Adept in both domestic and international disputes, Abou Jaoude & Associates Law Firm
thrives on a broad spectrum of litigation and arbitration, including those within the commercial, media, energy and construction sectors. Carlos Abou Jaoude
, Rania Khoury and Simon El Kai co-lead the practice.
Dispute resolution in Lebanon
Abou Jaoude & Associates Law Firm
Testimonials
‘Great people, great lawyers, great and pragmatic advice, and simply a pleasure to deal with.’
‘The lawyers are exceptionally smart. Their insight with respect to legal strategy is very high. They strategize a case and work hard to implement it. They know very well the case, and always ask the right questions.’
Key clients
Carlos Ghosn, former CEO of the Renault-Nissan Group
Burmeister & Wain Scandinavian Contractor AJS (BWSC)
Ernst & Young
IBL Bank
Fransabank
Central Bank of Lebanon
Special Investigation Commission (SIC)
Ericsson
Capstone Investment Group
Hitachi Medical Systems Europe Holding AG
Arab Finance Corporation (AFC)
Azure Fund
Areeba Sal (M1 Group)
BENTA group
LibanPost
SAMSUNG group
Lebanese Broadcasting Corporation International Group (LBCI group)
Codipha
SITA group
FFA Real Estate Sal
Work highlights
- Acting as lead counsel spearheading a global defense team of prominent international law firms in more than seven jurisdictions, the Firm advised Carlos Ghosn, the former CEO of the Renault-Nissan Group, on over 15 high-profile globally mediatized legal cases opposing him to Nissan/Renault and related parties.
- Advised leading Lebanese bank IBL on a major US$100 million BCCI arbitration case against Iraq Telecom Limited with a critical impact amidst Lebanon’s unprecedented banking crisis, involving multiple jurisdictions, and ancillary attachments lawsuits in Lebanon and New York.
- Advised the Central Bank of Lebanon on a highly complex lawsuit challenging the legality of Circular 151 related to the withdrawal of USD deposits in LBP, a first-of-its kind critical capital control regulation issued by the Central Bank amidst Lebanon’s unprecedented financial and banking crisis with a major impact on currency exchange rates.
Alem & Associates
Alem & Associates‘ ‘very knowledgeable’ Beirut office continues to play a key role in both litigation in Lebanon and coordinating disputes across the Gulf region (including succeeding in the often challenging enforcement of actions), owing to its presence is Saudi Arabia and the UAE. Renowned for its international arbitration expertise, and in particular, construction disputes, the team led by Mohammed Alem ‘are very responsive and always on top of the matter’. ‘Detailed oriented’ senior litigator Nader Obeid ‘s practice ranges from commercial disputes, through to telecoms, aviation and banking. Raymond El Helou heads the white-collar defence and government investigations practice, while senior associate Rana Kahwagi ‘is a very good arbitration practitioner.’
Practice head(s):
Mohamed Alem; Raymond El Helou; Nader Obeid
Other key lawyers:
Rana Kahwagi
Testimonials
‘The team at Alem and Associates are very collaborative and provide clear information to any situation you are in. They are very structured, diligent and transparent.’
‘The team is very knowledgeable. They have good understanding of the applicable law and their advices comes in addition of their knowledge of their client business. They guide their client all the way. They are very responsive and always on top of the matter. I worked with Nader Obeid and he was very detailed oriented in assessing the matter.’
‘Rana Kahwagi is a very good arbitration practitioner.’
El-Khoury & Partners
El-Khoury & Partners‘s ‘competent, efficient and knowledgeable team’ remains a top choice for disputes throughout Lebanon and the Middle East in commercial litigation, employment, insurance, TMT and construction arbitration. Founder and managing partner Ziad El-Khoury has over 22 years of experience in high-end disputes across the region, principally in commercial and banking disputes. Georges Okais focuses on domestic disputes involving investigations and compliance issues and is assisted by senior associate, Bassem Chalhoub.
Practice head(s):
Ziad El-Khoury; Georges Okais
Other key lawyers:
Bassem Chalhoub
Testimonials
‘Competent, efficient and knowledgeable team. They deliver punctually and reveal an in-depth understanding of the business requirement.’
‘They are readily accessible and respond promptly. They are professional yet personal in their approach. They simplify complex issues and address particularities in detail.’
‘Internationally qualified lawyers dealing in highly specialised areas which traditionally have not been properly serviced in Lebanon and neighbouring countries.’
‘ Ziad Khoury- commercial, particularly in cutting edge fields for the region, (PPP, renewable energy projects and arbitrations).’
Key clients
BankMed
Work highlights
- Represent BankMed SAL in relation to the enforcement of a DIFC recognized order note for a value of US $ 4,2m against assets owned by a Saudi entity, the latter being the guarantor.
Hage-Chahine Law Firm
Hage-Chahine Law Firm has a long-standing history of winning landmark inheritance cases, corporate disputes and cases involving commercial agencies and franchises. Following the August 2020 blast in Beirut, the firm is active in a special working group created by the Beirut Bar Association tasked with handling over 1400 claims for damages. Founding partner Fayez Hage-Chahine is a distinguished litigator and arbitrator, while Najib Hage-Chahine is ‘an exceptional lawyer with a powerful sense of business objectives and priorities'. He is noted for investor-state disputes, issues of sovereign immunity and emanation of state and in matters involving foreign governments and international institutions.
Practice head(s):
Najib Hage-Chahine; Fayez Hage-Chahine
Testimonials
‘An excellent team you can trust completely, always striving for perfection in client advice and legal advice. The pearl of the whole Middle East thanks to her knowledge of the Arab world, legal procedures in Arab countries and also in France.’
‘ Nagib Chahine is absolutely remarkable ’
‘Great synergies between the team. Great talent and diversity.’
‘I got the chance to work with Najib Hage Chahine. He is always on top of things. He foresees potential problems and tackles them beforehand.’
‘The team have been exceptional in our cooperation on several highly complex multi-jurisdictional matters. They are very responsive and dedicated to positively resolving issues in the client’s interest. As I have seen, they are effective in their work and very efficient in treating the client’s time and resources.’
‘I have known Najib Hage-Chahine, the managing partner, for years. He is an exceptional lawyer with a powerful sense of business objectives and priorities. He anticipates and easily projects possible outcomes of specific actions, some of which we had not even considered.’
Obeid & Partners
Obeid & Partners is reputed for its extensive expertise of cross-border disputes, and often represents significant blue-chip companies, foreign governments and public law entities. Managing partner Ziad Obeid is well-versed in international civil and commercial litigation and co-leads the team alongside Nayla Comair-Obeid. Zeina Obeid and Bryan Dayton are also noted for their arbitration capabilities.
Practice head(s):
Nayla Comair-Obeid: Ziad Obeid
Other key lawyers:
Zeina Obeid; Bryan Dayton
Key clients
Commercial Bank of Dubai
Al Ghurair Foods
Allergan SAS
Apple Inc.
Astellas Pharma Europe Ltd.
Boehringer Ingelheim
Hugo Boss AG
IMMS Ltd
Kingdom Hotel Investments (KHI)
KPMG
Badri and Salim El Meouchi LLP
Badri and Salim El Meouchi LLP‘s managing partner, Salim El Meouchi , has a longstanding courtroom record acting in corporate, commercial, tax, banking dispute resolution, both in litigation and arbitration. He also sits as arbitrator before the ICC Commercial Court of Arbitration and other institutional and ad hoc arbitrations. Chadia El Meouchi is another corporate partner with a significant litigious practice.
Practice head(s):
Salim El Meouchi; Chadia El Meouchi
Law Offices of Naoum Farah
Praised for his ‘outstanding experience’ and extensive legal career, senior partner Naoum Farah is the lead figure at namesake firm, Law Offices of Naoum Farah. The team remains highly sought after for domestic civil and criminal litigation and counts disputes relating to TMT and entertainment as a core area of work. Weygand Farhat leads the white-collar defence practice, while Roula Tayar and Mirna Hneiny comprise the other commercial litigators.
Practice head(s):
Naoum Farah; Roula Tayar; Weygand Farhat
Other key lawyers:
Mirna Hneiny
Testimonials
‘Outstanding experience of Mr Naoum Farah.’
‘I have worked directly with Mr Naoum Farah. He always has a clear view of the outcome we are looking for and develops a strategy that leads you to the wanted outcome.’
Key clients
Bellevue Medical Center (BMC)” Hospital
Brands Holding sal |(Shuman poultry farms)
T.G.F Holding sal
TGF (Toufic Gargour and Fils) sal
Joseph Khoury Holding sal
G. Bazerji et Fils (GBF) sal (Nabil Bazerji)
Lebanese Broadcasting Corporation International sal (LBCI)
SOFIDAL Holding sal (Assad Dagher)
Work highlights
- Representing the interests of the former Chairman CEO of the Port of Beirut, Hassan Koraytem and MP and former Minister of Interior, Nohad Machnouk as defendants in the criminal lawsuit pertaining to the Port of Beirut’s blast (August 4, 2020).
Albert and Ziad Najm Law Firm
Albert and Ziad Najm Law Firm specialises in insurance, reinsurance law and shipping law, representing several local and international insurers, shipping companies and port operators. Aline Daou and Nadyn Souaiby are the key contacts.
Practice head(s):
Aline Daou; Nadyn Souaiby
Testimonials
‘Dynamic and solid competence.’
‘They possess the knowledge of the actual developments in local, national and world business, particularly issues that impact a law firm and its clients. They are accurate, punctual and pay attention to details. They collaborate as a team consisting from different ages, genders, and diversified ethical background to solve problems in a creative way.’
‘They are confident, trustworthy and available 24/7 to respond and assist. They are experienced and pay attention to details.’
Key clients
Commercial Bank of Dubai.
Nokia.
Nestlé.
Ferring|.
Coca-Cola.
Ha|e|monetica|.
Dell.
Swiss Re Life Reinsurance|.
Swiss Re.
Scor| Reinsurance.
Zurich reinsurance.
Partner Re.
Mimaki.
Cotecna|.
Munich Re.
CMA CGM (The third largest| shipping| carrier in the world).
Libano|-Suisse Insurance
Allianz SAL| (Insurance)
AXA Middle East Insurance
BCTC (Beirut Container Terminal Consortium SAL)| Port |Opertaor
LIA Insurance SAL
Nasco France|
Arope| Insurance SAL
Fidelity Insurance
Work highlights
- Handling the claim on behalf of Axa Middle East as insurers for a lost cargo of steel of $8.5m against owners of M-V Miral express for the sinking of the ship.
Obeid & Medawar Law Firm LLP
Lauded as a ‘distinguished consultancy with unquestionable dedication’, Obeid & Medawar Law Firm LLP
handles the full extent of civil litigation and arbitration, with notable strength in construction, shareholder and contractual disputes. The firm also has a strong record handling enforcement of awards against private and public entities. Amer F. Obeid and Rachad A. Medawar are the key contacts.
Testimonials
‘I can sum up my experience with O&M law firm as a distinguished consultancy with high responsiveness rates, and unquestionable dedication. They have a set of policies in their firm that they apply to clients, where you can make sure that all the principles of ethics and transparency and ESG rules are in place.’
‘I have known Mr. Amer Obeid for over 20 years and hold him as well as his law firm in the highest regard. He is a man of good faith and character. He has proved to be one of the most qualified attorneys that are passionate about their profession and are willing to pour all their efforts in granting their clients the most successful achievements. I trust and solicit his opinion in all of my legal queries.’
Key clients
Adir Insurance and Reinsurance SAL
AEM Holding SAL
Beyond your limits events LLC
Beyond your luck Offshore SAL
Byblos Bank SAL
Chez Sami SAL Holding
Crystal Mountain SAL
Cumberland Insurance and Reinsurance SAL
Dani Chaccour
Edenred SAL
Global Blue SAL
Gulftainer SAL
Inventis Services SAL
Inventis Corporation Offshore SAL
Lavajet SAL
Lavajet Al Ain
Lebanese Parliament
Lycee D’orient
Rachid Rahme
Rotana Hotels Management Corporation
Sauce Capital Investments SPV LTD
Seaiby Exchange House SCS
SNH engineering and contracting SAL
Societe de Gestion Des Restaurants SAL
Tamayyaz Sal
Work highlights
- Successfully represented Batco SAL (part of the JV FSB-Batco Ferrovial which was awarded the project of construction of the Batinah expressway in Oman.) in an arbitration dispute against the sultanate of Oman. T.
- Acting for one of the leading banks in Lebanon. After the economic crisis and in order to minimize its losses, we assisted the bank during the negotiation of amicable settlements for 121 active lawsuits for unpaid housing and commercial loans.
- Represented Lavajet in the dispute with one of its biggest contractors.
Airut Law Offices
Led by Charles Airut and Marie Antoinette Airut, Airut Law Offices has developed a specialism advising on debt collection and enforcement proceedings. The practice is active in high-profile banking litigation, especially commercial disputes and those arising out of the ongoing Lebanese political and financial crisis.
Practice head(s):
Charles Airut; Marie Antoinette Airut
Testimonials
‘The senior partners at Airut Law are involved in every matter handled by the firm, and they give due care to their work product.’
‘In addition to the practical experience of the firm, the member of the office will revisit and research every legal issue in order to perfect their craft and stay up to date.’
‘Airut Law Office takes any case as a personal instruction and give it the full dedication, passion and hard-work to make sure everything runs smoothly.’
Key clients
ABC SAL
Brothers Electronics SAL (former distributor of LG in Lebanon)
Bank of Beirut SAL
Bank Byblos SAL
IBL Bank SAL
Credit Libanais SAL
Movenpick Hotel Beirut
Lebanese American University
Lebanese American University Medical Center – Rizk Hospital (LAUMC-RH)
Demerjian Global Offshore SAL
MGM Capital SAL
MAN Enterprise SAL
Work highlights
- Advising MGM Capital in a multi-million dollars lawsuits between subsidiaries of MGM Capital and an individual that had acquired assets from MGM Capital for nearly USD $ 40m.
- Filing criminal lawsuits and following matters with local police in respect of a widespread fake degree scandal. The Lebanese American University is part of a scandal and it has more than 20 ongoing forged degrees claims currently ongoing.
- Advise Bank of Beirut SAL in more than 30 debt collection claims as well as more than thirty (30) lawsuits relating to withdrawal and transfer of funds from the Bank.
MENA City Lawyers
MENA City Lawyers represents domestic claimants and respondents, both individuals and corporates, in disputes involving financial services, commercial agreement, construction, family law and real estate matters. Key litigators include Fady Jamaleddine, Hanadi El Hajj and Hussein Kazan .
Practice head(s):
Hanadi El Hajj; Mr. Hussein Kazan
Other key lawyers:
Fady Jamaleddine
Tohme Law Firm
Tohme Law Firm‘s expertise covers litigation and arbitration, both domestic and international, in the areas of commercial, banking, insolvency, inheritance and real estate. Led by ‘a very capable’ managing partner in Carine Tohme, the practice is an experienced counsel in white-collar criminal investigations and prosecutions.
Practice head(s):
Carine Tohme
Testimonials
‘The office has always been renowned for the high-quality legal services they provide. The office is part of a broad network of law offices from around the world and have an exposure on all the latest developments that keeps them up to speed with the other jurisdictions despite the extreme difficult situation that Lebanon is going through.’
‘The team members are all trilingual, with very nice and accommodating personalities. They are know their cases and identify the legal issues and risks at hand. the diversification of their work makes each one of them a highly qualified lawyer in their jurisdiction.’