Ziad J. Issa

Founder and Managing Partner

contact: Linkedin

With his leading corporate skills, Ziad works with clients across a wide range of industry sectors on domestic and cross-border transactions including but not limited to mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, corporate restructurings, corporate governance, private equity transactions and taxation.

Ziad has extensive expertise in international dispute resolution and international arbitration mainly relating to high value construction, FIDIC and commercial disputes.

In 2010, he was officially appointed by the government of Bosnia and Herzegovina as the State Honorary Consul in Lebanon. His current position as head of consulate has given him consequential experience in consular and diplomatic affairs ranging from drafting, negotiating and implementing international treaties and conventions.

Elias R. Abi Younes

Founder and Managing Partner

contact: Linkedin

Elias is recognized for his successful track record and expertise in litigation and dispute resolution in the field of civil, commercial and criminal law. He skillfully handles complex disputes in various industries including construction, finance, commerce and telecommunications. He is known for his ability to respond swiftly to conflict inquiries, efficiently tackle the problem at hand, and to exemplify a result-oriented approach to every matter.

Elias also advises listed companies and multinational corporations on complex corporate law matters such as private equity transactions, mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, compliance and corporate governance. He assists clients on matters involving shareholder’s relations and disputes such as business judgment rule opinions and board liability.

Notwithstanding his litigation expertise, Elias also offers his legal advice on real estate dealings and development projects. He delivers a unique combination of highly efficient assistance, commercial acumen, and a natural gift for negotiation allowing him to successfully seal numerous agreements involving acquisitions of real estate properties, leasing transactions and corporate equity transfers. With this exceptional and hands-on experience he is able to assist investors on their most challenging global projects where he combines his extensive knowledge and proficiency in different law fields into an integrated advice which enables his clients to manage and mitigate the legal risks of their projects.

Joseph Issa

Partner

Joseph has more than 40 years of experience in complex insurance matters, he has been cited as a leading lawyer for insurance claims and dispute matters. He has developed a holistic and international view on all aspects of insurance transactions and broader commercial issues that insurance companies face. Joseph advises some of the largest Lebanese insurance groups on reinsurance treaties, assessment of portfolio and claims, general and health insurance requirements, regulations related to licensing and establishment of insurance and reinsurance companies in the region. This hand-on experience gives him a unique perspective and vision in negotiating insurance settlements and representing insurance companies in arbitration and litigation matters.

Notwithstanding his expertise in the insurance industry, Joseph also has an impressive track record in tax corporate restructurings and complex tax litigation matters, where he combines his cutting-edge tax advice with corporate law and accounting implications into seamless advice for his clients.

In 2005, Joseph was officially appointed by the government of Timor-Leste as the State Honorary Consul General in Lebanon. In 2018, he was appointed by the government of Timor Leste as Commissioner General before the UAE government for Expo 2020 Dubai exhibition. In 2020, he has been elected as member of the Steering Committee formed by the countries participating in Expo 2020 Dubai and regulated by the Bureau International des Expositions in Paris, France. His current positions have given him consequential experience in consular and diplomatic affairs ranging from drafting, negotiating and implementing international treaties and conventions.

Imad El Khoury

Partner

Imad specializes in commercial law and employment law across a range of industries including healthcare, retail, media, technology and food and beverage. He provides his legal advice on large-scale projects starting from drafting and negotiating long-term agreements connected with franchising, licensing, acquisition and sale of business units.

Imad assists major commercial companies and restaurant brands by expanding internationally via franchising in connection with negotiating and documenting franchise transactions and conducting local due diligence and regulatory issues. His work on the commercial agreements also covers the exploitation and protection of intellectual property rights.

Imad also advises market-leading media companies on content licensing, production, regulation and copyright matters. He has contributed in setting the basic legal grounds for international musical expositions related to the entertainment industry by being the legal consultant for numerous musical artists and entertainment companies.

Fernando Ortega

Partner - Head of Arbitration

contact: Linkedin

Fernando is a partner in IAA’s Dubai office and heads the firm’s arbitration practice. He has represented clients as counsel and advocate in numerous commercial, construction and investment arbitrations under the rules of major arbitral institutions. His practice extends across the Middle East, Africa, CIS, and South Asia, and assists clients with the enforcement of judgments and arbitral awards around the world. Fernando’s arbitration practice was recently ranked among the best in International Arbitration by Option Droit & Affaires 2021.

Fernando is regularly invited to speak at domestic and international conferences on arbitration, transnational issues, construction and commercial disputes, investment law and arbitration, and in the oil and gas sector. He regularly publishes on these topics.

Fernando is a Legal Consultant (Dubai). He holds a JD (Juris Doctor) from American University Washington College of Law and BA (Bachelor of Arts) from University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA).  Fernando speaks English and Spanish.