Ibrahim Barraj is a partner at Abou Jaoude & Associates Law Firm, and co-heads the Corporate practice. He worked with Abou Jaoude & Associates for ten years, and then acted as general counsel of a reputable multi-sector group, before rejoining the Firm in 2021.
Ibrahim has more than 25 years of experience advising prominent clients across industries on corporate law, with a particular expertise in the banking sector and taxation regulations.
His extensive experience covers the incorporation of all types of companies, and the establishment of banks and financial institutions involving complex regulatory approvals from the market regulators.
He counsels major groups on the legal aspects of their business, including regulatory compliance, corporate governance, tax matters, employment law, corporate structurings and restructurings, capitalizations, private equity acquisitions and disposals, voluntary liquidations, and a wide spectrum of commercial agreements and transactions.
Ibrahim also handles civil and commercial lawsuits before all court levels.
Ibrahim’s recent notable representative experience can be viewed here.
EXPERTISE
- Corporate Law
- Mergers & Acquisitions
- Banking
- Tax
- Financial Restructuring and Insolvency
- Litigation
AWARDS & RECOGNITIONS
Ibrahim is recognized as a Recommended Lawyer in the prominent international directory The Legal 500 EMEA 2022, in the practice area ‘Commercial, Corporate and M&A’.
MEMBERSHIPS & AFFILIATIONS
- Admitted to the Beirut Bar Association.
EDUCATION
- LLB (Bachelor of Laws), Lebanese University, Lebanon.
LANGUAGES
Arabic ● English
Corporate Law ● Mergers & Acquisitions ● Banking
- Advised on the corporate structuring of numerous prominent local, regional, and international groups involving complex intra-stakeholders and intra-group equity and contractual ties, as well on the establishment of the corporate presence in Lebanon of several international groups.
- Advised on several acquisitions of equity in banks, financial institutions, investment funds, brokerage firms, and money transfer companies subject to the complex regulations and approval process of the Central Bank of Lebanon (BDL) and the Capital Markets Authority, including for the Lebanese Canadian Bank Sal (LCB), IBL Bank, Credit Suisse Lebanon Finance, OMT (Western Union), and FFA Private Bank.
- Participated in advising on a US$600 Million complex merger of two prominent banks, the Lebanese Canadian Bank Sal (LCB) and Banque Société Générale Sal (SGBL), involving a highly complex regulatory process before the Central Bank of Lebanon, the premature redemption of preferred shares issued by LCB, and the liquidation of LCB.
- Participated in advising on the ground-breaking multi-bank private placement initiative to finance the launch of a TV station, and on all the legal aspects and documentation of the establishment and licensing of the TV station under the laws and regulations governing audio-visual media in Lebanon.
