Badri and Salim El Meouchi

Chairman & Senior Partner: Salim El Meouchi
Managing Partner: Chadia El Meouchi
Number of partners: 6
Number of lawyers worldwide: 30
Languages: Arabic, English, French, German, Italian, Spanish

Firm Overview:
A regional firm founded in the 19th century with offices in Beirut and Doha, Badri and Salim El Meouchi is one of the oldest, largest and most distinguished of the leading law firms in Lebanon, operating across the Middle East. The firm provides a comprehensive range of legal services including civil, corporate, financial, tax, tech, oil and gas, telecommunications, shipping, aviation, real estate, construction, criminal, sports and personal status law, and is particularly renowned for its banking and commercial practice, including corporate, financial transactions, M&A, PPP, project finance, and privatization, as well as litigation and arbitration. The firm comprises a team of more than 25 experienced lawyers combining outstanding academic achievement with professional training, and selected from renowned international universities including Harvard, Georgetown, La Sorbonne, Lyon, Montpellier and Saint-Joseph Beirut. The firm continues to work closely with the Lebanese government, the Central Bank of Lebanon, the Lebanese Banking Association and Parliament on specific legal reforms in banking and other regulations. The firm has promoted several legal reforms to the Lebanese and Qatari systems.

Main Areas of Practice:

Banking & Finance, Project Finance & Capital Markets:
The firm represents leading financial institutions and corporations on finance transactions from complex acquisitions financing to syndication transactions, and provides advice across all financial products including banking, asset finance, derivative products, product finance, securitization and structured finance. It advises leading financial institutions, regulatory authorities, governments and government agencies, and undertakes litigation and enforcement matters for international and local banks, insurance companies and investment management firms.

Corporate, M&A:
The firm is very active in Lebanon and Qatar in M&A transactions and in devising creative deal structures and acquisition programs. Its lawyers plan and implement strategies for acquirers and potential acquisition targets in domestic and cross-border transactions involving multiple jurisdictions. The firm also specializes in private equity, funds and financial institutions. A larger part of the firm’s practice is transactional, involving mergers and acquisitions, divestitures, financings, joint ventures, restructurings and securities offerings. The firm performs due diligence, obtains regulatory approvals and drafts all required documents.

Commercial & Contract /International Transactions:
The firm drafts and negotiates commercial agreements in all fields including distributorship, licensing, franchising and agency contracts, shareholders and joint-venture contracts, construction contracts, sale and purchase agreements and all other cooperation agreements.

Oil, Gas & Energy:
The firm is a pioneer in oil and gas law in Lebanon, keeping very close track of all new legislation, and is consulted by government entities about forthcoming changes. It already represents a varied portfolio of international and regional oil companies. Active in the midstream and downstream sectors for decades, the firm is now representing major oil and gas companies in upstream Lebanon.

Privatisation/PPP:
The firm is actively involved in PPP and privatizations in Lebanon and the Middle East (including Iraq), and has particular experience in the telecommunications and infrastructure sector. It advises governments, international banks and strategic and financial investors in privatization. Members of the firm regularly advise international organizations on privatization laws and regulations. It has worked on one of the rare PPP transactions in Lebanon, and has bolstered its capabilities in that field in anticipation of demand.

Tax:
The firm advises on all international and domestic taxation matters, structures in the fiscal aspect of all corporate and financial transactions, develops tax efficient financial products and investment vehicles, and provides tax management advice for multinational clients seeking worldwide tax efficiency.

Technology:
The firm represents both tech giants and start-ups in all aspects of their development including AI, Fintech, fundraising, online asset purchase agreements, licensing and distribution. The firm advises on the protection and litigation of domain names, nationally and internationally. The firm is known for its understanding of tech products and all legal considerations surrounding the development and marketing of tech products, and can represent tech companies throughout their life cycle.

Litigation, Alternative Dispute Resolution:
The firm represents clients in trial, appellate and supreme courts, and before administrative tribunals. The firm is also involved in ADR acting as advisor, mediator and arbitrator in domestic and international arbitration proceedings conducted under the rules of most major arbitration institutions. The firm’s expertise includes pre-dispute and dispute avoidance advisory work.

Intellectual & Industrial Property:
The firm advises on IP rights, their protection and enforcement via litigation or otherwise. It is experienced in patent, trademark, industrial design, licensing, copyright, computer, libel/slander, advertising, media, multimedia, trade regulation and unfair competition.

Clients:
Clients of the firm include some of the world’s leading multinational public and private corporations, including investment and commercial banks; financial institutions; governments and state-owned entities; multilateral agencies; audit companies; financial and management consultants; construction, insurance and technology startup companies; entrepreneurs; major investors; utilities; developers; entertainment companies; trade associations; charitable foundations; estates; industrial, commercial and property companies; hoteliers; landowners and occupiers; borrowers, funders and lenders; and other companies seeking advice on local or international affairs, including cross-border transactions and inward or outward investing. Clients receive an integrated service in different industries including banking, finance, telecommunications, energy, oil and gas, waste and water, construction, food and beverages, environment, industrial, media and communications, healthcare, maritime, aviation, transport, lottery, tourism, leisure, sports, F&B and urban planning and development.

International Work:
The firm advises and handles transactions in all areas of trade and commerce, corporate and banking, as well as litigation and arbitration, internationally. The firm is proficient in the civil, common law and Sharia systems, and has a strong international practice. The firm advises on complex cross-border transactions and played a leading role in recent Lebanese economic changes including cross-border mergers and recent waves of privatization. The firm co-operates closely with major international law firms. As member of Interleges, the firm’s international activities have spread to Qatar and the GCC, the United States, Canada, Europe, Asia, the Middle East and North Africa. Some of the firm’s lawyers are attorneys in New York, Ontario, Quebec and Paris courts.