Lebanon > Commercial, corporate and M&A > Law firm and leading lawyer rankings

Abou Jaoude & Associates Law Firm provides ‘concise and efficient advice’ on M&A deals and commercial matters. Carlos Abou Jaoude and senior associate Eddy Maghariki acted for Holding M. Sehnaoui on its purchase of an equity stake in USB Bank’s Cypriot operation. The firm also has a presence in the venture capital space: clients recommend Souraya Machnouk, who assisted a fund managed by Azure Capital Partners with its purchase of mobile polling app MySay; and Simon El Kai, who advised TriArc on its sale to a venture capital fund. Commercial work includes Machnouk handling a distribution agreement for a subsidiary of JBS. Senior associate Chebl Atallah is another name to note.

At Abouhamad, Merheb, Chamoun, Chedid, Elie Chamoun advised Byblos Bank on the purchase of Banque Pharaon & Chiha, while Antoine Merheb assisted Blom Bank with its purchase of HSBC’s Lebanon operations. Nassib Chedid’s clients include BT.

FIRMS IN THE SPOTLIGHT

Abou Jaoude & Associates Law Firm

Abou Jaoude & Associates Law Firm (AJA) regularly advises clients on complex cross-border acquisitions and corporate finance transactions in a wide array of sectors including telecoms, real estate, retail and banking. The Firm has extensive experience in the regulatory process of acquisitions such as licensing, compliance and post-acquisition integration. The Firm’s add-value is through its in-depth specialization and sharp understanding of the financial aspects of M&A deals allowing it to propose tailored legal solutions.

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Badri and Salim El Meouchi Law Firm’s Chadia El Meouchi and Michel El Meouchi advised LeapLearner on its offshore restructuring and investments into the company. Samia El Meouchi and Salim El Meouchi also handle banking-related matters alongside restructuring and family business mandates. Carine Farran is a key senior associate.

At Chedid Law Offices in association with Dentons, Elias Chedid ‘deals with queries in a timely fashion and is instrumental in developing clients’ businesses in the region through fresh thinking and sound advice’. Chedid and senior associate Georgette Salamé advise international clients in the retail, telecoms and pharmaceutical sectors on market entrances, transactions and employment law. Telecoms regulation is another area of strength.

El-Aref International Law Office’s Aref El-Aref advised the Kharafi Group on its purchase of Bella Fiesta for $11m. The team also acted for NAR Technologies on its sale of a stake to Leap Ventures.

Abousleiman & Partners has a track record in insurance-related deals: Randa Abousleiman assisted Cigna with its purchase of Zurich’s Lebanese operations, while Abir Al-Khalil advised Nasco International Group on its purchase of a Lebanese-based insurer.

Al Jad in collaboration with CMS has expertise in M&A, commercial deals and labour law. Malek Takieddine advised a foreign insurer on a proposed acquisition in Lebanon, and also acted for Dufry on a successful bid for the duty free concession at Beirut International Airport. Elias Rammouz is another name to note.

Alem & Associates handles a range of joint venture matters and M&A deals. Toufic Soudayha advised FB Green on forming a joint venture with Del Monte Foods which will invest in an animal feed business in Mexico. Soudayha also advised Lucid Investment Bank on the acquisition of Boecker World Holding by one of its funds; Mohamed Alem and Rola Tabsh acted for the same client on its sale of a stake in an internet service provider.

El-Khoury & Partners in association with Holman Fenwick Willan LLP handles a range of matters with particular strength in Saudi-related transactions. Hadi Melki advises Saudi Fal on its provision of vehicle inspection services in Lebanon, while Ziad El-Khoury (who divides his time between Beirut and Riyadh) assists Zoran with distribution agreements and succession planning matters. Other work concerns restructurings and corporate acquisitions. Senior associate Bassem Chalhoub is also a name to note.

Kabalan & Associates’ work includes commercial deals, M&A, and general corporate matters. Noureddine Kabalan advised a potential buyer on a proposed $80m purchase of a supermarket chain, and assisted Hypco with a range of operational matters. Carrefour is also a client. Nadine Azhari is a key senior associate.

Obeid Law Firm is ‘responsive, drafts well and has good bench strength’. Counsel Marie Hayek, who heads the practice, handles cross-border deals, restructurings and regulatory matters. Insurance is another area of expertise including advice to reinsurers. Associate Zeina Obeid is ‘very knowledgeable and provides in-depth responses’.

Albert and Ziad Najm Law Firm handles a range of commercial matters with particular strength in the shipping and insurance sectors. Ziad Najm is the main contact. Highlights included providing employment advice to key names in technology and media.

Baroudi & Associates’ name partner Jean Baroudi advised Motorola on liquidating its Lebanese subsidiary and handled M&A work for Caterpillar. Other clients include Microsoft, which the firm assists with employment issues; and Zurich, which it advises on insurance regulation. Josiane Lahoud, Léa Ferzli and Léa El-Khoury are also noteworthy practitioners.

Eptalex - Aziz Torbey Law Firm handles heavyweight public procurement, with expertise in IP and corporate restructuring matters. Ramy Torbey is praised for his ‘business and legal acumen and flexibility with clients’.

Hamdan Law Firm’s corporate practice advises on market entries, product regulation, commercial matters and franchising. Areas of strength include the automotive, energy and luxury goods sectors. Abdel Ghani Hamdan is the main contact.

Hannouche Associates has a particular strength in work relating to Iraq, where it has offices in Erbil, Baghdad and Basra. Michel Hannouche is a key contact.

At Law Offices of Naoum Farah, M&A practice head Naoum Farah is ‘a very thoughtful, reflective and clever lawyer, who always knows what the client wants to achieve’. Recent highlights include advising a group of industrial companies on a restructuring, and acting for a European medical company on creating a franchised medical centre in Lebanon. Reine Achkar heads the firm’s corporate department.

MENA City Lawyers has expertise in M&A, joint ventures, intellectual property and distribution agreements. Alice Choueiri heads the practice and associate Mirvat Mostafa is a name to note.