A multi-lingual lawyer with hands-on experience in Project Finance, Islamic Finance, Corporate Finance, Trade Finance, , Private Equity, Mergers and Acquisitions, litigation and administrative law having successfully engaged in a wide range of international and national transactions, with the following key credentials:
• Master’s Degree in “Internal and International Business Law”; thesis in “Settlement of Disputes under FIDIC Contracts, Red Book (First Edition 1999)”.
• Bachelor degree in Law.
• Solid experience in civil and criminal court cases.
• Handled the equity investments and PPP projects of Islamic Development Bank (“IsDB”) in different member countries.
• Excellent negotiation, legal due diligence and drafting skills.
• Solid communication, analytical and organizational skills; fully computer literate including MS Office applications.
• Qualified Lawyer in Lebanon.
• Certified Public Private Partnership Professional (Foundation Level).
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
Khatib & Partners Law Firm (10/2017 – Present)
Managing Partner Practice Areas:
Project Finance – Mergers & Acquisitions – Banking & Financial Services – Islamic Finance - Corporate Law – Real Estate & Construction – Administrative Law - Arbitration – Litigation & Dispute Resolution – Aviation – Labor Law – Criminal Law – Taxation – Intellectual Property – Family Law.
Islamic Development Bank (4/2014 – 9/2017)
Legal Counsel, Legal Department
Key achievements and responsibilities:
Public-Private Partnerships, Equity and Fund Investments:
• Legal due diligence, drafting and reviewing legal documentation for mergers, acquisitions and disposition.
• Legal due diligence, drafting and reviewing legal documentation for PPP projects (Project, Finance and Security Documents).
• Legal due diligence, drafting and reviewing legal documentation for subscription to Private Equity Funds (PPM, LPA, Subscription Agreement, IMA, Administration Agreement, Side Letters etc...).
• Prepared legal audit report in relation to IsDB equity investments, and investments guidelines.
• Prepared Shari’a guidelines which were approved by IsDB Shari’a Committee.
Responsible lawyer for all IDB projects in four member countries:
• Drafting and reviewing agreements for various Islamic modes of finance: Istisna'a, Istisna'a Agency, Leasing (Ijarah), Installment Sale, Mudarabah, Restricted Mudarabah, Syndicated Murabaha Financing, Loans, Grant.
• Reviewing bidding documents, consultancy and construction contracts under IDB financed projects.
• Drafting and reviewing MOUs and Framework Agreements.
Hajj & Kanaan law office and legal consultancy (6/2012 - 3/2014)
Senior Associate
Key achievements and responsibilities:
• Negotiated and drafted a wide range of agreements (purchase, sale, lease, consultancy services, agency agreement, employment, MOUs).
• Handled a variety of litigation matters and drafted many submissions presented to the courts in relation to different legal cases (Intellectual Property Law, Labor Law, Civil Law, Commercial Law, Criminal Law, Property Law, and Lease).
• Worked on the constitution of companies (SAL (i.e. joint stock company), Holding, Offshore, SARL (i.e. limited Liability Company)), by-laws, drafting and preparing companies’ minutes of meetings (Board of Directors and General Assemblies), Shareholders Agreements, Corporate Governance.
• Reviewed and drafted numerous exclusive distribution agreements between multinational production companies and national distributors, along with working on franchise agreements.
Trad & Daouk law firm (1/2011 - 5/2012)
Trainee Lawyer
Key achievements and responsibilities:
• Worked on the constitution of companies (SAL (i.e. joint stock company), Holding, Offshore, SARL (i.e. limited Liability Company)), by-laws, drafting and preparing companies’ minutes of meetings (Board of Directors and General Assemblies), Shareholders Agreements, Corporate Governance.
• Advised on the legal conditions and requirements to establish Lebanese financial institutions and to open branches in Lebanon for foreign financial institutions in accordance with the Lebanese laws and circulars issued by the Banque du Liban.
Issa, Abi Younes & Associates law firm (9/2009 - 12/2010)
Trainee Lawyer
Key achievements and responsibilities:
• Handled a variety of litigation matters and drafted many submissions presented to the courts in relation to different legal cases (Banking Law, Commercial Law).
• Represented Insurance companies and banks before the Lebanese courts, in disputes with their clients, third parties and other insurance companies or banks.
EDUCATION
• Master’s Degree in “Internal et International Business Law”, thesis in “Settlement of Disputes under FIDIC Contracts, Red Book (First Edition 1999)”, Lebanese University, Filière francophone de Droit (French branch) (2008 – 2009).
• Bachelor degree in Law, Lebanese university, Filière Francophone de Droit (French branch) (2004 – 2008).
• French Bacc-2, Mathematics (with honors), Lycee Franco-Libanais, Verdun. Lebanese Bacc-2, Life Science (2003 – 2004).
KEY TRAININGS
• Accelerated Leadership Program (Harvard Law School Executive Education)
• Public-Private Partnerships Training (Euromoney)
• Certified Islamic Banker (CIBAFI)
• Islamic banking and finance (Islamic Research and Training Institute)
• Project financing and analysis (DC Gardner)
• Negotiation skills in financing agreements (DC Gardner)
• Contract management (ITCILO)
• Results-based logical framework (Universalia)
• Emotional intelligence (Learning Tree)
• High Impact Presentation (Euromoney)
