Matouk Bassiouny & Hennawy has two lead partners who are highly respected by clients and peers alike. John Matouk and Amr Abbas lead a 17-lawyer practice that has a high profile in high-stakes matters in domestic and foreign arbitration fora, with its work covering key sectors such as telecoms, energy, hospitality, pharmaceuticals, cement and construction. The firm has the largest dispute resolution team in Egypt, and one of the largest in the MENA region handling arbitration and litigation, and has a high success rate that it maintained by securing a EGP200m arbitral award for Reliance Heavy Industries.

The team at Shahid Law Firm is 'very responsive, user-friendly and delivers high-quality work'. The firm is frequently involved in landmark arbitration cases both in Egypt and abroad, with notable recent work including its representation of the Confederation of African Football against Lagardère Sports in ICC Emergency Arbitration proceedings regarding the termination of a 28-year $1bn contract. The 'smart , responsive' Girgis Abd El-Shahid and Tarek Badawy (who offers 'practical solutions to problems', are the lead partners. Senior associate Inji Fathalla and new hires including senior associate Salma Abdel Aziz from Youssef & Partners Attorneys and Georges Ghali from CRCICA are also recommended. César Ternieden moved to Youssef & Partners Attorneys.

Shalakany Law Office, which has a 14-lawyer dispute resolution practice, has a strong track record in arbitration that reaches back almost 50 years. The firm handles arbitrations across the MENA region, notably for clients in the maritime, aviation, telecoms, automotive, manufacturing, hospitality and pharmaceuticals sectors. Khaled El Shalakany and Adam El Shalakany lead a practice where recent work includes matters under Egyptian, Libyan, Sudanese, Iraqi, French and Swiss law. Senior associate Muhammad Ussama plays an increasingly important role in that work.

Youssef & Partners Attorneys continues to build on its strong standing in arbitration matters, having recruited experienced practitioners with outstanding track records. Managing partner Karim A. Youssef is head of international arbitration and international law. César Ternieden joined from Shahid Law Firm in 2020 and Kamel Elshandidy was also a new arrival from his previous position as in-house counsel with Saudi Electricity Company. The firm is known for its role in high-stakes cross-border matters, among recent examples being its representation of Damietta International Ports Company in the second largest commercial claim ever against the Egyptian state, which involved claims and counterclaims in excess of $2.3bn.

Zaki Hashem & Partners, Attorneys at Law has a track record in arbitration that reaches back almost 70 years and it continues to be involved in high-profile matters in key sectors such as energy, real estate and manufacturing. It acts for large domestic and multinational clients in matters before all major arbitration fora at home and abroad. Former practice head Mohamed Gomaa moved to Youssef & Partners Attorneys but the firm has hired Mohamed Kamel from ALC Alieldean Weshahi & Partners to lead the arbitration. Kamel, who has 32 years' experience and is a former public prosecutor, works closely with senior partner and head of dispute resolution Youssef Abou Zeid.

Zulficar & Partners Law Firm is 'very much the leader in Egypt and in the region', according to one market source. The firm frequently conducts international arbitral proceedings in diverse jurisdictions, under various laws and in different languages on behalf of corporations, investors and governmental entities from around the world. Founding partner Mohamed Abdel Wahab is head of the firm's international arbitration, construction and energy practices. He is widely regarded as a world-class arbitration practitioner. Up-and-coming partner Youssef Al Saman is also recommended. They recently secured a victory for Haggan group in a matter concerning a contract governed by French law.

The arbitration at Al Tamimi & Company is based around the stellar reputation of its partner, Khaled Attia, who is a registered arbitrator in the Cairo Regional Center for International Commercial Arbitration (CRCICA), the Dubai International Arbitration Center (DIAC) and the London Court of International Arbitration (LCIA). Focused on arbitration, competition and PPP matters, Attia frequently assists international companies with high-value matters in Egypt, as well as acting in many international fora.

Helmy, Hamza & Partners (member firm of Baker & McKenzie International) has a team of five counsels in Cairo who work with the firm's international network of offices to handle cases in a host of arbitration fora, including those in Egypt. Head of dispute resolution Abdel Aziz Hassouba and head of real estate Mohamed Hafez are among the key practitioners. Much of their recent work has focused on labour arbitration in the hospitality and financial services sectors.

Rizkana & Partners has an experienced arbitration practice based around the senior partner Hazim Rizkana, who has almost 40 years' experience in high-profile and high-value cases. He has frequently acted as chair and co-arbitrator in several local and international arbitrations under CRCICA, ICC, and UNICTRAL rule, as well as counsel in domestic and international matters. The firm's work spans investment disputes in sectors as diverse as construction, telecoms, oil and gas and waste management. It also has a strong track record in challenging arbitral awards.

The firm that was Kosheri, Rashed & Riad is now known as Tarek Riad - Legal Consultants and Attorneys at Law. Name partner Tarek Riad is a former chair of the executive committee of the Dubai International Arbitration Centre and remains a key advisor to international clients in high-stakes arbitration both in Egypt and abroad. As well as acting for high-profile international brands, the firm also frequently represents the Egyptian government.

Al Kamel Law Office is frequently chosen by international law firms to act as local counsel in both litigation and arbitration matters. Mohamed Kamel and head of litigation Joseph Morcos handle most of the firm's arbitration work, which includes high-stakes disputes in the energy, shipping and, more recently, education sectors.

Ibrachy Legal Consultancy joins the ranking having rebuilt its practice around the hire of senior partner and head of arbitration Abdallah El Shehaby in 2019 from Rizkana & Partners to lead the 'honest, positive and efficient' practice. The firm's six-lawyer team acts in domestic and international arbitration proceedings involving both Egyptian and foreign laws, and it handles matters relating to the financial services, competition, construction, energy and natural resources, insurance, entertainment and sports sectors.

Karim Adel Law Office has a busy dispute resolution practice, especially in matters relating to the hotel and tourism sector, though its recent work includes arbitration matters for well known brands in the energy and cosmetics industries. Managing partner Karim Adel is the main contact and partner Bishoy Safwat is also noted for his work in the hotel sector.

Khodeir & Partners joins the ranking this year, having made a quick impression since it was founded three years ago. 'Very meticulous and experienced' partner Ahmed Kotb leads the practice, having joined from Al Tamimi & Company. Focusing on key sectors such as construction, banking, international trade, technology and telecoms, the firm also handles matters relating to the protection of domestic and foreign investment.

Managing partner Amir Marghany leads the arbitration practice at Marghany Advocates, which is increasingly involved in cross-border and domestic matters. Prominent in its recent caseload is a series of arbitrations for Egyptian investment company Euroget before the ICC concerning contracts with overseas partners. Senior associate Hend El Hakim also plays a key role in the firm's most significant cases.

Riad & Riad has a dispute resolution group that, although focused more on litigation, is able to handle high-value arbitration cases in major international and domestic fora. Fatma Salah, Eman Riad and Mohamed Riad, whose work includes collective labour disputes and arbitration matters, are the key practitioners. Salah recently represented a Korean company in a CRCICA matter. Senior associate Omayma Ragab is increasingly involved in the firm's major arbitration cases.