Abou Jaoude & Associates Law Firm is very highly regarded in the Lebanese legal market, with a strong track record in assisting domestic and foreign banks with investment matters, loans and transactions, and regulatory compliance issues. The practice is jointly led by founding partner Carlos Abou Jaoude, who has expertise in advising on private equity, energy, media and telecoms transactions, and Souraya Machnouk, who is well-versed in acting for clients in complex cross-border transactions, often involving the luxury goods sector.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Accolades
Client satisfaction: Lawyer & team quality
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
- 'The team is distinguished by its exceptional legal expertise, pragmatic approach, and unwavering commitment to client service. Combining deep knowledge of the local market with regional and international perspective, the team delivers solutions that are not only technically robust but also commercially practical and efficient.'
- 'I have been working with the firm for more than ten years on banking matters. Abou Jaoude & Associates is our first-choice firm for complex banking and finance matters. The firm’s banking team has a deep understanding of the market and the regulatory framework, and is very well respected by the regulators. Their work is of consistent quality.'
- 'We rely on the banking team as experts in the field, with multidisciplinary capabilities and ability to handle complex high-stakes mandates. The team stands out for the exceptional calibre of its key partners, Carlos Abou Jaoude and Souraya Machnouk, who are widely recognised in the banking sector.'
- 'The team combines professionalism, reliability, and a forward-thinking vision in a way that few firms in the region can match.'
- 'I value the team's responsiveness, ability to anticipate challenges, and innovative mindset. They think on their feet and always find a way through. This unique blend of excellence and forward-thinking positions the practice ahead of competitors as a trusted advisor that consistently goes beyond expectations.'
Key clients
- Credit Suisse Central Bank of Lebanon Ernst & Young KPMG New York Life Société Générale American Express First Abu Dhabi Bank Commercial International Bank National Bank of Kuwait JP Morgan Mubadala Investment Company Audi Bank I&C Bank Intercontinental Bank of Lebanon Fransabank Group Arab Finance Corporation The Luxury Fund
Work highlights
Advised Credit Suisse Lebanon on its strategic exit from the Lebanese market amidst the global merger between the UBS and Credit Suisse banking groups.
Advised the Arab National Bank (ANB) on a multi-million-dollar facility extended to Lebanon’s industrial group Indevco.
Advised Elie Saab on the refinancing of a multi-million-dollar cross-border LMA-based facility extended by an Emirati venture fund.
Lawyers
Leading partners
The strongest partners in their field, leading on market-leading deals and endorsed by peers and clients alike.
Practice head
Carlos Abou Jaoude; Souraya Machnouk