Dr. Karim Hafez, Ph.D. (Cantab.)
karim.hafez@crcica.org.eg

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE:
Karim Hafez is the principal of HAFEZ, a specialist arbitration practice based in Cairo. Instructed as well by governments as by corporations, he has prosecuted and defended large-value complex arbitrations spanning the commercial spectrum. Areas in which he has conducted cases include building, engineering, investment, energy, IP/IT, defense, leisure, joint ventures, and sale of goods.

Dr. Hafez has been appointed as arbitrator in construction, energy, M&A, and partnership disputes. As counsel, he has acted under numerous arbitration rules, including of the International Centre for the Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID), the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), the London Court of International Arbitration (LCIA), the Cairo Regional Centre for International Commercial Arbitration (CRCICA), and the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL).






CONCENTRATION AREAS:
Construction
Dr. Hafez spends half his professional time advising on building and engineering disputes. He regularly represents contractors, employers, and other construction industry stake-holders, and acts across the full range of industry sectors, and financing and procurement strategies. He has conducted or advised on arbitrations involving major real estate developments for office, retail, industry and leisure; power process and oil and gas projects; university campuses; locks, dams, and similar infrastructural developments. These matters involved different investment vehicles project security, guarantees, and long-term outsourcing partnering arrangements. Energy
Dr. Hafez represents regional oil and gas operators engaged in both upstream and downstream disputes involving licensing, development, sale, marketing, management and integrated services.

Hospitality
Dr. Hafez spends a significant part of his professional time advising owners, managers, investors, and lenders, in connection with disputes involving the hospitality industry in general and the hotel industry in particular. He has considerable advisory and arbitration experience in management, concession, technical assistance, lease, joint venture, licensing, franchise, and credit and finance agreements.

Telecommunications
Dr. Hafez advises on dispute-settlement arrangements involving mobile and satellite operators, domestic as well international, including in respect of wet and dry infrastructure, interconnection and access issues.

PANEL MEMBERSHIP AND PROFFESSIONAL OFFICES:
Dr. Hafez is a member of the Distinguished Panel of Neutrals of the International Centre for Dispute Resolution (ICDR/AAA), a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (London), Board Adviser to the Cairo Regional Centre for International Commercial Arbitration (Cairo), Board Member of the Arab Intellectual Property Mediation and Arbitration Society (Amman), Member of the International Arbitration Institute (Paris), Coordinator of the Egyptian Arbitration Forum, and Deputy Editor-in-chief of the Arab Journal of International Arbitration.

EDUCATION:
He read law at Cambridge, Harvard, and Cairo. His Ph.D., from Cambridge University, is for a dissertation entitled, 'Complex Arbitration - The Limitations of a Neo-Liberal Institution'.

LANGUAGES:
Dr. Hafez is fluent in Arabic, English and French.

SAMPLE OF RECENT CASELOAD:

  • Representing a Middle Eastern State in an arbitration involving Euro 2.2 billion infrastructural irrigation project against an international building consortium.

  • Representing an international building consortium in a USD 230 Million construction arbitration against a Saudi employer, involving an office, residential and retail complex.

  • Representing a Middle Eastern government instrumentality in a USD 60 Million institutional arbitration against a major US aerospace contractor, involving breach of a contract for the upgrade of national radar systems.

  • Representing a Middle Eastern oil company in a USD 20 Million LCIA arbitration involving breach of a contract to design and build an offshore oil production platform in the Persian Gulf.

  • Representing an international building consortium in pre-arbitral proceedings against an American institutional employer, involving a major USD 200 Million educational development.

  • Representing a Middle Eastern State in a USD 1.3 Billion UNCITRAL investment arbitration, for alleged breach of a 40-year airport concession agreement.

  • Representing a major institutional Saudi investor in London-based UNCITRAL proceedings against an Egyptian company, for breach of the client's right of first refusal on share transfers.

  • Representing the Arab Republic of Egypt in an Euro 40 Million ICSID arbitration, for the alleged expropriation of a Danish investment in the hospitality industry (Helnan v. Arab Republic of Egypt).

  • Representing a major regional oil and gas operator in USD 10 Million arbitration against a leading American oil service contractor, involving the wrongful termination of six related service and agency agreements.

  • Representing a Swiss management company in two USD 5 Million institutional arbitrations against Libyan owners, for the wrongful termination of two management agreements.

  • Representing a major Spanish hotel operator in an institutional arbitration involving the wrongful termination of a management agreement.

  • Representing a Middle Eastern company in USD 12 Million institutional arbitration against a major international hotel management company, for alleged breach of management agreement.

  • Representing a major regional IT service provider in institutional arbitration proceedings involving breach of subcontract claims.

  • Representing a major Middle Eastern pharmaceutical distributor in USD 15 Million institutional arbitration proceedings against an e-commerce platform integrator, involving alleged breach of distribution agreement for the nationwide automation of the pharmaceutical industry.

  • Numerous judicial review proceedings involving domestic and international arbitral awards.


    Avocat au barreau du Caire

    Called 1992
    Nationality: Egyptian
    Tel.           + 20 2 7945 368 (ext. 101)
    Email:        karim.hafez@crcica.org.eg
                    karim.hafez@hafeznet.com
    Web Site: www.hafeznet.com

    Mailing Address:
    HAFEZ
    5 Ibrahim Naguib Street
    Garden City
    Cairo 11451
    EGYPT

    Assistant : Sherine Fayek (Mrs.)
    Tel.             + 20 2 7945 368 (ext. 108)
    Email:        sherine.fayek@hafeznet.com




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