Naila Ramsay
Naila Ramsay
Partner, Head of Client Development & Strategy
Naila joined Matouk Bassiouny & Hennawy as a Partner in April 2026. Prior to that, Naila was a Partner in the Infrastructure and Projects team at Sharkawy & Sarhan for 8 years. Naila has over 2 decades of international experience spanning the UK, Europe, and Egypt. She brings a unique cross-border perspective shaped by senior roles at leading international law firms and major corporations, including Linklaters, Denton Wilde Sapte (now Dentons), Babcock & Brown and Hassan Allam Holdings. Naila has extensive experience advising on complex infrastructure, energy and public-private (PPP) projects across the EMEA region.
Having spent significant time between Cairo and London throughout her career, Naila brings deep cultural fluency, an understanding of geopolitical challenges and a strong international network. As an experienced dot connector and negotiator, Naila will play a leading role as Head of Client Development and Strategy. Naila advises multilateral institutions, governmental authorities, sponsors, and lenders on complex infrastructure and energy projects, with a particular focus on PPP structuring, project financing, tendering processes, and large-scale developments. Her experience includes transport, airports, ports, water, renewable energy, desalination, mining and green hydrogen with many projects being considered landmark and first-of-their-kind projects in Egypt.
Practice Focus
Naila’s practice focuses on infrastructure and energy projects, with expertise in public-private partnerships (PPP), project finance, and large-scale development projects. She advises on all stages of project development, including structuring, procurement, tendering, financing, and implementation.
Selected Recent Experience
- Representation of IFC, the Egyptian Ministry of Civil Aviation, the Egyptian Holding Company for Airports and Air Navigation, and the Egyptian Airports Company in connection with the Egypt Airports PPP Program, including advising on structuring, qualification, tendering, and drafting of project agreements.
- Representation of EBRD, the New Urban Communities Authority, and the PPP Central Unit of the Ministry of Finance in connection with the Alamein Seawater Desalination Plant Project, including legal due diligence, tendering, and drafting of project agreements.
- Representation of EBRD and the General Authority of the Suez Canal Economic Zone (SCZone) in connection with the SCZone Seawater Desalination Plant Project.
- Representation of the Sovereign Fund of Egypt and the Ministry of Housing and Urban Communities Development (with EBRD and IFC) and with the technical assistance of the PPP Central Unit of the Ministry of Finance on the structuring, qualification and tendering of a pipeline of water desalination projects under the PPP regime, being the first in Egypt.
- Representation of EBRD in connection with the 10th of Ramadan Dry Port Project, including structuring, tendering, and concession documentation.
- Representation of EBRD in connection with the 6th of October Dry Port Project, including advising on financing arrangements. The project is the first dry port PPP project in Egypt and has won IJ Global transportation deal of the year for 2021.
- Representation of a group of financiers in connection with the first green ammonia project in Egypt developed by the consortium of Scatec Solar and Orascom Construction.
- Representation of a syndication of banks in connection with the financing of the Abu Qir Container Terminal project.
- Representation of EBRD and a group of DFIs on the financing of the 200MW Kom Ombo PV BOO project developed by Scatec Solar.
- Representation of Hassan Allam Holdings in connection with the New Cairo Wastewater Treatment Plant PPP Project, Egypt’s first PPP project, including participation in the bid process and negotiations relating to the award of the project.
- Representation of Cooperatief Fund Managers and Climate Investors Two Development Fund in connection with a wastewater treatment project in Port Said, including preparing a regulatory framework and conducting legal due diligence.
- Representation of EBRD in connection with the Sofia Water Infrastructure PPP Project in Bulgaria, including advising on financing arrangements relating to the upgrading of the wastewater treatment plant.
- Representation of multiple developers including Hassan Allam Utilities and Lightsource BP in connection with renewable energy project models and documentation, including PPAs, term sheets, and project agreements for captive, off-site, and behind-the-meter projects.
- Representation of the equity sponsor consortium in connection with the 345 Public Schools PPP Project tendered by the General Authority for Educational Buildings in Egypt, including leading negotiations with the PPP Central Unit and the Ministry of Finance.
Education
College of Law, Guildford, London – Common Professional Examination and Law Society Finals
1993
Aberdeen University, Scotland – Joint MA (Honours) in Politics, International Relations, & French
1991
Professional Associations and Memberships