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ZYounes

Zahi Y. Younes

Partner
Baker McKenzie Law Firm

Biography

Zahi is a partner in our Saudi Arabian Corporate and Securities team. He has over 23 years of experience helping companies with complex mergers and acquisitions, divestitures, joint ventures, corporate reorganizations, securities, and capital markets. Zahi’s main focus includes Telecommunications & Technology, Healthcare & Pharmaceutical, and Retail & Consumer Goods sectors.

Known for his deep understanding of Saudi Arabian law and regulations, Zahi is a trusted advisor to leading international and regional companies.

Representative Legal Matters

  • Advised over 100 multinational corporations from diverse sectors including consulting, pharmaceuticals, medical devices, IT, and investment banking through the complexities of establishing their Regional Headquarters in Saudi Arabia.
  • Advising a major American manufacturer of diagnostic healthcare products on their reorganization in Saudi Arabia through shifting from a distribution to a direct trading model. The transaction involves (a) the formation of a wholly foreign-owned trading entity in Saudi Arabia; (b) the acquisition of the operations (including stock and employees) of their local distributor; (c) a merger control filing with the General Competition Authority (GAC); and (d) entering into a 3PL agreement for the provision of logistics support services.
  • Advising a multinational luxury goods conglomerate on corporate reorganization of their activities in the Gulf region.
  • Advising a consumer goods company in relation to setting up a joint venture entity in Saudi Arabia.
  • Advising a multinational healthcare company in relation to setting up a joint venture entity in Saudi Arabia.
  • Advising Abdullah Hashim Group (AHG), the largest private industrial gases company in Saudi Arabia, in relation to the US$166 million sale of a 25% stake in AHG to Air Products.
  • Advising Swiss elevator and escalator manufacturer, Schindler Management, on the acquisition of 100% of Saudi Elevator Company (second biggest player in Saudi Arabia).
  • Advising in relation to the acquisition by a consortium led by Mitsubishi Corporation of a 75% stake in AJIL, a major leasing company.
  • Advising in relation to the purchase by Saudi Telecom Company of AwalNet.
  • Advising Abraaj Capital in connection with the acquisition of a 40% stake in the Saudi Tadawi Company for Health Care.

Professional Associations and Memberships

  • Lebanese Bar - Member

Admissions

  • Lebanon (1998)
  • Saudi Arabia - Registered Legal Consultant

Education

  • ESA (Beirut) in affiliation with ESCP-EAP (Paris-Europe) (Master's Degree Business Administration) (2004)
  • University of Paris I (Pantheon-Sorbonne) (Ph.D. E-Commerce Law) (2002)
  • Montpellier University (Master's Degree Information Technology Law) (1998)
  • University of Paris I (Pantheon-Sorbonne) (Master's Degree Corporate Law) (1997)
  • St. Joseph University of Beirut (Lebanese degree in Private Law) (1996)

Languages

  • Arabic
  • English
  • French