ZH&P Attorneys at Law

ZH&P specializes in the field of securitization and bonds. The Firm advised on and completed large bond offerings and securitization of receivables (oil and real state backed). Currently, it is advising a major financial lease company on the securitization of its financial leases portfolio, to be one of the largest on the Egyptian market. The Firm has also incorporated the first Factoring Company in Egypt in 2011, in accordance with Investment Law No. 8 of 1997. The Firm has also been very active in the implementation of project financing in all its forms, from traditional early generation BOTs and BOOTs to PPP projects. It has also advised various consortiums on their preparation of bid documents and contract negotiations for power, water, infrastructure and port BOTs and BOOTs. ZH&P has advised the Egyptian Ministry of Finance on the first PPP project in Egypt ever, up to the stage of the drafting of the main concession agreement and the direct agreement, which became the bases for the PPP law promulgated subsequently. The late 1990's witnessed the explosion and development of the telecommunications industry and electronic commerce. Here again, the Firm was at the forefront. ZH&P drafted and negotiated the first private provision of telecommunications service license in Egypt (public payphone), drafted and negotiated the mobile telephone services license in Egypt (being the first license ever issued by the Telecommunications Regulatory Agency). Thereafter, the Firm has been involved with all telecommunication licenses by representing the recipient of the private data network (PDN) licenses, v-sat, marine cables, triple play, hosting, land line and international gate way licenses. The Firm also advises various operators and value added service providers in the field of telecommunications on all legal aspects. The telecommunications experience of the Firm led to the appointment, by Ministerial Decree, of Mr. Yasser Hashem, the Firm's Managing Partner, as a member of the new Telecommunication Act Drafting Committee, commissioned by H.E. the Minister of Telecommunications. Very early on, ZH&P has harboured most prominent litigation and arbitration departments. It has one of the largest litigation departments in Egypt and has over the years litigated thousands of cases all over Egypt and at all different courts. Many of its members, past and present, have assumed counselling or arbitrating many landmark arbitrations, like the Westland Helicopters Case in the 1970s, the Taba Arbitration in the 1980's, the Ahmad Hamdy Tunnel bellow the Suez Canal in the 1980's, the Abyie Arbitration in 2009, as well as major ICSID cases and many other local and international commercial arbitrations, involving both public or private entities, relating, interalia, to construction, commercial agencies, acquisitions of shares, sale and purchase transactions, hotel management and hospitality, shipbuilding, and insurance. Currently, the Firm is counsel in one of the largest arbitrations around the world in the field of telecommunications, with a stake of just under two billion US Dollars. The unique culture and composition of the Firm has made it possible for it to become the leading law firm in Egypt on all matters of Public International Law. Past and present members of the Firm have defended Egypt and several other States before the International Court of Justice ("ICJ") or sat on the Court as Judges. Among the cases they have entertained, before or with the ICJ, are the Libya-Chad Territorial Dispute Case (1994), the Advisory opinion on the "Legality of the Treat or Use of Nuclear Weapons" (1996), Cameroon-Nigeria Maritime boundary Case (2002) and the Advisory Opinion on the "Wall" (2004). The Firm also deals extensively with Diplomatic and Consular privileges and immunities on a regular basis and advises many foreign embassies and consulates in Egypt. The Firm's labour and employment team serves as counsel to management in a wide range of industries and represents multinational and local companies at every stage of the employment relationship. It gives general advice with respect to all issues of the Egyptian Labour Law, including employment agreements, corporate restructurings and acquisition of businesses and companies, benefits, social security, pensions, as well as expatriate and visa issues. It conducts employment related due diligences. The Firm also represents its clients before the competent courts in all sorts of disputes relating to employment. It handles in-house investigations for its clients. ZH&P has traditionally maintained a Real Estate Department composed of well-experienced lawyers and clerks covering all authentication offices in most governorates throughout Egypt. It has assisted its clients with their real estate requirements including purchase, sale and lease of land, buildings, offices or residences. It has also acted for clients to recover real estate property, which had been previously sequestrated and property that had been fraudulently acquired by other parties. The Firm has also established and assisted real estate companies in Egypt in the acquisition of the largest plots of lands offered by the Government through public auctions, as well as negotiated major large properties for development. It also continues to help clients who seek to obtain lease financing for their properties from banks, by negotiating, drafting and finalizing the relevant agreements.