Legalcommunity MENA Awards 2025, winners
The winners of the Legalcommunity MENA Awards 2025 were announced during the gala ceremony held at the Hyatt Regency Riyadh Olaya in Riyadh.
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:
PRIVATE PRACTICE CATEGORIES
LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR
Al Tamimi & Company
The team provides a seamless global network capability based in the MENA region, consistently advising on high-profile and complex transactions. They are highly recognized by the market and by clients, standing out for their technical excellence and commercial insight.
LAWYER OF THE YEAR
Joza AlRasheed – Baker Botts
The lawyer stands out for her expertise in high-stakes M&A and capital markets transactions across the Kingdom’s energy-transition, oil & gas, mining, and technology sectors, demonstrating precision and strategic insight.
LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR – ARBITRATION
Youssef + Partners
The team leads Egypt’s arbitration landscape with a strong track record in investment and commercial disputes, recognized for its strategic precision and high success rate.
LAWYER OF THE YEAR ARBITRATION
Nasser Alrubayyi – Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan
The lawyer is known for confident advisory in international and Saudi arbitration, combining strong expertise with excellent skills and a proven ability to handle complex cross-border disputes.
LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR BANKING & FINANCE
Dreny & Partners
The team stands out for its management of the most challenging and significant financial transactions in its jurisdiction, with outstanding regulatory and transactional expertise.
LAWYER OF THE YEAR BANKING & FINANCE
Hossam Gramon – ADSERO – Ragy Soliman & Partners
The outstanding lawyer heads a market-leading banking and finance practice in Egypt, providing expert advice on bond issuances, trade finance, and project finance transactions.
LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR CAPITAL MARKETS
Mohammed AlDhabaan & Partners Eversheds Sutherland
Recognized as a market-leading capital markets team, they bring extensive experience and a deep understanding of the Saudi market. Their approach seamlessly blends international best practice with local customs and regulatory expectations.
LAWYER OF THE YEAR CAPITAL MARKETS
Norah Alonayz – SuhailPartners
Renowned for her standout expertise in debt and equity capital markets, she advises issuers and underwriters on complex offerings with precision and foresight. She delivers strategic advice on some of the market’s most significant capital-markets mandates.
LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR COMPETITION & ANTITRUST
Al-Yaqout & Al-Fouzn Legal Group
The team stands out for its deep expertise in competition and antitrust matters, advising on complex cases and earning consistent recognition from leading international market players.
LAWYER OF THE YEAR COMPETITION & ANTITRUST
Salaheddin EL Busefi – Zahaf & Partners
The highly regarded lawyer brings extensive experience and a proven ability to guide clients through complex transactions, regulatory compliance, and strategic challenges, making him a key asset in competitive markets.
LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR ENERGY
BonelliErede in cooperation with Bahaa-Eldin Law Office for Egypt
The legal team brings cross-border strength to the energy sector, combining local insight and international capability to advise major investors on complex regulatory, transactional, and project mandates.
LAWYER OF THE YEAR – ENERGY
Donia El-Mazghouny – Mazghouny & Co
The lawyer is a well-known professional with expertise spanning all aspects of renewables, from development and financing to corporate and regulatory matters, recognized for her ability to navigate complex transactions effectively.
LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR INFRASTRUCTURE & CONSTRUCTION
Dar Al-Muhama Law Firm
The team is known for its expertise in construction and engineering law across the Middle East, supporting large-scale infrastructure projects with deep regional knowledge and international experience.
LAWYER OF THE YEAR INFRASTRUCTURE & CONSTRUCTION
Faisal Alsarraf – ASAM & Partners – Alsarraf, Almutawa & Partners
The lawyer commands a robust infrastructure and construction portfolio, advising on civil, commercial and arbitration frameworks. The lawyer provides advisory services to local and international clients across both the public and private sectors.
LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR INSOLVENCY & RESTRUCTURING
Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan
The team is built for the most complex cross-border high-profile restructuring and insolvency disputes. Their profound expertise enables them to guide high-profile operations, delivering innovative solutions.
LAWYER OF THE YEAR INSOLVENCY & RESTRUCTURING
Faisal Alfahad – Alfahad & Partners Counsultants & Attorneys
With over two decades of experience, the lawyer leads regional restructuring and insolvency mandates, providing strategic guidance that aligns legal frameworks with business goals across multiple jurisdictions.
LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR INSURANCE
Clyde & Co
The law firm’s team holds a leading position in the MENA insurance market, with one of the region’s largest and most experienced teams, providing end-to-end advice on coverage, risk management, and major loss disputes.
LAWYER OF THE YEAR INSURANCE
Zeid Hanania – Eversheds Sutherland
The professional has extensive experience of advising both multinational and domestic clients operating in the insurance market. The lawyer demonstrates exceptional leadership, providing strategic counsel across complex regulatory, transactional, and compliance matters.
LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR LABOUR
Shalakany Law Office
With deep local expertise and decades of experience, professionals advise leading corporations on labour compliance, contracts, and disputes, ensuring practical solutions and consistent client trust.
LAWYER OF THE YEAR LIFE SCIENCES & PHARMA
Jacqueline Saad – Shahid Law Firm
Recognised for her expertise in life sciences and pharmaceutical law, the professional advises on regulatory compliance, market entry, and M&A in the healthcare sector. Her cross-border insight and industry focus enable clients to navigate licensing, manufacturing, and distribution challenges in the MENA market.
LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR LITIGATION
Shahid Law Firm
The team showcases outstanding capability in complex, multi-jurisdictional disputes, representing corporations and state entities before national and international courts. Known for its strategic precision and advocacy excellence, the professionals excel in both contentious and transactional matters.
LAWYER OF THE YEAR LITIGATION
Sherif Hikal – OGH Legal
The lawyer is a veteran litigator in the MENA region, with more than 25 years’ experience, acting in construction, real estate, banking, insolvency and corporate-dispute arenas. He brings deep knowledge of court process and focuses on high-value, complex operations.
LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR CORPORATE M&A
Shalakany Law Office
With decades of experience in major mergers and acquisitions, the team guides clients through every step of the process and has been recognized as a market leader for over a century.
LAWYER OF THE YEAR CORPORATE M&A
Rasheed Kamel – Al Kamel Law Office
The lawyer brings significant experience advising on joint ventures, M&A, and corporate governance matters in the Egyptian market, with particular strength in healthcare, education, and finance sectors. Clients highlight his commercial awareness and ability to navigate regulatory complexity.
LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR INTERNATIONAL ARBITRATION
Meysan
The team provides strategic, insightful guidance and demonstrates a strong understanding of complex, high-value matters. It specializes in international disputes, regulatory and government affairs, and represents clients across trade, competition, commercial, and media sectors.
LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR OIL & GAS
Ali & Co.
The legal team is highly regarded for its advisory and disputes work in the oil and gas industry, providing strategic guidance on upstream, downstream, and cross-border operations across Egypt.
LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR REAL ESTATE
Al-Yaqout & Al-Fouzan Legal Group
The team stands out for its proactive real estate practice, combining extensive expertise with international networks to support complex transactions and investment compliance in the real estate sector.
LAWYER OF THE YEAR REAL ESTATE
Marya Mufti – Khalid Nassar and Partners
The lawyer excels in real-estate law, supporting major developments, investment structuring, and transactional due diligence across the region. Her practice is grounded in delivering pragmatic legal solutions tailored to land-use, finance, and construction phases of large-scale property projects.
LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR TAX
Al Tamimi & Company
The team maintains a large bench of experienced lawyers who provide comprehensive advice on all areas of tax, including customs duties and M&A-related tax matters. Their clients span multiple sectors, including construction, technology, and energy.
BEST PRACTICE FINANCIAL LITIGATION
Arkan Legal Consultants
The team combines deep sector insight with technical precision in handling high-value banking and investment disputes. Its ability to align litigation strategy with clients’ financial objectives has earned growing recognition across the MENA region.
IN-HOUSE CATEGORIES
IN-HOUSE TEAM OF THE YEAR AUTOMOTIVE & TRANSPORT
Petromin Corporation
The company’s legal team offers full-spectrum legal services throughout the automotive value chain, supporting strategic growth and maintaining regulatory compliance across global operations.
IN-HOUSE COUNSEL OF THE YEAR AUTOMOTIVE & TRANSPORT
Iryna Telychko – Etihad Rail
The professional leads the in-house legal function for a major national rail-network operator, managing complex legal matters. Her blend of commercial understanding and strong arbitration expertise has transformed the legal team into a strategic partner.
IN-HOUSE TEAM OF THE YEAR BANKS
Saudi EXIM Bank
The legal team provides expert legal oversight across export-finance, trade-development deals, and global partnerships, aligning the bank’s legal framework with its mission to elevate Saudi non-oil exports and market access.
IN-HOUSE COUNSEL OF THE YEAR BANKS
Omar Alyousef – Social Development Bank
The professional leads the bank’s legal and governance functions, shaping effective governance frameworks, overseeing major investments, and advancing judicial enforcement tools that strengthen financial sustainability.
IN-HOUSE TEAM OF THE YEAR FINANCE
The Arab Energy Fund
The legal team stands out for its sophisticated legal guidance on finance-driven energy investments, blending regulatory precision with strong transactional insight. They provide clear, consistent, and strategic guidance on complex funding arrangements and cross-border financial deals.
IN-HOUSE TEAM OF THE YEAR CHEMICAL & PHARMACEUTICAL
Novartis
The legal team leverages strong regulatory, commercial, and compliance expertise to guide pharmaceutical operations, establishing the legal function as a strategic driver of growth and innovation.
IN-HOUSE COUNSEL OF THE YEAR CHEMICAL & PHARMACEUTICAL
Rachel Cosgrove – Bayer Middle East
The professional provides expert legal leadership, guiding regulatory approvals, commercial partnerships, and regional compliance programmes. Her role ensures that legal strategy aligns with innovation, market access, and ethical business practices in a heavily regulated industry.
IN-HOUSE TEAM OF THE YEAR CONSUMER GOODS MANUFACTURING
Almarai
The team operates across compliance, governance, and regulatory matters, applying top international practices to enable a major FMCG company to grow and remain resilient to regulatory challenges.
IN-HOUSE COUNSEL OF THE YEAR CONSUMER GOODS MANUFACTURING
Dina Aboelela – Unilever Egypt
With extensive experience in complex legal matters, she has demonstrated exceptional skills in managing wide-ranging legal operations and is highly proficient in negotiating complex contracts while effectively reducing legal risks.
IN-HOUSE TEAM OF THE YEAR ENERGY
Siemens Energy
The legal team supports major energy, technology, and infrastructure mandates by providing rigorous legal strategy, expert contract negotiation, and regulatory alignment, ensuring the company achieves transformative objectives across the MENA region.
IN-HOUSE COUNSEL OF THE YEAR ENERGY
Matteo Grassani – Zahid Group
The professional drives legal strategy advising on project development, joint ventures, and contract execution across the energy value chain. His commercial-minded approach ensures that legal frameworks enable operational ambition and regulatory alignment.
IN-HOUSE TEAM OF THE YEAR FASHION & LUXURY
ELIE SAAB
With strong leadership at its core, the legal team supports the brand’s growth through pragmatic and innovative legal guidance, maintaining the brand’s integrity and ensuring its continued success on a global scale.
IN-HOUSE TEAM OF THE YEAR FOOD & BEVERAGE
Edita Food Industries
The company’s legal team has embraced a strategic, business-oriented approach, playing a pivotal role in guiding the organization’s growth and aligning legal objectives with corporate goals.
IN-HOUSE COUNSEL OF THE YEAR FOOD & BEVERAGE
Sylvia Amin – Al Ahram Beverages Company
The professional has consistently demonstrated the ability to provide clear and effective legal guidance, playing a key role in managing risks and ensuring regulatory compliance.
IN-HOUSE TEAM OF THE YEAR INFRASTRUCTURE & CONSTRUCTIONS
Qiddiya
The legal team plays a central role in guiding large-scale development, master-planning and project delivery, aligning legal frameworks with corporate vision and ensuring compliance across emerging-economy infrastructure ecosystems.
IN-HOUSE COUNSEL OF THE YEAR INFRASTRUCTURE & CONSTRUCTIONS
Mostafa Shawky – Hassan Allam Holding
The lawyer oversees legal matters for a leading infrastructure and construction Group, handling PPPs, major contracts and dispute-prevention frameworks. His work ensures that legal expertise supports timely delivery, risk allocation and project governance at scale.
IN-HOUSE TEAM OF THE YEAR INSURANCE
AXA Egypt
The legal team has driven notable improvements in operational efficiency and strategic impact in the insurance sector. Their proactive approach promotes excellence in handling complex challenges, supporting sustainable growth and strong governance for the company.
IN-HOUSE COUNSEL OF THE YEAR INSURANCE
Amr Radwan – Chubb
With strong legal insight and deep knowledge of insurance regulations, the professional strengthened the company’s legal framework, ensuring compliance and supporting stable growth in a demanding market.
IN-HOUSE TEAM OF THE YEAR OIL & GAS
Aramco
The team brings together strong technical expertise and a broad understanding of international projects, handling complex upstream and downstream matters that support the company’s operational strength and strategic position in the sector.
IN-HOUSE TEAM OF THE YEAR REAL ESTATE
Al Hamra
The team drives complex real estate development projects with sharp commercial insight and agile risk management, ensuring seamless progress across high-impact projects.
IN-HOUSE COUNSEL OF THE YEAR REAL ESTATE
Tamer El Wakeel – Mountain View
The professional leads legal strategy for the major real-estate developer, managing land acquisitions, development agreements and investment structuring. He provides pragmatic legal advice that aligns growth plans with compliance, financing, and market-entry objectives.
IN-HOUSE TEAM OF THE YEAR TMT
stc
The company’s legal team delivers sophisticated legal support in telecommunications, media, and technology, managing compliance and digital-business transformation while aligning legal strategy with regional regulatory changes.
IN-HOUSE TEAM OF THE YEAR SERVICES & CONSULTANCY
Accenture
The legal team supports the global consulting firm by integrating legal, business, and operational expertise. This enables flexible service delivery, facilitates international expansion, and ensures regulatory compliance across all regions.
IN-HOUSE COUNSEL OF THE YEAR SERVICES & CONSULTANCY
Amr Abdelrahim – McKinsey & Company
The professional shows an outstanding expertise in cross-border legal frameworks, supporting strategic decision-making at the highest level. He is known for the proactive approach to risk management and regional compliance.
