Reema I. Ali, Managing Partner

Ms. Ali has practiced law in the Middle East for over 26 years, working with major US, European and other Japanese companies. She has been involved in a wide spectrum of international business and commercial transactions, and is especially well-versed in the art of doing business in the Middle East and has extensive experience in the legal systems and laws of the Arab countries.

Before forming what has become the law firm of Ali & Partners in 1991, she practiced with the law firm of Al-Saleh, Graham & James in Kuwait for five years, where she represented a diverse clientele of local and multi-national corporations. During this period, she also served as a Member and Vice President of Legal Affairs for the American Business Council in Kuwait. Between 1991-1994, in addition to being a Partner in her own firm, Ms. Ali acted as a Special Counsel Partner in Donovan, Leisure, Huge & Schiller, and then in Shea & Gould. During that time, Ms Ali although maintained a residence in the Washington DC area she spent most of her time in the region working with companies engaged in restoring the oil fields and in other sectors of Kuwait in the aftermath of the Iraqi Invasion. In that capacity, she integrated her knowledge of the Middle East and its business laws with her knowledge of US laws and culture. In 1994, she re-devoted her time exclusively to Ali & Partners, a Middle Eastern law firm with offices and affiliate offices across the Middle East including Kuwait and an office in Washington, D.C., that exclusively practices Middle Eastern law.

Ms. Ali has also served on a regular basis as an expert before the courts of the US, UK and other countries on the laws of Arab countries including Kuwaiti; Iraqi and the laws of the UAE. She has also served as an expert witness in ICC arbitration on Kuwaiti and Yemeni laws.

Ms. Ali has given numerous lectures and presentations on various aspects of the laws in several Middle Eastern countries. She has also authored numerous articles and chapters in various international treatises on various issues of Middle Eastern laws .

Additionally, Ms. Ali has been honored as a Member of Who’s Who of International Professionals (1996) and Cambridge Who’s Who (1996-1997) and the National Who’s Who of Executives and Professional (2000).

Ms. Ali manages the Ali & Partners’ international practice which is primarily focused on the Gulf region and Northern Africa.

Following the Arab Spring Ms. Ali was invited to serve as a member of the World Bank MENA advisory board.

Experience as Counsel

Ms. Ali’s practice focuses solely on the laws of Arab countries and in particular the laws of Kuwait. Particular experience relating to Kuwait includes the representation of:

• Export Import Bank of the United States in its due diligence for potential financing of the Equate project between Petrochemical Industries Company and Union Carbide Corporation (now a subsidiary of The Chemical Company (“Dow”));
• Japan Bank for International Cooperation and Japan National Oil Corporation in the facilities they provided to the Arabian Oil Company to finance loans to Kuwait Gulf Oil Company as part of the surrender of the Arabian Oil Company’s concession rights, one of KPC’s subsidiaries. This transaction involved KPC and SPC and the Kuwait Ministry of Oil.
• Several US oil companies in understanding the Kuwaiti oil sector and the ramifications of Kuwaiti constitutional law on their transactions. Ms Ali counseled EXXON Mobil in their bid for production sharing agreement in the northern fields. Counseled numerous suppliers and contractors in their bids to KPC and KPC subsidiaries such as ABB Vetro and Elsag Bailey; Battelle Memorial Institute; BGP; Black & Veatch and Textron’s Union Pump.
• Regularly serve as local counsel for US and European financial institutions in financing various transactions and represent US companies in all aspects of their business activities in the region.
• Ms Ali counseled numerous companies on the Libyan legal system and authored several articles on various aspects of the laws of Libya and one of the first Articles in English to explain the Libyan legal system and oil sector after the lifting of sanctions in 2004.

Experience as Expert

Ms. Ali has appeared as expert on Kuwaiti law in several arbitration proceedings. Cases in the public domain include Caribbean Agricultural Projects, Inc. v. Bufete Industrial S.A.1999; Sheikh Fahed Al Ahmed, Oriental Exchange Company v. UAE Bank 1987

She also appears as Kuwaiti law expert in court proceedings. Recent involvements include expert legal opinions given:

1. Dow Chemicals v. Kuwait Petrochemical Industries ICC Arbitration 2009
2. Alghanim v. Alghanim, et al. (2009, ongoing) US District Court for the Southern District of New York
3. Abed Semsarzadeh v. Ametek Inc. (2009 ongoing) in the Superior Court of Delaware for Newcastle County
4. Wissam Abdullateef Saeed Al Qurashi et al.v. Adel Nakla and L3 Services (2008) US District Court for the district of Maryland Greenbelt division
5. Mark Mc Mananaway et al. v. KBR el al. (2010 ongoing) US District Court for Southern District of Indiana Evansvile Division
6. Robertson v. American Life Insurance Company (2006) Superior Court of Delaware [2006 WL 2959475]
7. Simon, et al. v. Republic of Iraq, et al. (2005) US District Court for the District of Columbia
8. Seyam, et al. v. Republic of Iraq, et al. (2005) US District Court for the District of Columbia
9. Mel J. and Vivian C. Hill, et al. v. Republic of Iraq and Saddam Hussain in his official capacity as President of the Republic of Iraq (2004) US District Court for the District of Columbia
10. Harris Corporation v. A &J Nova Enterprises, Inc.

Publications

• Authored a chapter in Getting the Deal Through: Oil Regulations 2008 – 2009 Oil sector in Kuwait. Law Business Research Ltd
• Authored a chapter in Getting the Deal Through - Anti-Corruption Regulation 2008 – Kuwait. Law Business Research Ltd
• Authored six chapters in International Contract Manual, Sweet & Maxwell, 2007, and Thomson West Country Handbooks 2007
• Authored two chapters in Enforcement of Money Judgments Abroad, Juris Publishing, Inc. 2005 updated annually
• Authored two chapters in Attachment of Assets, Juris Publishing Inc. 2005 updated annually
• Authored numerous articles in various gazettes and on line publications (Singapore, MEED, MEER, Complinet co. Mondaq, IFC doing business, The Financial Express, Thomson Reuters and UPI).

Professional Affiliations and Business Activities

• Member, American Bar Association
• Member, National U.S.-Arab Chamber of Commerce
• Member, Washington Foreign Law Society
• Member, Arab Association for International Arbitration
• Member, Abu Dhabi Commercial Conciliation and Arbitration Center
• Member, The Cairo Regional Center For International Commercial Arbitration (Arbitrator)

Bar Admission

District of Columbia
New York Bar

Education

Ms. Ali received and LLB from Leeds Metropolitan University (U.K.) in 1981, and received her J.D. from Southern Methodist University (Dallas, Texas) in 1983.

Languages

Arabic, English

Nationality

U.S.

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DR. Ibrahim Legwell

DR. Ibrahim Legwell was born in Tripoli – Libya 1935. He obtained his undergraduate degree in economics and his Doctorate in Law from Cairo University. DR. Legwell started his carrier as an in-house attorney with Shell Libya and then moved on to establish his law practice in 1960. DR. Legwell served on the board of the National Oil Company of Libya and as an advisor to Libya’s Central Bank.

Dr. Legwell was appointed Ambassador At Large responsible for Arab and African affairs; and participated in setting up the Constitutional and Legal Committees of Libya.

His legal practice include commercial and company law, banking law, oil and gas, Share’a law, criminal law. Dr. Legwell built his reputation while undertaking the defense of some of the most important civil cases and international disputes involving Libya. He represented Libya in a number of international disputes and routinely collaborates with distinguished and highly respected international law firms and legal experts from around the world. From 1991 to 1998, Dr. Legwell served as the head of the defense team for the Lockerbie case and was instrumental in structuring the legal solution of setting up an international tribunal to try the Lockerbie suspects. The international defense team, headed by Dr. Legwell, included some of the most prominent lawyers and law firms in England, Scotland, France, Italy, Belgium, Tunisia, Egypt and the United States.

Dr. Legwell is also an author of several books and articles in economics, political science and law.

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Karim Adel

Mr . Adel is the managing partner at the firm’s affiliate office in Egypt. This office was established in 1939 by the late Dr. Saba Habashi as a pioneer law office in the field of 'International Business Law'. In 1961 the office came under the Management of Mr. Adel Kamel where it continued to grow in expertise and reputation in dealing with issues regarding 'International Business Law'. In 2000, the management of the office was passed to Mr. Karim Adel Kamel who, to date, is continuing the growth and expansion of the office and increasing the areas of law in which it deals. For the last few years the office has been rated by the 'European Legal 500' as one of the 10 largest legal offices in Egypt, praising both the offices reputation and client base.

Mr Adel has law degrees from Egypt, France and the United States. He received his LL.B. from Ein Shams University in 1990 and a Master’s Degree in law from the Institut de Droit des Affaires Internationales in France. Additionally, Mr. Adel received an LL.M. from the Washington College of Law at the American University in Washington, D.C. Mr. Adel l has had practical experience in all three regions. From 1990- 1992, he was an associate at the Adel Kamel Law Office in Cairo, where he did both transactional work and litigation. From there, he went to the law firm of Gide, Loyrette et Nouel in Paris, where he gained further experience in the practice of civil law. In 1995, Mr. Adel relocated to New York, where he worked with a New York firm . Mr. Adel is a member of the Egyptian Bar Association and is fluent in Arabic, English and French.

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Sayel Al-Daher

Mr. Al-Daher has been practicing law in Qatar for twenty years. He obtained his LL.B. from Damascus University in Syria in 1967. He was officially licensed to practice in Qatar in 1981 as one of the first and few non-Qataris permitted to practice law in Qatar. Additionally, he was admitted to the Jordanian Bar in 1970.

Mr. Al-Daher’s work in Qatar has involved numerous financing transactions representing various banks, such as Arab Bank, Al-Ahli Bank and Grenley Bank. In addition to advising clients on local and regional projects involving complex financing issues, Mr. Al-Daher’s practice also focuses on representing high net worth individuals in ship financing and large residential complex projects.

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Hassan Batok

a Omani national member of the Omani Bar association has been practicing for 15 years. Graduate of Ein Shams University 1971.Worked in various government positions for 30 years. Mr. Batok has extensive experience in government procurement, litigation, labor relations and corporate and commercial transaction.

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Hafez Zakhour

Mr. Zakhour is a partner at the firm’s affiliate office in Lebanon. He obtained both a Lebanese law degree and a French law degree in 1969 from Saint Joseph University in Lebanon. In 1973, he received his Diploma from the Judge’s School. From 1973 until 1992, Mr. Zakhour was engaged in the legal profession in the public sector, serving as a Judge in various courts. In 1992, he retired as a Judge and became a lawyer-member of the Beirut Bar Association. In 1996, Mr. Zakhour became an Arbitrator in the Lebanese Center of Arbitration. Mr. Zakhour is fluent in Arabic, French and English.

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Antoine G. Haddad

Mr. Haddad attained his first law degree from Saint Joseph University in Lebanon in 1963 and another law degree from l’Academie de Lyon/France in 1969. Member of the Beirut Bar Association since 1969. Mr. Haddad received his legal training at the Law Offices of Dr Alfred Tabet and practiced the Legal profession in the in the same firm until 1999. He became a partner with Messrs Jacques Checrallah and Hafez Zakhour in 1999. His practice and services to clients include shipping, banking, corporate matters, loans and credit agreement, establishment of companies, branches and offices for foreign companies, civil and criminal lawsuits, industrial concerns, personnel and industrial relations, legal translations, legal studies and opinions. Mr. Haddad is fluent in French and Arabic.

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Jacques Antoine Checrallah

Mr. Checrallah attended the French Faculty of Law of Beirut where he obtained French Law Degree 1962 and Lebanese Law Degree 1963 and Graduate from the Academy of American and International Law Center at Southwestern Methodist University - Dallas Texas1969. Mr. Checrallah is a member of the Beirut Bar Association and the Paris Bar Association. He is also an Arbitrator at the International Chamber of Commerce of Paris and have served as legal counsel to International American, French and Lebanese Banks and Companies. Hr. Checrallah is fluent in Arabic, English and French.

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Fatin Farouq Al-Naqeeb

Ms. Al-Naqeeb was born in Kuwait in 1964 and received her Bachelor of Law degree from the Faculty of Law and Shariaa at Kuwait University in 1987. Following graduation, she worked as an Associate at the law firm of Nabil Ahmad Al-Naqeeb. After the liberation of Kuwait, Ms. Al-Naqeeb served as legal consultant and as head of the Kuwait legal group responsible for reviewing and submitting the Kuwaiti Compensation Claims against Iraq to the United Nations Compensation Commission. Ms. Al-Naqeeb also served on the United Nations Compensation Commission on behalf of the Kuwait government. Ms. Al-Naqeeb has over ten years experience in all aspects of Kuwaiti law, including extensive experience in mega infrastructure projects, project finance, and all aspects of the oil and gas industry. Ms. Al-Naqeeb’s practice areas include general corporate matters, IT, banking, insurance, and securities laws in addition to oversight of the firm’s international practice in Kuwait. She is fluent in Arabic, English, and French.

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Edmond Gorges Chartouni

Mr. Chartouni was born in Beirut, Lebanon in 1924. He has over forty years of legal experience as an attorney in both Kuwait and Egypt. Mr. Chartouni’s career highlights include the controversial “Authority of Suez Canal” as well as numerous executive positions with both banks and insurance companies in Egypt and Kuwait. His practice areas include general corporate, insurance, and transactional matters. Mr. Chartouni has served as an arbitrator on numerous cases and is fluent in both French and English.

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Adel Hasan Ahmed

Mr. Ahmed is an Egyptian national. He received both a Bachelor of Law degree (Aein Shams, 1973) and Master’s Degree in penal law (Aein Shams, 1977). Mr. Ahmed began his legal career in the general prosecution office in Kuwait and progressed to the post of Under Secretary of Public Prosecution. Between 1982-1986, he worked as legal advisor to the Kuwait Ministry of Planning. Mr. Ahmed lends his expertise to the firm’s clients in the areas of criminal law, white-collar crimes, and administrative law.

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Samir Mahboob Al-Shartouni

Mr. Al-Shartouni is a Lebanese national. He received a Bachelors of Law degree from Aein Shams in 1983. Prior to joining the firm, he worked as an Associate at a number of law offices in both Egypt and Kuwait. His practice covers all aspects of commercial law, employment, and labor law. Mr. Al-Shartouni is also proficient in English.

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Nasr Jaafer Salama

Mr. Salama was born in 1965, and received his L.L.B. from Cairo University in 1989. He became Member of Egyptian Bar in 1989. Between 1990-1995, Mr. Salama served as in-house counsel of a major Kuwaiti company. Mr. Salama specializes in the areas of general commercial and companies’ law, including transactional, litigation, and arbitration aspects. He is fluent in Arabic and English.

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Maher Abdullah Al-Shuwaikh

Mr. Al-Shuwaikh was born in 1963, and received his L.L.B. from Cairo University in 1987. He has thirteen years of legal experience working in both Egypt and Kuwait and specializes in the areas of commercial law and general corporate law.

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Abdulatif Al-Ali

Mr. Al-Ali was born in Kuwait in 1978 and received his Bachelor of Law degree from Kuwait University in 2001. He specializes in the areas of general corporate law and commercial law.

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Mr. Magali has been practicing law for 45 years. He started his career with Mr. Abdul Rahman Khalifa head of the Royal Jordanian Court and Mr. Abdullah Al Rimawi a former minister of Foreign affairs. He became the Chairman of the Jordanian Bar 1970-1975 and became the President of the Arab Lawyers Bar 1974-1984.

Mr. Magali was the first Jordanian lawyer to join the International Bar Association and become the first Arab lawyer to become a board member of the International Bar Association. Mr. Mjalli has been elected President of the Jordan Bar Association for five terms.

He is a former member of the Jordanian Parliament 1989-1993 during which he was the chairman of Legal Affairs Committee in the Parliament. He is a former member and lecturer and the Law Faculty at the University of Jordan. He is currently on the Board of the School of Law at the University of Jordan and is a member of the Board of the Law Institute of Jordan and is also a member of the Jordan Law Institute Council. Mr. Mjalli is currently the Chairman of the Arab Forum in Jordan. He is fluent in Arabic and English.

The following is a sample list of clients

1. The Central Bank of Jordan
2. Phosphate Mining Company of Jordan.
3. Union Bank for Savings and Investments.
4. The Jordan-Iraq Overland Transportation Company.
5. White Cement Factories of Jordan.
6. Bristol Hotels.
7. Jordan Fisheries.
8. Algerian Transports.

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Mr. Mjalli graduated from the University of Jordan in 1994 and is a member of the Jordanian Bar Association. Since then Mr. Wameed Mjalli practiced at The Law Office in Amman Jordan headed by Mr. Mjalli Senior. He specializes in corporate transactions, banking and finance, telecommunications, litigation and Arbitration.

Mr. Wameed Mjalli is the Founder and Editor in Chief of the Jordanian Law Journal the only Jordanian legal Journal. He is fluent in Arabic and English.

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