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Firms in the Spotlight Banking, finance and capital markets

Hamdan Law Firm

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The Hamdan Law Firm was founded in 1961 by Ahmad Hamdan and offers a full range of legal services. It is one of the oldest law firms in Lebanon and is today managed by Abdel Ghani Hamdan.

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Banking, finance and capital markets in Lebanon

Abou Jaoude & Associates Law Firm

Abou Jaoude & Associates Law Firm is a prominent full-service firm in Lebanon, and leverages its ‘knowledge of local law and regulations as well as international practice‘ to advise European and U.S-based lenders on all Lebanese banking and capital markets matters. Souraya Machnouk has ‘in-depth knowledge in the field of regulation and compliance‘, and assisted Credit Suisse Lebanon with its de-registration and liquidation pursuant to its decision to exit the Lebanese market. Managing partner Carlos Abou Jaoude is a highly regarded practitioner.

Practice head(s):

Carlos Abou Jaoude; Souraya Machnouk


Testimonials

The team is very knowledgeable in local laws and regulations as well as international best practice. They have very good connections in Lebanon and abroad and have a very good relationship with regulators.’

‘Souraya has in-depth knowledge in the field of regulation and compliance (especially in cross-border banking), and convinces with her independent and authentic manner. She is very friendly and competent. The cooperation is very good and efficient, the output meets all expectations.’

‘They have diverse strengths, and they value qualities such as their deep industry expertise, commitment to client satisfaction, and innovative approaches.’

Key clients

Credit Suisse (UBS Group)


Central Bank of Lebanon


Ernst & Young


New York Life Insurance


NCR Corporation


KPMG


Citigroup


American Express (Amex)


First Abu Dhabi Bank


Commercial International Bank


National Bank of Kuwait


Work highlights


  • Advised American Express (Amex) on the regulatory framework governing the issuance of international currency cards (ICC) on an offshore basis to consumers located in Lebanon by a UK payment institution licensed by the UK Financial Conduct Authority.
  • Assisted KPMG, acting for Swiss banks, on the Private Banking Manual and the Products Offering Manual concerning the cross-border offer of financial products and services into Lebanon under the Lebanese Capital Markets Authority’s regulations.
  • Advised the Commercial International Bank on the complex security structure of a multi-million cross-border facility provided to the Consolidated Contractors Group.

Alem & Associates

Mohamed Alem and Maya Tabet Chidiac co-head the practice at Alem & Associates, which continues to advise on large financial restructurings, IPOs and Sharia-law compliant transactions. Other key areas of strength for the team include foreign exchange matters, public and private securities work and Sukuk mandates. The firm maintains close ties with French and UK-based banks and borrowers.

Practice head(s):

Mohamed Alem; Maya Tabet Chidiac


Chedid Law Offices in association with Dentons

Chedid Law Offices in association with Dentons 'goes to extra lengths to provide consistent, appropriate and timely services to clients'. The group's broad workload includes transactions, regulatory issues and capital markets matters. Managing director and practice head Elias Chedid is 'logical, analytical, and a deep thinker, and also displays a great deal of creativity in his problem-solving'. He is supported by senior associate Georgette Salamé.

Practice head(s):

Elias Chedid


Other key lawyers:

Georgette Salamé


Testimonials

‘At Dentons Lebanon, clients are highly valued and are front and center of any decision-making. The firm goes to extra lengths to provide, consistent, appropriate and timely services to clients.’

‘Elias Chedid has excellent communication and listening skills. His legal documents are written clearly, persuasively and concisely. He also knows how to build and maintain strong relations with clients. For Elias, success is nothing more than a few simple disciplines practiced every day.’

El-Aref International Law Office

At El-Aref International Law Office, the 'attentive' team has a solid track record in representing Lebanese and international lenders, sponsors and borrowers in debt finance matters, especially mezzanine and subordinate debt and Murabaha asset-backed loans. Aref El-Aref, who heads up the practice,has extensive experience in advising on auction rate securities, interest rate swaps, and project finance matters. Katia Daou is well known for advising Saudi Arabian and Qatari banks on capital markets and regulatory securities matters.

Practice head(s):

Aref El-Aref


Other key lawyers:

Katia Daou


Testimonials

‘They are attentive, up to date on recent industry trends, and professional. Transparent with billings.’

‘El Aref has a strong knowledge of project finance in Lebanon.’

‘Aref El-Aref has been superb. Aref always works beyond the call of duty and is always available when needed.’

Key clients

European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD)


PROPARCO


Societe Generale


Saudi Fransi Bank


Qatar National Bank


Qatar Islamic Bank SAQ


Arab Finance House


TCQ Power Ltd.


First Bank of Nigeria


ICARDA


BluePeak


Dukhan Bank Q.P.S.C.


Union Bank of Nigeria PLC


Binance


Work highlights


  • Assisted Primesouth with loan notes for financing a 45 MW PV solar power generation plant in Zimbabwe.
  • Advised iCarry on a SAFE financing and Series A financing, including a reorganization of its business out of Abu Dhabi’s ADGM.

Badri and Salim El Meouchi LLP

Chadia El Meouchi and Carine Farran jointly head up the practice at Badri and Salim El Meouchi LLP, which has a solid track record in advising on a broad range of work in the banking and capital markets space, including corporate and project finance, regulatory issues and lending matters. The firm is well known for representing Lebanese and Qatari clients in mandates. Firm chairman and senior partner Salim El Meouchi is a highly regarded practitioner.

Practice head(s):

Chadia El Meouchi; Carine Farran


Other key lawyers:

Salim El Meouchi


Key clients

Banque Misr Liban


Holdal Group


Saint-Gobain Middle East


Construction Development Company International


Projects Development Company


Intel


Fransabank


Ciment de Sibline


Secil


Simmons & Simmons LLP


Audi Saradar Private Bank


European Investment Bank (EIB)


Pinsent Masons LLP


Clifford Chance LLP


White & Case LLP


Deutsche Bank


Work highlights


  • Continuing to assist a private client, from a Lebanese law perspective, regarding an international bank’s amendment and restatement of a high-net-worth individual’s loan, which is guaranteed by the individual’s pledge on their shares in a Lebanese bank.
  • Assisting a prominent multilateral financial institution with the restructuring and settlement of a substantial portfolio of loans, worth more than US$150m, for five leading banks in Lebanon.
  • Acting as local counsel to an international engineering company regarding its entry into a revolving credit facility agreement, with an aggregate value of US$700m.