Khodeir & Partners

ArbitrationLitigationDispute ManagementGeneral Advisory

Partner, Head of Dispute Resolution

Ahmed Kotb is partner and head of the Dispute Resolution Department at MAA in association with Khodeir & Partners (KP) and is considered one of the rising figures in dispute resolution. With a wealth of diversified experience with courts and arbitral tribunals, Ahmed has been well recognised for his tenacity and sharp skills by his clients and peers.

For almost two decades, Ahmed advised and acted for large corporations in arbitration and litigation matters related to telecommunications, media, hospitality, mining, energy, construction, maritime and international trade, financial disputes, shareholders’ disputes, as well as agency and distribution related disputes. His advice and assistance are regularly sought in cross-borders complex arbitration and litigation matters, often involving application and interplay between laws of different jurisdictions.

Ahmed serves as counsel in investment and commercial arbitration matters conducted under major arbitration rules such as the ICC, CRCICA, DIAC, SCAI and UNCITRAL. He also serves as expert on Egyptian law related matters and regularly sits as party-appointed and presiding arbitrator.

In addition to his arbitration experience, Ahmed regularly represents clients in major cases before Egyptian Courts in economic, commercial, and administrative matters. He also advises and assists clients on intricate matters of enforcement and annulment of arbitral awards in Egypt and the UAE.

Ahmed is regularly ranked and recommended by legal directories. Chambers & Partners recommend him as sharp and “an excellent contentious lawyer” who “can home in on the issues”; “a rising talent who is developing a strong arbitration practice”, and as having “excellent hands-on approach”, “very good understanding of technical issues”, and described as “Ahmed Kotb is brilliant, he is my first contact. He is professional, quick-minded, and provides a professional standard of service which I appreciate”.

Legal 500 also recommends Ahmed describing him as “very meticulous, very experienced, a superstar of the future”.  He is also praised as a “determined lawyer and a good communicator with deep knowledge of Egyptian law” and for being “meticulous, intelligent and speedy on contract as well as civil disputes”.

Before Khodeir & Partners, Ahmed has been a public prosecutor, a member of the Egyptian administrative judiciary, as well as a senior lawyer and acting head of dispute resolution in some of the very well regarded international and regional firms. He read law in Egyptian, French and British universities, and has been a visiting lecturer of commercial law and introduction to legal studies at the French Section of the Faculty of Law at Ain Shams University and the Faculty of Law at the British University in Egypt.

As Arbitrator or Expert:

Chairman of the tribunal appointed by Co-Arbitrators in a USD 15 million CRCICA arbitration relating to construction claims arising out of the construction of a mega hospital in Cairo, Egypt; Chairman of the tribunal appointed by Co-Arbitrators in ad hoc arbitration proceedings relating to claims arising in relation to a construction contract for a residential compound in New Cairo, Egypt. Chairman of the tribunal appointed by the Centre in a CRCICA arbitration relating to obligations post termination of a construction contract between an Egyptian contractor and a subsidiary of a Korean employer. Co-Arbitrator appointed by the Claimant in a CRCICA arbitration relating to breaches of a franchise agreement between an American franchisor and an Egyptian franchisee. Co- Arbitrator appointed by the Claimant in a CRCICA arbitration related to construction claims out of four construction agreements for supply, implementation, installation, operation and maintenance of elevators for a compound in Alexandria, Egypt. Co-Arbitrator appointed by the Respondents in a CRCICA arbitration relating to a debt rescheduling agreement arising between a subsidiary of a Swedish supplier and Egyptian entities. Co-Arbitrator appointed by the Centre in a CRCICA arbitration relating to a payment claim arising out of stock sale agreement between Maltese and Egyptian parties. Co-Arbitrator appointed by the Claimant in a CRCICA arbitration relating to a joint venture and construction contract in relation to a compound in Cairo. Legal Expert in ad hoc arbitration proceedings in Cape Town, South Africa, on Egyptian law matters pertaining to importation and agriculture laws. Leading the Legal Expert team in respect of an ICC arbitration, advising on UAE law matters related to incorporation of entities, succession and related liabilities. Leading the Legal Expert team in respect of an ICSID arbitration against a Middle Eastern state relating to investment laws and procedures.

As Counsel, Co-Counsel, or Local Counsel

Acting on behalf of a multinational Luxembourgish Investment Company in a CRCICA arbitration in relation to an investment and shareholders agreement amounting to USD 70,000,000. Acting on behalf of a leading construction company in the Middle East in a CRCICA arbitration in relation to the execution of a design, supply, construction, erection and operation of a Wastewater Treatment Plant against one of the State’s entities amounting to USD 5,000,000; Acting for a GCC Royal Family Member in ad hoc arbitration proceedings administered by the PCA in respect of a multi-million payment claim under an English Law Indemnity Agreement in relation to shareholders’ disputes and operations of a hotel chain in Greece. Acting for an Egyptian industrial group against a UAE investment company in multi-million dollars CRCICA arbitration related to excessive interests resulting from a finance agreement. Acting for shareholders of an agricultural and industrial group in multi-million dollars CRCICA arbitration in respect of breach of shareholders’ covenants and obligations. Acting on behalf of a leading OTT video service company in a CRCICA arbitration in relation to a license agreement amounting to USD 1,300,000. Acting on behalf of a leading OTT video service company in an ICC arbitration in relation to a TV series production agreement amounting to USD 1,500,000. Acting for an Egyptian football player in a multi-million dollars dispute before the Appeals Division of the Court of Arbitration for Sport concerning breach of a transfer agreement, non-compete covenant, and ensuing damages. Acting for the largest Middle Eastern construction design consultancy company in a USD 12 million CRCICA arbitration over claims related to design amendments. Acting for a real estate developer in a USD multimillion CRCICA arbitration arising out of construction and sale of a medical complex in Cairo, Egypt. Acting for an Egyptian pipelines contractor against an Italian employer in an ICC arbitration arising out of the construction of a compressions station in Al-Arish, Egypt. Acting as local counsel in ICC arbitration between a global manufacturer of weapons and a UAE entity in relation to claims relating to fraud, embezzlement, and breach of payment obligations amounting to over USD 50 million. Acting for a Jordanian Airline Operator in ad hoc arbitration proceedings related to breach of a ground handling agreement and resulting payment claims. Acting for the largest Middle Eastern construction consultancy company in a USD 45 million arbitration over construction of a hotel in Yemen. Acting for a regional telecom claimant in a USD 1.3 billion arbitration involving breach of the terms of an interconnection agreement against one of the world’s largest mobile operators. Advising a Chinese technology giant with relation to a set of arbitration disputes arising out of agency agreements. Acting for a fixed telephone operator in a USD 1.1 billion arbitration against a mobile operator for breaches of an interconnection agreement. Acting for a fixed telephone operator in three arbitrations against prepaid calling cards operators. Acting for a regional hotel owner in two USD 140 million arbitrations over a sale purchase agreement for hotels in Sharm El-Sheikh. Acting for a major Middle Eastern media agency in a multimillion CRCICA arbitration over termination of a management and consultancy agreement and competition. Acting for an Egyptian telecoms company in a CRCICA arbitration against an Italian investor over breach of a contact center contract. Acting for a major Egyptian distributor in a multimillion arbitration before the Swiss Chambers’ Arbitration Institution related to breach of exclusive distributorship agreements. Acting for a Spanish manufacturer of industrial metal material in an arbitration relating to a breach of an agency agreement against an Egyptian distribution company under CRCICA Rules. Acting for a major Egyptian maritime oil and gas service provider in a USD 3,640,000 dispute arising out of a charter party agreement against an Emirati oil company referred to arbitration under CRCICA rules. Acting for a major road and infrastructure contractor in multi-million-dollar CRCICA arbitration related to the construction of an elite compound in New Cairo, Egypt. Representative Litigation Experience Acting for the largest regional real estate developer in scores of litigation cases with customers, contractors, lessors and tenants, and management companies in relation to sale contracts, construction contracts, lease contracts, and management contracts. Acting for the largest regional paper and hygienic products manufacturer in scores of litigation cases related to employment, production, distribution, consumer protection, and international trade matters. Advising a major French telecom operator on the enforcement of a USD 800 million ICC arbitration award related to the acquisition of a local mobile operator. Acting for a major Egyptian importer and UAE exporter of grain and feed in criminal matters related to importation to Egypt of infested wheat. Acting for a major bank with international operations against Egyptian, Swiss and UAE traders in criminal cases for misappropriation of grain and feed from customs’ areas in Egyptian ports. Acting for a Maltese bank for settlement of a dispute over, and release of, clearing grain and feed imported into Egypt. Acting for a European group for manufacturing infrastructure products in an investment dispute concerning a breach of a supply contract before the Ministerial Committee for the Settlement of Investment Contracts’ Disputes. Acting for a hotel owner in court proceedings ancillary to a Cairo Regional Centre arbitration over ownership of a hotel in Sharm El-Sheikh. Acting for an Egyptian mining company in a USD 20 million case before Administrative Courts for wrongful termination of a concession agreement. Acting against the Egyptian Ministry of Petroleum before Administrative Courts for refusing to grant a concession agreement for a mining company. Acting for a hotel owner on the enforcement of an arbitration award involving transfer of shares and surrendering of hotels. Acting for a regional real estate developer on the annulment of an arbitration award in a dispute with large financial institutions. Acting for a major British supplier of energy products in a challenge filed before the Administrative Court against an administrative decision regarding sales tax. Acting for a giant German manufacturer in a set of civil and criminal lawsuits and interim measures before Economic Courts relating to trademark infringements. Acting for a major mobile operator in a set of lawsuits before Economic and Administrative Courts concerning capital market disputes. Acting for a major Egyptian marine services provider in a lawsuit relating to a saturation diving contract. Acting for a European group for the manufacturing of Oil and Gas tools in a dispute relating to a breach of an agency agreement against a local company for oil and gas services in Egypt under the ICC Rules. Advising a major international mobile manufacturer with regard to a dispute arising out of a distribution agreement against an Egyptian non-exclusive distributor.

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Egyptian Bar Association

LL.M., University College London MA, Université Jean Moulin Lyon III LL.B., Ain Shams University