Khodeir & Partners

Managing Partner: Mohamed Khodeir.
Partners: Ahmed Kotb, Youssef Taher, Hani Zahran and Hanan El Dib.
Languages: Arabic, English, French.

Firm Overview
KP was founded by an exceptional group of partners, capable of handling sophisticated legal matters for corporations, individuals and family businesses; providing the most practical, sound, and innovative legal solutions to its clients.

With the years of experience acquired in top-tier law firms and organizations in Egypt, UAE, Netherlands, Qatar, Kuwait, and into the wider GCC and MENA region, an exceptional group of partners has been built acting as the main pillars for KP’s quality standards for legal services. Mastering and practicing the law for over a century and a half of combined experience in almost every industry the client operates within, enabled KP to craft the highest quality legal solution to overcome complex and sophisticated legal matters that clients encounter throughout their business journey. Having worked in different jurisdictions, with different courts and government authorities across the region, empowered KP to overcome all bureaucratic challenges faced, to consistently bolster the client’s position.

Main Areas of Practice
KP operates under two main practice areas, corporate projects and advisory (”Corporate Practices”); and, arbitration and litigation (“Dispute Resolution”).

I. CORPORATE PRACTICES 

Corporate Structuring: KP develops work products for clients investing resources as a team to ensure clients receive practical, efficient, business minded and legally enforceable solutions.

KP supports its clients in sourcing the land most suitable for investments on Egypt’s Investment Maps and offers its clients procedural and legal guidance to surf through such allocation process.

Therefore, in any of the three phases of establishing a business in Egypt: incorporation, land allocation, licenses and regulatory approvals at GAFI or other government bodies. KP prides itself in being a strategic partner to its clients; for a smooth and safe journey in this realm.

Corporate Governance: KP supports its clients on corporate governance requirements and procedures to comply with regulatory procedures before GAFI and all other relevant government bodies, including: ratification of minutes of meetings, capital increases, and other procedures faced when doing business in Egypt. KP’s network allows it to efficiently service clients in the swiftest possible means.

Mergers and Acquisitions: KP’s team has been involved in many of the landmark M&As not only, in Egypt, but throughout the region. Handling M&A transactions requires a deep understanding of the regulatory environment as well as the ability to draft and negotiate a solid suite of documentation that meet best international practice but that are locally enforceable at the same time. This can be a particularly relevant issue, as many clients lean to using international documentation, however, same reveals issues of enforceability (as not everything that is well crafted and applicable under English Law or other intentional laws can be enforced before local courts or by relevant regulators).

Banking and Finance: With a reformed banking sector and a new banking law in the horizon, a declining interest rate and CBE regulations targeting to bolster investment and industrial activities along with SME activity and fintech being a rising sector; clients need advisors who can provide insights onto the regulatory environment of banking and non-banking finance sector. In addition, the solid understanding of LMA type documentation and its actual enforceability along with the ability to craft enforceable banking documentation; all require experts who know the regional, and international markets, but also know how the Economic courts will look into it when it comes to enforceability.

Capital Markets: Having been involved in several landmark IPOs and rights issues in the region, KP comprehends how such deals can be time consuming and challenging, on top of pricing issues, when it comes to regulatory approvals and processes. KP has done it all and is able to provide clients with in-depth advice and analysis to land successful deal completions or address advisory needs when it comes to securities laws and regulations, including issuing 10b5 like letter, where applicable.

II.DISPUTE RESOLUTION  

KPs lawyers have been involved in litigation and arbitration disputes related to investment, banking, maritime and international trade, construction, infrastructure, public utilities, energy, telecommunications, technology, hospitality, as well as distribution and agency matters.

KP’s initial approach is to help clients avoid disputes and, to the extent possible, prevent them from materializing or escalating. From the very beginning KP works on identifying opponents’ weaknesses, and any risks clients may face during a dispute. KP then uses such assessment to leverage clients’ position in avoiding a dispute and successfully resolving differences.

Arbitration: KP’s lawyers handled commercial and investment cases under the auspices of various arbitration institutions including the ICC, CRCICA, DIAC, SCAI, YCCA. KP also handle Ad-hoc and UNCITRAL Arbitration.

Litigation: KP’s lawyers worked and represented clients in civil, criminal and administrative proceedings before courts of all degrees; as well as before special dispute settlement forums such as the Ministerial Committee for the Settlement of Investment Contracts’ Disputes.