Jad Harmouche

Established and currently managing the legal department of a group of companies specialized in the manufacture and sale of finishing building material (mainly gypsum products, cement boards and their derivatives). Our group is a leader in the industry, and operates in several countries in the Middle East, including Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Lebanon. Our Saudi entity ASK Gypsum Factory Ltd. and our Egyptian entity Ecobat for Industrial Development are two of the biggest manufacturers of the foregoing products in the Middle-East. I am organizing, handling and managing all legal matters pertaining to the group, from day-to-day affairs to cross border transactional matters, restructuring of the group and working on the IPO of our Saudi entity. Day-to-day affairs include drafting of all forms of agreements necessary for the group's business, as may be required from the legal department by each other department of the group (e.g. sales, procurement, human resources, marketing, finance, logistics, engineering). Transactional matters include drafting of all forms of agreements (MoU's, LoI's, SPA's) for contemplated investments, and restructuring of the group (converting the Saudi entity into a joint-stock company, acquiring the Egyptian sister entity through a capital increase, establishing entities acting as trading arms in the KSA, Egypt and the UAE). Transactional matters also include drafting and reviewing complex agreements (e.g. purchase of a whole assembly line for production). I appoint, liaise with and monitor the external counsel in each jurisdiction where the group operates. I manage and follow up on all lawsuits lodged by or against the group (in cooperation with local counsel).

Corporate, banking and transactional department. Dealing with all forms of domestic and cross-border corporate and transactional matters, for Lebanese and foreign entities. Providing day-to-day legal advice for a group comprised of more than 20 companies working in the food, beverage and nightlife industry in the GCC countries. This group has companies in various jurisdictions, mainly in the United Arab Emirates, in Lebanon and in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. I handle all their legal affairs (banking compliance matters, registration of trademarks, agreements with investors entering the group, employment matters, and drafting all forms of agreements related to the F&B business, including franchise agreements and management agreements). I travel whenever needed to the head-office of the Group in Dubai. Providing day-to-day legal advice for the different branches of a newly established commercial Lebanese bank; Reviewing agreements to be entered into by a Lebanese specialized bank (i.e. an investment bank) and third parties; Providing legal advice, drafting and reviewing agreements for a multi-million dollar Lebanese telecommunication and engineering offshore company that constructs telecom towers and provides the latter with hybrid energy solutions and operation and maintenance services. The scope of work of this company covered African and south-east Asian countries; Involved in several local and cross-border mergers and/or acquisitions.

Corporate and finance department.

The experience i have acquired at Soumrani's was in litigation (mainly in complexe civil, labor and commercial disputes) and corporate matters.

Secretariat of the International Court of Arbitration. Team of the General Counsel of the ICC.