London, Cairo – LAWFUEL – The Law News Network – DLA Piper Group, the exclusive alliance formerly known as DLA Group, has expanded its membership following an agreement with Egyptian law firm, Matouk & Bassiouny. The Cairo-based law firm, which advises on a wide range of corporate and commercial matters across several practice areas and sectors, is considered to be an excellent alliance partner because of its experience advising international clients and its overall strength in the Egyptian legal market.
Matouk & Bassiouny is headed by Managing Partner, John Matouk, and has one other founding partner, Omar Bassiouny, and 15 other fee-earners. John was formerly a partner at an international law firm, where he worked for over seven years having joined in 1998. He was based in Cairo and played an instrumental role in developing the profile of the office and headed its corporate, capital markets, commercial and aviation departments before leaving earlier this year to work with Omar Bassiouny. John is a highly experienced cross-border commercial lawyer, advising on all aspects of investing in Egypt, and has particular knowledge of the corporate, banking, finance and aviation sectors. He has also advised the Government of Egypt and multinational businesses on several privatisations.
Omar worked for international and Egyptian law firms in Europe and Egypt before heading Bassiouny & Associates, the predecessor firm of Matouk & Bassiouny, which was established in 1954 by H.E. Hassan Pasha Bassiouny, the former head of the Egyptian Court of Cassation. Omar specialises in capital markets and mergers and acquisitions within Egypt, and also advises on real estate, privatisation, labour and commercial law matters.
As of 30 September, Matouk & Bassiouny officially became DLA Matouk Bassiouny and will work closely with all DLA Piper’s offices and other Group members to provide a coordinated cross-border service to clients.
“This is a great developmental move for DLA Piper Group. In recent months the focus has been on ensuring that DLA Piper is as integrated as possible following the merger, however, we are now also looking to strengthen our exclusive alliance as we recognise that this also has an important role to play in helping us meet clients’ needs,” said Nigel Knowles, Joint CEO of DLA Piper Rudnick Gray Cary.
Nigel went on to say: “Egypt is an important and rapidly expanding market, particularly in relation to its links with the Middle East and Africa. DLA Piper, other members of the Group and DLA Matouk Bassiouny will now build stronger ties to support our respective local and international clients.”
John Matouk, Managing Partner of Matouk & Bassiouny, said: “DLA Piper Group is an excellent match for us. It is ambitious and has a strong position in the US, Europe and Asia, and there are definite synergies between our respective clients. In Egypt there is a demand from businesses for a coordinated approach to multi-jurisdictional legal advice. We currently act for a number of multinational clients and being a member of DLA Piper Group will enable us to enhance the services we are able to provide using the reach and expertise of other members.”
