Lebanon

Most law firms in Beirut are focused on transactions and dispute resolution, as well as projects and real estate, but there are a few IP specialists in the city, and a number of full-service firms that offer advice on IP and IP-adjacent matters. A number of regional law firms also have a presence in Beirut.  

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Abu-Ghazaleh Intellectual Property (AGIP) is a regional IP firm with its roots in Kuwait and its current headquarters in Jordan. The firm has been involved in revising and drafting important IP laws and regulations in at least half a dozen Arab countries, including the United Arab Emirates. The firm has offices spread across more than 30 predominantly Muslim jurisdictions, as well as in China, India and Russia, each with its own significant Muslim minority populations. Hana El Ferekh and Lydia Ghossoub are senior IP assistants and key contacts in the firm’s Beirut office. 

Alem delivers advice for IP strategies, including registration, promotion, transfer and licensing of IP rights. Dubai-based partner Leila Laila is regional head of franchising, media and entertainment and IP. She advises on a wide range of high-end media and entertainment transactions, as well as those relating to franchising, licensing, broadcasting, television and motion picture production, merchandising, product placement, literary options, talent engagements, endorsements and others. The firm’s Beirut office is home to more than 40 practitioners and support staff. 

Badri and Salim El Meouchi was founded in Beirut in the 1880s; today, the full-service law firm has a small team focused on technology, AI, blockchain, IT and IP. In 2007, the firm opened an office in Doha’s Qatar Financial Centre (QFC) in order to better serve clients from the GCC, India and Asia. 

BSA Law, formerly known as BSA Ahmad Bin Hezeem & Associates, is a home-grown UAE law firm with an office in Beirut, as well as in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Ras al Khaimah and Sharjah in the UAE, and in Erbil, Iraq; Muscat, Oman; and Riyadh. Felicity Hammond, who advises clients on protecting, developing and exploiting their intellectual property and technology, and has broad experience in drafting and negotiating commercial agreements with an intellectual property, technology, or media focus, heads the firm’s IP practice. Senior partner Ahmad Bin Hezeem served with the Dubai Police and taught at the Dubai Police Academy; he then served as deputy director general of the Ruler Court of Dubai Government. He has expansive litigation experience. Abdalla AlSuwaidi, who was the firm’s head of advocacy, is now the director of enforcement for the Government of Dubai’s Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority. 

CWB emerged as a regional IP firm following the merger of Cedar White Bradley, the PETOŠEVIĆ Group and Hahn & Hahn. CWB now provides IP services in the Middle East, North Africa, Central Asia and Eastern Europe, managing and protecting IP rights across industries including oil and gas, media, technology, transportation, entertainment, consumer electronics, tobacco, pharmaceuticals, confectionary, FMCG, property development, luxury fashion and cosmetics. The firm is headquartered in Dubai – and most of its heavy hitters are based there, including Cameron Crawford, who heads the firm’s technology, media and entertainment practice. He is a top lawyer who has advised clients across all areas of media and entertainment; he has extensive experience of working with clients in the global content production and distribution sectors and independent filmmakers and is credited for his work on several motion pictures including Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens and Fast & Furious 7. Theuns van de Merwe, who is head of MENA trademarks and chief of MENA operations, is also based in Dubai, while Claudia Berndt, the firm’s head of MENA patents, is based in Pretoria, South Africa. 

Dentons operates in Beirut in association with Chedid Law Offices. Managing partner Elias Chedid focuses on M&A, private equity, TMT, international arbitration, energy and government and regulatory work. 

Doha-based JAH & Co. IP has 12 offices in the Middle East, including in Beirut, and is a leader in IP prosecution work in the Middle East and Africa. Clients run the gamut from small companies to Fortune 100 companies. CEO Jehad Ali Hasan attributes his firm’s success to combining legal, technical and scientific know-how to tailor solutions for client’s specific needs, experts with a broad range of technical backgrounds and vast legal experience in navigating the nuances of the Middle Eastern IP. “Intellectual property is among the most important assets of every enterprise,” says firm CEO Jehad Ali Hasan. “With the globalization of the world economy and commerce, the Middle East and Arab world with its young population and resources contributes significantly towards it.” Mohcine Fettah, the firm’s IP senior director, is noted for his ability to get the deal concluded. 

Obeid & Partners advises companies on the negotiation, strategy, preparation, administration and analysis of assignment contracts as well as intellectual property right licenses, franchises, know-how and technology transfers and confidential information. Nayla Comair-Obeid leads the firm from Beirut, where she also leads the firm’s dispute resolution practice. IP, franchising, licensing and telecommunications are among her expertise. 

Amal Abdallah is country manager at regional firm Saba & Co. Intellectual Property, also known as Saba IP, in Doha. Abdallah’s practice focuses on providing IP prosecution, enforcement and anti-counterfeiting services to local, regional and international brand owners. The firm, as one of the region’s largest IP-focussed practices, handles the gamut of IP matters. The firm’s offices stretch from the Middle East to Central Asia and throughout much of Africa. 

Sader & Associates was founded in 2003 as an IP firm; it has since expanded its practice areas to include corporate, commercial, litigation, international law, information technology, entertainment, real estate, environmental law and others. Managing partner and co-founder Rany J. Sader has extensive experience in representing clients in industries including IT, pharmaceuticals, food and beverage, FMCG, high fashion, cosmetics, media, entertainment, advertising, consumer protection and others. Partner Patricia J. Seaiby is head of conflict and dispute resolution; partner Nisrine W. El Haddad heads the IP department. 

United Trademark & Patent Services is a top-notch regional law firm which offers the full realm of intellectual property services and domain name services. The firm is led by the well-known Yawar Irfan Khan, Hasan Irfan Khan and Maria Farrukh Irfan Khan. In addition to Beirut, the firm has offices in Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Oman, Jordan and Bahrain, as well as in parts of North Africa and South Asia.