14 | Acquisition International, Issue 9 2023 Streamlined M&A Solutions with Shahid Law Firm Established by Counsellor Sarwat Abd El-Shahid in 1987, Shahid Law Firm is a leading international firm operating from offices in Ethiopia and Sudan. Priding itself on more than 30 years of strong experience in the legal market, the firm’s specialist team of corporate and M&A lawyers are on-hand to advise their clients every step of the way. Playing a crucial role in the firm’s success is Partner, Dr Michael Boutros, whose work certainly hasn’t gone unnoticed as we at Acquisition International magazine recognise him as our Leading M&A Lawyer of the Year – Egypt. Shahid Law Firm +202 2393 5557 www.shahidlaw.com info@shahidlaw.com 20B Adly Street, Downtown 11511 Cairo, Egypt Dr Michael Boutros joined Shahid Law Firm in 2017 as a partner to lead the capital market and M&A practice group, as he tells us with delight, “Becoming a partner at a well-regarded firm like Shahid Law Firm and realising strong relationships with our clients are on top of my career milestones.” Indeed, Shahid Law Firm is a goliath consistently ranked among the top lawyers according to several ranking organisations like Legal500, Chambers & Partners, and IFLR. Michael brings extensive specialism in the areas of general corporate affairs, M&A, capital markets, securities, labour, anti-trust, trademarks, and consumer protection. A graduate from the Cairo University Faculty of Law in 2005 and a member of the Egyptian Bar Association since 2006, Michael also went on to achieve his Master of International and European Business Law Degrees (LLM) from the University of Paris (Panthéon Sorbonne) in 2007. From there, he obtained his PhD in E-commerce and Consumer Protection from Savoie University, granted by the Grenoble Ecole Doctoral (France) in 2014. In addition to his education, Michael gained vast experience within the industry by spending 12 years working for one of the largest international law firms. Now, in his role at Shahid Law Firm, Michael often acts as the lead lawyer in the deals he is involved in, and he is experienced in advising leading multinational companies to execute large crossborder transactions. We asked him to give us a further insight into what this entails. “My transactional work mainly focuses on initial public offerings, private placements, M&A, and major projects. As a general note, I try not to be a follower, but rather create my own path as much as possible. I try to build up a career that is based on team work, which I personally believe is very important. Each member of the team needs to have a goal and needs to know how to cooperate with others to achieve this goal. For me, each successful transaction during my 18 years of practice was an extremely impactful milestone.” He adds, referring to his current position at Shahid Law Firm, “But I must say that this phase is a golden period.” Michael has assisted in the execution of high value acquisitions, restructurings, and divestitures in Egypt for companies in the real estate, transportation, food and beverage, natural resources, manufacturing, construction, pharmaceutical and tourism industries. Some of his completed deals include: advising Lotus for Agriculture Development and Investment on the listing of its shares in the Egyptian Stock Exchange; advising Innovative International Acquisition Corp. on its merger with Zoomcar to be publicly listed on NASDAQ; representing Etisalat Misr in connection with the joint venture with the Sovereign Fund of Egypt; advising Mountain View for Real Estate Development and Investment on several matters such as a major joint venture with Alesayi Investment Group and on a complex capital restructuring plan; and advising Cairo Oils & Soap Co. on a capital restructuring plan, combining both a capital reduction and issuance of new shares. Taking a closer look at one of these projects, Michael worked alongside Odin Investments and Financial Capital Services to advise Lotus for Agriculture Development and Investment on its initial public offering and listing of its shares on the Egyptian Exchange (EGX). As a result of this deal, the listing of the client company’s shares with the Stock Exchange had the potential to increase and import its financial capabilities and exposure to both foreign and local investors. Being one of the leading companies in the agriculture sector in Egypt, this IPO will reinforce Lotus for Agriculture Development and Investment’s position in participating in Egypt’s current strategic plans for the agriculture sector, which is considered one of the most vital and important in the country. With this being just one example of many in terms of Michael’s significant contribution to the corporate and M&A sector, he is overall a highly distinguished and respected lawyer, and he has garnered much in the way of positive feedback. For example, Chambers & Partners, Global Guide 2022, Corporate and M&A reports that, “Michael Boutros distinguished himself as a commercially oriented lawyer and a highly skilled negotiator.” He has also been praised/recommended by the Business Today Lawyer Awards 2023 who comment that “At Shahid Law Firm, Michael Boutros is conversant with multimilliondollar corporate restructurings and company registration matters. His clientele spans from start-ups to large international corporations.” He is certainly a lawyer held in high regard by both clients and peers, and more than deserving of his latest prestigious Acquisition International award. Well done to Michael and the estimable business of Shahid Law Firm. Jul23219
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