concessions in the Egyptian oil and gas industry, from country-specific oil and gas laws and regulations to due diligence, contract review and negotiation, joint venture agreements, and dispute resolution.

Renewable Energy

Our renewable energy practice advises on local laws and regulation, operation and management agreements, financing agreements, and litigation and awards related to the rapidly developing wind and solar power sector in Egypt. Shereen Dawoud has advised and continues to advise on ad-hoc proceedings and under most major arbitration rules including the International Chamber of Commerce in Paris (ICC), the London Court of Arbitration (LCIA), the Dubai International Arbitration Centre (DIAC), and the Cairo Regional Centre for International Commercial Arbitration (CRCICA)

Technology and FinTech

We advise a growing base of tech startups and other financial service providers in the proliferating and innovative fintech industry. Our cross-disciplinary expertise guides local and international clients through the new regulatory frameworks introduced by the Egyptian government and Central Bank as they apply to their digital financial services. Our practice covers startup structuring and finance, investment, sale and purchase agreements as related to Fintech products, regulatory compliance, privacy and data security issues, technology ownership and transfer, and corporate transactions.