Zulficar & Partners Law Firm > Cairo, Egypt > Firm Profile
Zulficar & Partners Law Firm Offices
NILE CITY BUILDING, SOUTH TOWER, 8TH FLOOR
2005 A CORNICH EL NIL
RAMLET BEAULAC, CAIRO 11221
Egypt
Zulficar & Partners Law Firm > The Legal 500 Rankings
Egypt > Banking and finance Tier 1
Zulficar & Partners Law Firm handles a steady stream of high-value banking, project and Islamic finance transactions, as well as advising lenders and borrowers on sophisticated syndicated loans, club deals and debt restructuring agreements. The team is led by the founding partner pair of Mona Zulficar
, who is a project finance specialist, and Ashraf Ihab, who has a robust track record in a diverse range of complex transactions spanning credit facilities and debt restructuring agreements. Dania El Samad is also developing a strong project finance practice, regularly acting for a number of top lenders, borrowers, and governmental and corporate entities. Practice head(s):
Ashraf Ihab; Mona Zulficar
Other key lawyers:
Key clients
Al Ahli Bank of Kuwait – Egypt
Al Ahli Bank of Kuwait K.S.C.P
Arab African International Bank
Arab Banking Corporation
African Export-Import Bank
Audi Bank
Banque Misr
Beltone Financial
Cairo Investment for Real Estate Development
Capital Med
Central Bank of Egypt
Citi Bank
Citadel Capital
Commercial International Bank
Credit Agricole Egypt
EFG Hermes
Egyptian Mud Engineering & Chemicals Co.
Egyptian Methanex Methanol Company, SAE
Fawry
Ghabbour Auto
GB Capital
MUFG Securities EMEA plc.
National Bank of Egypt
National Bank of Kuwait
National Automotive Company
Powertek (Formerly Tanjong)
SCATEC| Egypt
Sky Finance
Societe Generale Bank
Suez Canal Bank
The European Bank for Reconstruction & Development
The United Bank
The Bank of New York Mellon
The Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi
Work highlights
- Advised National Bank of Egypt, SAE on the syndicated long-term facility agreement amounting to EGP 2,000,000,000 to Bawabet Al Sharq New Cairo for Real Estate Investment Company S.A.E to partially finance the development cost of zones 2D and 3D of the City Gate project located in Cairo.
- Advised Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank PJSC ISDA on the financing transaction referencing T-Bills under the ISDA Master Agreement and Schedule, the 1995 Credit Support Annex and the confirmation thereto between ADCB and Central Bank of Egypt.
- Advised Cairo Investment for Real Estate S.A.E (CIRA) on the issuance of the first securitisation bonds against future financial rights in Egypt amounting to EGP 2,000,000,000.
Egypt > Commercial, corporate and M&A Tier 1
The corporate group at Zulficar & Partners Law Firm is highly skilled in the fields of corporate, M&A and capital markets, and is especially strong in a number of key economic sectors, including banking, education, healthcare, renewables and real estate. Founding partner Ingy Badawy heads the corporate and M&A side of the practice, bringing a particularly solid reputation for cross-border restructurings, IPOs and private equity funding transactions, while fellow founding partner Anwar Zeidan leads the capital markets and procedures offering.Practice head(s):
Ingy Badawy; Anwar Zeidan
Key clients
ABC Bank Egypt
Apache Corporation
APEX
Al –Ahli Bank of Kuwait Egypt
Banque Misr
B.TECH
Cairo for Investment & Real Estate Development
Camel Flour Mills-Moatabar Group
Cleopatra Hospitals Group
Coca-Cola Hellenic Bottling Company
Credit Agricole
EDITA
EFG Hermes
Energizer
Fawry for Banking Technology and Electronic Payment
Guardian Egypt – Egyptian Glass S.A.E
Gourmet Egypt
Sika Egypt
Sodic
The Sovereign Fund of Egypt
Taqa Arabia
Telecom Egypt
Qalaa Holding
Khaled Khoshala for Industry and Trading
Lighthouse Education Company
Work highlights
- Advised the Sovereign Fund of Egypt on a landmark transaction covering its joint investment with B Investments and El Ezaby Pharma in EZ International.
- Advised Sika Group on its acquisition of 50% of MBS Construction Chemicals Egypt S.A.E and 4% of MBS Construction Chemicals Trading S.A.E from United Holding Company S.A.E and Middle East Sealants & Adhesives (MESA) S.A.E (both indirect subsidiaries of Orascom Construction PLC).
- Advised Camel Flour Mills S.A.E, a principal player in the grain milling industry, on its acquisition of Five Star Group of companies.
Egypt > Dispute resolution: arbitration Tier 1
Zulficar & Partners Law Firm houses an 'excellent' team, which stands out for providing 'succinct and crisp advice on the most complex commercial and technical matters'. The group is well versed in handling CRCICA, DIAC, ICC, LCIA and SIAC arbitration proceedings, and has specialist expertise in international commercial and investment arbitrations. The ‘highly insightful and imaginative’ Mohamed Abdel Wahab heads up the practice. Youssef Al Saman acts for public and private sector clients on cross-border commercial disputes, and investment arbitration expert Moustafa Alameldin has been kept busy representing foreign clients in ICC and ICSID proceedings.Practice head(s):
Mohamed Abdel Wahab
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘It is a committed, hard working practice with dedicated leadership and staff able successfully through detailed investigation, testing, and analysis to identify and coordinate the legal theory of the case with the factual and expert evidence.’
‘They take individual dedicated responsibility in the formulation of the case, understanding, assembly, and presentation of the evidence including, crucially, and together with the experts the special areas of focus including preparation for and conduct of the hearing and the assembly of focused and effective post-hearing briefs.’
‘Excellent disputes team who manage to provide succinct, crisp advice on the most complex commercial and technical matters. Highly approachable and responsive. Great to work with.’
‘Mohamed Abdel Wahab is a true expert in every aspect of commercial disputes, highly insightful and imaginative and extremely personable to work with.’
‘Responsiveness, depth of knowledge and an edge on strategic planning.’
‘Mohamed Abdel Wahab is very highly regarded by peers in the international arbitration community. He knows arbitration inside and out. He is smart, experienced, has great communication skills. His professionalism, integrity, moral values and work ethics are exceptional.’
‘Mohamed Abdel Wahab leads a large team of dispute resolution lawyers; and they are quite the force to be reckoned with. It is clear that he invests time in nurturing younger talent, and he gives them space to lead aspects of the transaction.’
Key clients
Amer Group
Apache
APM Terminals (Suez Canal Container Terminal)
Bawabet Al Kuwait Holding Co.
Cheiron Zaafarana petroleum company limited
Egyptian Fertilizers Company (EFC)/ Orascom Construction Industries (OCI)
E-Methanex
HZPC
Nile Douma Holding
Orange
Pico Petroleum
Sixth October development and investment company s.a.e. (Sodic)
Taqa
Total S.A
Work highlights
- Represented a leading engineering company in a CRCICA dispute against a cement company in relation to a maintenance, operation and supply agreement.
- Represented the client, an Egyptian state-owned entity, in a multi-million dollar ICC arbitration dispute involving a Slovenian pharmaceutical company.
- Represented the client in CRCICA arbitration proceedings brought by the selling shareholder of Nile Badrawi Hospital S.A.E. against the Commercial International Bank S.A.E. and the client in relation to an escrow agreement.
Egypt > Dispute resolution: litigation Tier 1
The litigation department at Zulficar & Partners Law Firm is a strong choice for multijurisdictional disputes, with established strength in handling contentious banking, employment, competition and commercial matters. Founding partner Mahmoud Shaltout heads up the practice and has extensive expertise in advising on contentious tax and IP cases, among other areas. He is ably supported by labour law specialist Eslam El Dessouki.Practice head(s):
Mahmoud Shaltout
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘They have a skilled team with all specialties, and problems are solved professionally and in a short time.’
Key clients
Alexandria Portland Cement Co. (APCC)
Adeptio AD Investment SPC
AMER Group
Beni Suef Cement Co. (BSCC)
British American Tobacco Egypt
Cemex
Citibank N.A.
Egyptian Dutch Dredging Company Ltd
EMethanex
Energizer
Guardian
Helwan Cement Co. (HCC)
IBM Egypt
Marakez
National Bank of Egypt
ORANGE
Pirelli /Prometeon
Powertek/ EDRA POWER HOLDINGS SDN BHD (Formerly Tanjong)
Phillip Morris
Qalaa Holdings
Richemont International SA
Suez Cement Company SAE
Sodic
Tourah Portland Cement Co. (TPCC)
Taqa Arabia
Taqa Marketing
Torrecid
First for Real Estate and Touristic Development
GrafTech International Holdings Inc
Egypt > Energy Tier 3
Zulficar & Partners Law Firm > Firm Profile
Zulficar & Partners is a premier international arbitration and corporate law firm based in the heart of Cairo, Egypt, providing a comprehensive range of legal services, to a diverse array of clients, both in Egypt and internationally.
Since its establishment in 2009, the firm has been providing a comprehensive range of state-of-the-art legal services to a diverse portfolio of national and international commercial, investment, industrial and financial clients, as well as state and state-owned entities. Zulficar & Partners has established itself as a legal market leader regionally and a a precedent maker across all sectors and disciplines, with a clear track record of success, being well known for its innovative, strategic and result- oriented.
Zulficar & Partners leads the market with five- star quality groups of 16 partners and more than 65 senior associates, associates and counsels. The firm was founded by seven founding partners, where Ms Mona Zulficar serves as the chair of the executive committee.
The firm is regularly ranked as a first-tier dispute resolution and arbitration practice and regularly features as a leading dispute resolutions and and arbitration firm in leading directories. It is the only Egyptian firm that featured for no less than nine consecutive years in the GAR100 guide to the world’s top arbitration firms since 2015.
In 2023, Zulficar & Partners was top- ranked by Chambers Global Guide 2023, in banking and finance, capital markets, corporate/ M&A, dispute resolution: arbitration and litigation (Egypt), naming Prof Dr Mohamed Abdel Wahab, founding partner and head of the international arbitration, construction and oil and gas groups, as “one of the best- known arbitration lawyers in Egypt” and Mr Mahmoud Shaltout, founding partner and head of the litigation group as “Smart, good on his feet and very engaged” and naming Ms Mona Zulficar “The guru of banking law” and Mr Anwar Zeidan, founding partner and head of the capital market and procedures groups , as “One of the best in capital markets” and Mariam El Masry, partner at the M&A group as “A very Strong Lawyer“.
The IFLR1000 ranks Zulficar & Partners as TIER 1 in banking, M&A, project finance and capital markets, debt and equity, and acknowledged Ms Mona Zulficar, Ashraf Ihab, Dr Ingy Badawy and Anwar Zeidan as Highly Regarded Lawyers, Dr Firas El Samad, founding and managing partner and head of competition and technology groups, as a Notable Practitioner, and partners, Mariam El Masry and Rana Al Nahal as Rising Stars.
Lawyer Profiles
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Prof Dr Mohamed Abdel Wahab | Professor of International Arbitration, Private International Law and English Contract Law, Cairo… | View Profile |
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Youssef Al Saman | Partner – Dispute Resolution and Projects | View Profile |
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Dr Moustafa Alameldin | Partner in the Firm’s International Arbitration Group. | View Profile |
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Dr Ingy Badawy | Founding Partner and Head of Mergers and Acquisitions Group | View Profile |
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Eslam El Dessouki | Partner- Litigation & Intellectual Property | View Profile |
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Mariam El Masry | Partner | View Profile |
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Rana El Nahal | Partner in the Corporate and M&As Group. She has been providing legal… | View Profile |
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Dr Firas El Samad | Founding and Managing Partner Head of Competition and Technology Groups | View Profile |
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Dania El Samad | Partner | View Profile |
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Nour El Deen El Sennawy | Partner | View Profile |
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Khaled Hammad | Partner in the Firm’s Procedures and Capital Market Department. | View Profile |
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Ashraf Ihab | Head of Banking and Finance group and Deputy Chair of the Executive… | View Profile |
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Karim Ramsis | Partner | View Profile |
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Mahmoud Shaltout | Founding Partner & Head of Litigation Group | View Profile |
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Anwar Zeidan | Founding Partner and Head of Capital Markets Group | View Profile |
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Mona Zulficar | Chairperson EFG Hermes Holding, SAE (Non-executive) (2008 – to date) Chairperson, Egyptian… | View Profile |
Spotlights
EGYPT
Zulficar & Partners is a premier arbitration and corporate law firm based in the heart of Cairo, Egypt, providing a comprehensive range of legal services, to a diverse array of clients, both in Egypt and internationally.
Since its establishment in 2009, the firm has been providing a comprehensive and bespoke range of state-of-the-art legal services to a diverse portfolio of national and international commercial, investment, industrial and financial clients, as well as state and state-owned entities.
Zulficar& Partners Firm has established itself as a legal market leader regionally and a precedent-maker across all sectors and disciplines, with a clear track record of success; being well known for its innovative, strategic, and result-oriented techniques and services.
The Firm leads the market with five-star quality groups of 16 partners and more than 65 senior associates, associates, and counsels, specializing in Arbitration, Banking and Finance, Capital Markets, Construction, Corporate/ M&As, Energy, and Litigation.
Zulficar& Partners was founded by seven Founding Partners. Ms. Mona Zulficar serves as the Chair of the Executive Committee. She is an attorney for more than 40 years, with a specialization in major restructuring projects finance, and M&A transactions, and a commitment to community activism and advocacy for human rights and women’s rights in Egypt and internationally since 1985. Ms. Zulficar has received many local, regional, and international awards, in addition to being listed by Forbes Middle East as one of the 50 most powerful businesswomen in the region for the last four consecutive years.
The Firm is well known for its award-winning and world-class Arbitration Group, founded and headed by Prof. Dr. Mohamed Abdel Wahab, the Arbitration Group is available and able to conduct international arbitral proceedings in diverse jurisdictions, under various laws, and in different languages to the highest standards of efficiency and professionalism, and is regularly instructed to represent corporations, investors and governmental entities from across the globe in arbitral proceedings under major institutional rules including the AAA, ADCCAC, CRCICA, DIAC, DIFC-LCIA, ICC, ICSID, JCAA, LCIA, LMAA, SCC, and SIAC, as well as ad-hoc proceedings governed by the UNCITRAL rules and/or diverse national laws.
Zulficar and Partner’s solid Arbitration Group is founded on a combination of knowledge, expertise, creativity, and strategic dispute management. We pride ourselves as market leaders in the world of arbitration, where we regularly prosecute cases under major institutional rules and in ad-hoc proceedings.
Zulficar and Partner’s Banking& Finance Group is founded on the achievements track records and expertise of its members. Headed by Founding Partner, Mr. Ashraf Ihab, the Banking& Finance
Group distinguishes itself by its strict observance of a set of uncompromising values and principles that mark its identity and professional culture. The Group provides a comprehensive range of legal services for a wide variety of renowned international and regional banks, financial institutions, corporate and governmental clients as well as other entities.
The Firm’s Litigation Group has extensive experience with the procedural and substantive laws in Egypt. Headed by Founding Partner Mr. Mahmoud Shaltout, our Litigation group has the expertise and required skills to represent local and international clients in all complex domestic claims, multi-jurisdictional litigation, IP & competition law practice. The Group also has an extensive well known Taxation litigation practice, further to the extensive experience handling privatization disputes.
Zulficar and Partner’s Corporate/ M&A Group is handled by two main groups within the Firm: The Mergers and Acquisition Group headed by Founding Partner Dr. Ingy Badawy and the Capital Markets and Procedural Group, headed by Founding Partner Mr. Anwar Zeidan. Founding and Managing Partner Dr. Firas El Samad is a prominent and active member of the Merger& Acquisitions Group, in addition to being the Head of the Competition Law and IT group. Ms. Mona Zulficar also provides the group with valuable support when required.
The Firm’s M&A Group is recognized and signaled for establishing precedents and introducing innovative products, structures, and solutions to the Egyptian market through its creative and proactive problem-solving approaches. The Group has represented and continues to represent clients in major domestic as well as cross-border transactions, restructuring and acquisition, joint ventures, IPOs, and private equality funding transactions in various sectors, including healthcare, banking and finance, education, electronics, E- Payment Solutions, renewable energy, oil and gas, real estate, consumer goods, and other diverse industrial sectors.
Zulficar& Partner’s Capital Markets Group is the market leader in Egypt, with extensive and significant hands-on experience in all Capital Market transactions. Headed by Founding Partner Mr. Anwar Zeidan, the Group is not only known for its in-depth- knowledge of the regulatory framework but is also proactively helping to shape regulations through its constant interaction with the regulators. Recently the Group assisted in the preparation of the first SPAC regulations. The group has been involved in most of the landmark successful tender offers and IPOs executed in Egypt during the last ten years.
The Firm is regularly ranked as a first-tier dispute resolution and arbitration practice and regularly features as a leading dispute resolution and arbitration firm in leading directories. Partners and lawyers of the Arbitration Group are regularly published on intricate and hot topics of dispute resolution and are regularly invited to speak at international dispute resolution fora and events. The Firm is the only
Egyptian Firm that featured for no less than nine consecutive years in the GAR 100 guide to the world’s top arbitration firms since 2015.
The IFLR1000 ranks the Firm as Tier 1 in Banking, M&A, Project Finance and Capital Markets; Debt& Equity, and acknowledged Mona Zulficar, Ashraf Ihab, Dr. Ingy Badawy, and Anwar Zeidan as Highly Regarded Lawyers, Dr. Firas El Samad as a Notable Practitioner,
Mariam El Masry and Rana Al Nahal as Rising Stars.
In 2023, the Firm was top-ranked by Chambers Global Guide 2023, in Banking& Finance Capital Markets, Corporate/ M&A, Dispute Resolution: Arbitration, and Dispute Resolution: Litigation (Egypt), naming Prof. Dr. Mohamed Abdel Wahab as “One of the best- known arbitration lawyers in Egypt”, and Mahmoud Shaltout as “Smart, good on his feet and very engaged.”, and naming Ms. Mona Zulficar “The guru of banking law”, and Mr. Anwar Zeidan as “ One of the best in capital markets”, and Mariam El Masry as “A very strong lawyer”.
In 2022, the Firm won Merger Control Law Firm of the Year in Egypt by the global law annual awards for the work done by Dr. Firas El Samad in this area and the WWL said “Mohamed Abdel Wahab is an all-time great of construction arbitration”.
Furthermore, the Legal 500 ranked the Firm as Top Tier in Banking and Finance, Commercial Corporate and M&A, and Dispute Resolution Arbitration and Litigation, naming Mona Zulficar, Ashraf Ihab, Anwar Zeidan, Dr. Ingy Badawy, Prof. Dr. Mohamed S. Abdel Wahab, and Mahmoud Shaltout as Leading Individuals. Partner Youssef AL Saman was mentioned as a Next- generation partner in Dispute Resolution Arbitration. Dr. Ingy Badawy was also named in the IFLR100 Women Leaders of 2022 for her continuous achievements.
In 2021, Chambers & Partners ranked the Firm as Band 1 in Dispute Resolution: Arbitration and Litigation and in Banking and Finance, naming Mona Zulficar as “One of the best banking and finance lawyers in the country” Prof. Dr. Abdel Wahab “An absolute star in arbitration”, and Mahmoud Shaltout as Band 1 in Dispute Resolution: Litigation, stating that he is “Regarded by interviewees as an ‘Exceptional Lawyer’” Band 1 in Capital Markets naming Anwar Zeidan “A leading figure in Egyptian capital markets”, and Ashraf Ihab is noted for “His in-depth knowledge of bond issuances and securitizations”.
- Banking and finance
- Commercial, corporate and M&A
- Dispute resolution: arbitration
- Dispute resolution: litigation
Top Tier Firm Rankings
- Energy