Helmy, Hamza & Partners (Baker McKenzie Cairo) is one of the oldest established international law firms in the Egyptian legal market. Combining in-depth knowledge of local laws with the experience of a global firm, we help you navigate the legal and business landscape in Egypt and worldwide.

Baker McKenzie Cairo currently employs approximately 45 lawyers, including 5 partners and 6 of counsels, all of whom have an outstanding knowledge of the local legal, business, social and cultural environment. While most of us are Egyptian by training, we are all international and global in our know-how, experience  and practice. 

Collaborating with colleagues in other firm offices as well as with local law firms where needed, we can seamlessly guide you through the intricacies of Egypt’s regulatory environment without the interface issues that can occur between international and local counsel. Working as a cohesive team means we can provide efficient, high-quality service with less duplication.

We have unrivalled international resources across 78 offices worldwide. Practicing in Egypt since 1986, our firm is deeply committed to furthering your business interests both within the Middle East and globally.

• Banking
• Capital markets: Debt
• Capital markets: Equity
• Competition
• Islamic finance
• M&A
• PPP/PFI
• Private equity
• Project development
• Project finance
• Real estate finance
• Securitisation

Mergers & Acquisitions:

Mohamed Ghannam, Managing Partner
mohamed.ghannam@bakermckenzie.com

Recent transactional highlights:

• Advised Commercial International Bank (CIB) and Legal & General Overseas Holdings B.V. on the sale of 100% of Commercial International Life Insurance Company.
• Advised Indorama Ventures, one of the world's leading producers in the intermediate petrochemicals industry, in connection with its acquisition of s MEDCO for Packaging and Business Systems S.A.E.
• Advised CI Capital on the EGP 500 million acquisition of the majority stake of the leading micro financing company Reefy.
• Advised Caravan Marketing Company, a leading Egyptian instant coffee company, and owner of the Bonjorno brand, on the EGP 615 million acquisition by Nestle. 
• Advised Olayan Financing Company on an EGP 512 million acquisition of El Rashidi El Mizan Confectionary Factory S.A.E from Royal Food S.A.E ( a subsidiary of Qalaa Holding S.A.E)
• Advised SDX in connection with the USD 30 million share acquisition of Circle Oil.
• Advised Al Hail Holding on the acquisition of a majority stake pf up to 54 % of Orix Leasing Egypt SAE from the National Bank of Egypt, International Finance Corporation, Majid al Futtaim and CIIC.
• Assisted AkzoNobel , the world's largest manufacturer of powder coating in connection with raising  its stake in Akzo Nobel Powder Coatings SAE in Egypt from 60% to 100%.
• Advised Tsebo Group, leading African investors, on a potential acquisition of an Egyptian catering Service Company.
• Acted for Arab Company for projects and Urban Development (A subsidiary of TMG holding) in connection with the  sale of a portfolio of elementary schools in in the cities of Madinaty and Al Rehab in Egypt with nearly EGP 1 billion in investments.
• Advised Bank Audi S.A.E. (Egypt), a fully-owned subsidiary of Bank Audi sal, with respect to its agreement with the National Bank of Greece (NBG) on its acquisition of the banking operations of NBG's Egyptian Branch. The transaction is structured as a single sale and transfer of selected corporate and retail assets and liabilities pertaining to the Egyptian operations of the NBG including, among others, a network of 17 branches.

Banking and Project Finance
Mohamed Ghannam, Managing Partner
mohamed.ghannam@bakermckenzie.com

Recent transactional highlights:

• Advised BNP Paribas on the USD 469 million SACE covered buyer credit term loan facility to the Egyptian Electricity Holding Company, Euromoney Trade Finance Journal's "Deal of the Year" 2017.
• Acted for the Central Bank of Egypt to help it raise USD 2 billion in funding through a repurchase transaction with a consortium of international banks for a total amount of funding of USD 2 billion with a one-year, and in connection with USD 3.1 billion repurchase agreement with international banks.
• Advised a consortium comprised of National Bank of Egypt, Qatar National Bank Al Ahli, Bank of Alexandria, The United Bank, Industrial Development Bank and Suez Canal Bank on a USD 100 million and EGP 1.2 million multicurrency bridge facility to Canal Sugar Company. 
• Acted for the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) in connection with its USD 170 million facility agreement to Orascom Investment Holding (OIH) to assist the company expand its pan-African activities in pursuit of its short and medium-term expansion strategy.
• Acted as a local counsel to Export-Import Bank of India (EXIM Bank) in connection with a USD 125 million term loan facility to African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank).
• Acting as a sponsor counsel for ACWA Power in connection with three solar PV power plant projects under the second round of the feed-in tariff program. The three projects have a total capacity of 165.5 MW at a total investment value of USD 190 mn. 
• Represented Arab Petroleum Investments Corporation (APICORP) with respect to a Murabaha medium term guaranteed facility to Egyptian General Petroleum Corporation (EGPC), amounting to USD 100 million, providing the purchase price for certain petroleum commodities.
• Acted as local counsel to African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) in connection with disbursing the sum of USD 200 million to the Egyptian General Petroleum Corporation (EGPC) to support EGPC’s investment in the Middle East Oil Refinery Company (MIDOR). 
• Represented Arab African International Bank with respect to a long term loan agreement, partially financing the purchase price of four private and international schools. The loan amount was EGP 420 million including capitalized interest. 
• Acted for Taqa Arabia for Solar Energy, a subsidiary of Taqa Arabia , in connection with the development of a  50 MW photovoltaic power project as issued under the same FiT programme of the Egypt Ministry of Electricity & Energy. Winner of Global Multilateral Deal of the Year Award 2017  by Project Finance International (“PFI”) magazine. 
• Represented the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) with respect to a USD 200 million facility to Telecom Egypt (TE) to enable the telecommunication company finance working capital and investments in its infrastructure.
• Acted for Sixth of October for Development and Investment (SODIC) in relation to EGP 2.3 billion refinance with Arab African International Bank (AAIB).
• Acted for African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) in connection with a USD 200 million multi-currency revolving global guarantee facility to the Arab Contractors (Osman Ahmed Osman & Company) Limited, to enable it meet its obligations under construction contracts within Africa and the Middle East.
• Acted for Rooya Holding Investments in connection with an EGP 3 billion loan jointly provided by the Arab African International Bank, the National Bank of Egypt, HSBC, the Arab Bank, SAIB, the Arab Investment Bank, Suez Canal Bank, the Egyptian Gulf Bank for the  completion of  its real estate projects.
• Acted for a consortium consisting of ACCIONA energia (Spain), Swicorp (Saudi Arabia) and TBEA (China), on financing of three photovoltaic plants in Egypt. The projects come under round 2 of the Egyptian Government's feed - in - tariff programme which is aimed at stimulating private investment in over 4 GW of wind and solar power. Winner of Global Multilateral Deal of the Year Award 2017  by Project Finance International (“PFI”) magazine.

Capital Markets

Mohamed Ghannam, Managing Partner
mohamed.ghannam@bakermckenzie.com

Recent transactional highlights:

• Advised EFG Hermes as the Sole Global Coordinator and Joint Bookrunner on the USD 170 million global offering by ADES International Holding, IFLR Middle East "Equity Deal of the Year 2017".
• Advised on Edita Food Group's USD 200 million IPO on the Egyptian Stock Exchange with cross-border listing of GDRs on the London Stock Exchange. The deal was four and a half times over-subscribed and marked the return of corporate Egypt to international capital markets, a milestone for the country as well as the company itself.
• Advised Arabian Food Industries Company Domty S.A.E. on the EGP1.1 billion initial public offering of it shares and listing on the Egyptian Stock Exchange.
• Advised Amer Group  in connection with a USD 200 million initial public offering (pursuant to Rule 144A and Regulation S) of shares lead managed by Beltone Financial.  The shares were listed on the Egyptian Stock Exchange. 
• Advising the issuer, Juhayna Food Industries, in connection with an initial public offering (pursuant to Rule 144A and Regulation S) of ordinary shares lead managed by EFG Hermes.  The shares were listed on the Egyptian Stock Exchange. USD 180 million
• Acted for the Ministry of Finance in connection with the establishment of its USD10,000,000,000 Global Medium Term Note Programme for the issuance of Notes and in connection with the issuance by the Republic of USD 1,500,000,000 5.875% Notes due 2025 under the USD 10,000,000,000 Global Medium Term Note Programme established by the Republic.
• Assisted Golden Pyramids Plaza on the issuance of bonds,  amounting up to USD 750 million divided into 17 tranches. 
• Advised on Golden Pyramids Plaza's bond issuance on trenches with an aggregate value of USD 400 million.  Trench A: USD 280 million.  Trench B: USD 60 million.

• Banking
• Construction and materials
• Energy
• Food and beverage
• Government and public policy
• Oil and gas
• Pharm and life sciences
• Real estate
• Tech and telecoms
• Tourism
• Transport