Considered by some as ‘the best law firm in Egypt’, Matouk Bassiouny & Hennawy is ’highly knowledgeable and engaged’ with regard to all bank, non-banking financial institution and capital markets matters. The practice continues to maintain its traditional focus on large-scale financings, as well as expanding into new niche areas such as advising local banks on security perfection and sanctions-related restructuring. Regional managing partner and head of finance and projects Mahmoud Bassiouny is a trusted advisor to international commercial banks and export credit agencies. Ashraf Hendi is a key contact for project and equity finance transactions, and counsel Nadia Abdallah is well versed in significant transactions in the energy, logistics and infrastructure sectors.

Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

  • ‘Best law firm in Egypt. Highly knowledgeable and engaged. They act as partners to our firm and not just service providers. We use them for all our legal matters with respects to banks, NBFIs and capital markets activities (e.g. securitisations).’

  • ‘Competent, with extensive experience. Able to come up with good solutions. Standouts include Mahmoud Bassiouny.’

  • 'Excellent team. They are our go-to firm for all banking and finance queries and matters in Egypt. They are very responsive and solution-oriented.'

  • 'Mahmoud Bassiouny is in our view one of the best banking and finance lawyers in Egypt. He is super available and is the person we approach for complex financing matters.'

  • 'Nadia Abdallah is a very safe pair of hands and provides excellent advice on complex matters.'

Key clients

  • Red Sea Wind Energy S.A.E.
  • National Bank of Egypt
  • Banque Misr
  • Banque du Caire SAE
  • Eurogate
  • Arab African International Bank
  • Maridive
  • SACE SpA
  • HSBC Bank Middle East Limited
  • Happag Lloyd

Work highlights

  • Represented Red Sea Wind Energy S.A.E., a consortium comprising ENGIE, Toyota Tsusho, and Orascom Construction, in connection with the development, design, construction, financing, operations and maintenance of a 500MW wind power plant project located on the Gulf of Suez.
  • Represented Maridive in connection with the restructuring of USD 219,370,176 Islamic and conventional facilities availed respectively by a syndicate of banks (Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank, Arab African International Bank, Arab International Bank (Cairo), Mashreq Bank, Industrial Development Bank and Sharjah Islamic Bank) and the EBRD.
  • Represented the lenders in connection with a EGP 6,373,000,000 long-term financing extended to First Design for Urban Investment and Development S.A.E. (the borrower) under an asset purchase and development transaction, involving the Arab Company for Projects and Urban Development S.A.E. in its capacity as seller and asset manager.

Lawyers

Leading associates
Leading associates with regular involvement in their team's key work, and recognition from peers or clients as being ones to watch.
Leading partners
The strongest partners in their field, leading on market-leading deals and endorsed by peers and clients alike.
Next Generation Partners
Junior partners with significant recognition from clients and peers in the market and key roles on multiple matters.

Practice head

The lawyer(s) leading their teams.

Mahmoud Bassiouny, Ashraf Hendi

Other key lawyers

Nadia Abdallah