Shahid Law Firm

Competition and Compliance Corporate/Commercial Dispute Resolution TMT

Managing Partner

Girgis is one of the youngest Egyptian lawyers to be appointed to tackle some of the most difficult arbitration cases in Egypt and the Middle East. Girgis specializes in dispute settlement, with a particular focus on energy-related disputes; mergers and acquisitions; corporate and commercial agreements; joint venture arrangements; banking and finance; securities offerings; telecommunications; and intellectual property. Girgis focuses mainly on commercial arbitration, investment treaty arbitration and international law and is renowned for his special expertise in complex multiparty arbitrations. Girgis is recognized for his knowledge in handling all types of corporate and commercial disputes, from routine matters to large and complex multinational arbitrations. Girgis also has significant experience in advising clients in various industries such as logistics, aviation, pharmaceuticals, foodstuffs, construction, energy, oil and gas as well as project finance and banking. Over his career, Girgis has represented clients in the aforementioned industries and more in flagship M&A transactions totaling hundreds of millions of dollars. Girgis regularly publishes articles in his various fields of practice and is a regular panelist and speaker in many local and international conferences on arbitration, energy & infrastructure projects.

Publications

"Egypt Chapter” in Energy Disputes, GTDT, Law Business Research, UK (2016)  (with César R. Ternieden). "Egypt Chapter” in International Arbitration in Africa, LexNoir (2016) (with César R. Ternieden). "Egypt Chapter” in Investment Treaty Arbitration, GTDT, Law Business Research, UK (2016) (with César R. Ternieden and Salma Abdel Aziz). "Shahid Law Firm Legislative Update: Employee Profit Sharing Provision under Egyptian Investment Law”, Africa House – CMS-CMCK (online ed. Sept. 2015) (with César R. Ternieden and Salma Abdelaziz). "The Riyadh Agreement, a Step Forward or a Step Backwards?”, Journal of Arab Arbitration, Vol. 23 (2015) (with Inji Fathalla). "A new decision by the Court of Cassation adding another stir to the ongoing controversy in relation to the requirement of the minister’s approval to arbitration for administrative contracts”, Journal of Arab Arbitration, Vol. 24 (2015) (with Inji Fathalla). "Certain Aspects of Egyptian Arbitration Law” Notícias CCBC – Brasil-Canadá News, online ed. n. 327 (July 2015) (with César R. Ternieden). "Egypt Chapter” in Oil Regulations, GTDT (2014 & 2015) (with Donia El-Mazghouny). "Unilateral Option Clauses in Arbitration: a Survey as to their effectiveness”, Clifford Chance Briefing Note(2013 & 2015) (with César R. Ternieden). "Conducting Oil & Gas Activities in Egypt”, CMS Cameron McKenna Briefing Note (2014 & 2015) (with César R. Ternieden). "Franchising in Egypt”, in Franchising in Africa 2014: Legal and Business Considerations” in LexNoir (2014).

Recognitions

Identified amongst the world’s leading and Egypt’s youngest arbitration practitioners in Who’s Who Legal: Future Leaders 2018. Identified in Who’s Who Legal: Energy 2017 “as being among the world’s leading energy lawyers.” Recommended and praised for having a "good reputation" and diverse practice by Legal 500 and Chambers & Partners. Recognized by Legal 500 as “extremely personable, [having] vast knowledge of Egyptian law”, “extremely responsive and having a unique international outlook” “smart, articulate, knowledgeable and business-oriented,” and “simply excellent, very bright and entrepreneurial” with advice that is “always spot on”. Recognized by Chambers & Partners as one of Egypt’s top arbitration litigators for 2018. Featured as a notable practitioner in the Chambers Dispute Resolution guide, recognized as “impressive – very driven and very business-oriented” and is acknowledged for his “solution-oriented, thorough and strategic” approach. According to Who’s Who Legal, clients have said that Girgis Abd El-Shahid "has, time and time again, proved himself able to successfully, and swiftly, navigate the complexities and challenges that Egyptian law routinely poses".

Additional Information

Panelist at a conference organized by the Middle East Solar Industry Association (MESIA) on the Egyptian Investment Regulatory Framework (2015). Speaker at the conference organized in conjunction with the Egyptian Ministry of Electricity and Energy, the Egyptian New and Renewable Energy Authority (NREA), the Egyptian Electric Utility and Consumer Protection Regulatory Agency, and in partnership with Eversheds, DNV GL, IFC, EBRD, and Apricum, on the latest details of the planned Feed-in Tariff Programme in Egypt (2015). Speaker at Young ICCA Conference on “Arbitration in the Middle East, The Issues, The Benefits, The Challenges” held in Bahrain (2015). Speaker at the ICC/SCL Conference on “Dispute Resolution & Construction Contracts in Egypt” held in Cairo, Egypt (2015 & 2016). Speaker at the ICC YAF Conference on “Arbitrator Ethics: The Importance of Being Impartial” held in Cairo, Egypt (2015 & 2016). Speaker at the 2nd Annual GAR Live Dubai on Which Arbitration Seat Should One Select in the Middle East held in Dubai, UAE (2015).

Arabic (native) English (fluent)

American Chamber of Commerce (AmCham) British Egyptian Business Associations (BEBA) Swiss Egyptian Business Associations (SEBA) Egypt-US Business Council International Court of Arbitration (ICC)

American University in Cairo, June 2001A. in Economics, Minor in Business Administration (PA Cup Nominee) Cairo University, English Section, May 2003LL.B., Bachelor of Arts in Law Georgetown University Law Center, May 2004LL.M., International Legal StudiesConcentration:  International Business Transactions, Project Finance and Arbitration

He returned to Egypt in 2005 to become a Public Prosecutor before resigning in 2007 to become a full-time private legal practitioner.