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Dr. Amr A. Abbas

Arabic, English

+(202) 2796 2042 (ext. 189)

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Dr. Amr A. Abbas

Partner, Head of Arbitration and Co-Head of Competition

Dr. Amr A. Abbas is a Partner and Head of the Arbitration Department and Co- Head of the Competition practice at Matouk Bassiouny & Hennawy where over the last 20 years, he’s represented clients in more than 90 arbitration cases including cases under the laws of several jurisdictions including Abu Dhabi, Algeria, Dubai, Egypt, France, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the United Kingdom and the United States before ADCCAC, CAS, CRCICA, DIAC, DIFC-LCIA, LCIA, ICC, ICSID, PCA as well as in ad hoc arbitrations. He has acted as a legal advisor to the Egyptian Competition Authority (2014-2015). Dr. Abbas has also advised the Ministry of Petroleum on the draft natural gas law and acted as Egypt’s In-Country Evaluator for the United Nations Global Compact Anti-Corruption Collective Action Project in 2015. Prior to joining MBH, he worked at White & Case LLP, The World Bank in Washington DC, Sharkawy & Sarhan, Ibrachy & Dermarker in Cairo.

Dr. Abbas is also a staff member at the Faculty of Law Cairo University and the academic supervisor of the Faculty’s Moot Court Arbitration. In addition, he is an adjunct professor at the Law & Economic LLM program between Hamburg University and Cairo University.

Referring to Dr. Abbas, recent legal periodicals have stated:

Dr. Amr Abbas managed the dispute strategically and always gave us practical advice.

Legal 500 EMEA, 2022

I am very impressed with his advocacy skills

Chambers Global, 2021

He has a remarkable ability to come up with answers to complicated issues in a very smooth and sharp way.

Chambers Global, 2021

Amr Abas is an expert on competition law issues and provides insightful advice

Legal 500 EMEA, 2021

Amr Abbas is well regarded for his arbitration expertise and has regularly handled cases in the oil & gas and telecoms sectors.

Chambers Global, 2019
Practice Focus
Dr. Abbas’s practice focuses on representing clients at commercial and investment arbitrations and competitional and international trade disputes as well as capital markets arbitration. The primary goal which Dr. Abbas is to effectively manage risk and resolve disputes pursuant to his clients’ strategic interest – be it through amicable negotiation or arbitration.

Recent Rankings

  • Dr. Amr Abbas Ranked as Leading Partner  —  Legal 500 EMEA, 2024
  • Dr. Amr Abbas Ranked as Band 2  —  Chambers & Partners, 2024
  • Dr. Amr Abbas Ranked as Leading Individual  —  Legal 500 EMEA, 2022
  • Dr. Amr Abbas is selected  —  Legal 500’s Arbitration Powerlist for Africa, 2021

    • Selected Recent Experience

    • Acted as co-arbitrator at a Cairo Regional Center for International Commercial Arbitration (CRCICA) case related to the construction of a housing complex in Egypt.
    • Acted as chairman of an arbitration tribunal at CRCICA arbitration related to hotel management.
    • Acted as sole arbitrator in Abu Dhabi Commercial Conciliation and Arbitration Centre (ADCCAC) arbitration regarding the construction of a housing complex in the United Arab Emirates.
    • Acted as chairman of an ADCCAC arbitral tribunal in an arbitration related to construction of administrative building.
    • Acted as co-arbitrator in CRCICA arbitration related to the distribution of petroleum products.
    • Acted as chairman of an arbitration tribunal at ADCCAC arbitration related to an agency agreement.
    • Acted as chairman of an ADCCAC arbitral tribunal on a dispute regarding supply agreement.
    • Acted as co-arbitrator in an Ad Hoc arbitration related to transfer of technology agreement.
    • Successful representation of a major Egyptian construction company in connection with a dispute arising out of undertaking the entire civil works of a fully integrated complex for manufacturing sugar.
    • Successful representation of a major company which provides services to the cement industry in Egypt, Africa and the Middle East, in CRCICA arbitration against a cement manufacturer in Egypt in connection with a dispute relating to an Agreement for Technical Management, Operation and Maintenance Integrated Services (OMIS).
    • Representation of a UAE company providing Oil & Gas services in connection with an ICC arbitration in Dubai governed by UAE law.
    • Representation of a North African corporation in the Oil & Gas Sector in connection with an ICC arbitration in Paris governed by Algerian law.
    • Successful representation of a major European Hotel chain in connection with CRCICA Arbitration relating to termination of hotel management agreement.
    • Representation of a major Gulf investor in connection with disputes with its contractors under FIDIC agreement and drafted related settlement agreement.
    • Successful Representation of a State in connection with an ICC arbitration concerning the construction of airport and termination of a concession agreement.
    • Successful representation of a major European manufacturer in connection with an ICSID Arbitration against a North African State and settled the dispute.
    • Successful representation of a major Gulf private equity corporation in connection with an ICC arbitration in London and obtained an award of more than USD 60 million plus costs.
    • Successful representation of a major Gulf private equity corporation in connection with an arbitral dispute against an Egyptian prominent business tycoon in a dispute related to a deadlock between shareholders in a major steel company and obtained an award of USD 6 million plus several million Egyptian pounds as well as interest and arbitration costs.
    • Successful representation of a major telecommunication company in connection with CRCICA arbitration relating to telecommunication law and interconnection agreement.
    • Advised a major European oil & gas corporation on several CRCICA and ICSID arbitrations.
    • Representation of an energy corporation in connection with an ICC arbitration.
    • Representation of a global internet services company in connection with competition investigations relating to its work in Egypt.
    • Successfully representation of a State in connection with an ICSID dispute relating to concession agreement.
    • Successful representation of six foreign exporters of polypropylene in connection with the safeguard investigations on their imports to Egypt after the Egyptian authority had imposed provisional safeguard duties.
    • Successful representation of a mining company in connection with litigation concerning the annulment of its concession.
    • Advised and represented foreign reinsurers in connection with an insurance dispute for over EGP200 million and drafted related settlement agreement.

    Education

    MD-Education-University_of_London
    University of London, Queen Mary College, Ibrahim Shehata Scholar, Centre for Commercial Law Studies: PhD
    2012
    George_Washington_University_seal
    The George Washington University Law School, Thomas Buergenthal Scholar: LL.M.
    2005
    MD-Education-Cairo-University-Logo
    Cairo University, Faculty of Law: LL.M.
    2002
    MD-Education-Cairo-University-Logo
    Cairo University, Faculty of Law, English Section: LL.B. with distinguished honors as the highest ranking LLB candidate in the English Section
    2000

    Publications

  • Co-Author. Egypt Chapter on Arbitration”, Global Arbitration Review, The Middle Eastern and African Arbitration Review, (2016-2022).
  • Speaker on “Challenges in Conducting Arbitration in Several Jurisdictions”, New York State Bar Arbitration Committee (New York, 2022).
  • Co-Author. “Egypt: A Closer Look at the Part Played by the Egyptian Competition Authority”, Europe, Middle East And Africa Antitrust Review 2023 (2022).
  • Speaker on “Enforcement of Interim Measures in Arbitration: Myth or reality” in The Annual ALEXU-CRCICA Conference (Cairo, 2022).
  • Speaker on “Value Chain Economics in the Construction Industry”, Maurice Stoppi Lecture, JAIAC (2021).
  • Co-Author. Economic Legislations, (Cairo University, Faculty of Law, 2022).
  • Egypt in Africa Guide Competition 2022 (Bowmans 2022).
  • Speaker on “Examination of Experts and Witnesses in the Time of Covid-19” in The Annual ALEXU-CRCICA Conference (Cairo, 2021).
  • Speaker on “Value Chain Economics in the Construction Industry”, Maurice Stoppi Lecture, JAIAC (2021).
  • Speaker on “The Role of Party Autonomy in Drafting Arbitration Agreements” in Alexandria University -CRCICA International Vis Pre-Moot Conference (Alexandria, 2020).
  • Speaker in the Legal Web 2020 Experts Talk: “Arbitration during COVID 19” (Cairo, 2020).
  • Co-Author. “Enforcement of Judgments in Egypt: Law & Practice”, Chambers & Partners (2019-2022).
  • Co-Author. “Egypt” in Global Merger Control Handbook, Volume 1, (DLA Piper, 2019).
  • Speaker on "Legal and Economic Analysis of Contracts and Exchange", Workshop on Law and Economics organized by the British University of Egypt and Hamburg University's Institute of Law and Economics, (Cairo, 2019).
  • Speaker on “The Challenges Facing Prevailing Parties in the Stages of Enforcement and Execution of the Arbitral Awards Using Law & Economics Analysis” in CRCICA Sharm El- Sheikh VII World’s Sole Biennial Conference on “The Role of State Courts in International Arbitration” (Sharm El-Sheikh, 2018).
  • Keynote speaker in “Legal Challenges of Sharing Economy: Ridesharing Issues Workshop”, Centre for Law and Emerging Technologies at the British University in Egypt, (Cairo, 2018).
  • Speaker in the “International Arbitration in Ethiopia, East Africa and Beyond: Prospects, Possibilities and Challenges Conference”, International Chamber of Commerce, (African Union, Addis Ababa, 2017).
  • Co-Author. “Egypt Chapter on Arbitration”, Global Arbitration Review, The Middle Eastern and African Arbitration Review, (2016).
  • Speaker on “Sukuk and its potential in Egypt”, Innovation in Financial Law and Systems: A Conference in Honour of Professor Joseph J. Norton, Queen Mary University of London, Lincoln’s Inn Field Campus (London, May 2016).
  • Speaker on Corruption and Bribery in Arbitration and Successfully Managing the Evolving World of Risks and Sanctions, Clifford Chance African Counsel Retreat, (Dubai, March 2016).
  • Speaker in the “Merger and Acquisition Control under Competition Law and Its Effect on the Market Structure and Investment Environment Workshop”, Center for Economic & Financial Research, Faculty of Economics & Political Science, Cairo University (December 2015).
  • Moderator of “Enabling Investment Climate: Egyptian Competition Law Amendments and Business Sector Compliance”, and presentation on “The latest Amendments to the Egyptian Competition Law and the Importance of Business Compliance”, Joint Workshop between Egyptian Competition Authority and the European Union Twinning Program in cooperation with the German Chamber of Commerce, (Cairo, November 2015).
  • Speaker on “Egyptian Competition Law and Competition Issues Relating to Establishing a New Regulator in the Gas Sector,” The Egyptian Natural Gas Holding Company (EGAS) (September 2015).
  • Speaker on “An Overview of Egyptian Competition Law and its Main Recent Amendments,” Workshop on Competition Law, Cairo University Faculty of Law (April 2015).
  • Speaker on “Egyptian Competition Law and Egyptian Competition Authority’s Objectives, Mission and Work Process,” Workshop on Egyptian Competition Law Recent Amendments and How to Comply with Them, Cinema Industry Chamber (April 2015).
  • Moderator of “Media Roundtable on New Amendments to Egyptian Competition Law,” Egyptian Competition Authority (March 2015).
  • Co-Author. “New Foreign Depository Receipts Regulations: Filling in a Regulatory Gap or a Tide to More Restrictive Market?” Sharkawy & Sarhan Newsletter, (March 2013).
  • Co-Author. “Regulatory Framework of Egypt’s Capital Market: A Room for Reform?” EBRD Journal Law in Transition, (May 2012).
  • Presentation on “How Regime Change Has Triggered Corruption Investigations and What It Means for Your Egyptian Operations and Contracts,” 3rd Middle East Summit on Anti-Corruption, (Abu Dhabi, 2012).
  • Speaker on “Perspectives on Advocacy in New Egypt,” ABA Rule of Law Initiative, (Cairo, 2011).
  • Speaker on “Egypt’s Legal Environment,” European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, (London, 2011).
  • Co-Author. “Embracing Arbitration Again? A Welcome Step after the Egyptian Revolution,” Sharkawy & Sarhan Newsletter, (2011).
  • “The Arab Free Trade Area,” Law and Business Review of the Americas, (2004).
  • “Encouraging Investment Flows Into Egypt,” London Forum for International Economic Law and Development Newsletter, (2004).
  • Co-Author. “Egypt Section in Foreign Law Year in Review: 2002: Middle Eastern Commercial Law,” The International Lawyer, (2003).

    • Professional Associations and Memberships

  • Egyptian Bar Association  —  Member
  • New York State Bar Association  —  Member
  • The Chartered Institute of Arbitrators  —  Fellow