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Specialist Guide to the

Global Leaders in Media Law Practice

TIER 1

Helmy, Hamza and Partners, Baker McKenzie works in association with Baker & McKenzie, providing clients with access to a global network. The team is regularly involved in advertising and unfair trading litigation. Other areas of specialisation include data protection, e-commerce and regulation. Co-founder Taher Helmy manages the practice, working closely with Mohamad B. Talaat on sector-related corporate and commercial matters.

TIER 2

Ibrachy & Demerkar’s position as international advisor to the Egyptian Radio and Television Union and legal counsel of the Egyptian Satellite Company, Nilesat, has put the firm at the forefront of media production, broadcast and transmission activity in Egypt. The team also assists with intellectual property protection, exploitation and licensing.

Independent firm Matouk Bassiouny works with multinationals, corporations and government entities on all legal aspects of business ventures in Egypt. The team has a cross-border focus on commercial aspects. Co-founding partner F. John Matouk manages the dispute resolution and commercial groups.

Shalakany is recognised throughout the region as a leading practice. The firm focuses on intellectual property matters connected with the media and entertainment sectors. Lawyers litigate in unfair competition and infringement cases, advise on copyright and software protection and draft licensing agreements. The team also works closely with government agencies and legislators.

TIER 3

Focus at Al Kamel Law Office is on media and telecommunications. The firm’s work includes advice on acquiring and exploiting intellectual property, rights enforcement and dispute resolution. Lawyers also advise on the acquisition and transfer of shares in media enterprises.

Full service firm Kosheri, Rashed & Riad advises on intellectual property and telecommunications. The firm’s client base includes Yves Saint Laurent and Time Warner. Ahmed Sadek EL-Kosheri works closely with Samia Sadek Rashed on corporate, commercial and regulatory matters.

Internet, marketing and telecommunications are the core areas of practice at Marghany Advocates. Led by Amir Marghany, the team represents clients including Google, Microsoft, YouTube and Vodafone. Intellectual property and dispute resolution are also among the firm’s focus areas.

EGYPT

The past year delivered the long-awaited Data Protection Law, which establishes a framework to govern the processing and handling of personal data.

The law was published in July, and took effect in October. It introduces various standards to safeguard the rights of individuals in Egypt, as part of a global trend in the implementation of data protection laws akin to GDPR.

The law applies to personal data that can directly identify an individual and data that could, together with other data, lead to the identification of the individual.

The new rules apply to data that could reveal a person’s psychological or physical health, as well as economic status or cultural identity.

Other developments include the failed acquisition of Saudi Telecom Co. by Vodafone Plc, a deal that was valued at USD2.4 billion.

Vodafone ended talks in December to sell a 55 per cent share in its Egyptian business to the Saudi

telecoms operator. Negotiations began in January last year. Vodafone did not provide a reason for abandoning the discussions.

Nick Read, Vodafone Group’s Chief Executive Officer, met with Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi in Cairo in the same month, discussing investment in the country and the development of a 5G network, according to Facebook post by the presidential spokesman.

Mr Read commented: ‘We believe that the Egyptian government is committed to an optimal framework for the telecoms sector, which will enable Vodafone Egypt to deliver on the country’s vision of digitization and financial inclusion and create a technology hub to support our growth in the African region.’