Doing Business in... Handbook 2011
Country Q&A
Doing Business in
Egypt
www.practicallaw.com/3-500-5425
Khaled El Shalakany
Shalakany Law Office (Lex Mundi Member Firm)
LEGAL SYSTEM
1. What is the legal system (civil law, common law or a
mixture of both)?
The legal system in Egypt is primarily based on civil law.
FOREIGN INVESTMENT
2. Are there any restrictions on foreign investment (including authorisations required by central or local
government)?
In general, foreign investors can invest in Egypt without
any restrictions after obtaining security clearances from
the national security agencies. However, the following
activities are not open to direct investment by foreign
investors:
„„
Importing for the purpose of trading in Egypt.
„„
Acting as a commercial agent.
In addition, certain regulatory approvals are required
for foreign and local investments in Egyptian banks
and insurance companies exceeding 10% of the issued
shares. All foreign investment in the Sinai region is also
subject to regulatory approval. Foreign investment in
certain aviation activities is also restricted.
3. Are there any exchange control or currency
regulations?
must be carried out through registered banks or franchised dealers. However, the Egyptian pound, although
effectively floated, is still not transferable or convertible
outside Egypt.
4. What grants or incentives are available to investors?
Are any of these aimed specifically at foreign
investors?
There are certain incentives and guarantees under
Investment Law No. 8 of 1997 (Investment Law), as
amended, available for both foreign and local investors
investing in certain denominated fields of activity. However, Tax Law No. 91 of 2005 has abolished tax incentives, and Law No. 94 of 2005 has extended investment
guarantees to all limited partnerships by shares, joint
stock and limited liability companies incorporated under
the Companies’ Law No. 159 of 1981.
In addition, branches or subsidiaries of foreign companies that invest in special economic zones enjoy reduced tax rates and other exemptions. Similarly, companies investing in free zones (private and public) enjoy
tax-free status. However, the private free zone status of
companies working in the fields of fertilisers, iron and
steel, petrol manufacturing, and manufacturing, liquefying and transporting natural gas has recently been
revoked (Law No. 114 of 2008). However, oil refining
projects can be licensed to carry out their activity under
the free zone status (Law No. 133 of 2010). In such
cases, these products are subject to standard income
tax but are exempt from the annual fee of 1% of the
project’s total revenue.
In general, there are no exchange control or currency
regulations, except that all foreign currency transactions
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Country Q&A
BUSINESS VEHICLES
„„
Share capital. For limited liability companies, there is
no minimum capital, but all capital must be paid on
establishment. The minimum capital of a joint stock
company offering its shares for public subscription
is EGP20 million (as at 1 October 2010, US$1 was
about EGP5.7), fully paid up. The minimum capital of
a joint stock company not offering its shares for public
subscription is EGP250,000. 10% of the capital must
be paid on establishment, 15% must be paid within
three months of establishment and the remaining 75%
must be paid within five years of establishment.
„„
Non-cash consideration. Shares can be issued for
non-cash consideration with the approval of an extraordinary general shareholders’ meeting. However,
a formal valuation is required in certain cases where
the value of the capital exceeds EGP1 million.
„„
Rights attaching to shares. These can be provided
for in the company’s articles of association or byelaws. However, if the company is listed and traded
on the stock exchange, or if its shares are offered to
the public, these restrictions are not enforceable.
„„
Foreign shareholders. In principle, there are no restrictions and foreign shareholders can form the entirety of a company’s shareholders. However, some
exceptions do exist, such as establishing an import
company for the purpose of trading, establishing a
company for the purpose of undertaking commercial agency activities, and applying for a licence to
carry out civil aviation inside Egypt.
„„
Management structure. A joint stock company is
managed by a board of directors comprising at least
three members elected by the general shareholders’ meeting. The board elects the chairman and
the managing director. There are no restrictions on
foreign managers and directors. A limited liability
company is managed by one or more managers, at
least one of whom must be Egyptian.
„„
Directors’ liability. Directors can be held personally
liable for breach of their fiduciary duties. Also, persons who are considered legal representatives of the
company, such as the chairman or the managing
director, can be held personally liable for certain
violations of the law by the company.
„„
Parent company liability. Parent companies cannot
be held liable because of their separate and independent legal personality and the corporate veil.
„„
Reporting requirements. There are certain general
notice requirements under the various laws, including Labour Law No. 12 of 2003 (Labour Law), the
Company Law No. 159 of 1981 (Company Law),
the Capital Market Law No. 95 of 1992 and the
Investment Law No. 8 of 1997.
5. What is the most common form of business vehicle
used by foreign companies to conduct business in
your jurisdiction? In relation to this vehicle, please
provide details on:
„„
Registration formalities (including timing).
„„
Minimum (and maximum) share capital.
„„
Whether shares can be issued for non-cash
consideration, such as assets or services (and any
formalities).
„„
Any restrictions on the rights that can attach to
shares.
„„
Any restrictions on foreign shareholders.
„„
Management structure and any restrictions on
foreign managers.
„„
Directors’ liability.
„„
Parent company liability.
„„
Reporting requirements (including filing of accounts) and cost of compliance.
The most common form of business vehicle used by foreign companies is a subsidiary in the form of either a
limited liability company (société à responsabilité limitée) or joint stock company (société anonyme). In some
cases, branches may be established.
„„
Registration formalities. A limited liability company’s founders or the shareholders in a joint stock
company must apply to the General Authority for
Free Zones and Investment (GAFI) with:
„„
„„
the proposed company articles and bye-laws,
drafted in accordance with the approved model
(amendments are possible, subject to the
GAFI’s approval);
a deposit certificate from a bank, evidencing
deposit of the capital.
The company’s articles and bye-laws are notarised
by the Notary Public at GAFI. The company is then
registered at the Commercial Registry and acquires
legal status from the registration date. The decree
authorising incorporation is published together
with the articles of association and bye-laws in the
Investment Bulletin.
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In addition, any amendments to the articles of
association and bye-laws must be reported to,
and approved by, the GAFI (and also the competent authority, in the case of banks and insurance
companies).
„„
Object of the employment.
„„
Salary structure.
A representative of the GAFI and the Egyptian
Financial Supervisory Authority must be invited to
all general shareholders’ meetings.
If there is no signed employment contract, an employee
can present any evidence to prove his employment to
benefit from employment rights under the Labour Law.
Certain terms may be implied in an employment contract governed by the Labour Law.
The company must also keep accounts and publish
its semi-annual or annual audited accounts and
financial statements, duly audited by a qualified
Egyptian auditor.
8. Are employees entitled to management representation and/or to be consulted in relation to corporate
transactions (such as redundancies and disposals)?
EMPLOYEES
6. What are the main laws regulating employment
relationships?
In general, employees are entitled either to board representation or consultation through an administrative consulting committee. There are no specific requirements
in relation to corporate transactions.
The Labour Law governs all employment relationships
where the employer is Egyptian, regardless of the employees’ nationality or the workplace’s location.
9. How is the termination of individual employment
contracts regulated?
The employment issues covered by the Labour Law are:
An employee must not be dismissed without serious and
reasonable cause. Serious cause includes:
„„
Working hours.
„„
Salaries and wages.
„„
Employment contracts.
„„
Leave.
„„
Causes of, and conditions for, termination.
„„
Unfair dismissal.
„„
Assuming a false identity or submitting forged
documents.
„„
Continually violating safety instructions.
„„
Absence from work for more than 20 non-consecutive or ten consecutive days in any one year.
„„
Divulging the employer’s secrets, causing a material
loss.
„„
Competing with the employer in the same line of
work.
The provisions of the Labour Law are mandatory and
cannot be derogated from by the parties’ agreement to
the detriment of the employee.
„„
Being intoxicated during working hours.
„„
Assaulting the employer, the general manager or
any of his superiors.
7. Is a written contract of employment required? Are
any agreements and/or implied terms likely to govern
the employment relationship?
In addition, the employer can terminate the employment
contract for professional incompetence.
Employment claims can only be successfully brought by
employees who are employed in Egypt.
A written employment contract, in Arabic, must be
signed by the employer and the employee. The employment contract must include the:
„„
Employer’s name and address.
„„
Employee’s name and ID.
For more information
If the employee is unfairly dismissed, he can claim compensation. Compensation for unfair dismissal is decided
by the competent court, but must not be less than two
months’ full wages for each year of service, or in the
case of a definite term agreement, the salary for the remainder of the contract period.
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10.Are redundancies/mass layoffs regulated? If so,
please give details.
Any employer can declare redundancies for economic or
other reasons, including reduction or cessation of activities, after obtaining approval from a committee affiliated
with the Ministry of Labour.
11.Do foreign employees require work permits and/or
residency permits? If so, how long does it take to
obtain them and how much do they cost?
Foreign employees require residency permits, which include work permits (called a non-tourist resident permit).
Residency permits are obtained before arrival by presenting an employment contract, certificates of expertise and
other documents to the GAFI, and can be picked up from
the airport. The employee then applies for a work permit,
which is issued after security clearance.
The entire process, including security clearance, can
take up to two months, and costs about EGP3,000.
TAX
12.In relation to employees, what constitutes tax residency in your jurisdiction?
A person is tax resident in Egypt if he either:
„„
Has a permanent domicile in Egypt.
„„
Resides in Egypt for more than 183 continuous or
interrupted days within 12 months.
„„
Is an Egyptian national who performs his duties
outside Egypt and the source of his income is the
Egyptian treasury.
13.What income tax or social security contributions
must the following pay:
„„
Tax resident employees?
„„
Non-tax resident employees?
„„
Employers, in relation to their employees?
Tax resident employees
Tax is payable on the employee’s total net income of over
EGP5,000 a year. There are currently three progressive
tax brackets and the rates range from 10% to 20%.
For more information
Social insurance contributions must be withheld and
paid by employers. Employees contribute percentages
of their basic and variable salaries subject to a general
cap.
Non-tax resident employees
A non-tax resident employee is not required to pay taxes
in Egypt, except for such income generated as a result
of activities undertaken in Egypt.
Employers
Social insurance contributions must be withheld and
paid by employers. The employer’s contribution is the
equivalent of 26% of the employee’s basic salary and
24% of the employee’s variable salary (subject to a general cap).
14.In relation to business vehicles, what constitutes tax
residency in your jurisdiction?
A business entity is tax resident in Egypt if any of the
following criteria apply:
„„
It is established under Egyptian law.
„„
Its principal or actual head office and management
are located in Egypt.
„„
The state or any public juridical person owns more
than 50% of its capital.
15.Please give details of the main taxes that potentially
apply to a tax resident business vehicle (including
rates).
Juridical persons must pay an annual 20% tax on their
total net profits from activities undertaken by an Egyptian entity. In addition, the profits from oil and gas exploitation and production companies are subject to tax
at the rate of 40.55%. In the case of loans granted to
the company by foreign shareholders, a withholding tax
of 20% on interest applies, provided the period of the
loan does not exceed three years.
16.How are the activities of non-tax resident business
vehicles taxed?
A non-tax resident company must pay corporate tax at
the rate of 20% on income generated from activities
carried out in Egypt (such as interest, royalties and
commissions).
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17.Please explain how each of the following is taxed:
21.How are imports and exports taxed?
„„
Dividends paid to foreign corporate shareholders.
„„
Dividends received from foreign companies.
„„
Interest paid to foreign corporate shareholders.
„„
Intellectual property (IP) royalties paid to foreign
corporate shareholders.
Export
„„
Dividends paid. Dividends are not taxed since
distributed dividends are considered net distributable profit.
22.Is there a wide network of double tax treaties? If so,
please give details.
„„
Dividends received. Companies resident in Egypt
must pay tax at the rate of 20% on dividends
received from a foreign company, subject to any
applicable double taxation treaty.
Egypt has a wide network of double taxation treaties,
including treaties with Germany, Italy, Japan, the UK,
the US, Malta, Morocco, The Netherlands, South Africa,
Spain and Denmark.
„„
Interest paid. A withholding tax of 20% applies to
certain interest payments to foreign corporate shareholders if the duration of the loan or the credit facility is less than three years. If the duration is three
years or more, the interest is exempt from this tax.
„„
IP royalties paid. A withholding tax of 20% applies
(see Question 15).
18.Are there any thin capitalisation rules (restrictions on
loans from foreign affiliates)? If so, please give details.
There are no thin capitalisation rules in Egypt. However,
subordinated shareholders’ loans are, in certain cases,
considered as equity investment.
Import
Imported goods are subject to import duties and sales
tax at variable rates, depending on the type of goods.
Exported goods are not subject to taxation.
COMPETITION
23.Are restrictive agreements and practices regulated
by competition law in your jurisdiction? If so, please
give brief details.
Under the recently enacted Competition Law No. 3 of
2005 and its Executive Regulations, a new regulatory
body, the Egyptian Competition Authority, has been established to monitor compliance. The Competition Law
prohibits, among others:
„„
19.Must the profits of a foreign subsidiary be imputed
to a parent company that is tax resident in your jurisdiction (controlled foreign company rules)?
Generally, the profits of a foreign subsidiary need not
be imputed to a tax resident parent company, because
there are no controlled foreign company rules. However,
profits generated by any activity conducted in Egypt are
subject to taxes.
Agreements or contracts between competing persons that are likely to:
„„
increase, decrease or fix prices;
„„
divide product markets or allocate them on certain grounds (for example, geographical areas);
„„
result in concerted participation in tenders, auctions, negotiations and other calls for procurement;
„„
restrain production, distribution or marketing
operations, or limit the service distribution.
„„
Agreements or contracts that are likely to restrict
competition.
„„
A person holding a dominant position from:
20.Are there any transfer pricing rules? If so, please give
details.
„„
preventing the manufacture, production or
distribution of a product for a certain period (or
periods) of time;
Egypt does not have transfer pricing rules. However, if
the price is substantially below the market price and/or
the price used in other transactions, it may give the impression of tax evasion.
„„
refraining from entering into transactions with
any person or totally ceasing to deal with him in
a manner that results in impairing that person’s
freedom to access or exit the market;
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„„
limiting the distribution of a specific product,
to, for example, certain geographic areas or to a
type of customer base;
„„
discriminating between sellers or buyers having
similar commercial positions in relation to
sale or purchase prices or the terms of the
transaction;
„„
refusing to produce or provide a product that is
circumstantially scarce when its production or
provision is economically possible;
„„
selling products at prices lower than their marginal cost or average variable cost;
„„
obliging a supplier to not deal with a
competitor;
„„
imposing the acceptance of obligations or the
purchase of products unrelated in their nature
to original transactions or agreements or as opposed to relevant commercial custom.
„„
How enforced. Criminal sanctions are imposed.
Both the patent owner and the competent governmental body can bring a case in the courts seeking
protection. In addition, the patent owner is entitled
to civil remedies, such as damages or injunctions.
„„
Length of protection. Subject to certain exceptions, protection lasts for a maximum of 20 years,
provided that renewal fees are paid annually from
the fifth year after filing.
Trade marks
„„
Nature of right. Trade mark protection is available
for trade, industrial and service marks. To be registered as a trade mark, a sign must:
„„
be capable of graphical representation; and
„„
distinguish the goods or services of one undertaking from another.
„„
How protected. Applications for registration must
be made to the Egyptian Authority for Commercial
Registration (EACR). The IPR Law sets out the
rules on protection. Unregistered marks can also be
protected through unfair competition actions.
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY
„„
24.Please outline the main intellectual property rights
that are capable of protection in your jurisdiction. In
each case, please state:
How enforced. The methods of enforcement and
the remedies available are the same as for patents
(see above, Patents).
„„
Length of protection. Protection lasts indefinitely,
subject to renewal every ten years.
„„
Acts, incriminated under Competition Law, committed outside Egypt, that may prohibit, restrict or
impair free competition in the Egyptian Market.
„„
Nature of right.
„„
How protected.
„„
How enforced.
„„
Length of protection.
Registered designs
„„
Patents
„„
„„
Nature of right. To be patentable, an invention
must:
„„
be original and novel;
„„
involve an inventive step;
„„
be capable of industrial application; and
„„
not be specifically excluded by the law.
How protected. Applications for registration must
be made to the Egyptian Patent Office. The Intellectual Property Rights Law No. 82 of 2002 (IPR
Law) sets out the rules on protection.
For more information
Nature of right. To qualify for registration, a design
must:
„„
be original and novel;
„„
have an individual character; and
„„
relate to the appearance of all or part of a
product resulting from certain features of that
product or its ornamentation.
„„
How protected. Applications for registration must
be made to the EACR. The IPR Law sets out rules
on protection.
„„
How enforced. The methods of enforcement and
the remedies available are the same as for patents
(see above, Patents).
„„
Length of protection. Protection lasts for a
maximum of 15 years, subject to the payment of
renewal fees after the first ten years.
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Unregistered designs
„„
Nature of right. To be protected, the design must relate
to an aspect of shape or configuration of the whole or
part of an article, and must not be commonplace.
„„
confidential in nature and not in the public
domain or common knowledge; and
„„
communicated in circumstances importing an
obligation of confidence.
„„
How protected. There is no formal procedure for
protecting unregistered designs.
„„
How protected. There is no formal procedure for
protection.
„„
How enforced. The design owner must file an unfair
competition claim. In addition, civil remedies such
as damages and injunctions are available to the
design owner.
„„
„„
Length of protection. Protection lasts for an indefinite period.
How enforced. The injured party must bring a court
action for breach of confidence based on breach of
confidentiality. Criminal sanctions are imposed. The
copyright owner is entitled to civil remedies, such
as damages or injunctions.
„„
Length of protection. There is no fixed term, but
the information must remain confidential for it to
be protected.
Copyright
„„
„„
Nature of right. Copyright subsists in original works,
such as:
„„
literature (including software and databases);
„„
drama;
„„
music;
„„
art;
„„
sound recordings;
„„
cinematographic films.
How protected. Protection subsists automatically
from the moment the work is created. The rules on
protection are set out in the IPR Law. No formalities are required.
„„
How enforced. The methods of enforcement and
the remedies available are the same as for patents
(see above, Patents).
„„
Length of protection. Protection lasts for:
„„
literary, dramatic, musical and artistic works:
50 years after the death of the author;
„„
cinematographic films: 50 years after the death
of the last surviving author of the film.
In relation to neighbouring rights, protection lasts for:
„„
„„
„„
producers of sound recordings: 50 years from
the year of publication or recording;
broadcasting organisations: 50 years from the
first broadcast;
performers: 50 years from the first performance
or recording.
Confidential information
„„
Integrated circuits and their topography
„„
Nature of right. To be protected, an integrated
circuit must be:
„„
original and novel; and
„„
non-obvious.
„„
How protected. Applications for registration must
be made to the Egyptian Patent Office.
„„
How enforced. The methods of enforcement and
the remedies available are the same as for patents
(see above, Patents).
„„
Length of protection. Protection lasts ten years from
the date of filing in Egypt or the first exploitation in
Egypt or abroad, whichever is earlier. A maximum
term of 15 years from the design date is imposed.
MARKETING AGREEMENTS
25.Are marketing agreements regulated in your jurisdiction? If so, please give brief details in respect of the
following arrangements:
„„
Agency.
„„
Distribution.
„„
Franchising.
„„
Agency. Agency agreements are governed by specific provisions of the Egyptian Commercial Code
(Articles 148 to 191) as well as Law No. 120 of
1982 regarding regulation of Commercial Agency
and Commercial Intermediation Activities.
Nature of right. This is protected under the IPR
Law. To be protected, the information must be:
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„„
„„
Commercial agents must be registered at the Commercial Agents’ Registry, which issues a certificate
confirming the registration (S 14 Form). The agent
must be Egyptian or a 100% Egyptian owned
company.
DATA PROTECTION
A commercial agent can obtain compensation if both:
There is no general data protection law in Egypt. However, certain types of data are protected by specific laws.
Most importantly, the Banking Law No. 88 of 2003 protects information and data relating to customers’ accounts and does not permit disclosure without the prior
consent of the customer, or as required by law or a court
judgment. However, a new draft law on privacy, information security and cybercrime has been prepared and
awaits parliamentary review and enactment. Despite not
being yet in force, the draft law, if enacted, constitutes
a fundamental landmark in the context of privacy, data
protection, and information security.
„„
the agency agreement is terminated (or not
renewed) without good cause and without
notice (or at an unreasonable time), even if the
termination was provided for in the terms of the
agency agreement. All contractual provisions to
the contrary are null and void; and
„„
the agent has not committed an error or omission in the course of its duties, and its activities
are proven to have led to evident success in promoting the sales of the commodity or increasing
the number of customers for the principal.
Distribution. There are no specific provisions
governing distribution and franchising agreements.
These are governed by the general provisions of the
Civil Code and the Commercial Code.
Franchising. See above, Distribution. In addition,
if a franchise agreement involves a transfer of
technology, it must be governed by Egyptian Law
and any disputes in connection with that agreement
must be resolved by the Egyptian courts, or by
arbitration in Egypt under the Egyptian Arbitration
Law No. 27 of 1994.
E-COMMERCE
26.Are there any laws regulating e-commerce (such as
electronic signatures and distance selling)? If so,
please give brief details.
The Electronic Signatures Law No. 15 of 2004 is currently the only law relating to e-commerce. This law introduces the concepts of electronic transactions, electronic
documents, and digital signatures based on Public Key
Infrastructure (PKI) technology. The Law has established
the Information Technology Development Agency, which
is entrusted with the development of the IT sector in
Egypt and the implementation of the PKI technology.
Electronic documents and digital signatures have full evidentiary weight, under the doctrine of functional equivalence, and are legally recognised before Egyptian courts
subject to their fulfilling certain conditions that ensure
the authenticity of the documents and signatures.
For more information
27.Are there any data protection laws? If so, please give
brief details.
PRODUCT LIABILITY
28.Are there any laws regulating product liability and
product safety? If so, please give brief details.
The manufacturer and/or seller can be liable on the
grounds of:
„„
Tort, for damage caused as a result of a defective
product.
„„
Breach of contract.
„„
Product liability.
Tortious liability
The manufacturer of a defective product is liable in tort
if a defective product causes any personal damage, injury or death. The statute of limitation is three years
from the date the claimant becomes aware of the damage and, in any event, claims are barred after 15 years
from the date the tortious act occurred.
Contractual liability (guarantee against hidden defects)
A seller guarantees that the product sold conforms to
the specifications acknowledged by the seller and is responsible for, and guarantees the purchaser against, any
hidden or latent defects for one year from the date of
delivery to the purchaser (Civil Code).
The purchaser must prove:
„„
That the product was defective.
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„„
That the defect could not have been discovered by
the purchaser at the time of delivery and that, if the
purchaser had known of such defect, he would not
have purchased the product.
„„
The actual damage suffered and profits lost as a
direct result of the defect.
CONTRIBUTOR DETAILS
KHALED EL SHALAKANY
Shalakany Law Firm
T +202 2728 8888
F +202 2737 0661
Email@shalakany.com
Wwww.shalakany.com
Commercial Code
The Commercial Code recognises the notion of product
liability of both manufacturer and seller. Any person suffering from direct material or physical damage resulting
from a defective product, has the right to claim damages
by filing a product liability claim against the manufacturer, distributor or both severally. The statute of limitation is the same as for tortious liability (see above, Tortious liability).
Consumer Protection Law
The Consumer Protection Law No. 67 of 2006 (CPL)
and its Executive Regulations set out obligations for
suppliers of products and services (as defined under the
CPL) and various guarantees for consumers. In the event
of a breach the Consumer Protection Authority can suspend the suppliers’ activities or seize defective products
until investigations are concluded or court judgments
are passed.
For more information
Qualified. Canada, 1987; Egypt, 1989
Areas of practice. Arbitration; construction contracts;
intellectual property.
Recent transactions
„„
The Pyramids Plateau arbitrations.
„„
The Cairo Metro arbitrations.
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The Ahmad Hamdy Suez Canal Tunnel arbitration.
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The Isna Barrage arbitration.
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EGYPT
Shalakany Law Office
www.shalakany.com
Khaled El Shalakany (Senior and Managing Partner)
kshalakany@shalakany.com
T: +202 273 99 206
Saleh Hafez (Senior Partner)
saleh@shalakany.com
T: +202 273 99 205
Emad El Shalakany (Senior Partner)
ess@shalakany.com
T: +202 273 99 216
MAIN OFFICE
12, Marashly St., Zamalek 11211 Cairo, Egypt
T: +202 272 88 888
F: +202 273 70 661
E: mail@shalakany.com
MEMBER
ADDITIONAL OFFICES
Alexandria, Egypt
10, Midan Orabi, El Manshia, Alexandria, Egypt
T: + 203 484 9998
F: + 203 481 5908
E: alexandriaoffice@shalakany.com
Dubai Correspondent Office
API World Tower, Suite 204, Sheikh Zayed Road,
PO Box 22880, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
T: +9714 332 7879
F: +9714 332 7870
E: slodubai@eim.ae
Firm Overview
Founded in 1912 by Abdel Fattah El Shalakany, the President of the Egyptian Bar Association in
the 1950s, the Firm has achieved a record of success and growth that today makes it the longest
established Firm and one of the leading Firms in Egypt and the Middle East. With over 60 attorneys
and counsellors, including 17 partners, as well as 12 paralegals and a support staff of over 80 qualified
professionals, the Firm provides quality legal services to a broad base of multinational, regional and
premium local clients through its offices in Cairo, Alexandria and Dubai.
The Firm strives to provide personalized and efficient quality services across a broad spectrum of fields of
practice including aviation, banking, corporate, mergers & acquisitions, project finance, public private
partnerships, construction, commercial agencies, capital market transactions, telecommunications,
anti-trust, information technology, intellectual property, oil and gas, manufacturing, tax, insurance,
construction and labour law. The Firm is a leader in Egypt in respect of BOT and PPP projects. The
Firm’s Hotels and Tourism practice is unique in terms of its depth and experience. The Firm has one
of the best dispute resolution teams in Egypt with more than 25 litigation attorneys. The Firm handles
annually over 800 on-going cases before all levels and types of courts. In international commercial
arbitration the Firm has a long record of success spanning three decades.
Some of our Representative Clients
The Firm’s client base includes IBM, Sony, Emaar, General Motors, Skanska, Goldman Sachs
International, HSBC, BNP Paribas, National Societe Generale Bank, Unilever, Pfizer, Bechtel,
Schlumberger, Microsoft, Intel, Motorola, Nokia, Chloride, Citadel Capital, EFG Hermes, Centaurus
Capital, CIB, Tecnicas Reunidas, Oberoi, Accor Hotels, Henkel and AMLAK Finance.