The Services & Areas of Practice

We provide different services in different areas of practice, as well as the services of auditors, accountants, bankers, notaries, and translators.

Our Services

Corporate, Transaction

Negotiating, drafting, reviewing and executing legally enforceable agreements between clients and other parties, so as to ensure clients’ best interests and legal protection. The firm handles all types of contracts whether local, regional or international, simple or complex, that is tailored to clients’ needs. Expertise also extends in assisting clients in enforcing contracts and defending those accused of breach of contracts. The firm also assists the clients in all their corporate matters.

Consultation

Debs & Associates provides expert legal advice on each of its area of practices via consultation services anchored in thorough research via the study of previous cases as well as a complete understanding of different legal frameworks, so as to advise clients on solutions that best reach their individual objectives.

Litigation

Successfully representing companies and individuals in contesting and claiming their rights before a court of justice. The firm has experience with many different types of cases ranging from individual to corporate and has an intricate understanding of the Lebanese judicial system and tribunals, with precedents of up to $500 million dollars ruled in clients’ favour.  The firm also handles a wide range of international cases through its network of correspondent law firms around the globe.

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Dispute Resolution

First-rate dispute resolution services by means of alternative methods to litigation that includes negotiation, mediation, collaborative law, conciliation, and arbitration. The firm swiftly and effectively resolves client disputes with other parties by expertly navigating relevant governing laws and identifying the best method of dispute resolution across every field from banking to contracts to environmental law, human rights law and everything in between.

Our Areas of Practice

We offer our services in many areas of practice through a specialized team of lawyers, legal consultants, accountants, auditors, and translators.
Check each area to learn more.

our team

Areas of Practice

Administrative law:
Navigating clients through administrative law that regulates the decision-making of administrative units of the government and governmental agencies. This includes government benefits via administrative agencies such as social security as well as national laws implemented by administrative agencies that govern industry and national polices such as trade and immigration. The firm additionally applies its expertise in administrative law to draft administrative contacts and structure bids on governmental contracts on behalf of clients.
 
Aviation Law:
Advising and representing airlines and other aviation clients. Services include all business concerns associated with flight and air travel for corporations and individuals such as contracts and dispute resolution as well as transactional, regulatory, investigation and litigation matters associated with their operations. Expertise includes public international law intrinsic to the nature of air travel.
 
Banking & Finance:
Enforcing financial legal judgment and collecting restitution on behalf of its client in addition to negotiating, structuring and documenting clients’ transactions so as to protect their best legal and commercial interests. This includes the lending and borrowing of money, as well as the management of financial liabilities covering acquisition finance, real estate finance, project finance and financial services regulation, ensuring  due diligence, favorable negotiations and structuring financial models complicit with relevant laws. Additionally, the firm has the experience and know-how to analyze the implications of financial deals based on current regulation as well as forecasting regulatory changes and related risks. The firm represents several key banks as well as individual clients.

Corporate Law:
Advising companies and individual clients on all aspects of conducting business both locally and internationally, from structuring companies to their legal formation and registration, to drafting of employment contracts as well as equity interests, management, capital requirements, mergers and de-mergers. Debs & Associates additionally helps clients prepare all necessary documents such as articles of association, minutes of meetings and internal regulations, as well as ensuring that the companies are in line with newly enacted legislation.
 
Debt Recovery Insolvency & Corporate Restructuring:
Our expertise in the area of insolvency, corporate restructuring and debt recovery law, helps clients so as to find the most appropriate course of legal action to recover debt, initiate bankruptcy proceedings or restructure financially in accordance with relevant governing laws.
 
Employment and Social Security law:
Providing clients with legal expertise in all aspects of labor law governing employment and corresponding social security, from company formation to employment contracts and service or consultancy agreements. Advisory services provide companies with legal and strategic counsel on local and international regulations, rights and obligations, internal management policies, confidentiality agreements, redundancy, benefits and social security administration. Services are equally provided to employees so as to best navigate their legal rights with regards to their employers in accordance with local and foreign labour laws. The firm further offers dispute resolution on labor-related issues if and when necessary between parties.

Environmental Law:
Ensuring client activities are in line with local environmental legislation and advising corporations and individuals on their best options given relevant governing laws. In line with its environmental CSR platform, the firm advises clients in line international environmental treaties and conventions, maintaining best practices.  
 
Financial Crimes:
Defending clients who are victim to white-collar financial crimes including money laundering, tax evasion and fraud with the aim of obtaining justice and financial restitution. The firm also defends clients who stand accused of financial crimes.

Hospitality:
Advising restaurants, hotels and venues on all aspects of the law governing the different areas of business within the hospitality sector, starting with company formation to employment contracts to special regulations and necessary permits. However, the firm has a vast array of expertise navigating the legalities concerned with all aspects of the hospitality industry from construction and acquisition, contractual and franchise agreements, management and outsourcing operations, corporate and joint ventures, financing, data privacy, security, technology arrangements and consultancy arrangements.
 
Human Rights:
Protecting human rights and freedoms of clients in Lebanon and internationally via legal enforcement of human rights laws that outline the legal protection and freedoms of each person in each state. Human rights begin with the right to a dignified life and extend to the right to fair pay and freedom from false imprisonment and harassment. Debs & Associates is committed to fighting for social justice and equally applies its expertise in this field to individuals, companies and NGOs. Children and women’s rights are high on its agenda as well as ensuring social justice for other marginalized parties through pro-bono work that seeks to secure the rights of many who are otherwise unable to afford legal counsel.
 
IT:
Aiding corporations, industry-specific businesses as well as individuals in navigating regulations, licensing agreements and contracts pertaining to the field of information technology including the collection, storing and dissemination of electronic information, hardware and software development and implementation, intellectual property rights, cloud computing outsourcing, reselling, distribution and technology acquisitions as well as electronic signature laws, e-banking and e-security regulations.
 
Insurance & Reinsurance:
Representing clients in all aspects of insurance and reinsurance such as maritime, car, health, fire and life by identifying critical issues and their corresponding legal responses and repercussions. With its in-depth field expertise, Debs & Associates guides clients, whether insurance companies, brokers or individuals, through the process of securing their rights and legal protection under corresponding national and international regulatory frameworks. Services in this area extend to contracts, alternative dispute resolutions and litigation.
 
Intellectual Property:
Securing and enforcing clients’ legal rights to their intellectual property, through legal services and counsel pertaining to the registration of trademarks to protect logos, brand names, slogans and other identifying symbols of companies, obtaining patents and trademarks as well as recourse for infringements on intellectual property through financial restitution, litigation and alternative dispute resolution. With the firm’s expertise, clients are protected from unfair competition as well as trademark, copyright, patent, licensing and other intellectual property infringement.
 
International Transactions:
Expert legal council on all matters pertaining to international transactions in accordance with the laws, conventions, treaties, domestic legislation and commercial customs or usages of each country involved in the transaction. The firm’s practice specializes in brokering international commercial and business sales, trade and transactions as well as accompanying cross-border contracts, in addition to advising manufacturers, exporters, importers, suppliers and distributors on risks and insurance, international manufacturing, exports and imports, local and international customs, export control, taxation, anti-dumping, countervailing duties, antitrust and competition laws as well as environmental and product safety regulations. Services extend to drafting documentary letters of credit, bank guarantees and contracts under local and international regulations, through a thorough understanding of regional and international bilateral and multilateral free trade agreements as well as regulations stipulated by different institutions.
 
International Humanitarian Law:
Limiting the effects of armed conflict by subjecting warfare to the rule of law so as to mitigate human suffering. This branch of International Law seeks to protect people that are not participatory in conflict and seeks to regulate the conduct of war in light of humanity via treaties such as the Geneva Convention and the Hague Convention as well as many more. Serious violations of International Humanitarian Law constitute war crimes, which the firm offers council and representation on to its clients.
 
Management and Domiciliation of Holding and Offshore Companies:
Expertise in all aspects of management and domiciliation of holding companies as well as offshore companies. This proficiency comprises the incorporation and management of holding and offshore companies in Lebanon and across the world, including Cyprus, Hong Kong, China, UAE, Panama, Cayman Islands, British Virgin Islands, Jersey and Seychelles. The firm’s extensive legal services in this area further include consultation on legal entities best suited to client needs and objectives, preparation of necessary legal documentation, registration in Lebanon or overseas, as well as the structure of assets and management of companies.
 
Maritime Law:
Advising clients on the national and international laws, conventions and treaties that govern activities that take place on navigable waters, including oceans, rivers, streams and lakes as well as the loading or unloading ships and crimes occurring on open water. Expertise includes public International law with regards to international waters as well as domestic legislature that governs Lebanese waters. The firm further handles dispute resolution and insurance pertaining to maritime cases.
 
Media law:
Navigating clients through legalities concerning both traditional and new media via a wide range of expertise and accompanying services, including intellectual property rights such as the registration and protection of domain names, unfair competition, as well as acquiring and dissolving subsidiaries. Expertise transcends to different types of media companies and conglomerates including online platforms, media planning and buying agencies, advertising and digital media agencies, public relations firms, as well as traditional and online news and content outlets.
 
NGO:
Providing NGOs with legal services and counsel with regards to their formation, practice and special regulation under Lebanese law as with regards to international treaties that they may fall under or be associated with expertise in public and private international law. As per the firm’s core CSR tenants, NGO clients are regularly counseled on a pro-bono or flexible and reduced fee that considers their budget constraints.
 
Oil & Gas:
Providing legislative, regulatory and policy services for clients in the areas of acquisition and ownership rights, contractual frameworks, project engineering, financing, trading, dispute resolution and litigation and in the newly emerged Lebanese oil and gas sector via a thorough understanding of accompanying new legislation.

Personal Status Law:
Debs & Associates provides legal expertise in all matters regarding personal status law, which governs the legal aspects of civil marriage, divorce, child custody and inheritance, including estates, successions, wills and trusts, handling cases involving massive financial sums. The firm offers comprehensive legal services on all aspects of personal status law including consultation services as well as dispute resolution.
 
Real Estate & Construction Law:
Providing legal counsel and optimal solutions on all matters pertinent to real estate and construction. Via a team of industry experts, the firm delivers expert counsel on commercial, residential and industrial real estate construction projects as well as the buying and selling of real estate. End-to-end services in the area of construction cover all aspects of projects from beginning to end, from the drafting of contacts and tender documents to resolving related disputes and advising clients on the management, administration and execution of projects. In terms of real estate, the firm oversees both residential and commercial property transactions on behalf of clients, including the negotiation, drafting and enforcement of contracts.
 
Taxation:
Expert council on local and international tax laws pertaining to clients’ areas of business and operation, tax strategies for transactions and cross-border taxation issues. The firm represents public and private companies as well as private equity investors and individuals, particularly in cases of dual residency.

Transactions (Mergers & Acquisitions):
Providing comprehensive legal services to small, middle-market and large businesses on all as­pects of do­mes­tic and international laws relevant to both cross-bor­der and locally ne­go­ti­at­ed and con­test­ed mergers and acquisitions, joint ven­tures, strate­g­ic al­liances, and takeover bids. Expertise in the complexity of such transactions as well strategic financial structuring, enables the firm to effectively cater to client’s needs through optimal corporate and financial transaction structuring, negotiation, due diligence, documentation, im­ple­ment­ing and closing tran­s­ac­tions, and securities filings that sat­is­fy cor­po­rate, reg­u­la­to­ry and tax re­quire­ments, both locally and internationally.
 
Wealth & Estate Planning / Management:
Managing clients’ assets and estates as well as providing legal advise on fiscal decisions concerning personal wealth, including post lifetime disposal and division of assets. Expertise in this area includes taxation, inheritance law, asset protection, family law as well as settlements and trusts. The firm works individually with clients so as to conduct comprehensive reviews of assets, identify objectives and design legal frameworks that provide tax-efficient solutions and ensure asset protection.