Clifford Chance
Our Arabophone North Africa practice provides legal advice across Egypt, Libya and Sudan.
Our dedicated Arabophone North Africa Group is based in our offices in the Middle East and consists of lawyers fluent in English, Arabic and French.
Genuine on-the-ground experience in Egypt
Our team is well versed in the Egyptian business landscape having advised both local Egyptian clients as well as international clients on their interests in Egypt. Our solid track record across a wide range of sectors and specialisms, combined with our excellent relationships with leading Egyptian law firms, sees us appointed on the most complex and innovative deals in the country.
We have relevant experience in Egypt in a variety of industries (banking, energy and natural resources, infrastructure, private equity, telecoms) and across a full range of legal services (from project finance to capital markets, lending, Islamic Finance, private equity and corporate/M&A, dispute resolution).
As part our African Counsel Initiative, we maintain robust, close relations with the most prominent Egyptian law firms, ensuring that our clients benefit from the best Egyptian law advice for a particular matter, combined with our own local experience and international expertise.
Our core areas of focus across Arabophone North Africa
Projects
Our experience includes advising:
- Engie-led Consortium on a 500MW Red Sea Wind Energy Project in Egypt. This project will be the largest onshore wind power plant in Engie's portfolio and one of the largest in Africa.
- AMEA Power on its landmark US$1.1 billion transaction constituting the 500MW Amunet Wind Power Project and the 500MW Abydos Solar PV Project in Egypt
- The sponsor on the project financing of the 250MW West Bakr wind farm in the Gulf of Suez
- The lenders on the financing for six solar projects in Egypt. This is the largest portfolio project being developed by the same sponsor group as part of the Egyptian Phase 2 FiT program
- On the development and financing of the 262.5MW Ras Ghareb BOO onshore wind project (the first and largest BOO renewable IPP undertaken in Egypt)
Banking
Our experience includes advising:
- Development finance institutions on a US$108.5 million equity financing package to support the development of the healthcare sector in Egypt and Morocco
- A consortium of four international development finance institutions on a U$D125 million Islamic financing facility to private healthcare company Humania (Bait Al Batterjee Group) to develop greenfield general hospitals in Morocco and Egypt
- European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) on a US$87 million syndicated loan to Infinity for Solar Energy and IB Vogt's two solar projects
- On a landmark Islamic Shari’a compliant financial package of around EGP1.8 billion extended to Al Sharkeya Sugar Manufacturing S.A.E (ASSM) for the construction of a sugar production facility in Al Sharkeya Governorate
Capital Markets
Our experience includes advising:
- The Ministry of Finance of the Arab Republic of Egypt on the establishment of its US$5 billion sovereign sukuk programme and the debut US$1.5 billion issuance thereunder.
- The Ministry of Finance of the Arab Republic of Egypt with respect to its inaugural issuance of US$496 million (JPY60 billion) samurai bonds due 2027 (the first sovereign samurai bond issued by an African country)
- IFC in connection with its US$100 million investment in Egypt's first private sector green bonds issued by Commercial International Bank, Egypt's largest private bank
- The underwriters on the US$109 million IPO and Egyptian Exchange ("EGX") listing of Tenth of Ramadan for Pharmaceutical Industries and Diagnostic Reagents S.A.E. ("Rameda")
Corporate / M&A / Private Equity
Our experience includes advising:
- Mitsui & Co on its investment in Egypt-based Wadi Poultry S.A.E. and related subsidiaries, a company that operates in food production, chicken processing and animal feed
- Aldar Properties PJSC on the acquisition of a majority stake in SODIC (one of Egypt’s leading real estate companies) alongside ADQ
- Coca-Cola on the US$427 million disposal of its 42% interest in the Coca-Cola Bottling Company of Egypt to Coca-Cola Hellenic
- CDC group on its US$100 million minority investment in Alfa Medical Group
- Alta Semper on their acquisition of Macro Group, a leading cosmeceutical company in Egypt, Alta Semper’s first investment in Africa
- Wanbao Mining on its partnership with Managem to develop Sudan's gold mines in Sudan
- Citi on the sale of its consumer banking business in Egypt to Commercial International Bank (CIB)
- QNB on the acquisition of Société Générale’s 77.17% stake in National Société Générale Bank – Egypt (NSGB)
Dispute Resolution
Our experience includes:
- Representing a Kuwaiti investor in an ICSID claim for breaches of BIT arising out of a unilateral increase in gas price and cancellation of free zone license (resulting in tax increase) by the Egyptian Government.
- Advising on the dispute resolution structure and enforcement issues in the US$1.4 billion purchase of an Egyptian fertiliser plant
More information
Recent highlights
- Africa Academy: a Clifford Chance team hosted an Islamic Finance workshop with colleagues from leading law firms across the region (Cairo – May 2022)
- US Government advises heightened caution regarding operations in Sudan
25 May 2022
Client Briefing - Egypt solar Feed-in Tariff Round 2
25 February 2018
Client Briefing
Directory and client comments
Clifford Chance is a market-leading international law firm with an on-the-ground presence in North Africa. The firm is recognised as a pioneer for its cross-border experience across Arabophone Africa and is often engaged with foreign clients in global deals. Its lawyers are well versed in advising in cross-border M&A mandates, project financings and international joint ventures. The firm is often called upon by high-profile multinational corporations for its ability to blend local knowledge with international commercial experience.
"It's great to have a team who can combine local expertise and global perspective on business."
“The team at Clifford Chance demonstrated an in-depth understanding of the complexities and nuances associated with cross-border transactions in Africa.”
Chambers Global – International & Cross-Border Capabilities – North Africa-wide, 2024- Clifford Chance frequently advises on Egypt-based projects from its offices in Abu Dhabi and London. It is particularly noted for its expertise in renewables, with experience representing project sponsors in major wind and solar projects. The firm is also experienced in assisting with petrochemical and infrastructure projects. Its varied client base includes multilaterals as well as developers and private sector investors.
Chambers Global – Projects & Energy – Egypt (Expertise based abroad), 2023, 2024 - Magic circle law firm Clifford Chance is noted for its longstanding commitment to Egypt. The firm's UAE-based lawyers possess strength across a broad variety of transactional work, including M&A mandates and strategic joint ventures.
Chambers Global – Corporate/M&A & Private Equity – Egypt (Expertise based abroad), 2023, 2024 - "Clifford Chance is one of the most often seen international firms in Egypt."
Clifford Chance […] is particularly noted for its expertise in renewables, with experience representing project sponsors in major wind and solar projects. The firm is also experienced in assisting with petrochemical and infrastructure projects.
Chambers Global – Projects & Energy – Egypt (Expertise based abroad), 2022 - Clifford Chance is a formidable international law firm with a longstanding commitment to Egypt. […] strength in a broad variety of corporate transactions, including M&A mandates, capital markets matters and strategic joint ventures.
Chambers Global – Corporate/M&A – Egypt (Expertise based abroad), 2022 - "They are very knowledgeable – there is no question they can’t answer."
Chambers Global – Projects & Energy – Egypt (Expertise based abroad), 2021
Awards
- MENA Innovation Deal of the Year – Egypt Samurai Bonds 2023 – IJ Global Awards 2023
- Renewable Energy MENA Deal of the Year – Onshore Wind – Gulf of Suez II 500MW Wind Project – IJ Global Awards 2023
- Sukuk Deal of the Year – Egypt's Sovereign Sukuk – Bonds, Loans & ESG Capital Markets Africa Awards 2024
- ESG Wind MENA Deal of the Year – Amunet 500MW Wind Farm – IJ Global ESG Awards 2023
- ESG Solar MENA Deal of the Year – Abydos 500MW Solar PV – IJ Global ESG Awards 2023
- Debt and Equity-Linked Deal of the Year – Egypt's Sovereign Sukuk – IFLR Middle East Awards 2023
- Export Finance Deal of the Year – Renewables – Amunet 500MW Wind Farm – IJ Global Awards 2022
- Renewables Deal of the Year – Wind – Amunet 500MW Wind Farm – IJ Global Awards 2022
- Renewables Deal of the Year – Solar – Abydos 500MW Solar PV – IJ Global Awards 2022
- Refinance Deal of the Year – Renewables – Benban Solar Park Refinance – IJ Global Awards 2022
- Global ESG Deal of the Year – AMEA Power's 500MW schemes (Amunet Wind Farm and Abydos Solar PV) – PFI Awards 2022
- Project Bond Deal of the Year 2023 – BenBan Bond Project, Egypt – Bonds, Loans and ESG Capital Markets Africa Awards 2023
- Renewables Middle East and Africa Deal of the Year for 2019 – West Bakr onshore wind farm, Egypt – Infrastructure Investor Awards
- Global Multilateral Deal of the Year 2017 – Phase 2 FiT program, Egypt – PFI Awards
- Telecom Deal of the Year 2016 – Etisalat Misr Syndicated Facility, Egypt – IJ Global Awards
- Infrastructure and Project Finance Deal of the Year for 2015 – Egyptian EGP1.8 billion Islamic financing for Al Sharkeya Sugar Manufacturing – Islamic Finance News Awards
- North Africa Consumer Deal of the Year for 2014 – Actis' US$102 million acquisition of a 30% stake in Edita Food industries – Private Equity Africa Awards
