Abou Jaoude & Associates Law Firm is a leading multi-practice law firm headquartered in Beirut and founded in 1996.
Focusses / specialisms
The firm is one of the dominant market advisors in Banking, finance and capital markets. The firm represents both local and foreign banks on matters of corporate governance and regulatory compliance in addition to having strong experience in acquisitions and mergers of banks and a plethora of domestic and international extensions of credit and syndicated facilities.
In M&A the firm has a notable record of working on complex and cross-border M&A, including private equity, transactions across all industries and has expertise in transaction structuring, pre-acquisition due diligence, licensing, compliance and post-acquisition integration.
The firm also has a track record in projects and energy with major mandates in the electricity and oil and gas sectors.
Key clients
Key clients include Credit Suisse, Audi Bank, Ernst & Young, American Express, Bank for International Settlements, UBS, Commercial International Bank (CIB), Banque Saudi Fransi, FFA Private Bank, Saradar Bank, BLC Bank, Arab Finance Corporation (AFC), The Luxury Fund (TLF), Burmeister & Wain Scandinavian Contractor, Vestas, Samsung and 3M Group.
Research period review: 32nd edition (2022/2023)
The firm’s engagement in banking predominantly centered on advising local, regional and international financial institutions on extending facilities to local businesses in Lebanon including project and corporate finance. The firm was also active in advising banks on laws and regulations governing issuances of financial products in Lebanon.
The firm was also active in M&A, where it supported its extensive network of clients on a range of acquisitions, restructurings and joint ventures in addition to advising on regulatory compliance work.
In project development the firm advised on several USD multi-billion mandates including the Minjara project and NEOM Giga-project.
Partner Ibrahim Barraj joined the firm while Partner Rita Papadopoulou departed the firm during the research period.
Deal highlights: 32nd edition (2022/2023)
Arabian Construction Company multi-million financing
IBL $100 million subordinated bonds issue
Jableb Holding acquisition of ALMAZA
Monty Mobile multi-million mezzanine facility
Pharma group $60 million acquisition of a pharmaceutical plant
FFA $25million acquisition of shares in SIDEM
Client feedback: 32nd edition (2022/2023)
Banking and finance
"Thorough and detailed feedback and information with regard to any questions, the process of registration, and local law."
Financial services regulatory
"Solid knowledge of corporate laws and remarkable creativity in finding solutions."
"Professional."
"The firm's lawyers are sharp, available 24/7 and ready to provide their support and contribute beyond the scope of the assigned mission. Their technical expertise, communication, approach and proximity is unique."
"Quick response, time management, clarity and professional conduct."
"Creative structures. Experience in the field and very good relationship with regulators."
M&A
"The partners at the firm have an edge over more traditional lawyers through their industry expertise, be it in fast moving consumer goods, product distribution or real estate. They really understand the market and the business. The firm's wide experience in banking and finance always proves to be useful. The key partners of the firm are a dream team."
"The firm are efficient and easy to work with. They provide excellent services, demonstrating professionalism and attention to all details of the transactions."
"Over the course of the last 11 years in which we have worked with this firm, we can safely say that the firm is highly knowledgeable as well as resourceful in a broad range of industries, especially in the areas we require their advice on – particularly trading companies, real estate, off-shore companies and holding companies. We have always been completely satisfied with the advice provided to us, noting that their responses answer our queries fully and appropriately and in a timely manner. We do not hesitate to recommend this firm to clients seeking legal advice."
"Confident, thorough, detail-oriented, timely, professional."
Private equity
"Professionalism, excellent understanding of the topic, excellent service."
"The firm has a very good record, and a very strong relationship with local and international firms and with regulators. The team’s in-depth knowledge and experience in our line of work stands out compared with other firms."
Project development : Energy
"Very thorough and professional approach, mobilisation for deadlines, they revert back for clarifications in order to deliver exactly what is needed."
"What differentiates the firm is their versatility and their outstanding capacity to analyse a situation from its different angles. They do not act as lawyers only, meaning legal aspects, but also as financial, organisational, managerial and strategic advisers."
Project development : Infrastructure
"Positive attitude, always looking to find solutions."
"Good team to assess the situation and advise accordingly."
"The team we are working with consists of a partner and a trainee attorney, both exhibit the utmost professionalism and knowledge of the subject at hand. They are courteous, kind and extremely helpful. "
Project development : Telecommunications networks
"They do everything well at all levels."
Project finance
"The law firm has the right people for each area, all with world-class excellence in their field. The firm has an unprecedented knowledge of the political situation in Lebanon and in financial advisory, arbitration and settlement negotiations."
"They are fast when needed; the advice provided always seems clear and solid; their fees are not too high and they don't try to add things to the baseline retainer like many firms do; they sometimes go the extra mile, such as providing quick translations."
Restructuring : Corporate
"They provide efficient support. They are well connected with international law firms."
"Good and pragmatic advice. "
"They have excellent experience in the law and regulations and deliver legal advice covering all concerns."
Carlos Abou Jaoude
"He is a real asset in both legal and financial structuring, he has a very good reputation across the industry and has built a strong relationship with Lebanese and foreign law firms and with regulators."
"Engagement, hard work, availability, creativity."
"In-depth knowledge and experience in the field and in our firm in particular. Very good communication skills. Creative in structuring deals and in problem-solving."
"He is a genius within his field, with an extreme drive and a broad knowledge, and very well connected."
"Outstanding qualifications with high level of business acumen."
Chebl Atallah
"Honesty, ownership and follow-up."
Ibrahim Barraj
"Very knowledgeable and friendly. "
Simon El Kai
"The breadth of his legal knowledge is impressive and allows him to tackle any complex matter efficiently. He has experience working with international law firms. He's a straight-to-the-point lawyer, and is very reliable and trustworthy."
"He is a high-performance lawyer. Smart with an 'out of the box' thinking, he crafts innovative solutions and tailors his creativity to suit every situation. Very knowledgeable and experienced, he understands the company's needs and interests and handles with diligence and care any matter referred to him by the company."
"Simon is very knowledgeable about the life sciences and pharma sector and always responds very quickly on referral matters, providing high-quality work on time and on budget. Very easy to work with. "
"He was patient with us, and able to manage people from all parts of the globe asking questions."
"He reveals a high degree of professionalism, perseverance and knowledge and is quick at responding to our inquiries. He has exceptional analytical skills which quickly appear in his ability to deduce important information."
Souraya Machnouk
"Helpful, reliable, and thorough – transparency from her and all members of her team. "
"Professional and knowledgeable."
"She is knowledgeable, professional and her emotional intelligence is admirable."
"She is simply excellent in everything related to her profession."
"Very knowledgeable, with a great experience and high communication skills."
"She has a wealth of knowledge that she shares very openly. She is professional, courteous, attentive and a subject-matter expert in all things related to the law. She inspires and stuns all around her with her grace and knowledge. "
"Responsive, clear and solid answers to our cases, smooth communication."
"She's reachable and responsive all the time. She has analytical thinking and problem solving."
"She provides very good legal advice. She is very commercial and manages the client's expectations very well. She is super-responsive and a pleasure to work with. "
"Excellent lawyer with huge experience in Lebanon."
"Listens carefully to her client's needs, innovative and provides the best service."
"She is an extremely bright person. Very quick to understand and assess a situation. She knows what to do and when to do it and she can identify the need to have others intervene to facilitate a situation. Excellent personality. Excellent communication, very eloquent. Impeccable knowledge of the laws and their ramifications. Soft when needed but can be tough and strict in a very subtle manner. Outstanding lawyer."
