Fintech
Our FinTech and digital assets legal services include regulatory guidance and legal advice for venture capital, funders, established financial institutions and start-ups alike. We help our clients successfully navigate through the legal and regulatory challenges that FinTech related business models are facing including:
Regulatory compliance: help our clients to effectively:
- navigate legal, regulatory and compliance requirements – including advice on how these requirements apply in practice from start-up through to established businesses;
- engage with regulators and governmental authorities such as the FRA, CBE, ITIDA and GAFI; and
- legally establish their presence in Egypt.
Debt and equity funding: advise on loan and security arrangements highlighting the risks specific to each business sector. Also, help VC Funds and corporate investors in the investments into start-ups and support business founders in growing their company through funders.
Business operations: support clients to operate their business by advising on employment and the right to work, staff incentive schemes, place of work requirements (leases and health & safety), commercial arrangements of all types and customs and taxation.
Our services include:
- advising on the requirements of regulators for licensing and activities in the field of financial technologies;
- legal analysis of new financial services before their introduction to the market;
- preparation of lawfully crucial documents for project implementation: declarations of terms & conditions, privacy policies, token sale agreement, and others;
- respond to breaches, litigation and enforcement actions;
- advise on data privacy compliance and on Data Protection Law; and
- handle registration of trademarks and protection of intellectual property.
Our clients include companies, platforms, technologists, investment managers and funds, banks and private equity and venture capital investors. We work extensively with digital investment advisers, data companies and other financial services innovators.
Here are examples of how we helped clients:
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Acquisition
Advised Maersk, the Danish shipping giant, and Saudi Arabia VC RAED Ventures in relation to the Egyptian law aspects of the $42 million Series A round of investment in Trella, the technology platform that connects shippers to carriers. Our corporate team acted as the local counsel for conducting the legal due diligence practice as part of a multi-jurisdictions transaction for buying the Holding Company which owns subsidiaries in UAE, KSA, Pakistan and other jurisdictions.
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Equity Funding
Represented and advised Saudi investors in relation to its potential investment and venture capital with the start-up Efreshli. Efreshli is an online furnishing and decorating services company. We represented the investor in relation to reviewing and negotiating Simple Agreement for Future Equity (SAFE) and conducted full due diligence on the target company.
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Digital Banking
Advised Alhokair Group on the legal framework of digital banking, licensing requirements and PSOs and SPS regulations.
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Consumer financing
Advised LoanMe App on the incorporation structure and licensing requirements for launching its business in Egypt.
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Equity funding
Represented a corporate investors in relation to its venture capital with the start-up Trolly. Trolly is a fast-growing online grocery app. We represented the investor in relation to drafting and negotiation of the term sheet, the convertible loan agreements and conducted full due diligence on the target company.
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E-commerce
Advised multinational retail group in relation to its acquisition of a UK online shopping platform. We advised the client on the tax and customs implications of shopping online and the preferential customs tariffs applicable on EU and UK products under the relevant international conventions.
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SaaS
Representing and advising investment fund in relation to the Software as a Service Subscription Agreement (SaaS) with Yardi, the UK application software developer.
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Data Privacy and IT
Advised Xiaomi on the data privacy and telecommunication compliance requirements for the launching of a robot vacuum cleaner which uses vSLAM technology and features a camera that helps to read the real-time and locate the device.
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Corporate structure
Advised UNiDAYS in relation to their digital services in Egypt answering questions on corporate structure, tax implications, data privacy, consumer protection, intellectual property and trade-mark registrations, marketing emails.
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Licensing
Conducted legal due diligence on Qcentris Egypt, subsidiary of Qcentris Group – a multinational leading group focusing on software development, computer systems, applications, QA services, Wealth-Tech and Lend-Tech, Digital Transformation. The due diligence covers company’s corporate compliance, shareholders contracts, and material contracts with clients, IT registrations with the ITIDA, IP licenses, employment, and social insurance compliance.
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Money transmission
Advised a major FinTech company in an inquiry regarding money transmission licensing requirements.
Key Contacts
Dr. Eman Riad
Dr. Fatma Salah
Mohamed Riad
