Mohamed Nabil Hazzaa
Partner
Fax
(+202) 2322 5401
Languages
English, Arabic
Mohamed Nabil Hazzaa is a partner at Sharkawy & Sarhan Law Firm. Mohamed heads Sharkawy & Sarhan’s M&A practice as well as its prolific power, utilities and infrastructure practice.
Mohamed was also selected by Chambers Global from 2018 to 2023 as a Band 3 leading lawyer for his experience in Projects & Energy sector and Banking & Finance practice and by the IFLR1000 from 2014 to 2023 as a leading/highly regarded lawyer.
Mohamed started his career as a junior associate with Sharkawy & Sarhan and was seconded to the magic circle law firm Allen & Overy LLP in the Dubai office during 2014.
Throughout his career, he has acted on ground-breaking M&A transactions including advising on the sale of majority stakes in two major Egyptian banking units (BNP Paribas and NSGB) and purchase of majority stake in Barclays Bank Egypt, in addition to advising on potential purchase of Piraeus Bank Egypt by Standard Chartered Bank and the acquisition by Fairfax of a minority stake in CIB from Actis. More recently Mohamed has acted for Vodafone Group and Hikma Pharmaceuticals PLC.
He has advised several financial institutions and regulatory bodies in connection with a wide spectrum of issues in capital market including for key players such as Fairfax, Blakeney, Morgan Stanley and Goldman Sachs. In addition, Mohamed regularly advises EFG Hermes and its assets management, investment banking, private equity and stock-brokerage arms on a wide variety of capital market issues relating to assets management, custody, stockbrokerage and general regulatory and compliance aspects relating to financial services activities.
Mohamed also has in-depth focus on power & renewables and utilities advising clients on all regulatory aspects relating to power and utilities projects. In particular, he has advised CGN on acquisition of Malaysia Development Berhad involving the only three IPPs in the Egyptian market. Mohamed has an outstanding footprint in the Egyptian renewable energy sector having advised all financial institutions involved in the second round of the feed-in tariff program as well as advising on several utility scale BOO projects and the first ever distributed generation projects to be financed by DFIs.
More recently, Mohamed has been involved in all key transactions in Egypt in port related infrastructure including both PPP dry port transactions to date.
Related Sectors
Related Practice Areas
Representative Experience
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) on the financing to be granted to October Dry Port Company, a special purpose vehicle established for the development and construction of the 6th of October Dry Port project, the first Public Private Partnership (PPP) project in this sector, to be operated under a BOT scheme. The project was awarded to the consortium between El Sewedy Electric, SLP for Logistic Properties and Schenker Egypt.
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), the OPEC Fund for International Development (the OPEC Fund) and the African Development Bank (AfDB) on the financing of a 200 MW solar power plant on a Build, Own, Operate (BOO) scheme located in Kom Ombo Aswan and developed by Acwa Power.
International Finance Corporation (IFC), Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and FMO – Dutch entrepreneurial development bank in relation to the financing of the largest single solar power project on a BOO scheme in Egypt. The transaction is part of a colossal USD 1.1 billion financial package rallied by IFC – International Finance Corporation to the Abydos Solar Company and the Amunet Wind Power Company, subsidiaries of AMEA Power, to build, own, and operate twin solar and wind plants in Egypt.
This groundbreaking project is awarded the ECA, DFI, IFI Deal of the Year 2023 was awarded to AMEA Power’s 1GW Abydos Solar and Amunet Wind (the A&A Twins) at the Bonds, Loans and Sukuk Awards by GFC Media Group presents Bonds & Loans as this is the third prestigious award in a streak for those landmark projects as it comes after the IJGlobal Renewables – Solar Deal of the Year Award for the MENA Region on April 26 and the PFI Global ESG Deal of the Year 2022 awarded earlier on February 22.
Suez Canal Container Terminal, a joint venture partly owned by of A.P. Moller – Maersk, in relation to a 30-year concession agreement with لمنطقة الاقتصادية لقناة السويس SCZONE for managing the extension of the new quay at Port Said East Port, in order to provide logistic services and manage the additional extensions of the new quay. This concession will be a continuation of SCCT’s string of unstoppable accomplishments. This step will generate investments of $500 million and the creation of 1,000 new jobs.
Fifteen (15) banks and international financial institutions including International Finance Corporation (IFC), the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), Proparco, AIIB, CDC, AfDB and others on the USD1.8bn financing of 30 simultaneous solar projects under round II of the feed-in tariff program.
Société Générale on the sale of its stake in National Société Générale Bank to Qatar National Bank Group, the largest financial institution in the MENA region, for a consideration of EUR1.5bn. The transaction was the largest bank M&A transaction in the MENA region after the financial crisis.
IFC, EBRD, Proparco and fifteen (15) other international financial institutions (including AIIB, CDC, AfDB and others) on the USD1.8bn financing of 30 simultaneous solar projects under round II of the feed-in tariff program.
Molinari Rail AG, Winterthur, Switzerland on negotiating a consultancy agreement with the National Authority for Tunnels in relation to a to the provision of certain consulting services relating to train sets for the greater Cairo Metro Line No. 1 (Helwan to New El – Marge).
Vodafone Group on the potential sale of its entire stake in Vodaphone Egypt to STC.
Mitsubishi on its acquisition of Metito. His work included extensive due diligence on all Metito contracts in Egypt (including JVs, EPC and water supply contracts ).
Attijariwafa Bank on the acquisition of a global financial services group (Egypt) headquartered in Cairo and present in 18 Egyptian cities with 56 branches. This transaction represents a first of this scale from a Moroccan financial operator on the Egyptian market.
Americana Group on the bidding process of selling its 100% stake in Greenland Group to Dairy Distributors for Distribution S.A.E. (a venture between Halawa and French dairy group Lactalis).
The PPPCU and GALDP on the pre-qualification and tendering phases of the 10th of Ramadan Dry Port PPP Project.
A syndication of financial institutions including the International Financial Corporation (IFC), the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), the French Société de Promotion et de Participation pour la Coopération Economique (Proparco), the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), and the German Investment Corporation (DEG) on the financing of a second container terminal in the Damietta Port of the Arab Republic of Egypt.
Education and Memberships
- LLB, Cairo University, Faculty of Law, English Section, and qualified in 2009
Insights
Mohamed Nabil Hazzaa
Partner
Phone: (+202) 2322 5400 Ext. (124)
Fax: (+202) 2322 5401
Languages: English, Arabic
Related Sectors: Infrastructure & Power
Related Practice Areas: Mergers & Acquisitions, Corporate & Commercial
Mohamed Nabil Hazzaa is a partner at Sharkawy & Sarhan Law Firm. Mohamed heads Sharkawy & Sarhan’s M&A practice as well as its prolific power, utilities and infrastructure practice.
Mohamed was also selected by Chambers Global from 2018 to 2023 as a Band 3 leading lawyer for his experience in Projects & Energy sector and Banking & Finance practice and by the IFLR1000 from 2014 to 2023 as a leading/highly regarded lawyer.
Mohamed started his career as a junior associate with Sharkawy & Sarhan and was seconded to the magic circle law firm Allen & Overy LLP in the Dubai office during 2014.
Throughout his career, he has acted on ground-breaking M&A transactions including advising on the sale of majority stakes in two major Egyptian banking units (BNP Paribas and NSGB) and purchase of majority stake in Barclays Bank Egypt, in addition to advising on potential purchase of Piraeus Bank Egypt by Standard Chartered Bank and the acquisition by Fairfax of a minority stake in CIB from Actis. More recently Mohamed has acted for Vodafone Group and Hikma Pharmaceuticals PLC.
He has advised several financial institutions and regulatory bodies in connection with a wide spectrum of issues in capital market including for key players such as Fairfax, Blakeney, Morgan Stanley and Goldman Sachs. In addition, Mohamed regularly advises EFG Hermes and its assets management, investment banking, private equity and stock-brokerage arms on a wide variety of capital market issues relating to assets management, custody, stockbrokerage and general regulatory and compliance aspects relating to financial services activities.
Mohamed also has in-depth focus on power & renewables and utilities advising clients on all regulatory aspects relating to power and utilities projects. In particular, he has advised CGN on acquisition of Malaysia Development Berhad involving the only three IPPs in the Egyptian market. Mohamed has an outstanding footprint in the Egyptian renewable energy sector having advised all financial institutions involved in the second round of the feed-in tariff program as well as advising on several utility scale BOO projects and the first ever distributed generation projects to be financed by DFIs. More recently, Mohamed has been involved in all key transactions in Egypt in port related infrastructure including both PPP dry port transactions to date.
Representative Experience
Suez Canal Container Terminal, a joint venture partly owned by of A.P. Moller – Maersk, in relation to a 30-year concession agreement with لمنطقة الاقتصادية لقناة السويس SCZONE for managing the extension of the new quay at Port Said East Port, in order to provide logistic services and manage the additional extensions of the new quay. This concession will be a continuation of SCCT’s string of unstoppable accomplishments. This step will generate investments of $500 million and the creation of 1,000 new jobs.
International Finance Corporation (IFC), Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and FMO – Dutch entrepreneurial development bank in relation to the financing of the largest single solar power project on a BOO scheme in Egypt. The transaction is part of a colossal USD 1.1 billion financial package rallied by IFC – International Finance Corporation to the Abydos Solar Company and the Amunet Wind Power Company, subsidiaries of AMEA Power, to build, own, and operate twin solar and wind plants in Egypt.
The PPPCU and GALDP on the pre-qualification and tendering phases of the 10th of Ramadan Dry Port PPP Project.
Fifteen (15) banks and international financial institutions including International Finance Corporation (IFC), the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), Proparco, AIIB, CDC, AfDB and others on the USD1.8bn financing of 30 simultaneous solar projects under round II of the feed-in tariff program.
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) on the financing to be granted to October Dry Port Company, a special purpose vehicle established for the development and construction of the 6th of October Dry Port project, the first Public Private Partnership (PPP) project in this sector, to be operated under a BOT scheme. The project was awarded to the consortium between El Sewedy Electric, SLP for Logistic Properties and Schenker Egypt.
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), the OPEC Fund for International Development (the OPEC Fund) and the African Development Bank (AfDB) on the financing of a 200 MW solar power plant on a Build, Own, Operate (BOO) scheme located in Kom Ombo Aswan and developed by Acwa Power.
IFC, EBRD, Proparco and fifteen (15) other international financial institutions (including AIIB, CDC, AfDB and others) on the USD1.8bn financing of 30 simultaneous solar projects under round II of the feed-in tariff program.
Vodafone Group on the potential sale of its entire stake in Vodaphone Egypt to STC.
Attijariwafa Bank on the acquisition of a global financial services group (Egypt) headquartered in Cairo and present in 18 Egyptian cities with 56 branches. This transaction represents a first of this scale from a Moroccan financial operator on the Egyptian market.
Société Générale on the sale of its stake in National Société Générale Bank to Qatar National Bank Group, the largest financial institution in the MENA region, for a consideration of EUR1.5bn. The transaction was the largest bank M&A transaction in the MENA region after the financial crisis.
Americana Group on the bidding process of selling its 100% stake in Greenland Group to Dairy Distributors for Distribution S.A.E. (a venture between Halawa and French dairy group Lactalis).
Mitsubishi on its acquisition of Metito. Our work included extensive due diligence on all Metito contracts in Egypt (including JVs, EPC and water supply contracts ).
Education and Memberships
- LLB, Cairo University, Faculty of Law, English Section, and qualified in 1999.
- LLM, International Banking and Financial Law, Faculty of Law, Boston University, USA.
Insights
Green Hydrogen Pipeline in Egypt
Mohamed Nabil Hazzaa recognition by IFLR in 2023 edition
“He has deep understanding of the sector and excellent legal knowledge, with the ability to come up with commercially suitable solutions. A readiness to work hard and provide extensive legal advice.“
“A very experienced partner who has a wealth of experience and a sharp mind. Well connected in the business communities and public sector. Great negotiator who never loses his cool even with tough counterparties.“
“Mohamed is an excellent lawyer and negotiator who remains level-headed even in very tough negotiations. He has a vast experience and has worked on many project finance and other transactions from which he can draw precedents. He is very well connected to the local business community and public authorities. A pleasure to work with and a safe pair of hands.“
“Mohamed provides excellent legal service.“
“Mohamed’s experience and network make him a great asset.“
“Mohamed is extremely good – responsive, with a very practical business stance.“
“Very responsive and he possesses excellent knowledge”
“The lawyers were definitely very good, professional, knowledgeable, and with incomparable quality and documentation and understanding of the protocols. The clarity I got from day one was amazing. They know the process and the loopholes…”
“Mohamed Nabil is excellent, responsive, helpful, and available and has perfect knowledge.”
“Very responsive I would even say that it’s the same level as the foreign firms.”
“He has deep understanding of the sector and excellent legal knowledge, with the ability to come up with commercially suitable solutions. A readiness to work hard and provide extensive legal advice.“
“A very experienced partner who has a wealth of experience and a sharp mind. Well connected in the business communities and public sector. Great negotiator who never loses his cool even with tough counterparties.“
“Mohamed is an excellent lawyer and negotiator who remains level-headed even in very tough negotiations. He has a vast experience and has worked on many project finance and other transactions from which he can draw precedents. He is very well connected to the local business community and public authorities. A pleasure to work with and a safe pair of hands.“
“Mohamed’s experience and network make him a great asset.”
“Mohamed is extremely good – responsive, with a very practical business stance.”
“Very responsive and he possesses excellent knowledge”
“The lawyers were definitely very good, professional, knowledgeable, and with incomparable quality and documentation and understanding of the protocols. The clarity I got from day one was amazing. They know the process and the loopholes…”
“Mohamed Nabil is excellent, responsive, helpful, and available and has perfect knowledge.”