Helmy, Hamza & Partners (member firm of Baker & McKenzie International)‘ employment offering is a leading advisor on a diverse spectrum of employment-related matters arising out of corporate transactions and operations in the Gulf. Corporate and commercial specialist Ghada El Ehwany leads the team and oversees a practice noted for its excellent transactional, advisory and litigation capabilities. She is substantially supported by Heba Samy, who was promoted to senior associate in July 2023. Counsel Saber Soliman departed the firm in June 2023.

Riad & Riad’s team is ‘generally great and sophisticated with employment law matters’, covering the range of employment, labour and social insurance laws, including gig work, HR compliance and handbooks, restrictive covenants, discrimination and employment termination. Eman Riad jointly leads the practice and consistently demonstrates ‘outstanding legal knowledge and provides clear legal advice on labour laws’. Co-head Mohamed Riad has a strong reputation for labour and employment disputes, regularly handling a number of complex termination and dismissal cases.

‘An excellent team of highly qualified experts’, Shahid Law Firm has a well established presence in the Egyptian employment space and regularly acts for large multinational corporations, industrial conglomerates and public sector entities. Practice head Rasha Maurice consistently demonstrates ‘extensive knowledge, responsiveness and patience’ when handling complex employment matters, including advising corporates on employee contracts, work policies and terminations. The practice also maintains strong relationships with a number of significant government entities, including the Ministry of Manpower and National Organisation for Social Insurance.

Matouk Bassiouny & Hennawy provides ‘clear and succinct employment advice’, with a particular strength for contentious and non-contentious labour law matters related to restructuring and M&A. The practice is jointly led by the experienced team of Tamer Fawki and senior associate Susan Romana, both of whom cover the spectrum of day-to-day employment matters, spanning employee contracts, social insurance, HR policy, personal investigations and redundancies.

Rizkana & Partners are trusted advisors to an abundance of Egyptian and multinational corporations on all aspects of labour and social insurance law, including recruitment regulatory processes, employee restructuring and benefits and disputes. Managing partner Hazim Rizkana is a respected authority for employment and pension work, having assisted various hotels and management companies on employee handover and union matters.

Shalakany Law Office has consolidated a reputation for ‘very good knowledge of the court and labour office practices in Egypt’, regularly providing ‘pragmatic and practical advice’ on contracts, policies, benefits and redundancies. Sharif Shihata and Mariam Fahmy are key contacts within a practice that has accumulated significant alternative dispute resolution experience related to employment and labour disputes.

Zaki Hashem & Partners, Attorneys at Law remains a prominent firm for local and multinational companies operating in Egypt, assisting on all stages of the employer-employee relationship. The firm is particularly noteworthy for its labour law expertise related to corporate restructuring and acquisitions, as well as employment-related due diligence. Litigation specialist Omar Abou Elenain leads the team and is instrumental in the firm’s strong track record for labour dispute settlement and collective labour agreements. Hala Hashem is also a pivotal presence for formulating employment policies, negotiating employee agreements and advising on employee transfers.

ADSERO-Ragy Soliman & Partners’ employment practice is ‘unique’, as not only does it have a comprehensive understanding of Egypt’s employment and labour laws, but it also understands ‘from a practical standpoint what is really happening in the market’. Alia Monieb, who was promoted to partner in October 2023, leads the practice and is well-versed in acting for international and multinational clients on local employment issues, including investigations and disciplinary procedures, internal policy review and employment aspects of restructuring and M&A transactions.