April 2018
For the ninth consecutive year, The Legal 500 ranks Abou Jaoude & Associates in Tier 1, the highest ranking for law firms, for its work in four practice areas covered by the 2018 guide in Lebanon. Managing partner Carlos Abou Jaoude and partner Souraya Machnouk were distinguished as Leading Individuals, the highest ranking for individual lawyers. Two lawyers are also Recommended by The Legal 500, namely partner Simon El Kai and senior associate Chebl Atallah.
The Firm earned its top tier ranking in the categories of:
- Banking, Finance and Capital Markets
- Commercial, Corporate and M&A
- Real Estate and Construction (including Projects)
- Tax
The prestigious guide praised the Firm’s practice, stating:
The Firm “performs at the highest level”.
The Legal 500 2018 - Banking, Finance and Capital Markets
“Abou Jaoude & Associates Law Firm provides ‘a very good level of service when compared to its peers’. Carlos Abou Jaoude has ‘good market knowledge’; he advised Holding M. Sehnaoui on its purchase of a majority stake in Piraeus Bank’s Cypriot branch as part of the bank’s restructuring. Carlos Abou Jaoude and Souraya Machnouk also assisted Renaissance Metn with a $15m bond issuance sold to Emaar Properties. Other work includes fintech and restructuring issues.”
The Legal 500 2018 - Commercial, Corporate and M&A
“Abou Jaoude & Associates Law Firm provides ‘concise and efficient advice’ on M&A deals and commercial matters. Carlos Abou Jaoude acted for Holding M. Sehnaoui on its purchase of an equity stake in USB Bank’s Cypriot operation. The firm also has a presence in the venture capital space: clients recommend Souraya Machnouk, who assisted a fund managed by Azure Capital Partners with its purchase of mobile polling app MySay; and Simon El Kai, who advised TriArc on its sale to a venture capital fund. Commercial work includes Machnouk handling a distribution agreement for a subsidiary of JBS. Senior associate Chebl Atallah is another name to note.”
The Legal 500 2018 - Real Estate and Construction (including Projects)
“Abou Jaoude & Associates Law Firm handles significant public project work and real estate mandates. Carlos Abou Jaoude advised National Electricity Utility Company on a contract to modernise Lebanon’s power grid and assisted a real estate entrepreneur with restructuring several real estate finance facilities, while Souraya Machnouk acted for Rezidor Hotel Group on franchising a hotel in Beirut.”
The Legal 500 2018 - Tax
“Abou Jaoude & Associates Law Firm handles tax work relating to commercial deals ranging from M&A to construction contracts. Carlos Abou Jaoude is a key partner.”
Managing partner Carlos Abou Jaoude, who clients commend as “well known for providing ingenious solutions”, and partner Souraya Machnouk, who “demonstrates highly technical expertise”, reaped Leading Individual rankings in the areas of Banking, Finance and Capital Markets and Commercial, Corporate and M&A.
Managing partner Carlos Abou Jaoude was also Recommended in the areas of Projects and Energy and Tax. Other attorneys Recommended in Commercial, Corporate and M&A include partner Simon El Kai.
