The Legal 500

DLA Matouk Bassiouny

What we say about the firm's legal practice in Egypt

Banking and finance

Within Banking and finance, DLA Piper LLP is a third tier firm,

Global firm DLA Matouk Bassiouny has considerable banking and finance capacity: notable transactions in 2010 includes advising JPMorgan, National Bank of Egypt and a syndicate of banks in granting the Egyptian General Petroleum Company (EGPC) a bridge facility of $1.5bn, and Petroleum Export IV a facility of $2bn, to finance the purchase of crude oil. John Matouk and Omar Salah Bassiouny are the key contacts at the practice.

Corporate and M&A

Within Corporate and M&A, DLA Piper LLP is a second tier firm,

The corporate & M&A practice at DLA Matouk Bassiouny acts across the industry spectrum, advising El Borg Laboratories on the acquisition of a number of operating medical laboratories in Egypt, and acting for Orascom Telecom Holding on its $130m divestment of LinkDotNet. John Matouk is ‘an experienced operator’.

Dispute resolution

Within Dispute resolution, DLA Piper LLP is a third tier firm,

DLA Matouk Bassiouny has a busy litigation and arbitration practice spearheaded by former Ibrachy & Dermarkar partner Osman Mowafi. Standout matters in 2010 included successfully defending Mitsubishi Motors Corporation in primary court proceedings concerning a highly publicised claim for $950m, and successfully defending Orascom Telecoms Holdings in another topical dispute with France Telecom.

Intellectual property

Within Intellectual property, DLA Piper LLP is a first tier firm,

DLA Matouk Bassiouny provides IP advice to its stable of corporates, including LVMH Fashion Group, oilfield services company Setcore Group and the Walt Disney Company. John Matouk and Omar Salah Bassiouny are the chief advisers.

Legal market overview

Within Legal market overview,

The legal market in Egypt is dominated by a few full-service firms, the most well known of which are Helmy, Hamza & Partners (Baker & McKenzie), Shalakany Law Office, Zaki Hashem & Partners, Attorneys at Law and Al Kamel Law Office. Two-partner practice Sharkawy & Sarhan is also prominent, together with Ibrachy Law Firm and Ibrachy & Dermarkar, which has expanded with the hire of five associates in 2009 and 2010. There have been no major shake ups since the prominent and ‘extremely well-connected’ Mona Zulficar left Shalakany Law Office to found Zulficar & Partners Law Firm in 2009. International firms do not have a strong presence on the ground, with the exception of Trowers & Hamlins in association with Nour Law Office, SNR Denton – formerly Denton Wilde Sapteand DLA Matouk Bassiouny, which all practise in collaboration with local practitioners.

Oil and gas

Within Oil and gas, DLA Piper LLP is a third tier firm,

DLA Matouk Bassiouny has an impressive client list, acting for clients such as SEGAS, which the firm advises on its Damietta LNG facilities, and a Canadian mining company, for which the firm acts on two concessions for the exploration of gold and other minerals. John Matouk and Omar Salah Bassiouny have good reputations.

Projects and infrastructure

Within Projects and infrastructure, DLA Piper LLP is a third tier firm,

Projects work is part of the full-service offering at DLA Matouk Bassiouny. The team, headed by Mahmoud Bassiouny, advises Damietta International Ports Company on all aspects of its Damietta Port Terminal, and also in 2010 advised Suez Steel Company on a $280m finance agreement to finance the expansion of its plant in Suez.


What we say worldwide

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Legal Developments by:
DLA Piper LLP

  • Sentencing guidelines for corporate manslaughter

    In February 2010 the Sentencing Guidelines Council (the SGC) issued definitive guidelines to courts on imposing appropriate sentences for corporate manslaughter and health and safety offences causing death. The SGC states that fines imposed on companies found guilty of corporate manslaughter should not fall below £500,000, while fines in respect of health and safety offences that are a significant cause of death should be at least £100,000. Crucially, the SGC declined to provide for a fixed link between the imposed fine and the turnover or profitability of the offending company.

    - DLA Piper UK LLP

Legal Developments in Egypt

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