Hazim Rizkana

Senior/Managing Partner

Hazim is a leading legal figure and noted law firm leader in Egypt. In 2016 he established R&P after a successful career as an international partner at a leading global law firm.

Representative Experience:

  • Hazim has almost forty years of experience as counsel in high profile, multi-million-dollar dispute resolution litigations and international commercial and investor-state arbitrations. He regularly appears before the CRCICA, ICC and ICSID. Hazim is also a recognized arbitrator by the Egyptian Ministry of Justice.
  • He has extensive experience as an arbitrator and in advising and representing states, banks, and companies in international commercial and investment disputes. His clients cover a wide range of industries including construction, telecommunications, oil and gas, hotel management, waste management, tenders and capital markets.
  • He has also represented clients in the setting aside, as well as, the enforcement of numerous, high profile, arbitral awards.
  • In addition to his work in arbitration and litigation, Hazim is an accredited mediator by the Centre for Effective Dispute Resolution (“CEDR”) in London and has represented clients in several mediations.

Publications, presentations and articles

  • • Participated in the regulatory panel on the “Cyber Security and Risk Management Summit”, that was arranged by the ECES and KPMG and addressed the recommendations on the required regulatory reform, December 2019.
  • Panel member at the Cairo Legal Franchise Workshop and Symposium 2019. The workshop was organized by the Cairo Regional Centre for International Commercial Arbitration, January 2019.
  • Panellist at the “Construction Contracts and Dispute Resolution in Egypt” conference, December 2017.
  • Moderator for the “Investment Treaties: Changing Focus” panel in “A Paradigm Shift in International Investment Law” conference organized by the African International Legal Awareness organisation in April 2017.
  • Speaker at “The Enforcement of Foreign Court Judgments and Arbitral Awards” seminar. The lecture was organised by the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators – Cairo Branch, and was held in the Cairo Regional Centre for International Commercial Arbitration in May 2015.
  • Speaker at the Mediation Breakfast Seminar titled "Why and When to Mediate" in CRCICA, October 2014.
  • Co-authored an article titled "IP Reforms Likely to Return to Spotlight" published in the "Baker & McKenzie - EMEA Legal Insights Bulletin" Winter 2013 Volume 25 No. 1.
  • Co-authored the " Baker & McKenzie - Global Restructuring & Insolvency Guide" 2011, 2012 and 2013.
  • Co-authored "Doing Business in Egypt Report" for the years 2011 and 2013.
  • Speaker in two seminars on Laws and Practice of Anti-Counterfeiting Measures in Egypt that were held in Tokyo and Osaka, Japan. The seminars were hosted and organized by the Japanese External Trade Organisation (JETRO) and the Ministry of Trade, Economy and Industry; January 2012.
  • Co-authored the "Baker & McKenzie - Global Privacy Handbook 2008, 2010 and 2012".
  • Co-authored the "Baker & McKenzie - International Arbitration Yearbook" 2010 -2011.
  • Made a presentation to the Iraqi delegation under the auspices of OECD and GAFI about the practical aspects of arbitration under bilateral investment treaties (BITs) as part of the “Enabling and Sustaining Private Foreign Investment in Iraq, Training Workshop on the Iraqi International Legal Investment Framework" in 2010.
  • Presented on "Liability and Damages in International Commercial Contracts, with the Legal Workshop International at the London School of Economics, December 1998.
  • Reporter in the "Settlement of Intellectual Property Disputes" panel in the AIPPI International Symposium in Cairo, Organized by the Egyptian National Group of AIPPI, 1997.

Awards & Recognition:

  • Mergers & Acquisitions Lawyer of the Year – Egypt, by FINANCE MONTHLY - 2019.
  • Has been listed by Chambers & Partners Global guide 2019, Band 1 in Dispute Resolution in Egypt. “Hazim Rizkana is the founding partner of Rizkana & Partners, where he continues to lead the disputes practice in addition to his work advising on M&A, finance and securities mandates. He remains a highly respected figure who is lauded for his "very strong technical command" and described as "a very strong disputes lawyer.”
  • Has been listed by Chambers & Partners Global guide 2019 – Egypt Band 3 in banking and finance in Egypt. “Hazim Rizkana is commended for his broad and diverse practice and wealth of experience representing banks. He has notable experience in aircraft finance.”
  • Was ranked Band 3 in Arbitration Dispute Resolution in Egypt by Chambers Global Guide 2019. “Hazim Rizkana continues to lead the disputes practice in addition to his work advising on M&A, finance and securities mandates. He remains a highly respected figure who is lauded for his "very strong technical command" and described as "a very strong disputes lawyer."”
  • Hazim is ranked as a leading dispute resolution practitioner and has been described by clients as “a leading litigator in Egypt”, “an excellent lawyer – very accurate, and someone that we feel very safe working with …”.
  • Legal 500 referred to Hazim as a leading individual in Dispute Resolution in Egypt.
  • Pillsbury “World Aircraft Repossession Index” recognised Hazim Rizkana in its third edition as follows “Hazim A. Rizkana is the Managing Partner of Rizkana & Partners. Hazim focuses on litigation and arbitration, banking and finance, civil, commercial and private law, aircraft finance, mergers and acquisitions, securities, trademarks and patents. Apart from assisting some of the biggest multinational companies execute high-value deals, he has also been called on to assist draft and review the new Banking Law, the Acquisition Rules under the Capital Market Law, the Mediation Law and the amendments to the Competition Law.”, November 2018.
  • Chambers Global Egypt 2018, not only ranked Hazim as Band 1 in Dispute Resolution, but also, described him as “The "fantastically experienced" Hazim Rizkana…. He represents clients in both litigation and arbitration and maintains a "good reputation" in both areas. He also advises on a wide range of transactional mandates, including M&A and securities.”
  • Hazim, also earned Acquisition International’s Corporate Finance Global Excellence Awards Law Firm of 2017 – Egypt.
  • Rizkana represented the plaintiff in an LE500m regulatory dispute in the telecoms sector. He also acted for international hospitality and pharmaceutical companies." Legal 500 EMEA [Egypt] Dispute Resolution 2015.
  • Hazim Rizkana, who advises the IFC, is highly recommended." Legal 500 EMEA [Egypt] Corporate / M&A 2015.
  • Won Lexology “Client Choice Award” for Litigation in Egypt 2015.
  • Recommended by World Trademark Review 1000, 2015.
  • Tier 1 in Dispute Resolution by Chambers Global [Egypt], (2009 through 2015).
  • Hazim Rizkana, Managing Partner Recommended by World Trademark Review 1000 2015 Tier 1 in Dispute Resolution by Chambers Global [Egypt], (2009 through 2015).
  • Hazim Rizkana, Managing Partner Leading Lawyer – IFLR 2009 through 2015.
  • Leading Lawyer – IFLR 2009 through 2015.
  • Recognised by The Guide to the World’s Leading Financial Law Firms (IFLR1000), as a leading lawyer in the IFLR1000 2013 edition.

Professional affiliations and memberships

  • Registered arbitrator with the Cairo Regional Center for International Commercial Arbitration “CRCICA”.
  • Registered arbitrator with the Dubai International Arbitration Centre “DIAC”.
  • Attended the Special Membership Course and the Award Writing Course of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators in London “CIArb”.
  • Member of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (MCIArb).
  • Attended the first CPR Institute for Dispute Resolution Congress in Europe.
  • Attended London Court of International Arbitration “LCIA” European Users' Council Symposium September 2013.
  • Accredited CEDR (Center for Effective Dispute Resolution) Mediator.
  • Served as a board member and head of the audit committee of a major public-sector bank for three years. He also participated in drafting the new Banking Law.
  • Member of the American Chamber of Commerce in Egypt;
  • Actively involved in the Egyptian Association for the Protection of Intellectual Property (AEPPI). He is also a board member of the “AEPPI”.
  • Member in the directory of Experts at the Dispute Settlement Center with the General Authority for Investment ("GAFI").
  • Registered arbitrator at the Settlement Dispute Center with the Central Bank of Egypt.
  • Served in the U.S.- Egypt Business Council for one term ((2011-12).
  • Member of the Egyptian Tax Association ("ETA").
  • Founding member of the Aviation-Education, Resource & Information for African Lawyers ("AERIAL").
  • Founding member of the Association for the Protection of Competition in Egypt ("AFPOC").
  • Member of the Board of Trustees of the Egyptian Foundation for Technological Education.
  • In 1985 Hazim was registered as a patent and trademark agent.
  • International Bar Association.
  • American Society of International Law.

Education:

  • Master of Law in Business and Taxation, Transnational Practice from McGeorge School of Law UOP), Sacramento, California, 1986.
  • LLB from Zagazig University, 1982.

Bar Admissions:

  • Egyptian Bar, admitted before the Court of Cassation.

Languages:

  • Arabic and English.

Practice Areas:

  • Dispute Resolution
  • Mergers & Acquisitions
  • General Corporate
  • Capital Markets
  • Aviation
  • Employment
  • Telecommunications & IT
  • Intellectual Property
  • Banking, Finance, and Project Finance
  • Competition and Antitrust
  • Renewable Energy
  • Oil & Gas
  • Construction
  • Sports Law
  • Criminal Law, including Cyber Crimes, White Collars and Money Laundry

Contact Information:

  • hazim.rizkana@rizkanapartners.com