Ghada El Ehwany

Practice Areas

Corporate and Commercial, M&A, Dispute Resolution

Career

Ghada El Ehwany is a partner at Helmy, Hamza & Partners, Baker McKenzie Cairo, where she heads the Corporate and Commercial Practice Group. She has accumulated over 20 years' experience in the Middle East, namely Egypt, Saudi Arabia and the UAE. IFLR1000 recognizes her as a "Rising Star Partner" in its 31st Edition. She was formerly a counsel in the UAE offices having been based in Dubai since 2013, and has returned to Cairo office, where she had previously worked for 14 years. She has also developed and delivered Continuing Legal Practice Development training courses accredited by the Dubai Legal Affairs Department on a wide range of UAE legal issues and legislative developments. Ghada obtained a BA from Cairo University's distinguished Faculty of Law in 2000. That comes in addition to her LLB Business Law from Universite Paris I (Pantheon-Sorbonne) in the same year. Ghada was admitted to the Egyptian Bar Association in the year 2000.

Professional Memberships

Admitted to the Egyptian Bar Association in 2000.

Work Highlights

• Advised on the largest Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) deal in Egypt's history on behalf of the Egyptian Government. This deal involves a significant real estate investment agreement with Abu Dhabi-based investment and holding company (ADQ). ADQ will obtain the development rights for Ras El-Hekma for USD 24 billion and transfer USD 11 billion of deposits to fund major projects across Egypt, supporting its economy and addressing the hard currency crisis.

• Advised Reliance Egypt's hospitality division, Reliance Ventures, in its partnership with Marriott International. This collaboration will lead to the launch of Moxy Cairo Downtown by 2029, as part of the adaptive reuse of the Lazoghly complex, transforming it into a multi-purpose hub with hotel, office, retail, and edutainment spaces.

• Advised Siemens Healthineers on the acquisition of IEC Medical, enhancing Siemens Healthineers' service offerings and market dominance. Additionally, advised on the internal reorganization of Siemens' operations ahead of the acquisition.

• Advised Saudi Pharmaceutical Industries & Medical Appliances Corporation (SPIMACO) on acquiring 68% of the shares in Swiss pharmaceutical company Osmopharm S.A. and divesting 76.4% in Egyptian pharmaceutical manufacturer SPIMACO Misr for Pharmaceutical Industries S.A.E. through a share swap and cash consideration.

• Advised Transmar/Transcargo (a partly-owned subsidiary by AD Ports Group) on two mandates: incorporating an Egyptian private free zone company and drafting a commercial agreement with Sinai White Portland Cement Co. (SWWC) including send-or-pay commitments, and reviewing the Services Agreement between Transcargo International SAE and Arabco International Group.

• Advised Raya Advanced Manufacturing S.A.E on reviewing and negotiating the importer dealer agreement with Guangzhou Xiaopeng Motors Trading Co., Ltd. and Guangzhou Xiaopeng Motors Technology Co., Ltd. (Xpeng) to grant Raya the rights to import, market, and sell Xpeng's licensed products (electric vehicles, genuine parts, lifestyle merchandise) in Egypt, and provide after-sales services.

• Advised Sixth of October Development and Investment Company (SODIC) on its strategic partnership with Nobu Hospitality to develop two luxury hotels, branded residences, and a Nobu restaurant in West Cairo and the North Coast.

• Advised SODIC on its partnership with Marriott International to expand The Tribute Portfolio brand, a collection of independent boutique hotels, in Egypt.

• Advised Swiss construction chemicals group Sika AG on acquiring MBCC Group (Master Builders Construction Chemicals), the former BASF Construction Chemicals division, from Lone Star Funds for CHF 5.5 billion (EUR 5.2 billion).

• Advised Atos on the carve-out of its big data security, digital, and tech foundations business and transferring them to NewCos to be incorporated in various jurisdictions, including Egypt, as part of a global reorganization.

• Advised Aptiv, an Irish-American automotive technology company, on structuring its operations in Egypt to operate a service hub from an employment perspective.

• Advised global healthcare company GlaxoSmithKline Services Unlimited (GSK Group) on separating its consumer healthcare business to form Haleon, valued at GBP 55 million (1.6 billion EGP), with shares trading on the London Stock Exchange under the ticker "HLN" in the largest European listing in a decade.

Awards