Reema I. Ali, Managing Partner

Ms. Ali is resident in Washington, D.C., where she manages the firm’s international practice. She has practiced law for over 21 years in the Middle East, working with major US, European and Japanese companies. During her 21 years, Ms. Ali has been resident in both the Middle East and the US, giving her a unique ability to understand and work well with both cultures. Having been involved in a wide spectrum of international business and commercial transactions, she is well versed in the art of doing business in the Middle East.

Ms. Ali received an LL.B. from Leeds Polytechnic University in England in 1981. Upon receiving her J.D. from Southern Methodist University in 1983, Ms. Ali relocated to Kuwait to embark on her legal career. In 1984, she joined the law firm of Al-Saleh, Graham and James. For the next six years, Ms. Ali practiced in Kuwait, representing a diverse clientele of local and multi-national corporations and learning the intricacies of business transactions in the Middle East. During this period, she also served as a Member and Vice President of Legal Affairs for the American Business Council in Kuwait. In 1991, she formed what has become the law firm of Ali & Partners, and relocated to Washington, D.C. 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. 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.

Ms. Ali, a US born citizen, is fluent in both Arabic and English, is a member of the District of Columbia Bar, the New York Bar, the American Bar Association, the National U.S.-Arab Chamber of Commerce, and the Washington Foreign Law Society, the Arab Association for International Arbitration and the Abu Dhabi Commercial Conciliation and Arbitration Center. Additionally, Ms. Ali has been honored as a Member of Who’s Who of International Professionals (since 1996) and Cambridge Who’s Who (since 1996-1997) and the National Who’s Who’s of Executives and Professional (since 2000).

Ms Ali has authored numerous articles on various issues of Middle Eastern Laws.

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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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Mohammed Al-Sabti

Mr. Al-Sabti received his LL.B. from Kuwait University in 1990 and was admitted to the Kuwait Bar in that same year. Mr. Al-Sabti served as Senior Administrator of the General Administration Office at the Court of First Instance in Kuwait from 1990 through 1992. In 1992, he established the Law Offices of Mohammed Al-Sabti and has been the managing partner since. His key practice areas include Corporate Law, Commercial Law, Commercial Litigation and Arbitration. Mr. Al-Sabti is registered as an arbitrator with the Arbitration Department of the Kuwait Court of Appeals and is fluent in both English and Arabic.

Karim Ghobrial

Mr. Ghobrial is an associate at the firm’s affiliate office in Egypt. Mr. Ghobrial 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. Ghobrial received an LL.M. from the Washington College of Law at the American University in Washington, D.C. Mr. Ghobrial 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. Ghobrial relocated to New York, where he worked with Afridi, Angel & Baker. Mr. Ghobrial is a member of the Egyptian Bar Association and is fluent in Arabic, English and French.

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Abdul Hadi El-Qasem

Mr. El-Qasem is the managing partner of the firm’s affiliate office in the United Arab Emirates. He has been actively practicing law in the Middle East since he received his law degree from the University of Damascus in 1961. In 1962, Mr. El-Qasem opened a private practice in Nablus. For the next thirteen years, he worked in several offices throughout the Middle East, including Algeria, Egypt and Jordan. In 1975, while the U.A.E. was still in the initial stages of developing as a country, Mr. El-Qasem moved to Dubai, where he established a private practice. He was one of the first and few non-UAE nationals licensed to practice law in both the UAE federal courts and the Emirate of Dubai. This privilege was recently extended indefinitely by the Ruler of Dubai by an official law. Having grown with the country, Mr. El-Qasem has an impressive network of contacts in the major areas of business in the U.A.E. Furthermore, having practiced in Dubai as well as throughout the Middle East, Mr. El-Qasem has had the opportunity to represent numerous local and international clients, thus establishing a vast network of local and international contacts. This system of contacts allows Mr. El-Qasem and his office to provide unique, comprehensive legal services to our clients in the U.A.E. and throughout the Middle East. In addtion, Mr. El-Qasem’s is backed by a staff that has a well-established history and relationship with government institutions in the U.A.E. As such, his staff is able to communicate effectively with these institutions and obtain necessary and valuable assistance for our clients in the U.A.E. and Dubai.

Mr. El-Qasem’s areas of practice are varied and include general commercial law, civil law, and litigation. Further, he specializes in marine law, banking law, and insurance law, general corporate and commercial transactions, government contracts in general and defense contracts in particular, which are key areas of practice in the U.A.E. and a major focus of Ali & Partners’ work there. Additionally, Mr. El-Qasem is fluent in both Arabic and English.

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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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Abdul Rahman Naser Al-Abdul Aaly

Mr. Al-Abdul Aaly was born in Kuwait in 1959, and received his Bachelor of Law degree from the Faculty of Law and Shariaa at Kuwait University in 1981. Mr. Al-Abdul Aaly began his legal career in public service, serving as legal counsel with the Department of Legal Advisors for the Kuwaiti government. He then moved into private practice with the law firm of Ali Radwan & Associates, where he worked until 1985. Mr.Al- Abdul Aaly lends his considerable expertise to our clients as our chief firm litigator. Mr. Al-Abdul Aaly serves as a judicial guardian. Mr. Al-Abdul Aaly specializes in the fields of criminal and civil law, intellectual property, international arbitration, and bankruptcy litigation.

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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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