Corporate and Commercial Law

Corporate and commercial law is one of the Firm’s primary areas of expertise. The Firm’s corporate division handles all matters related to commercial and corporate law, including cross-border transactions, mergers and acquisitions, joint venture formation, fund creation and licensing by regulatory authorities, etc. The corporate division handles incorporation and start-ups, re-organizations and transformations as well as commercial arrangements, agency, distribution, franchise and licensing agreements.

The corporate group advises leading local and international companies, as well as financial institutions and investment funds on corporate governance, public and private equity and debt offerings, restructuring, etc.

Selected Matters

  • The Firm acted as legal counsel to a company that was awarded a license to produce electricity out of a 68.5 MW wind farm facility.
  • The Firm acted as legal counsel to a company that was awarded a license to produce electricity from wind power in connection with the sale of a majority stake to an investor.
  • The Firm acted on behalf of a group of investors in relation to the sale of their shares in a landmark real estate project known as the “Faqra Club” in Kfardebian (Lebanon), which includes ski slopes, a horse arena, a hotel, real estate plots and real estate projects under development.
  • The Firm acted as counsel to Lactalis in the context of its acquisition of a majority stake in two local Lebanese companies involved in the manufacturing and distribution of food products in Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, United Arab Emirates and Yemen.
  • The Firm acted as local counsel as to Lebanese law in connection with the purchase by a group of investors of a majority stake in a company that owns supermarket chains in Lebanon, for an amount exceeding US$50 Million.
  • The Firm advised a company managing a port in Lebanon on a US$7 Million equity raising transaction and the subscription by a multinational company to a minority stake in its share capital.
  • The Firm acted as local counsel to a bank with regard to its bidding for the purchase of all assets and liabilities of another bank operating in Lebanon, for a multi-hundred million dollars amount.
  • The Firm acted as local counsel as to Lebanese law in connection with the spin-off by a bank of its credit cards business to a wholly owned subsidiary, followed by the sale of such subsidiary to a conglomerate, in an amount over two hundred million dollars.
  • The Firm advised a large Lebanese group which has been operating in Africa for several decades on the issuance of a US$50 Million convertible bond to two European private equity funds, and on structuring the relationship between the shareholders post conversion.
  • The Firm advised a Jordanian bank and its Lebanese affiliate in connection with the sale by the Jordanian bank of all its shares in its affiliate to another Lebanese bank.
  • The Firm advised a Lebanese financial institution on its merger with another financial institution.
  • The Firm advised an Arab banking group on the sale and transfer of a controlling stake in a Lebanese bank including assisting in the drafting and reviewing of related legal documentation.
  • The Firm advised an Arab banking group on the acquisition of a controlling stake in a Lebanese bank including assisting in the drafting and reviewing of related legal documentation.
  • The Firm advised a Lebanese telecommunications group on the acquisition of two companies engaged in the broadcast of TV channels and media activities in Lebanon, which was followed by the merger of the two acquired companies. 
  • The Firm acted as counsel to a high net worth individual in his indirect acquisition of 100% of the shares of a major steel manufacturer in Central Africa.
  • The Firm advised on the merger of three DSP and ISP companies operating in Lebanon and on organizing the relationship between the shareholders post-merger, thereby creating the biggest DSP / ISP group in Lebanon.
  • The Firm advised a private wireless data operator company in its contemplated joint venture with a licensee of a network for the connection and exchange of data.
  • The Firm advised Lebanese investors on the structuring of an acquisition of a 60% stake in a company operating a public utility service in Lebanon, for an amount of US$20 Million approximately.
  • The Firm advised a Lebanese based company engaged in mobile telecommunication business in Bahrein, Mozambique, Iraq, China, United States and Japan with majority participation in mobile operators in Bahrein, and Mozambique, on the structuring of an acquisition of a 20% stake of the company by foreign investors, for an amount of US$20 Million.
  • The Firm advised the first Lebanese fund on its set-up, structuring and licensing by the Central Bank of Lebanon under Intermediate Circular 331 dated 22 August 2013, and on equity placement by several leading Lebanese banks.
  • The Firm advised two additional funds on their set-up, structuring and licensing by the Central Bank of Lebanon under Intermediate Circular 331 dated 22 August 2013, and on equity placement by several leading Lebanese banks.
  • The Firm advised Lebanese venture capital funds on a more than fifteen investments in start-up companies.