Legalcommunity MENA Awards 2023, winners announced
The winners of the Legalcommunity MENA Awards 2023 were announced during the gala ceremony held at the Hilton Cairo Heliopolis Hotel in Cairo.
The Legalcommunity MENA Awards recognised the excellence amongst In-House and Law Firms teams and professionals in the MENA Area.
The winners were the following:
IN-HOUSE CATEGORIES
IN-HOUSE TEAM OF THE YEAR AUTOMOTIVE & TRANSPORT
Siemens Mobility
The team has exhibited remarkable discipline in handling diverse legal tasks, providing business-oriented solutions, and offering robust support to both the company and its clients.
IN-HOUSE COUNSEL OF THE YEAR AUTOMOTIVE & TRANSPORT
Mayan El Molla – Nissan Motor Corporation
With a robust skill set that includes legal documents, teamwork, legal research and more, the professional contributes valuable insights to the automotive industry.
IN-HOUSE TEAM OF THE YEAR BANKING & FINANCE
Banque du Caire
The department has proven its technical skills, showing a strong business-oriented vision, allowing the in-house team to assist the company in the several challenges of the market.
IN-HOUSE COUNSEL OF THE YEAR BANKING & FINANCE
Mahmoud Moharram – The Sovereign Fund of Egypt
The professional has more than 17 years of experience including advising on several major projects and transactions across several industries in Egypt, Africa, the MENA region, and globally.
IN-HOUSE TEAM OF THE YEAR CONSUMER GOODS MANUFACTORING
Samsung Electronics
The team successfully completed all legal tasks associated with local mobile manufacturing for the company’s mobile phones in Egypt.
IN-HOUSE COUNSEL OF THE YEAR CONSUMER GOODS MANUFACTORING
Lobna Khater – Edita Food Industries
With her team, she provides full legal support to the company. This support is given through across the MENA region as well as other foreign countries, to cover all the needs in terms of commercial transactions undertaken by the company.
IN-HOUSE TEAM OF THE YEAR E-COMMERCE & RETAIL
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The in-house legal team adeptly handles all legal matters, showcasing profound technical expertise in addressing complex and intricate legal issues.
IN-HOUSE COUNSEL OF THE YEAR E-COMMERCE & RETAIL
Khaled Talal – Property Finder
Experienced in-house legal counsel with over ten years of experience. Excellent reputation for resolving problems and improving customer satisfaction.
IN-HOUSE TEAM OF THE YEAR ENERGY
Eni
The in-house team of the European multinational dealt with many strategic matters from transactions to strength its presence on the region to administrative concerns different for the many countries it operates in.
IN-HOUSE COUNSEL OF THE YEAR ENERGY
Ahmed Singer – Al Salem Johnson Controls
Leveraging advanced analytical thinking, problem-solving prowess, leadership acumen, and effective planning skills, he adeptly manages substantial workloads and thrives under heightened responsibilities.
IN-HOUSE TEAM OF THE YEAR FASHION, LUXURY, DESIGN
Chalhoub Group
The in-house legal team dealt with a very complex transaction over the last 12 months, that lead the company to acquire the majority stake of a well-known European digital luxury retailer, accelerating the digitalization process in act in the corporation.
IN-HOUSE TEAM OF THE YEAR FOOD & BEVERAGE
PepsiCo
The in-house team showcases expertise in technical skills, a meticulous commitment to details, a strong business orientation, and promoting gender equality.
IN-HOUSE COUNSEL OF THE YEAR FOOD & BEVERAGE
Dina Salah – Coca-Cola HBC
As the director of the legal department at a multinational corporation, the professional has earned market acclaim for not only the exemplary managerial prowess but also the outstanding technical expertise.
IN-HOUSE TEAM OF THE YEAR INFRASTRUCTURE & CONSTRUCTIONS
Hassan Allam Holding
The team oversees the legal aspects of all the projects undertaken by the group in various sectors and countries, ensuring compliance with local and international laws and regulations.
IN-HOUSE COUNSEL OF THE YEAR INFRASTRUCTURE & CONSTRUCTIONS
Ahmed Zaki – Al Hamra
The counsel has a strong leadership being active part of the business operation of his company, giving an all-around advisory to the management proving his strong business orientation.
IN-HOUSE TEAM OF THE YEAR INSURANCE
Chubb
The in-house team has demonstrated exceptional legal acumen and a comprehensive understanding of business dynamics. Moreover, their extensive and diverse experience spans various domains, including insurance, compliance, and corporate law.
IN-HOUSE COUNSEL OF THE YEAR INSURANCE
Mohamed Wafik – AXA
The lawyer is a key contributor to one of the top five insurance companies, providing impactful business solutions for both the company and its clients. The lawyer plays a crucial role in facilitating effective legal strategies.
IN-HOUSE TEAM OF THE YEAR LIFE SCIENCES & PHARMA
Novartis Egypt
The in-house legal team was a strategic tool for the growth of the business in Egypt, with a strong and constant collaboration with the office in the region and worldwide to carry on the legal and compliance strategies.
IN-HOUSE COUNSEL OF THE YEAR LIFE SCIENCES & PHARMA
Mohamed Adel – Gennecs Pharmaceuticals
The professional leads the legal department in its journey working on a mega project which is establishing the first vaccine manufacturing facility across the MENA region in the Suez Canal Economic Zone in Egypt.
IN-HOUSE TEAM OF THE YEAR OIL & GAS
SinoTharwa Drilling Company
The in-house team has demonstrated strong technical expertise, a practical and business-oriented approach, and a deep knowledge of the oil & gas market.
IN-HOUSE COUNSEL OF THE YEAR OIL & GAS
Kareem Issa – Damietta LNG
The general counsel proved his capability on many sides, dealing with many kinds of transactions being a fundamental tool for the productivity of his company over the past year.
IN-HOUSE TEAM OF THE YEAR REAL ESTATE
Palm Hills Developments
The in-house legal team served as a fundamental catalyst for the company’s expansion, meticulously contributing to its growth through day-to-day efforts.
IN-HOUSE COUNSEL OF THE YEAR REAL ESTATE
Mohamed El Hennawy – Talaat Moustafa Group
The lawyer possesses a robust foundation in commercial law, real estate, litigation, and intellectual property. This expertise equips to deliver effective and pragmatic legal guidance for the company’s operations and procedures.
IN-HOUSE TEAM OF THE YEAR TMT
Orange
The team achieved various achievements during the past year including settle long-lasting disputes, conclude various complex agreements that support the company to achieve its best result.
IN-HOUSE COUNSEL OF THE YEAR TMT
Hossam Shakweer – _VOIS
The professional excels as a team leader, overseeing contract management, corporate governance, and litigation responsibilities.
TEAM OF THE YEAR COMPLIANCE
HSA Group
The team stands out for the technical competence, in-depth knowledge of the target market, and a comprehensive legal service, all contributing to the successful achievement of business objectives.
PROFESSIONAL OF THE YEAR COMPLIANCE
Raafat Donia – Ibn Sina Pharma
As the head of the compliance team, the professional brings extensive experience in the pharmaceutical and healthcare industry, acquired through holding senior positions in prominent multinational pharmaceutical companies.
BEST PRACTICE CORPORATE TRANSACTIONS
The Sovereign Fund of Egypt
The fund, thanks to the meticulous work of its legal team, accomplished many important corporate transactions, some of them were between the most valuable of the Egyptian market over the last year.
RISING STAR
Mostafa Al Benawy – Al Ahly Tamkeen for Microfinance
The young counsel has proven him capable to manage the entire legal department acting with success as legal director over the last year, demonstrating an inspiring leadership despite of his age.
RISING STAR
Nadra Khaled Kotb – Banque du Caire
The young counsel has proven her ability managing with many matters in her team, receiving many positive reviews from colleagues and positioning as a prospect to watch for the future women professionals.
PRIVATE PRACTICE CATEGORIES
LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR
Bahaa-Eldin Law Office in cooperation with BonelliErede
The law firm, thanks to its strong connection with the European network too, managed some of the most important deals on the corporate market this year, strengthening its reputation in Egypt and the MENA region.
LAWYER OF THE YEAR
Khaled El Shalakany – Shalakany
The managing partner of the law firm, one of the most known on the Egyptian market, has a multidisciplinary formation that has helped him in achieving many successes in all his experiences, being recognized on of the most influential arbitrator in the MENA region.
MARKET LEADER
Shahid Law Firm
The firm has a strong presence in all the practice areas with 41 lawyers, 9 of them partners, they were involved in the most important deals on the MENA region with a track record of the uttermost excellence.
LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR ARBITRATION
Shehata & Partners
The firm is well-known on the market for its arbitration practice, managing many mandates all over the area and constantly achieving positive results and enthusiastic feedback.
LAWYER OF THE YEAR ARBITRATION
Tarek Badawy – Meysan Partners
The partner is one of the pillars of his firm on the arbitration practice, managing many mandates all over the world. The most important one, among the many, was a multimillion-dollar process issued by a telecom company for the exploitation of a sport competition: this was a strategic win for the client.
LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR CAPITAL MARKETS (DEBT & EQUITY)
Shalakany
The firm was involved in many operations on the capital markets over the last year. The most strategic were several MTOs of many public corporations for almost a billion dollars of value, in the frame of the privatization plan of Egyptian government.
LAWYER OF THE YEAR CAPITAL MARKETS (DEBT & EQUITY)
Tarek Yehya – Meysan Partners
The partner is one the most important players on the capital markets in the MENA region, dealing with the most important transaction on the Kuwait stock exchange. The most valuable listing this year was 3 billion dollars’ worth.
LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR ENERGY
Bahaa-Eldin Law Office in cooperation with BonelliErede
The firm handled various matters in the energy market, with a notable focus on preparing the groundwork for a share combination on Europe’s most valuable stock market for a local energy company.
LAWYER OF THE YEAR ENERGY
Mariam Fahmy – Shalakany
The partner has a very valuable experience and she’s one of the best lawyers in the finance practice. She handled many projects financing of renewable energy power plants, of the uttermost importance for a sustainable development of her country.
LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR INFRASTRUCTURE & CONSTRUCTIONS
Essa Al Sulaiti Law Firm
The firm boasts significant expertise in navigating project finance and administrative matters, successfully managing many projects within intricate and complex contexts.
LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR INTERNATIONAL ARIBTRATION
YOUSSEF + PARTNERS Arbitration Leaders
The firm has a cosmopolitan practice with an international outlook. Its flagship practice is international commercial and investment treaty arbitration, focusing on high-value claims and high-stakes disputes. The firm also provides high-end transactional and corporate services to clients across key sectors and industries.
LAWYER OF THE YEAR IP & TMT
Sameh Attia Selwanes – Shahid Law Firm
The lawyer is widely acknowledged as an outstanding professional in the Technology, Media, and Telecommunications field, earning numerous positive reviews from both clients and peers within this practice area.
LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR LABOUR
Shehata & Partners
The firm is a leader in the advisory on employment matters to the multinational companies operating on Egyptian soil. It can count on several valuable advisory giving them a considerable expertise and prestige on the matter.
LAWYER OF THE YEAR LABOUR
Alia Monieb – ADSERO – Ragy Soliman & Partners
She’s the partner head of the employment practice in the firm. Due to her profound experience, she provides her clients with comprehensive legal support regarding local employment and HR matters.
LAWYER OF THE YEAR OIL & GAS
Girgis Abd El-Shahid – Shahid Law Firm
With over 20 years of accumulated experience, the lawyer has reached the pinnacle of the legal market in the MENA region. Renowned as an excellent arbitrator, the professional particularly excels in handling energy-related disputes, including those within the oil and gas industry.
LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR LITIGATION
ADSERO – Ragy Soliman & Partners
The firm has a strong presence in the MENA region and delt with many litigations matters over the last year, especially in the real estate market.
LAWYER OF THE YEAR LITIGATION
Sarwat Abd El-Shahid – Shahid Law Firm
The professional represents an excellence in the dispute resolution practice area, he proved, thanks to a remarkable track record, to be one of the most skilled litigators having managed numerous deals in various industries advising fundamental companies in the Mena area.
LAWYER OF THE YEAR M&A
Michael Boutros – Shahid Law Firm
The partner has overseen numerous transactions in the MENA market, including several significant operations. Among them, the most notable was the merger between a local company and an American entity listed on the NASDAQ.
LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR REAL ESTATE
Ali & Co.
The firm is considered an excellence in the real estate industry dealing with many contentious and regulatory issues, giving an all-around advisory to its clients.
BEST PRACTICE INTERNATIONAL SPORT ARBITRATION
Essa Bin Mohammed Al Sulaiti – Essa Al Sulaiti Law Firm
With his understanding of Qatari law, local culture, and international sports law, the professional is able to offer the ideal intersection for meeting the legal demands of the sports sector.
