Arbitration

Introduction

Shalakany Law Office prides itself on being one of the first law firms in Egypt to develop specialized expertise in commercial arbitration. Since the early 1970s, the Firm has been involved in many of the major arbitration cases in Egypt, which include the Pyramids Plateau arbitrations, the Cairo Metro arbitrations, the Ahmad Hamdy Suez Canal Tunnel arbitration and the Isna Barrage arbitration.

Shalakany offers comprehensive arbitration services across complex domestic and international disputes, representing clients in commercial, investment and investor-State arbitrations across Egypt and the wider MENA region. Our experience spans construction, infrastructure, oil and gas, maritime, aviation, telecommunications, manufacturing, hospitality and other major sectors, as well as shareholder and treaty-related disputes. We act as counsel in proceedings conducted under leading institutional and ad hoc arbitration rules, including ICC, ICSID, UNCITRAL, CRCICA, DIAC and LCIA, and advise on disputes involving a wide range of governing laws and jurisdictions. Our team also supports clients through arbitration-related court proceedings and the enforcement of arbitral awards, providing an integrated approach from the outset of a dispute through its resolution.

Major Cases

• Acting as co-counsel for a Canadian client against the Government of Egypt in a major investment arbitration concerning the alleged expropriation of fertilizer production and investment rights, valued at approximately USD 2 billion.
• Represented parties in a highly technical dispute arising from the construction of an oil pipeline in Sudan involving an Italian-Malaysian joint venture and a major petroleum operating company and its shareholders. The London-seated arbitration involved claims and counterclaims exceeding USD 1.75 billion.
• Acting as co-counsel alongside White & Case and Galadari in an ADCCAC arbitration concerning works related to Abu Dhabi airport. The dispute, valued at approximately AED 8 billion, involves complex issues relating to quantum, delay, variations and on-demand bonds.
• Represented a consortium comprising an international construction company and a consumer electronics company in a major construction dispute against a media production studio. The arbitration involved extensive delay, quantum and technical issues and concluded successfully after 10 years of proceedings before CRCICA.
• Acted in a successful arbitration arising from a joint venture between Cayman Islands and Swiss petroleum processing companies concerning an Egyptian crude-oil processing refinery. Shalakany acted as co-counsel with a New York law firm in proceedings involving claims exceeding USD 100 million.
• Acted as experts on Omani private and administrative law in an ICC arbitration concerning airport works in Oman with approximately OMR 100 million in dispute. The team prepared an expert report and provided expert testimony before the arbitral tribunal on issues including termination, rescission, time bars, notice requirements, compensation and burden of proof.
• Acting in an ICC arbitration concerning the contractual sale of fertilizer products by a Canadian company in Egypt, with approximately USD 140 million in dispute.
• Acted in an arbitration between Egyptian and BVI companies concerning an oil and gas concession agreement, involving approximately USD 90 million in claims. The dispute involved Egyptian and French law, was seated in Sweden, and was ultimately settled amicably.
• Acted in a five-year Dubai arbitration concerning a high-end commercial lease dispute between the owner of one of the world's largest malls and a major international department-store operator. The dispute was valued at more than USD 50 million and involved specialized issues relating to the fashion industry.
• Acted in H&H Enterprises Investments, Inc. v. Arab Republic of Egypt, an investor-State dispute under the ICSID Convention arising under the US-Egypt Bilateral Investment Treaty and relating to a proposed land sale in Ain El Sokhna, Egypt.

Key Contacts

Dr. Khaled El Shalakany

Managing Senior Partner

Adam El Shalakany

Senior Partner

Muhammad Ussama

Senior Partner

Nada Hesham

Senior Associate