Middle East

Awards, Recognitions and Publications

The Firm has been recognized as a market leader by prominent international legal directories such as Legal 500 and Chambers & Partners.

In recognition of its expertise and achievements, significant awards have been recently reaped by the Firm, including:

- The Lawyer Monthly magazine 2012 Legal Awards in association with the Economist/ Economist Conferences “M&A Law Firm of the Year in Lebanon”;

- The Acquisition International magazine 2011 M&A Awards “Lebanese High Value M&A Law Firm of the Year”;

- The “Top Tier Ranking” within the DealMakers 2011 Global Leading Firms campaign;

- The Finance Monthly magazine 2011 “Banking & Finance Law Firm of the Year Award” in Lebanon;

- The “2011 Best Law Firm of the Year” award at the prestigious Arab Achievements Awards ceremony of the 2011 Arab Investment Summit

- The 2011 Acquisition International “Lebanese Franchise Law Firm of the Year Award”; The Corporate International magazine 2010 Global Award “Corporate Governance Advisory Firm of the Year in Lebanon”; and

- The firm was the only Lebanese firm to feature on the Lawyer Monthly magazine 2011 Leading Lawyer 100 Asia Pacific list.

The Firm was the only Lebanese law firm featured in Forbes Magazine’s Special Edition on Lebanon (March 2010). Carlos Abou Jaoude, the Firm’s managing partner, was recently interviewed by New York Times magazine and Forbes Magazine (March 28, 2011 Edition).

The Firm regularly contributes editorial pieces to prominent publications and many of the Firm’s attorneys are invited to speak at conferences on topics of interest. Recent editorial contributions and conference speaking interventions include:

- The Lebanon Chapter of the 2012 Edition of the Banking Regulation Review published by Getting The Deal Through

Memberships and International Networks

AJA works closely with a number of correspondents in various jurisdictions and is a member of the Geneva Group International (GGI) and International Referral (IR) global multidisciplinary networks, allowing the Firm to offer businesses in need of legal assistance in any country easy access to global advice. The Firm is also a member of the International Bar Association.

The Firm is the exclusive member from Lebanon in the Loan Market Association (the authoritative voice of the European Market) (http://www.loan-market-assoc.com/ institution.aspx.) and regularly participates in the workshops and conferences organized by said association around the world. The Firm was recently invited to be part of the American Chamber of Commerce’s (AmCham) (www.amcham.org.lb) Banking & Finance Committee, the mission of which is to support the financial sector in Lebanon in adapting to the changing regulatory

environment internationally, and to help its efforts to uphold the highest standards in business practices.

AJA is a member of the board of experts of the Lebanese Franchise Association (ht tp: / /www. l falebanon.com/new/ GetInfo1.asp?ID=131) and many of the association’s members are the Firm’s clients, including franchisors, franchisees and franchise consultants.

The Firm is a member of the International Chamber of Commerce (Lebanon Chapter).

Regulatory Panel Appointments Along with other tier-one private and public sector participants, AJA is often solicited by the Lebanese Government to advise on the amendment of the Lebanese commercial laws in order to enhance the investment climate in Lebanon.

and edited by Casey Cogut of Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP (US);

- The Lebanon Chapter of the 2012 Edition of the Inward Investment & International Taxation Review published by The Law Review and edited by John P. Janka of Latham & Watkins USA;

- The Lebanon Chapter of the 2011 and 2012 Editions of the Technology, Media & Telecoms Review published by The Law Review and edited by John P. Janka of Latham & Watkins USA;

- 2011 Arab Investment Summit held in Abu Dhabi: Souraya Machnouk, partner at AJA, gave a presentation entitled “Private Equity: A Gateway to the Renaissance of the Capital Markets”

- 2010 Euroconvention held in Beirut: two of AJA’s partners, namely Souraya Machnouk and Simon El Kai, participated as speakers at “The Lebanon Business & Investment Opportunities Conference” organized by Euroconvention.

Contact: Abou Jaoude & Associates Law Firm

Carlos Abou Jaoude, Managing Partner Email: c.aboujaoude@ajalawfirm.com www.ajalawfirm.com

Address: OMT Bldg

266 Sami El Solh Ave P.O.Box 116-5079

Beirut Museum 1106-2010 Beirut – Lebanon Telephone: + 961 1 395555 Fax: +961 1 384064

Lawyer Monthly Legal Awards 2012

113