Bakr & Odeh Advocates & Legal Consultants > Amman, Jordan > Firm Profile

Bakr & Odeh Advocates & Legal Consultants > Firm Profile

The firm: Bakr & Odeh is among the oldest law firms in Jordan, having been established in 1952. Since its early inception, Bakr & Odeh has proven itself to be the law firm of choice for numerous leading local and international companies, banks and governmental and non-governmental institutions. The firm is a full service Jordanian law firm headquartered in Amman. The firm has two partners, four senior associates in addition to eight associates. The firm’s dedicated group of attorneys is one of the most respected and experienced in Jordan.

Areas of practice: The work undertaken by the firm is diverse, covering all aspects of corporate and commercial law, including banking, project finance, project development, construction, investment, securities, insurance, telecommunications, aviation, concessions in addition to environmental, regulatory, labor, administrative, and constitutional matters. Litigation and arbitration feature heavily within the firm’s repertoire of unique expertise. Bakr and Odeh offers a premier local and international arbitration practice demonstrating particular expertise, whereby the firm prides itself in being the only local Jordanian law firm that is instructed by foreign clients in relation to international arbitrations taking place in foreign jurisdictions, examples of such include recent representation of a group of companies in Dubai in major disputes before the Dubai courts and international arbitral tribunals.

Dispute Resolution: Examples of the Firm’s recent and on-going dispute resolution work include:

• Representing the National Electric Power Company and the Government of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan vs. Attarat Power Company (Jordan); ICC Case No. 25916/AYZ (ICC Case No. 25917/AYZ.)
• Representing Sheikh Omar bin Sulaiman Abdul Aziz Al Rajhi against the Sultanate of Oman in a multimillion dollar investment arbitration under the Agreement on Promotion, Protection and Guarantee of Investments among Member States of the Organization of the Islamic Conference and under the UNCITRAL Arbitration Rules 2010.
• Representing TRASTA Energy Limited against the State of Libya in a multi- million-dollar investment arbitration under the Agreement on Promotion, Protection and Guarantee of Investments among Member States of the Organization of the Islamic Conference.
• Representing Libyan Emirates Oil Refinery Company (United Arab Emirates) against National Oil Corporation (State of Libya); ICC Case No. 24408/AYZ.
• Representing TRASTA Energy Limited (United Arab Emirates) against National Oil Corporation (State of Libya); ICC Case No. 24722/AYZ.
• Representing the Government of Jordan in an ICSID arbitration and Annulment Proceedings involving the Kuwait-Jordan BIT and international law.
• Representing Dead Sea Resorts Company (DSR) in a major construction arbitration regarding the Hilton Dead Sea Resort and Spa, Jordan.
• Advising Arab Potash Company on a dispute with an EPC Contractor pertaining to a power generation project.
• Representing Grand Hyatt Amman and the owning company against claims brought by the victims of the terrorist bombing of the hotel.
• Advised Jordan Islamic Bank (Islamic Safwa Bank) and its U.S legal counsel in key litigation before the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York.
• Represented King Hussein Institute for Biotechnology and Cancer in a dispute with an international architect arising from the termination of an AIA Contract.
• Representing Arab Potash Company in major litigation involving claims arising from a health insurance policy.
• Represented Dar Al-Handasah, an international engineering Firm, in a major dispute involving intellectual property rights over design work.
• Defended Arab Potash Company against a multi-million-dollar claim brought by an international contractor regarding the design and construction of Main Brine Pumping Station at the Dead Sea.

Power Sector:

• The Firm was a member of a consortium consisting of Ernst & Young and SKM that advised the Government of Jordan (GOJ) on the appropriate alternatives available for the future of Jordan Electric Power Company’s (JEPCO) business following the expiry of Concession Agreement between GOJ and JEPCO with regard to the distribution of electricity within the Concession Area. The Firm’s involvement included undertaking a substantive legal review of the Concession; preparing a detailed analysis of the Treasury Rights and Shareholders’ Rights following the expiry of the Concession; and drafting a Temporary Distribution License for JEPCO under the Electricity Act.
• The Firm also rendered advice on the Settlement Agreement between GOJ and JEPCO and has also advised on the terms and conditions of the long-term license that was granted to JEPCO by the Energy & Minerals Regulatory Commission (EMRC).
• The Firm advised Lafarge Jordan Cement (LJC) on the purchase of natural gas from Jordanian Egyptian Fajr Company (JEF) under a long-term Gas Sales Agreement. The Firm has also advised LJC on: Land law, Environmental law and environmental liability exposure, and Environment Impact Assessment studies regarding the use of coal and pet coke.
• The Firm also advised on the development of a wind plant in Al Shoback, Jordan.

Corporate/M&A

• Advised a consortium led by Arab Bank’s Chairman, Mr. Sabih al Masri, in acquiring a 20% stake in Arab Bank Group from Oger Middle East Holdings.
• Advised Lafarge Jordan Cement on the acquisition of a Ready-Mix Group and restructuring of Target companies. The work included; undertaking a substantive legal due diligence review on the target companies, advising on the legal and regulatory framework as well as associated legislation affecting the acquisition, advising on the structure of the Transaction; drafting the Share Purchase Agreements and the Shareholders’ Agreements; and advising on the restructuring and the merger of the Target companies.

Corporate Finance

• Advised International Finance Corporation (IFC) on the structure of a transaction pertaining to IFC’s investment in one of the leading private companies in the education sector in Jordan. The work included, reviewing and commenting on the Transaction Documents, including Subscription Agreement, the Shareholders Agreement and the Put Option Agreement.

Clients:

Arab Potash Company, Arab Bank, ART, International Finance Corporation (IFC), Central Bank of Jordan, Islamic Development Bank, BLOM Bank, Standard Chartered Bank, Kuwait Finance House, Islamic Safwa Bank, capital Bank, Philip Morris Jordan, Ernst & Young, Cementra – Jordan, Arab Insurance Group (B.S.C), Jordan Insurance Company, Grand Hyatt Amman, Rotana Hotel Management Corporation, Emirates Tourism Investment Company, AYLA Oasis Development Company, and Arab Fertilizers and Chemicals Co Ltd, ProgressSoft Corporation, and Globitel Co. Ltd.