Helmy, Hamza & Partners (member firm of Baker & McKenzie International)’s corporate and commercial team is ‘one of the strongest in the Egyptian market’, and is active across a diverse range of key economic sectors including financial services, real estate, TMT, pharmaceuticals, construction and renewable energy. Managing partner Mohamed Ghannam and the ’superb’ Hani Nassef, who oversees the M&A practice, have a broad span of expertise, with public and private M&A, joint ventures, carve-outs and divestitures, and commercial contracts considered key areas of strength. Ghada El Ehwany heads the corporate and commercial offering and has a particular prowess in the healthcare and TMT sectors.

Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

  • ‘The team is great at providing reliable, tailored advice, and also at seeing the bigger picture in light of instructions and also the local legislative requirements, current and future. Another great thing is that you are never left waiting if someone is absent. The team works collaboratively to ensure that there is always someone to pick up your query when your point of contact is not available.’

  • ‘This team is one of the strongest in the Egyptian market. They provide high-quality advice and bring international expertise as well local knowledge.’

  • ‘Hani Nassef is a superb partner and particularly strong.’

  • ‘One of the leading M&A practices in Egypt.’

  • ‘Hani Nassef stands out as he brings to the Egyptian market his deep experience of international law firm experience.’

  • ‘Strong junior team, high level of responsiveness to client needs, strong knowledge of market and industry dynamics.’

Key clients

  • SPE Capital
  • Smith & Nephew FZE
  • Toyota Tsusho Corporation
  • Hitachi
  • AfricInvest
  • ServiceNow
  • Aibel Holding Limited
  • Airbnb, Inc.
  • Al Faisaliah Group Holding Company
  • Al Nouran Financial Investments Hol.
  • Al Rajhi International for Investments
  • Al-Babtain Power & Telecommunication
  • AlWatania Information Systems (WiSys)
  • Al-Watania Poultry
  • Amethis Fund
  • AMEX (Middle East) B.S.C.
  • Aquatherm GmbH
  • Arabia For Investment & Development
  • ArcelorMittal International FZE
  • Archer-Daniels-Midland Company
  • Banque Misr SAE
  • Banque Du Caire
  • Emirates NBD
  • Barminco Egypt Underground Mining
  • Baxter International Inc.
  • Bechtel Limited
  • BLOM Bank SAL
  • Booz Allen Hamilton Inc.
  • Boston Scientific Corporation
  • British American Tobacco Co., Egypt
  • Edita Food Industries SAE
  • Egypt Kuwait Holding Co., SAE
  • Fluence Corporation LLC
  • Fluor Corporation
  • H.B. Fuller Adhesives S.A.E.
  • Haier Appliances Group
  • Halliburton Overseas Ltd.
  • Hikma Pharmaceuticals plc
  • Iberdrola Ingenieria Y Construccion
  • Indorama Ventures
  • J.P. Morgan Trust Company (Bahamas)
  • Johnson Controls, Inc.
  • Jones Apparel Group Inc.
  • McKinsey & Company Inc.
  • MIDBank
  • Shell International Ltd.
  • Sheraton
  • Shibaura Machine Co., Ltd.
  • Shoura Chemicals
  • Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation
  • Sinopec International Petroleum
  • SK Plasma Co., Ltd.
  • Societe Generale
  • Sojitz Corporation
  • SONY MIDDLE EAST AND AFRICA FZE
  • Sovereign Fund of Egypt
  • Spartan Energy Partners
  • Special Olympics, Inc.
  • Spectrum Brands, Inc.
  • SpeedCast Limited
  • Spotify AB
  • Starbucks Corporation
  • STG Partners, LLC
  • Storytel Sweden AB
  • Suez Methanol Derivatives Company
  • Suez Water Technologies & Solution
  • Swvl for Smart Transport Application
  • Takeda Pharmaceuticals FZE
  • Talaat Moustafa Group Holding
  • Wrigley Candy Uk

Work highlights

  • Acted for Banque Misr in establishing the first REIT in Egypt, Egyptian Real Estate Fund, that aims at investing in income-generating portfolios of commercial real estate such as shopping malls, office buildings, and medical and educational centres within Greater Cairo.
  • Advised Sika AG, a Swiss specialty chemicals company, in relation to the acquisition of Master Builders Construction Chemicals (MBCC Group), a global supplier of construction chemicals, for EUR 5.3 billion.
  • Acting for Forescout Technologies on the divestment of its cybersecurity company in Egypt to Liquid Technologies.

Lawyers

Hall of Fame
The lawyers at the very top of the profession, widely known and respected by peers and clients for their longstanding involvement in market-leading work.

Practice head

The lawyer(s) leading their teams.

Mohamed Ghannam, Hani Nassef, Ghada El Ehwany