Alem & Associates' Banking, Security & Finance Practice Group has continuously expanded since it was founded, taking positive advantage of Lebanon's strategic positioning.

Lebanon holds an important status in the international banking and finance markets. Indeed, Lebanon enjoys a free exchange system, free movement of capital and earnings, as well as bank secrecy, tax exemptions and modern regulations for the Beirut Stock Exchange (being the first securities trading institution in the Middle East.

Such characteristics of the Lebanese banking and financial systems combined with modern laws and regulations have enabled Lebanon to become one of the leading banking centers in the Middle East.

Today, our expert lawyers advise lenders and borrowers, local and international banks, insurance companies, and other financial institutions on a wide range of domestic and international credit facility extensions.

We counsel and provide for complete legal structuring for acquisitions, finance loans, tender offers, leveraged buyouts, recapitalization and refinancing. Our practice is best known for its valuable representation in several areas as negotiation of financial service transactions, banking regulatory issues, payment systems, capital and debt structuring and restructuring transactions, etc.

On the capital markets sphere, we advise arrangers, issuers and trustees on issuing of bonds, notes, commercial papers, certificates of deposit and other capital market instruments.

We also advise major financial service companies and brokerage firms on matters related to brokerage and investment, ownership, trading and settlement of securities, regulatory and enforceability issues, employment share plans, licensing and opening of local branches for brokerage and financial institutions.

Our team has broad experience in advising and drafting Documentary Letters of Credit under the UCP 500 Rules, Standby Letters of Credit under the ISP 98 Rules and all types of Bank Guarantees under local and international regulations including the UN Convention on Independent Bank Guarantees.

Alem & Associates is directly involved in the legal re-structuring of Lebanese banking laws and regulations, acting as one of the members of the Central Bank's "Committee on Modern Banking & Financial Techniques and Information Technology" (COBTI).


Responsible Lawyer: Ziad Dannaoui
ziad@alemlaw.com