Banking & Finance
Global Guide 2024 : Egypt
Band 1
Mohamed A Ghannam
Managing Partner and Head of Banking, Projects and Capital Markets
+20 2 3537 9722
About
Provided by Baker McKenzie (Helmy, Hamza & Partners)
Baker McKenzie’s Cairo-based banking and finance team has profound market experience with an established base of clients, particularly in financial services, renewable energy and real estate development, maritime and transportation, petrochemicals, and fertilizers. For over 30 years, we have retained our position as a market leader who always set first precedents. We are also one of a select group of firms in Egypt that has specialist knowledge and integrated Egyptian and English law capability, which puts us in the unique position of being able to offer both English and Egyptian law advice on banking and finance transactions seamlessly without the need to instruct separate law firms. Our English law-qualified team includes Banking Counsel Victoria Long. Victoria regularly advises on international banking transactions, including landmark and award-winning transactions. We help clients with loans and credit facilities, project finance, Islamic finance, derivatives, financial restructuring, asset and aircraft finance, real estate finance, trade and export finance.
Chambers Review
The Cairo office of Baker McKenzie expertly acts on a wide range of finance transactions across the full gamut of the practice area. The team regularly handles high-value syndicated lending agreements, acting for an impressive list of international financial institutions. It is well versed in project, trade and acquisition finance matters, in addition to providing guidance on regulatory banking issues.
Work Highlights
- Baker McKenzie Egypt represented Rawasy for Urban Development in the negotiation of several acquisition financing agreements. This included an EGP8.5 billion package associated with its acquisition of real estate assets from the Talaat Moustafa Group, as well as an additional EGP3.4 billion package intended to assist with Rawasy's purchase of further assets.
Notable Practitioners
Lamyaa Gadelhak is a renowned finance lawyer who takes lead roles on much of the firm's standout work. She has wide-ranging experience that encompasses high-value transactional matters of all varieties, including project and real estate finance mandates.
Mohamed Ghannam is a greatly esteemed lawyer who consistently leads high-value transactions on behalf of big-name international and local clients, including government entities and leading global banks. He often handles project finance work as well as bank lending relating to sectors such as real estate and energy.
Mohamed El Harmy advises a wide range of clients on multi-stranded finance transactions, including syndicated loans. He is highly experienced in acting for both borrowers and lenders.
"He is a good lawyer who is commercially aware and responsive."
Mostafa Lotayef is an increasingly notable figure within the team who offers clients the benefit of his considerable experience with regard to high-value facility agreements and syndicated lending. He assists lenders as well as notable borrowers in the real estate sector, among others.
"Mostafa is a rising star."
Zeinab Shohdy is a rising figure in the Egyptian banking and finance field who advises on a variety of loan transactions as well as assisting with regulatory banking matters. She is well versed in acting for major international financial institutions as well as prominent local and regional banks. She recently joined Baker McKenzie after leaving Al Tamimi.
"Zeinab Shohdy always provides timely advice."
Ranked Lawyers at
Baker McKenzie (Helmy, Hamza & Partners)
Egypt
Members
Provided by Baker McKenzie (Helmy, Hamza & Partners)
Ghada Elgharib
Head of Department
Mohamed Elharmy
Mostafa Lotayef
Victoria Long
Industries
Provided by Baker McKenzie (Helmy, Hamza & Partners)
Government, Financial Services, Real Estate, Oil & Gas, Renewable Energy, Healthcare, Industrial & Manufacturing and TMT.