Shield Advocates - Al Hawy & Hassane

Firm's Overview:

Shield Advocates Law Firm – Al Hawy & Hassane is a full-service independent law firm advising multinational corporations, regional and local businesses, investors, and entrepreneurs across Egypt and the wider MENA region, with particular strength in Intellectual Property, Corporate & Commercial, and dispute resolution matters.

The firm combines strong legal expertise with practical commercial insight to assist clients in protecting, managing, commercializing, and enforcing their intellectual property rights, while also advising on complex transactions, cross-border commercial arrangements, corporate structuring, regulatory matters, and high-stakes litigation and arbitration proceedings.

Shield Advocates advises clients across a broad range of Intellectual Property, Corporate & Commercial, Mergers & Acquisitions, Capital Markets, Banking & Finance, Employment, Real Estate, Fintech, and Venture Capital matters, providing practical and business-oriented legal solutions tailored to the needs of both regional and international clients.

The firm is committed to delivering clear, actionable reporting and commercially focused advice, enabling clients to make informed decisions and operate confidently across the short, medium, and long term.

Main Areas of Practice

Corporate and Commercial

Shield Advocates provides comprehensive legal services to businesses at every stage of their growth. Our team has extensive experience in drafting, reviewing, and negotiating commercial agreements including joint ventures, distribution, supply, franchising, service, project management and licensing contracts. We also advise on corporate reorganizations, shareholder relations, and regulatory compliance, helping clients navigate the complex legal landscape of day-to-day business operations. In addition, we support businesses seeking to establish or expand their presence abroad. Through cross-border legal guidance and a strong network of international partners, we assist clients in navigating foreign investment laws, structuring overseas entities, and ensuring full compliance with local regulations—facilitating smooth and sustainable international growth.

Intellectual Property

Shield Advocates provides comprehensive intellectual property legal services covering the full lifecycle of IP rights, from creation and registration to commercialization, enforcement, and dispute resolution. Our team advises local and international clients on trademarks, patents, industrial designs, copyrights, software registration, plant varieties, domain names, and unfair competition matters across Egypt, the MENA region, and internationally through our extensive global network.

We assist clients in developing and managing strategic IP portfolios tailored to their commercial objectives, ensuring effective protection and long-term value for their assets. Our services include clearance searches, filing and prosecution, oppositions, cancellations, assignments, licensing, franchising, coexistence agreements, and portfolio management, as well as complex advisory work relating to ownership, commercialization, and regulatory compliance.

Shield Advocates is particularly recognized for its strong enforcement and anti-counterfeiting practice. Our team regularly conducts investigations, market surveys, administrative actions, customs recordals, raids, seizures, and litigation against infringers and counterfeiters. We work closely with judicial and governmental authorities to implement effective enforcement strategies designed to protect our clients’ rights, reputation, and market position. Our experience extends to representing major regional and international brands in sensitive and high-stakes intellectual property disputes and enforcement campaigns.

Merger and Acquisitions

Shield Advocates has extensive expertise in mergers, acquisitions, divestitures, joint ventures, spin-offs, and corporate structuring and restructuring, including post-acquisition integration. We provide our clients with responsive and strategically focused legal services tailored to the complexity and speed of today’s transactional landscape. Our team offers comprehensive legal due diligence services, identifying potential risks and liabilities, and providing practical recommendations and corrective actions. With a deep understanding of the commercial and regulatory environment, we support clients through all stages of the transaction from preliminary negotiations to closing and post-deal execution. We bring particular strength in drafting and negotiating the full spectrum of transactional documentation, ensuring clarity, precision, and protection of our clients' interests at every step. Our goal is to deliver legal solutions that align with your strategy and drive long-term value.

Capital Market

Shield Advocates advises on a wide range of capital markets transactions, including public offerings, private placements, and regulatory compliance. Our team offers the legal expertise necessary to safeguard our clients' interests and ensure a smooth market entry. Beyond transactional work, we provide ongoing legal support to listed companies, advising on day-to-day compliance with applicable regulations and requirements of key authorities, including the Egyptian Exchange (EGX) and the Financial Regulatory Authority (FRA). We assist clients in navigating complex securities laws and listing rules, ensuring seamless execution and sustained compliance in both local and international markets. Our team delivers strategic, practical counsel throughout the lifecycle of the business, supporting clients in achieving their capital-raising objectives while maintaining robust and consistent regulatory compliance.

Banking and Finance

Shield Advocates provides comprehensive legal advice to banks, financial institutions, and corporations on a wide range of banking and finance matters. Our expertise spans debt and equity capital markets transactions, project and asset finance, financial regulations, and cross-border financing. We also advise on product development across all sectors, ensuring that clients are compliant with applicable laws and regulatory requirements while achieving their financial and business goals. We offer strategic legal counsel to drive success in the ever-evolving financial landscape.

Employment

Shield Advocates offers its clients high-level solutions that are fully aligned with applicable laws and regulations. We provide strategic advice on complex employment matters, as well as day-to-day support to ensure full compliance with labor laws and regulations. We help our clients establish effective employment risk management systems to minimize litigation risks and foster smooth operations. Our advisory services cover all areas of employment law, including transactional matters, restructures, compensation, human resources policies, Employee Stock Ownership Plans (ESOPs), and litigation. Our team ensures that our clients are well-equipped to address both the challenges and opportunities in today’s employment landscape.

Real Estate

Shield Advocates provides comprehensive legal advice on all aspects of real estate. Our expertise includes project development, investment transactions, joint ventures, real estate financing, leasing, acquisitions, construction, and registration. We also advise major contractors and developers on the legalities and licensing requirements for commercial, residential, retail, and tourism-related projects. In addition, we offer services such as title checks and ownership diligence to ensure that our clients' real estate transactions are secure and fully compliant with applicable laws. We ensure that each deal is legally secure and aligned with our clients’ commercial goals.

Fintech

Shield Advocates offers comprehensive legal support to clients operating in the fintech sector, assisting financial institutions, and technology providers in navigating the evolving regulatory landscape. We advise on licensing, compliance, data protection, digital payments, and financial services regulations, ensuring that our clients operate within applicable legal frameworks. Our team works closely with clients to structure innovative financial products, mitigate regulatory risks, and facilitate seamless market entry and expansion. We have experience in supporting fintech transactions, partnerships, and platform developments, with a focus on enabling growth while safeguarding legal and reputational interests.

Venture Capital

Shield Advocates provides end-to-end legal advisory services in venture capital transactions, representing both investors across all stages of the investment lifecycle. From structuring and negotiating term sheets to conducting due diligence and finalizing investment agreements, we ensure that our clients’ interests are effectively protected. Our team supports clients in equity financing rounds, shareholder arrangements, exit strategies, and corporate governance matters. With a deep understanding of the investment ecosystem, we help clients navigate complex transactions, align stakeholder interests, and achieve sustainable growth while minimizing legal and commercial risks.

Litigation

Shield Advocates offers full-service litigation support, representing clients in all stages of dispute resolution, from pre-litigation strategies to courtroom advocacy. We handle a wide array of commercial, civil, administrative, and regulatory disputes across multiple industries, ensuring that our clients' interests are protected at every stage of the process. Our team works closely with clients to assess risks, identify opportunities for early settlement, and craft effective litigation strategies tailored to their specific needs. We have a strong track record in resolving disputes involving contracts, shareholder conflicts, employment issues, and regulatory matter. Our aim is to protect your reputation, resolve disputes in a timely manner, and achieve favorable outcomes with minimal disruption to your business.