Matouk Bassiouny UAE

Dubai, UAE | 22 July 2025 MB secures EUR 1 million victory for PGM Technologies in DIFC cross-border dispute We are delighted to announce that Matouk Bassiouny’s (“MB”) International Dispute Resolution team successfully obtained a favourable judgment for PGM Technologies in a cross-border breach of contract case before the Dubai International Financial Centre (“DIFC”) Courts. The dispute arose from a breach of contractual obligations, payment defaults, and the enforcement of agreed terms. The DIFC Court awarded our client full recovery of EUR 1,000,000, together with contractual interest at 5% per annum from the date of breach, post-judgment interest at the same rate until payment, and costs totalling USD 100,752.28. The team advising on this case was led by Ahmed Tony (Partner), supported by Youssef Nassar (Senior Associate) and Alia Elraey (Associate). Led by Founding Partner and Group Head of Dispute Resolution, F. John Matouk, our International Dispute Resolution team brings extensive experience in representing clients before the ADGM and DIFC Courts in the UAE. Our team is common law qualified, with F. John Matouk admitted in New York, Ahmed Tony in England and Wales, Youssef Nassar in New York, and Alia Elraey in England and Wales. As part of our commitment to providing comprehensive legal services, we collaborate with specialist barristers to ensure our clients receive the highest quality representation throughout the litigation process.         For more about Matouk Bassiouny, check out our website at https://matoukbassiouny.com/.

We are pleased to announce that Matouk Bassiouny (“MB”) acted as legal counsel to Spark Education Platform (“SEP”) in connection with securing a landmark strategic partnership with First School Management (“FSM”), the global advisory arm of GEMS Education (“GEMS”). This strategic collaboration will introduce GEMS-branded schools to Saudi Arabia and Bahrain, expanding access to high-quality education through a range of international curricula across the GCC. The deal marks a significant milestone in SEP’s wider plan to raise educational standards throughout the region. The MB team advising on the deal was led by Mohamed Esam (Partner, Head of Corporate and M&A UAE and FinTech ECVC) and included Moustafa Rizk (Senior Associate). For more about Matouk Bassiouny, check out our website at https://matoukbassiouny.com/.

We are pleased to announce that Stefano Beghi has joined Matouk Bassiouny as Of Counsel in the Corporate and M&A practice group in our Dubai office. Stefano brings over three decades of experience advising clients across the EMEA region on corporate, commercial, and M&A matters. Having worked extensively in Asia and the UAE for almost fifteen years, he offers a strong command of the local legal environment, complemented by a global outlook and cross-border execution capabilities. Stefano previously served as a partner in the international M&A practice at Seyfarth Shaw, held senior partner roles at Gianni & Origoni, where he helped lead operations in Italy, India, Hong Kong, and Shanghai, and also spent a decade with Ernst & Young and Andersen Legal in Europe. His cross-border capabilities and cultural fluency make him a trusted advisor to multinationals navigating high-value transactions and strategic investments. We are confident that Stefano’s joining will further strengthen our regional offering and enhance the value we deliver to clients across industries and borders. For more on Stefano’s background and expertise, visit: https://matoukbassiouny.com/counsel-profile/stefano-beghi/.

We are pleased to announce that Matouk Bassiouny (“MB”) acted as legal counsel to Development Partners International’s Nclude Fund in connection with its participation in Nawy’s USD 52 million Series A funding round. The Series A round will enable Nawy to accelerate product development, integrate AI into its operations, and pursue its vision of acquiring smaller businesses. The MB team advising on the transaction was led by Mohamed Essam (Partner, Head of Corporate and M&A UAE Offices and ECVC) and included Moustafa Rizk (Senior Associate). For more about Matouk Bassiouny, check out our website at https://matoukbassiouny.com/.

We are pleased to announce that Matouk Bassiouny (“MB”) acted as legal counsel to DPI Venture Capital, the venture arm of Development Partners International (“DPI”) on leading Sylndr’s Series A funding round via Nclude Fund. As the lead investor, DPI Venture Capital through the Nclude Fund continues to support mission-driven founders delivering transformative, technology-led solutions across Africa and the Middle East. With a capital injection of USD 15.7 million from all investors, Sylndr plans to accelerate its operational expansion, deepen its technology capabilities, and broaden its suite of services for both consumers and dealers. The MB team advising on the transaction was led by Mohamed Essam (Partner, Head of Corporate and M&A UAE Offices and ECVC) and included Moustafa Rizk (Senior Associate) and Ahmed Hatem (Associate). For more about Matouk Bassiouny, check out our website at https://matoukbassiouny.com/.

We are pleased to announce that Matouk Bassiouny (“MB”) acted as legal counsel to Money Fellows, Africa’s leading fintech digital platform, on its USD 13 million financing round, advising on all legal aspects of the transaction, including structuring, negotiation, and documentation, to ensure a smooth and compliant execution aligned with the company’s growth objectives and digital strategy. This strategic expansion increases the company’s total investment to over USD 60 million since its founding, fueling the continued development and modernization of its digital platform. The new round was co-led by Al Mada Ventures (“AMV”) and DPI Venture Capital via the Nclude Fund, with strong participation from Partech and CommerzVentures. The MBH team advising on the transaction was led by Mohamed Essam (Partner, Head of Corporate and M&A UAE Offices and Head of ECVC) and included Moustafa Rizk (Senior Associate). For more about Matouk Bassiouny, check out our website at https://matoukbassiouny.com/.

We are delighted to announce that Matouk Bassiouny’s International Dispute Resolution team secured a favourable judgment in a cross-border dispute before the Abu Dhabi Global Market (“ADGM”) Court of First Instance. The case arose from a technology-based joint venture, involving issues of contractual enforceability, personal guarantees, and the strategic use of interim remedies in the ADGM Courts. The court awarded our client full recovery of the claimed amount, plus interest and costs. Notably, in its judgment on costs, the court acknowledged the relevance of success fee arrangements as a means of facilitating access to justice, stating that “the Letter of Engagement can be seen as a means by which [our client] was able to bring his claim” and that the court “should not disincentivize arrangements that are designed to ensure that litigants are able to commence and prosecute genuine and viable claims”. The team advising on this case was led by Ahmed Tony (Partner), supported by Youssef Nassar (Senior Associate) and Alia Elraey (Associate). Commenting on the case, Ahmed Tony said: “This latest success reflects the strength of our common law disputes practice and our firm's commitment to deliver cost-effective, high-quality legal support for clients navigating the region's common law court systems”. Led by Founding Partner and Group Head of Dispute Resolution, F. John Matouk, our International Dispute Resolution team brings extensive experience in representing clients before the ADGM and DIFC Courts in the UAE. Our team is common law qualified, with F. John Matouk admitted in New York, Ahmed Tony in England and Wales, Youssef Nassar in New York, and Alia Elraey in England and Wales. As part of our commitment to providing comprehensive legal services, we collaborate with specialist barristers to ensure our clients receive the highest quality representation throughout the litigation process. For more about Matouk Bassiouny, check out our website at https://matoukbassiouny.com/.

We are pleased to announce that Matouk Bassiouny UAE (“MB UAE”) acted as legal counsel to Raseedi in connection with acquiring Kashat, along with its subsidiary, Pharos Microfinance, a nano-financial services provider. Raseedi is a smart mobile app for dual SIM users in Egypt that helps optimize mobile consumption by providing personalized offers, tracking usage, and managing subscriptions, allowing users to save on calls and data. This strategic acquisition will enable Raseedi to expand its product offerings by introducing instant loan services to its portfolio, empowering small and sole-proprietor business owners to access quick, flexible financing with the ability to apply for instant cash loans of up to EGP 3,000, disbursed within five minutes, and with a short repayment cycle of 1 to 3 months, all designed to help support the financial needs of underserved businesses. The MB UAE team advising on the transaction was led by Mohamed Essam (Partner and Head of FinTech & ECVC) and included Moustafa Rizk (Associate) and Mahmoud Ezzat (Associate).   For more about Matouk Bassiouny, check out our website at https://matoukbassiouny.com/.  

We are pleased to announce the joining of Mr. Ayman Heikal as Partner and Head of Capital Markets in the UAE. Ayman has more than 26 years of capital markets expertise in the UAE, where he served as the legal consultant for the Securities and Commodities Authority (SCA), His Excellency the Minister of Economy, and the Ministry of Economy. He also served as a legal consultant and member of the board of trustees of the Corporate Social Responsibility Fund “MAJRA”. During his tenure in the UAE, Ayman drafted and negotiated numerous drafts of federal commercial, economic and capital market laws, and their executive regulations and implementing decisions. He was also involved in the drafting of the Gulf Cooperation Council Countries Unified Guidelines in the field of commercial and economic laws. His areas of expertise include public and private offerings, company establishments, M&As, capital increases and reductions, strategic partnership counseling, restructuring, liquidation, and bankruptcy. Omar S. Bassiouny, Founding Partner and Group Head of Corporate and M&A, says, “We are confident that Ayman’s expertise and skills will be an invaluable asset to Matouk Bassiouny’s clients and look forward to continued evolution in our regional capital markets practice for many years to come.” For more on Ayman's latest updates visit: https://matoukbassiouny.com/partner-profile/ayman-heikal/.  

We are pleased to announce that Matouk Bassiouny & Hennawy (“MBH”) acted as legal counsel to Catalyst Partners in connection with the establishment of Egypt’s first Special Purpose Acquisition Company (“SPAC”) according to resolution No. 2323 of 2024. This significant milestone follows the issuance of Financial Regulatory Authority (“FRA”) board of directors’ resolutions No. 140 and 148 of 2024. Egypt’s first SPAC will be named Catalyst Partners Middle East (“CPME”), and has been established with an issued and paid-up capital of approximately EGP 10 million. CPME will focus on acquiring companies in the non-banking financial services and financial technology sectors, with a particular emphasis on companies engaged in finance, diverse financial services, and payment platforms. The MBH team advising on the transaction was led by Mohamed Abdel Fattah (Partner and Head of Capital Markets) and included Khaled Abdelwahab (Senior Associate). Head of Capital Markets, Mohamed Abdel Fattah, commented saying: “The FRA amendments contribute to removing all obstacles that stood in the way of establishing SPAC companies, and it is expected that the coming period will witness the establishment of more SPACs, which in turn will enhance the activity of acquisitions and mergers on the Egyptian Stock Exchange, and open the door to institutions, funds, and investors with strong financial solvency in pumping more investments into companies that have growth opportunities.”   For more about Matouk Bassiouny, check out our website at https://matoukbassiouny.com/.  

We are pleased to announce that Matouk Bassiouny UAE (“MB UAE”) acted as the lead transactional legal counsel to Synapse Analytics in connection with securing USD 2 million from its funding round and handling all matters concerning its legal efficacy, negotiation, and closing.The investment round was led by venture capital firms; Silicon Badia and Hub 71. Synapse Analytics seeks to address the socioeconomic challenge of financial inclusion and access, by providing intricate and cutting-edge AI software to enhance financial decisions such as credit scoring, cross-selling, and dynamic pricing, among other ancillary activities. The MB UAE team advising on the matter was led by Mohamed Essam (Partner and Head of Fintech & Emerging Companies and Venture Capital) and Moustafa Rizk (Associate). For more about Matouk Bassiouny, check out our website at https://matoukbassiouny.com/. For any assistance on venture capital fundraising, please feel free to contact [email protected]