The Legal 500

Position

Partner. Specialty Areas: Hotel, Travel and Touristic Establishments Law.

Career

Dr. El Mahdy joined the Firm in 2000 as a senior associate and in July 2009 he was promoted to partner. Dr. El Mahdy is a key member of the Tourism and Hotels Department at the Office, whereas he is involved in the area of Hotels and Tourism, and related contracts, litigation and arbitration arising therefrom. Dr. El Mahdy provides legal advice to some of the world's leading hotel owners and operators on various issues relating to Hotel Management Agreements, Touristic Units' Sale Agreements, Timeshare projects, marketing..etc.. Working on a wide range of sophisticated transactions Dr. El Mahdy acquired substantial experience in the development, financing, acquisition, franchising and operations of hotels, resorts, spas, golf courses and condominium hotels. Major Accomplishments: • In 2009 the Tourism, Hotels and Services Department has successfully closed one of the biggest deals of the year between Wings for Tourism Investment, an Egyptian company and member in the Wings Group specialized in the field of tourism and hotel development and investment in Egypt, and Atlantica Leisure Group, an international group of companies specialized in the field of tourism, hotels and tour-operating business. The deal aimed mainly at combining the parties’ strengths and resources in the activities of four Joint Venture Companies, so as to maximize their operating efficiencies, purchasing power and commercial influence as well as to identify and plan potential investments, to build, acquire, develop, manage market and commercially exploit hotels in Egypt. Closing the said deal successfully and in compliance with Egyptian laws and regulations, entailed the drafting and negotiation of all Agreements and Exhibits related to the said deal, which were successfully executed by the Parties (JV Agreement, Management Agreements, Usufruct Agreements, Lease Agreements, Loan Agreements and Consultancy Agreements). • In 2008 Dr. El Mahdy participated in one of the most successful accomplishments for Shalakany Law Office’s Tourism and Hotels Group and that was the signing of a Management Agreement for the Marriott – Marsa Alam Hotel and Resort between our client, Concord for Touristic Development Company, represented by Mr. Hamada Abou El Enein, and Marriott Hotels International, represented by Mr. G. W. Marriott. The successful negotiations, drafting and conclusion of the Management Agreement and all other related Agreements for the Marriott- Marsa Alam were all made possible by the diligence and hard work of the team headed by Mr. Saleh Hafez, Senior Partner and leading expert in the Middle East on tourism related contracts and arbitrations arising therefrom, as well as Dr. Moataz El Mahdy. Dr. Moataz El Mahdy is an assistant professor at the Civil Law Department- Faculty of Law, Cairo University, and a senior lecturer at the Faculty of Commerce and the Faculty of Economics & Political Science, English, French and Arabic Departments, Cairo University, Egypt.

Languages

French, English and Arabic.

Education

Dr. Moataz El Mahdy obtained an LL.B. from Cairo University in 1997, a Diploma in Private Law in 1998, and a Diploma in Islamic Law in 1999. Dr. El Mahdy presented a doctoral dissertation entitled "Hotel Accommodation Agreement and Civil Liability of Hotels" and was awarded his PH.D with honors from Cairo University.