ASAR - Al Ruwayeh & Partners

Aviation; Banking & Finance; Capital Markets &; Securities; Commercial Litigation & Arbitration; Corporate; Energy; Mergers & Acquisitions; PPP & PFI Projects; Private Equity; Restructuring & Insolvency; Shipping & Maritime

Partner

Ibrahim, a Partner at ASAR, boasts an extensive tenure with the firm since October 2005. Prior to his tenure at ASAR, Ibrahim served as an associate at Raphaël and Associates (Beirut, Lebanon) from October 1993 to August 2000. Following this, he held the esteemed position of international legal counsel at Gulf Bank KSCP (Kuwait) from October 2000 to September 2005.

With a wealth of experience, Ibrahim specializes in advising on intricate and groundbreaking transactions within Kuwait's legal landscape. His expertise spans various domains including banking and finance, capital markets, project finance and PPP projects, private equity, restructuring and bankruptcy, mergers and acquisitions, as well as commercial and corporate law. Notably, Ibrahim has garnered recognition as a leading legal practitioner in Kuwait by esteemed publications such as Legal 500, Chambers and Partners, and International Financial Law Review.

Furthermore, Ibrahim is an avid contributor to prestigious international legal publications, where he crafts insightful analyses on matters concerning Kuwaiti law. Fluent in English, French, and Arabic, Ibrahim seamlessly navigates the complexities of legal practice across multiple languages.

Professional Experience

Umm Al Hayman Wastewater Treatment Plant PPP Project: Following his previous role as Kuwaiti counsel leading the ASAR team that provided transaction advisory services to the government of Kuwait on the groundbreaking Az Zour North Phase 1 IWPP PPP Project, Ibrahim recently acted as Kuwaiti lead legal counsel to the consortium comprised of WTE Wassertechnik GmbH and International Financial Advisors Holding KSCP, who were awarded the Umm Al Hayman Wastewater Treatment Plant Project, one of the world’s largest and most complex water treatment projects with construction costs of approximately USD1.8-billion (excluding financing and operating costs), developed pursuant to Kuwait’s PPP Law under the auspices of the Kuwait Authority for Partnership Projects and the Ministry of Public Works. The project’s financial close occurred on 29 July 2020. Privatization of Boursa Kuwait: Ibrahim acted as co-counsel (as part of the advisory team to the Kuwait Capital Markets Authority (CMA)) in relation to the landmark privatization of Boursa Kuwait, which culminated with the sale by the CMA of 44% of its shares held in the capital of Boursa Kuwait through a developed bidding process. This resulted in the winning bid being placed by the international consortium comprising the Athens Stock Exchange, National Investments Company, Al Oula Investment and Arzan Financial Group. The transaction closed in February 2019. Kuwait Sovereign Bonds: Ibrahim served as Kuwaiti law counsel to the State of Kuwait, acting through the Ministry of Finance and represented by the Kuwait Investment Authority, on the establishment of its Global Medium Term Note (GMTN) Programme and Kuwait’s inaugural dual-tranche, US dollar-denominated international debt capital markets issuance thereunder. The notes issued on 20 March 2017 for USD8-billion, were offered and sold in reliance on Rule 144A and Regulation S and were admitted to trading on the Irish Stock Exchange and the London Stock Exchange. Kuwait National Petroleum Company Clean Fuel Project: Ibrahim played a pivotal role as lead Kuwaiti law counsel to the mandated lead arrangers, local and international financial institutions and export credit agencies in 2016 and 2017, in relation to KWD3.4-billion (USD11.35-billion) Islamic and conventional financing of Kuwait National Petroleum Company KSC (KNPC) clean fuel project, the largest project and the first financing in KNPC’s history. The project includes the upgrade and integration of the two largest existing refineries in the country, i.e., Mina Abdulla and Mina Al Ahmadi refineries. The project will increase the combined capacity of the refineries from the existing 736,000 barrels per day to 800,000 barrels per day, and will lower the sulphur content of petroleum products to 5%.

English, French and Arabic

Member of the Beirut Bar Association, 1994 Member of the American Bar Association Member of the International Bar Association

Diplome d’Etudes Approfondies (LL.M) in Private International Law and International Trade Law, Paris 2 University (Assas Pantheon), Paris, France, 1993 Bachelor of Laws (LL.B) in Lebanese Law, St. Joseph University and Lebanese University, Beirut, Lebanon, 1990 and 1993 Bachelor of Laws (LL.B) in French Law, Paris 2 University (Assas), Paris, France, 1991