The Levant Lawyers in Association with the Members of CMS

Law Firm Overview

The Levant Lawyers (TLL) is a major Middle Eastern law firm, which works closely with its clients to provide them with a wide range of legal services required to do business in the Middle East and Europe and the major cities of the world.

TLL operates in Beirut, Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Kuwait with a future expansion planned across the Middle East, North Africa and the Gulf area countries.

TLL works in association with CMS, one of the largest organizations of European law and tax firms, with 57 offices in Western and Central Europe and beyond, employing over 2,000 lawyers.

The Challenge

In 2010 the member states of the GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf) intend to introduce a monetary union as a follow up to the existing customs union between those member states. Increasing investment and trade between member states and the increasing sophistication of transactions, the continuing investment from member states into Europe and the increasing demand of international companies for legal representation in the region create its own challenges. The founding partners of The Levant Lawyers (TLL) realized the solution to these growing globalization challenges would have to combine local knowledge, experience and expertise with international capability.

The Solution

The founding partners of TLL decided to combine their three firms and regional offices further in September 2007. TLL, already a large law firm according to Middle Eastern standards and headquartered in the Lebanon, entered into an agreement to create an Association with the Members of CMS the Organization of European Law Firms. The agreement outlines the establishment of offices by TLL in the Member States of the GCC by 2010 and a presence or representation in other countries within the region by drawing upon the local knowledge, experience and expertise of long term resident local lawyers with the depth of international experience and techniques of the Members of CMS.

A Snapshot

TLL is the combination of three law firms in Lebanon, who at the time of the merger already had access to offices in Kuwait and Dubai (UAE) and who have since then established offices in Abu Dhabi , UAE. Members of TLL have worked with Members of CMS over a number of years. CMS is the organization of European law and tax firms of choice for organizations based in, or looking to move into, Europe. CMS provides a deep local understanding of legal, tax and business issues and delivers client-focused services through a joint strategy locally executed across 26 jurisdictions with 57 offices in Western and Central Europe and beyond. CMS was established in 1999 and today comprises nine CMS firms, employing over 2,000 lawyers and is headquartered in Frankfurt, Germany. TLL draws on the CMS model, which was developed to meet the unique constitution of Europe, a distinct variety of national cultures, histories, languages and regulator and legal systems which within the European Union is held together by EU wide common regulations to ensure a high degree of operational integration and co-operation across the continent. The vision of TLL is to provide the finest combination of local expertise and proven international capabilities, the same as the vision under which CMS has been operating - namely national expertise and international capability.

TLL and CMS will act as the two gateways for clients to access the resources and expertise available through the Association within the Middle East and Europe.

Year this Office was Established: 2005
Number of Offices Worldwide: 4
Attorneys in this Office: 8
Attorneys Worldwide: 60
Languages: English- Arabic - French

Practice Areas

Our knowledge of the region's needs combined with our international vocation allows us to offer our clients a unique range of international and global services not found in any other law firm in the Middle East and North Africa.

- Administrative Law

TLL has extensive experience in Administrative Law Practice. It handles major legal cases and materials such as ones related to the Council of Development and Reconstruction (CDR) especially in public expropriation and condemnation issues. Moreover TLL has filed large cases before the administrative court headed by the Council of State Court (Conseil d'Etat) where prominent affairs have been pleaded implying the public sector i.e. privatization, monopoly license, public domain, delegation of public services, public servant issues, environmental regulations, etc.

- Arbitration and Alternative Dispute Resolution

What is a dispute? What is arbitration? What is an arbitrator? Those questions appear very simple but are of immense importance and complexity. Arbitration is a civilized method of settling disputes by submitting disagreements to a third party and agreeing to abide by his decision.

- Banking and Finance

TLL benefits from the reputation of the Lebanese banking system by bringing the professionalism and the long term practice of the sector to its clients. TLL prides itself on the excellent services it offers to the banking and finance sectors.

- Commercial Law

Lawyers at TLL consider that a good corporate lawyer is one who understands the needs of the business community, thus TLL's lawyers continuously push for acute attention to detail and in-depth knowledge of the particularities of each transaction.

- Competition, Regulation and Trade

With the spread of globalization and the complexity of the new rules set by the World Trade Organization (WTO) and other international bodies, the business community is increasingly in need for lawyers with international legal knowledge. Our lawyers have extensive education that allows them to deal with markets needs in terms of competition, import and export treaties in addition to WTO regulations.

- Corporate Law

The primary function of Corporate law is to accommodate the legitimate needs and expectations of companies to assure their continuous growth and their best development in relation to the local and/or international legal framework, to fundamental legal principles and to common practices. We, as practicing lawyers, react to the needs of our clients to assure their best protection and their full compliance with law but introducing in this respect creative elements and latest legal techniques developed by practicing commercial lawyers that allow the best legal structure for corporations and/or groups of companies and the utmost expansion of such corporations and/or groups of companies.

- Criminal and Penal Law

TLL has built a unique reputation in the criminal and penal area of practice. TLL is considered among the best criminal departments in Lebanon. TLL provides clients efficient and swift professional legal assistance due to its long experience in this field. TLL provides advice and court representation on all criminal issues including general prosecutions and appeals, filing lawsuits and pressing charges, and the negotiation of settlements.

- Financial Services and Funds

We offer a broad range of legal services related to financial aspects of business transactions in addition to agreements that require deep technical knowledge. TLL's lawyers have a high level of specialized trade finance training, including degrees in finance and in financial law, and extensive experience, thus benefiting clients through such knowledge and practice in those fields.

- Information Technology and E-Commerce

Due to the exponential growth of the information technology and e-commerce sector in the Middle East and North Africa, TLL is playing a major role in representing media organizations and celebrities. TLL follows up on the latest breakthroughs in the technological field that have an impact on business. TLL's lawyers strive to provide their clients with legal advice and an innovative approach regarding opportunities created by technology.

- Insurance

The Insurance Department is composed of lawyers having an impressive litigation practice who are very familiar with the complications of insurance schemes. Our lawyers are experienced in dealing with insurance claims and insurance fraud whether by defending a party or suing for damages. They have acquired knowledge regarding the protection of beneficiaries through offshore trusts.

- Intellectual Property, Copyright and Multimedia

Intellectual property matters provide a major focus for TLL. TLL services range from the registration of copyrights, trademarks, industrial prototypes and patents' international registration as well as licensing. We advise on anti-counterfeit, media advertising and marketing matters as well as the protection and enforcement of intellectual property rights. Additionally TLL has a solid experience in franchising and sub franchising agreements in addition to sole and exclusive distribution agreements.

- International Sales of Goods

Due to the complexity of international regulations and goods risk management, shipment and delivery, TLL has established a department composed of highly qualified lawyers specializing in the international sale of goods. TLL's experience in the drafting of international agreements and contracts relating to commerce and trade is considered at least as well developed as that of its peers amongst other Middle Eastern law firms.

- International Offshore Incorporation

The International Offshore Incorporation Department is a cornerstone of our corporate services, constituted by professional individuals with special expertise as to the most suitable jurisdiction for company or trust incorporation.

- Investment Banking

With its regional presence, TLL offers a deep understanding of Middle East investment banking laws and investors' needs. TLL's lawyers have previous experience in private placements, and have worked on several private banking projects across the Middle East and North Africa. TLL benefits from the experience of the firm's other departments high end services and from the firm's strong and professional corporate services, coupled with an international practice that embraces the clients needs and the necessity to provide innovative solutions to increasingly complex financing structures.

- Labor and Employment

The growth of our Labor and Employment Department has not stopped since its formation and it is considered as one of the best reputated Departments within TLL. The Department is well known for its efficiency in dealing with matters related to labor and employment in addition to its knowledge of the MENA region labor laws and regulations.

- Litigation

TLL has built its reputation on winning lawsuits and it has a large portfolio of corporate, financial, commercial, construction, criminal and administrative litigation. The department's lawyers cover nearly all aspects of litigation and they are prized for their efficiency and their constructive approach to more and more complicated and interlinked litigations.

- Maritime, Aviation and Transport

The firm has dealt with maritime issues since its formation. TLL expanded to provide legal advice on aviation and transport issues. TLL is known for its prompt communication of relevant international transport regulations to clients and the high specialization of its team members.

- Project Financing

Our Project Financing Department has an established reputation in project development and project finance. TLL regularly advises sponsors, financiers and governmental and public sector bodies across numerous industry sectors within the Middle East and North Africa.

- Real Estate and Construction

Real Estate Projects continue to grow exponentially in the Levant area. Massive investment is made in such projects. With both construction and real estate booming, TLL practice focuses on providing its clients professional and sophisticated legal advice to support real estate and construction transactions.

- Restructuring and Corporate Recovery

The restructuring and corporate recovery Department at TLL assists clients in conducting a smoother and flexible ownership of legal entities, by refining the overall corporate structure in order to maximize profits and minimize tax implications, or to maintain a minimum ownership of controlling majority shares or any other combination of control/profit sharing schemes.

- Tax Law and Financial Structuring

Benefiting from TLL's presence in the Middle East and North Africa region, and of its widespread international clients, the Tax Department has wide experience and practice of tax law in different countries in the region. The TLL Tax Department offers to its local and international clients an integrated tax strategy plan for their various businesses, properties, real estate investments, and corporate structures.

Affiliations

• CMS
• The European Association of Lawyers (AEA)