El-Aref Int'l Law Office Newsletter
Provided by El-Aref International Law Office on December, 2009
Successful Representation in Litigation and Transactional Matters
Dear Clients & Friends:
Continuing and developing the activity of the firm over last several months, El-Aref International Law Office has recently successfully conducted some of the most leading Lawsuits and transactional projects in the Middle East.
El-Aref International Law Office represents EADS Eurocopter and Airbus in its transaction with the Ministry of Defense in Iraq
March 2009
El-Aref International law Office has represented and advised EADS Eurocopter and Airbus in its Sale Agreement of 24 EADS Eurocopter EC 635 light twin-engine helicopters for Iraq Ministry of Defense. The Purchase Price of such Sale Agreement was set at the amount of EUR 360 million.
El-Aref International Law Office represents L-3 Communication, Inc.
April 2009
El-Aref International law Office has recently L-3 Communication, Inc. and TRL Technology, Inc., a company with headquarters in New York City, with its government Contracts (the Ministry of Defense) in connection with the Agency Law Compliance and Public Policy in the Middle East related to Government Contracts for funded research and development contracts for military, satellite communication companies and government customers.
El-Aref International Law Office represents Kuwaiti Corporation on successful appeal September 2009
El-Aref International law Office has successfully represented and defended Kuwaiti Corporation in Lebanon on its claims for Trademark infringements, and in its successful defense before the Court of Appeal. The Kuwaiti Corporation had claimed for Trademark infringement against the infringer to prevent it from the registration of the Mark in the Trademark Protection Office in Lebanon and to grant to the Franchisor on the grounds of the principle of Famous Marks, in accordance with the Paris Convention for the Protection of Industrial Property. El-Aref International Law Office has filed a lawsuit representing the Claimant against the defendant; they successfully won the case in the First Instance; the defendants have appealed the judgment; El-Aref International Law Office representing the respondent have successfully defended the respondent on the grounds of Famous Marks, and the statutes of Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) in the WTO, which grants the same protection of the Paris Convention, to its Parties who are not Members of the Paris Convention, such as Kuwait. Therefore, for the first time in Lebanese Courts, Kuwaiti Companies have been able to derogate the standard rules of the Paris Convention, and to be entitled to register its trademarks within the six months stipulated in such Convention. El-Aref International Law Office achieved a significant victory for its client both in First Instance Courts and in Appeal in Litigation.
El-Aref International Law Office represents Kuwait Corporations in the Sale of Power and Gas Turbines in Central East Africa
September 2009
El-Aref International Law Office advised Kuwaiti Investors on the sale of the Gas Turbines in regarding LM2500 Gas Turbines for Central East Africa. The project was financed up to (60,000,000) US Dollars and is still pending the approval of the competent authorities. El-Aref International Law Office has drafted all Contracts relevant to the budgeting and sale of these equipments, together with drafting the Escrow Agreement for that purpose.
El-Aref International Law Office represents Kuwait Corporations in the BOT of New Energy in North Africa
September 2009
El-Aref International Law Office advised through a joint representation of Kuwait Investors and American Suppliers for a potential of Joint Venture on Project Development in North Africa for Engineering, Procurement & Construction of Wind Turbines New Energy with their contract with the Government and Negotiations regarding the BOT for the project to sustainable growth to by promoting the use of clean energy; such transaction was negotiated with SunPower Corporation, GT Solar International Inc., American Superconductor Corporation; Middle Eastern Private Banks and Financial Institutions will be providing (3,000,000,000) US Dollars for funding such Power project. In addition, El-Aref International Law Office has advised such Joint Venture for the transaction to be contemplated for Solar Photovoltaic OEM Joint Venture for applications in North Africa and the Middle East.
El-Aref Law Office successfully represented American Clients in Mergers & Acquisition transaction with Middle East Financial Institutions
September 2009
El-Aref International Law Office advised American Corporation in connection with the Acquisition of Financial Institutions in Lebanon; the parties have agreed not to disclose the volume of the transaction. Transaction is still subject to the approval of the competent authorities and shareholders’ meeting. This is among the first De Facto Merger of Financial Institutions in Lebanon and is a significant mandate for the firm. It also further demonstrates the firm's existing regional M&A capability and growing expertise.
El-Aref International Law Office has built a strong practice in the MENA Region becoming an important competitive advantage in managing client relationships.
El-Aref International Law Office advises across a broad range of M&A transactions in the region with experts actively covering such sectors as consumer goods and retail, financial services, energy and natural resources, health care, industry, real estate and telecommunications.
El-Aref International Law Office has successfully represented SeAH Steel Corporation a Korean Corporations in its Maritime Disputes; this has been among the first precedents of CISG Caselaw in Lebanese Courts
November 2009
El-Aref International law Office has successfully defended SeAH Steel Corporation in its Maritime Disputes in Lebanese Courts against China Shipping Container Lines and a domestic importer of Steel. Such dispute was related for the transportations and Shipments disputes with domestic Corporations in Lebanon, such defense was mainly supported by Caselaw in connection with the CISG for the first time in the Lebanese Courts, to go beyond the traditional approaches of the Transportation and Maritime Disputes; El-Aref International Law Office has successfully won the case, the Court has rejected the Claims and allegations of the Plaintiffs.
El-Aref International Law Office represents General Nutrition Center (GNC) U.S Franchisors successfully for unfair competition
November 2009
El-Aref International law Office has recently represented General Nutrition Corporation, Inc. U.S Franchisors for the Franchise of GNC in their Complaints against Lebanese, Saudi, Kuwait Franchisees in Lebanon based on the grounds of unfair competition and fraudulent acts. The Court decision has gone on to expand the transactional approach traditionally related to Agency Laws and Distribution Laws, which normally have protected the domestic corporations, and ruled in favor of the American Franchisors. El-Aref International Law Office achieved a significant victory for the American Franchisors in First Instance Courts in Litigation brought under Lebanese Laws in Lebanese Courts of Beirut, and such victory has made a significant change in the integration of Franchise Law in the area.
v El-Aref International Law Office represents HANJIN Shipping successfully for their transactional Matters
December 2009
El-Aref International law Office has recently represented HANJIN Shipping, one of the largest Korean Companies and among the leaders Shipping Companies globally. Such representation was related to the potential joint venture of HANJIN Shipping with Foreign Companies.
While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of this publication, it is not intended to provide legal advice as individual situations will differ. For specific technical or legal advice on the information provided and related topics, please contact us at inquiries@elareflaw.com.
