Kouatly & Associates Attorneys

Overview: Founded in 2002, Kouatly and Associates is a leading regional law firm, serving public and private clients across key industries in the Middle East, Turkey, and internationally.

Headquartered in Beirut, we provide solutions-oriented first-class legal advice through our offices in Beirut, Riyadh, Jeddah, Ankara, and Istanbul.

Our network of associates covers France, Egypt, Norway, Iraqi Kurdistan, the Gulf, and the Levant. We utilize our local expertise to provide world-class service to national and multinational clients.

Typified by integrity and expertise, we continuously deliver high-quality legal solutions for our clients and set an example in corporate social responsibility. Our objectives are to provide our clients with highly efficient and clear-cut solutions to all their legal issues.

Our public sector clients include the Lebanese Telecom Ministry, the Lebanese Parliamentarian Committee for Energy, and the Qatari Ministry of Health. We have long-standing relationships with regional and international business conglomerates which we advise on different legal and regulatory issues.

Dedicated to sharing knowledge and creating awareness, we also organize conferences and seminars on legal and business topics. These are targeted towards leading corporate entities, lawyers, judges, legal experts, and businessmen. In our drive to be a reference, we have also established a relationship with the Arab Legal Forum Foundation, a unique legal think-tank in the region. This ensures we are at the cutting edge of legal practice and that we provide our clients with services that best suit their evolving needs in a fast-paced business world.

Antitrust and competition: Kouatly and Associates has one of the very few antitrust and competition practices in Lebanon. We assist national and international corporations in compliance, merger clearance, monopolization and foreign direct investment.

Our skilled and experienced team deals efficiently with enforcement authorities around the globe.

Our team takes a highly proactive approach to merger clearance, studies thoroughly and analyses potential antitrust issues, and engages with the authorities to obtain approval of the mergers and acquisitions transactions.

Banking and finance: Kouatly and Associates has longstanding experience advising on a full spectrum of financial products, including; asset finance, real estate finance, Islamic finance, restructuring and insolvency, leveraged and acquisition finance, commodities and expert finance.

Our skilled banking and finance team act for high-profile banks, financial institutions, private equity firms, hedge funds, and corporate borrowers in connection with complex national and international financing and transactions. Our clients depend on us for day-to-day legal advice on banking and finance issues for issuers, underwriters, borrowers, and lenders.

Ensuring that our clients' interests are met, legally and commercially, is at the core of Kouatly and Associates' practice.

Corporate and commercial: Kouatly and Associates' corporate practice is the quintessential component of our firm's services. Our corporate lawyers provide all-encompassing advice to national and international clients across a wide range of corporate matters. Through our experience, knowledge of local and international markets, and profound business acumen we are equipped to meet the legal needs of multinationals as well as institutions based in Lebanon, the MENA region and internationally.

We represent local and international joint ventures, mergers and acquisitions prospects, franchises, capital markets institutions, agents and distributors, private equity firms and private investment fund.

Our aim is to preserve the commercial interests of our clients and to ensure we provide them with the best approach and solutions that respond exactly to their needs.

Our experience include; Negotiating, drafting, structuring and managing all forms of commercial agreements, setting up, structuring and restructuring companies, handling all aspects of the companies’ day-to-day operations, advising companies on corporate governance regulations, best practices and compliance solutions, managing bankruptcy and insolvency proceedings and handling all employment aspects and advising on all labor law-related matters including security social matters and pension law.

Cross-border family litigation: Kouatly and Associates is an expert in cross-border family litigation. We advise clients on intricate issues pertaining to regional and international family law disputes.

We have a great reputation assisting clients in multiple family law matters such as drafting pre-nuptial agreements, negotiating contentious divorce settlements, and filing inheritance claims. We also give consulting services to our fellow international colleagues on conflicts of law, especially where one of the spouses is of Lebanese nationality. Our top priority is to protect your family and children’s best interests.

In Lebanon, we represent clients before the civil courts, Sharia courts and Ecclesiastic courts.

Employment and social security: Kouatly and Associates is an expert on employment and labor law issues. Our team offers clients, whether employers or employees, a vast array of services in matters pertaining to employment and social security matters. We advise clients on all employment, compensation and benefits matters, whether advisory or transactional, including executive compensation, employment, incentives and immigration.

Our team works closely with in-house legal counsel and the HR department to draft, implement and enforce best practices policies and procedures. We also conduct assessments and investigations on staff and issue recommendations to management highlighting major concerns and how we advise to approach the situation to assist decision makers.

Healthcare: Kouatly and Associates offers comprehensive and first-class advisory services to private and public clients pertaining to healthcare law.

In the modern-day healthcare environment, our team offers a broad base of relevant legal experience, industry-specific technical and tactical knowledge and the skill to create effective strategies and solutions.

Kouatly and Associates was retained by the National Health Authority (The Ministry of Health) of an Arabian Gulf country, advising the government on regulatory issues throughout the implementation of the newly adopted national health strategy. We also advised local and international private groups and national institutions on Healthcare related contracts and project collaboration with the Lebanese Ministry of Health and ensured follow-up on all legal issues about the implementation of these projects.

Intellectual property: Kouatly and Associates is a pioneer among regional law firms boasting a very specialized intellectual property department. We help international and regional clients keep their trademarks, copyrights, designs and patents secured and protected.

Our intellectual property attorneys negotiate, litigate and advise clients on all sorts of intellectual property matters, including franchise and license agreements.

We assist clients from a variety of industries, such as food and beverage, internet and computer technology and pharmaceutical.

We can help you with intellectual property related general advice, protection and registration, drawing agreements, litigation, arbitration and prosecution.

International arbitration: International arbitration is at the core of Kouatly and Associates’ practice.

Our arbitration team has a long and successful record of international arbitration and has served as arbitrators and counsel in over 80 + international commercial and investor-state arbitrations under the ICC, UNCITRAL, ICSID, DIAC, SIAC, LCIA and other arbitration rules in addition to ad-hoc arbitrations.

We provide our clients with advice and representation on local and international disputes and are regularly retained to act as counsel in high-value arbitration cases. We support a wide array of clients ranging from individuals to multinational corporations. Our international network allows us to assist our clients in resolving their legal issues wherever they may arise.

The team is composed of prominent nationally and internationally qualified attorneys and high skilled specialists, and have arbitrated international disputes in London, Riyadh, Paris, Dubai, Singapore, Geneva and Cairo.

We were on the ICC 2010 and 2011 task force which reviewed the ICC arbitration rules and regulations. We have also been commissioned by the Chamber of Commerce of Beirut and Mount Lebanon to develop the Lebanese Arbitration Centre, including co-drafting the new arbitration rules and implementing new management strategies.

Litigation: Kouatly and Associates has a long-established technical expertise to assess legal risks and liabilities and manage the clients’ options by advising on the best litigation strategy.

We have a proven track record resolving challenging disputes and offering innovative solutions to complex problems, all while carefully minding our clients’ interests.

Our litigation practice covers any commercial, civil and administrative contentious matters and comprises pre-trial advice, out-of-court settlement and representation of clients before courts at all levels.

Our reputation for successful outcomes serves our clients well during settlement negotiations.

Legislative drafting: Legislative drafting is at the heart of Kouatly and Associates’ practice. Our team regularly contributes to the development and drafting of legislation in Lebanon and the MENA region.

We give a great deal of care and diligence in our legislative drafting practice. We prepare new legislation and amendments to existing legislation, working and cooperating with panels, Ministers and Individual States Members.

In addition to having a major background in legal research and practice, our team is fluent in Arabic, French, and English, and is able to draft concise, clear, and unambiguous legislation.

Our firm has been instructed by multiple governments to help draft some of the most innovative and challenging legislations.

Maritime and aviation: Kouatly and Associates handles multi-jurisdictional, complex and high-profile maritime and aviation work.

Our team offers competent and first-class legal assistance and representation such as ship arrests, marine accidents, marine insurance, yacht sales and lease, aircraft purchase contracts, financing transactions, passenger accidents or injuries, arbitration and mediation relating to the carriage of goods, and leasing transactions.

Our clients are both local and international, including commodity traders, ship owners, international airlines and insurers.

Media and entertainment: Kouatly and Associate provides legal advice to individuals and corporations pertaining to the music, film, radio, television, digital media and gaming industries. We have represented publishing companies, record labels, film production companies, management companies, major game supplies and others.

Our team of attorneys are well equipped to serve our national and international clients’ needs. Our knowledge of intellectual property and media law forms the base of our practice. We can help you with general advice on distribution and publishing forms, drawing-up sector-specific agreements such as artist contacts, licenses and distribution agreements and litigation and arbitration concerning the protection of intellectual property rights

Mergers and acquisitions: Kouatly and Associates’ broad experience in mergers and acquisitions gives a deep understanding of any M&A transaction in play. Our team advises on some of the most complex and significant transactions ranging from small investments (less than $1m) to large investments (more than $500m) and regularly represents both sellers and purchasers, and have worked closely with financial investors, private equity and venture capital firms, and management groups.

We assist national and international clients to complete all aspects of domestic and cross-border M&A deals, from conducting due diligence to regulatory planning and analysis, financing, tax structuring, negotiating, and closing.

These transactions involve various client-types and industries, including healthcare, power, energy, technology, infrastructure, banking and finance, insurance, telecommunication, utility, manufacturing, sports, and media. We also advise on a number of structures, including mergers, stock and asset backed purchases, joint ventures, leveraged buyouts, restructurings and recapitalizations, and takeovers.

Our M&A team has a track record of successfully closing over 50+ mergers and acquisition deals and assisting clients through all stages of the company life-cycle.

New technologies and IT: Kouatly and Associates advises local and international clients on a wide range of IT and new technologies-related matters.

Drawing on our technological knowledge, our attorneys have worked on a very high number of cryptocurrencies, digital currency, securities, e-commerce, e-marketing and promotion, design, and hardware manufacturing issues including computer systems and protection, cybercrimes and data protection matters.

Our services cover Lebanon, the Arabian Gulf and internationally as we ensure a thorough monitoring of legislative developments on this front. Kouatly and Associates are amongst the first members of the first international network of lawyers (Lexing Network) dedicated to the right of the advanced technologies created on an initiative of Alain Bensoussan.

Oil and gas: Kouatly and Associates is a pioneer in the oil and gas legal industry in Lebanon and the MENA region. Our oil and gas practice is at the heart of our firm and offers the full capabilities and knowledge of law, industry expertise and petroleum regimes. We have acted for very high-profile clients such as governments, multinational energy companies, NOCs, IOCs, oil services companies and manufacturers in all sectors of the industry.

Our oil and gas attorneys understand that technology and regulation are major factors in the energy, oil and gas sector. Our knowledge of local jurisdictions combined with our understanding of international best practices allow us to bring you practical solutions to complex problems.  We have extensive experience in all areas of oil and gas law and provide a full range of legal services including; Pre-qualification to obtaining license, production sharing agreements, joint venturing across the value chain, concluding oilfield service arrangements, assessing, implementing and financing field development, growing and protecting intellectual property and brands, product transportation, marketing and sales, full range of agreements with contractors and third parties, including EPC and other construction agreements, farm in, Farm out agreements, Tie-in agreement and Petroleum Taxation

Furthermore, our team are international speakers and regularly teach courses and provide training in the areas of oil and gas contracting domestically and internationally, oil and gas finance, HSE (health, safety and environment), Governance in the oil and gas industry and technicalities involved in the exploration and the production of oil and gas.

Public Private Partnerships: Kouatly and Associates’ team has deep experience in forming partnerships between the public sector bodies and the private sector bodies. We provide first-class legal advice derived from a careful analysis and practical experience of public-private partnerships to both public and private sector clients. This pairing between the public and the private sector can be challenging, requiring a balance of finance, real estate, operational issues and government requirements. Our team is here to accompany the clients’ all along with the PPP project; we guide our clients starting from the assessment, the project inception, help in the legal framework and instruments, until completion.

We represent public-sector agencies and private-sector corporations, investors, sponsors, banks, financial institutions and other. Our PPP practice encompasses a wide range of legal disciplines, including construction law, corporate law, tax law, public law and finance law.

Real estate and construction: Kouatly and Associates has the necessary expertise and know-how to ensure all-encompassing legal support to its clients in matters pertaining to real estate law. Our attorneys represent buyers, sellers, property developers and investors in purchasing, selling and leasing of land, apartments and other properties.

We offer comprehensive services spanning through every stage of the deal from negotiating contracts to drafting agreements while anticipating tax ramifications, optimizing profits and reducing costs.

We have published the Real Estate Acquisition Guide in Lebanon in Arabic, French, and English. The guide empowers readers with practical legal answers to the 100 most important questions related to the purchase and registration of real estate and the obligations/duties of landlords and tenants.

Furthermore, we advise on all sectors of the construction and engineering industry, including turn-key contracts for project infrastructure and development. Our legal support ranges from the drafting of tender and project documents to dispute resolution. We prepare and negotiate all major forms of construction contracts and ancillary documents, such as EPC and other turn-key contracts, financial support arrangements, concession contracts, joint venture agreements, technology supply and licensing agreements, and operation and maintenance contracts.

We have long standing experience advising owners and contractors. Our clients range in size from large multinational entities to smaller family-owned businesses and are representative of all major segments of the construction industry.

Startups: Kouatly and Associates is among the first law firms in Lebanon to have a consecrated practice for startups. We advise the most innovative, high-growth entrepreneurs and emerging companies along with their investors on a wide range of business and legal issues in Lebanon and internationally. With a profound experience on both sides of the deals, we are able to understand the issues that startups might face, and are able to provide practical and economically serviceable advice to startups and investors.

We help startups address their finance, corporate, tax, compliance and intellectual property needs. We pride on calling ourselves the essential partner to your new business. We are here to help you with setting up your new company, drawing agreements, assisting in getting finance, protecting your intellectual property, employment and having a clear exit and acquisition strategy.

Sustainability and renewable energy: Our sustainability and renewable energy practice combines practical business and industry knowledge with broad legal and regulatory capabilities. We represent clients engaged in the rapidly changing landscape of the generation and distribution of renewable and alternative energy resources and sustainability technologies. Our attorneys offer advice related to all types of clean tech matters, including wind, hydro, waste-to-energy, biofuels, biomass, wave, tidal and solar photovoltaic.

We advise clients on matters related to development projects, the development of new sustainability technologies, LEED-certified workplaces, high-performance workplaces, and green real estate. Our clients include solar farm developers, solar panel manufacturers, wind farm developers, battery companies, biofuel producers and distributors, real estate owners and developers, equipment suppliers, manufacturers, architects, engineers, contractors, consultants, and investors.

Tax: One of the most valued aspects of our practice continues to be our dedication to focusing on tax issues at the earliest possible stage of each transaction. Kouatly and Associates has a wealth of legal experience working in highly complex tax structuring transactions. We provide concise and up-to-date tax solutions to our national and international clients’ most sophisticated business dealings. Our record in tax law ensures our ability to assist our clients’ need, whether they are individuals, corporate entities or financial institutions.

We endeavor to find ways to add value by discovering innovative approaches to reduce the client’s tax burden, and in turn, increasing the overall economic benefits of the deal. Our attorneys understand that tax planning must be balanced with challenges resulting from operational, accounting, regulatory and financial considerations. Our detailed approach allows us to identify obscure but potentially costly tax issues and offer solutions with the highest level of expertise.

We have also developed a special practice devoted to assisting binational individuals, corporate entities and financial institutions with international tax structure and compliance, including FATCA, Report of Foreign Banks and Financial Accounts (FBAR), the Global Account Tax Compliance Act (GATCA), the Automatic Exchange of Information (AEI) and the Common Reporting Standard (CRS) developed by the Organization of Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), and other transnational tax and accounting matters.