BANKING AND SECURED FINANCING

Since its establishment, our firm has been a principal player in Banking and Finance, providing both all-encompassing and specialized support on all banking-related matters.

The firm’s dedicated Banking and Finance department efficiently handles the increasingly complex and time-critical requirements of international high-value financing or refinancing transactions, including project financing, syndicated, subordinated and mezzanine financing, ship financing and related securities such as share pledges, floating charges, financial collateral, mortgages etc.
In addition, the firm has extensive experience in drafting or modifying agreements or other instruments used by banks in their operations, so as to ensure that they comply with current legislation and regulations.

CONSTITUTIONAL, PUBLIC AND ADMINISTRATIVE LAW

Our Firm has extensive experience in advising regulated corporate clients, public and governmental bodies on the interpretation and application of laws, in relation to the constitutionality of laws, as to fair procedures in fulfilling statutory functions and on administrative actions where necessary. We regularly advise and represent clients in proceedings before the Courts and other statutory bodies that regulate diverse areas of social and economic activity. Organizations which are regulated under constitutional or public law are also represented by our firm.

CORPORATE AND COMMERCIAL LAW

Our firm’s highly specialized team of corporate lawyers counts years of experience in the industry, and is acknowledged for its in-depth legal expertise, drawn from an insightful knowledge of the local business environment and comprehensive understanding of the international complex socio-economic climate. The firm offers the full range of corporate services and advice from start-up to the completion of incorporation, the annual operation, restructures and dissolutions of Lebanese, Arab and multinational companies.
We also conduct, on a regular basis, legal due diligence exercises on companies, either in the context of acquisitions, reorganizations or secured financing, or independently, and issue opinions on corporate capacity and legal standing.
Our aim is to combine niche legal expertise with a business orientation, in an effort to provide clients with a seamless service and practical solutions, tailored to their particular requirements.

CRIMINAL LAW

Our firm’s strength in the area of Criminal Law lies in the wealth of knowledge and experience of our lawyers.
The criminal defense attorneys at YazConsult are equipped to handle all types of criminal charges, including those that may seem minor. Our defense attorneys are concerned with protecting your rights and have the resources and tenacity to help secure the most preferable outcomes possible.

DISTRIBUTION, COMMERCIAL AND FRANCHISE AGREEMENTS

In today’s competitive market, businesses are constantly looking towards increased growth in an attempt to boost their turnover, profits and market share. Distributors, Franchisees and Commercial Agents have an important role in this process, assisting companies having limited or no actual physical presence within the specific market, to establish local goodwill, acquire and develop local market share, and to increase their profits.
A well drafted Distribution, Franchise or Agency Agreement is crucial to ensure the smooth operation of such a relationship, as well as to safeguard the rights of the contracting parties. Our firm has wide experience in drafting Distribution, Franchise and Commercial Agency Agreements, reviewing and advising on the compliance of such Agreements with Lebanese Law, as well as advising on such matters as termination, post contractual compensation, public procurement, Intellectual Property licensing matters etc.
We advise principals, distributors, franchisors, franchisees and commercial agents alike, and are acknowledged for our lawyers’ in depth knowledge of the legal and commercial considerations associated with such relationships. Our experience from working for both sides gives us an ideal understanding of the strategic approach required, as well as the critical parts of the deal.

EMPLOYMENT LAW

Our firm’s Employment Law Department addresses employment and labour disputes and offers a full range of legal services related to employment law issues, including hiring of employees, termination of employment, mergers and transfers, provident and pension funds, employee share option schemes, maternity leave, sickness and misconduct procedures.
We regularly deal with negotiating, drafting and concluding contracts of employment, and advise on various issues arising from the Lebanese Employment Law.

PERSONAL STATUS LAW

Our personal status law practice advises on all issues of family law – divorce and separation, child custody, maintenance and care disputes, adoption, cohabitation, financial provision, asset separation and management, pre- nuptial and post-nuptial agreements. Within this field of practice, we recognize the importance of listening, understanding, and then acting with the utmost discretion and care, the focus of our approach being to minimize as far as possible the emotional and financial costs associated with what is, frequently, a stressful time for those involved.
Our lawyers who specialize and practice in the field of family law are experienced litigators, as well as negotiators – both necessary qualities for achieving successful outcomes in this area of law.
Our firm offers comprehensive succession planning legal services to serve clients’ personal or business requirements whether in transitioning or maintaining and maximizing the value of their assets.
In terms of family succession planning, we offer legal advice on and draft wills, trusts and asset protection structures aiming to address, to the greatest extent possible, the individual needs and circumstances of each client.

LITIGATION, ARBITRATION AND MEDIATION

Our firm’s dispute resolution team provides specialist advice and representation on litigation, arbitration and mediation. Our lawyers have extensive experience before the Lebanese Courts and various international arbitration courts and tribunals, and deal with highly complex cases in areas such as business, commercial and corporate law, tax and finance, intellectual property, professional liability, antitrust, administrative and criminal law.
We are committed to providing value through timely and cutting- edge advice that is also commercially viable. We strive to gain a thorough understanding of our clients' needs, developing lasting relationships and assisting them in managing their risk, and hopefully avoiding disputes altogether. Our longstanding collaborations with numerous multinational companies from varying industries and excellent reputation and success rate in the outcome of dispute resolution matters, stand testimony to our leading expertise in this area of legal practice.

PUBLIC AND PRIVATE INTERNATIONAL LAW

Our firm is among Lebanon’s leaders in this field of practice, with some of its members having also been involved in academic teaching and having written extensively on relevant subjects.
We often advise clients as to the application and interpretation of international treaties and conventions entered into by Lebanon, especially concerning foreign investments, mutual assistance in civil and criminal law matters, international arbitration conventions, multilateral treaties on the Law of the Sea and similar instruments. We have also dealt extensively with issues involving foreign jurisdiction clauses, foreign arbitration clauses, judicial matters and litigation involving such clauses, including seeking stay of proceedings, recognition and enforcement of foreign judgments and international arbitration awards.
We frequently advise and participate in litigation matters, involving matrimonial disputes in mixed marriages of different nationalities, and issues of applicable law in this respect. In fact, cases on private and public international law form part of our firm's daily practice, and our dedicated teams of lawyers regularly advise on related issues.

REAL ESTATE LAW

Our Real Estate department offers a full range of services involving immovable property, including advising on and negotiating the terms of acquisitions, sales, transfers or financing.
We provide assistance to both local and international clients, to register immovable property in their names. We frequently deal with leases of immovable property, representing either landlords or tenants, and assist in negotiating leases and their renewals, collecting overdue and unpaid rent, advising on breach of terms and termination of leases which, in most cases, fall under the provisions of the Rent Laws.

TAXATION LAW

The world’s current economic turmoil imposes new and complex challenges to tax planning and related structures. At YazConsult we have full knowledge of, and understand the intricacies of the Lebanese, Emirati, and international taxation system, and work with our clients in a comprehensive manner to maximize their tax benefits, according to their overall objectives. Our tax department, regarded as one of the country’s leading practices, provides across-the-board advice on all tax issues, from the more simple matters to multi-jurisdictional transactions, where our team offers the support needed to plan and implement proposed structures in a tax-efficient manner. We also deal with matters involving property tax, personal tax and employment taxes.