detail cross-coordinates

Phone +33 (0) 1 44 29 61 00

Opening hours 8am - 7pm

Our People

Experts come together

Our network is led by Hugues de La Forge and Dr. Sally El Sawah. They are both internationally renowned French lawyers with complementary specialties. Hugues is the focal point for Projects and Infrastructure, and Sally is the focal point for Arbitration and Litigation. Hugues and Sally have broad knowledge of Africa and the Middle East, deeply rooted in their daily practice with international decision makers.

Co-founder / Focal Point for Projects & Infrastructure

Hugues de La Forge

Hugues de La Forge is a French qualified lawyer admitted at the Paris Bar Association and a specialist in Projects and Infrastructure.

Hugues advises government agencies, sponsors, and industrialists in the areas of construction and energy, PPPs, major infrastructure projects and international arbitration. 

+ 33 (0)6 30 55 32 32
Co-founder / Focal Point for Arbitration & Litigation

Dr. Sally El Sawah

Dr. Sally El Sawah is doctor of laws and a specialist in international litigation and arbitration, admitted to the Paris and Cairo Bars.

As an International lawyer and Arbitrator, Sally has been involved in high-profile cases and projects in Egypt and the “Europe, Middle East and Africa” region (EMEA). 

+33 (0) 7 85 25 38 33
Project & Project finance Partner

Ghjuvana Luigi

Ghjuvana Luigi is qualified in Paris. She has extensive knowledge and experience in Project financing for more than 15 years with focus on Africa.

Ghjuvana advises States, international financial institutions, banks and private actors (local or international) and intervenes mainly in the energy, renewable energy and infrastructure sectors.

Senior of-Counsel / Focal Point for Regulatory

Alain Fénéon

Alain Fénéon is a vaslty experienced and highly reputable senior lawyer with an incomparable knowledge of the African continent. He has more than 40-year experience in Africa’s legal Framework, Arbitration and Mediation.

Special Counsel

Souleymane Soumaoro

Souleymane Soumaoro is a PhD holder in law and practices as Special Counsel within Junction Law network of lawyers with expertise in business law, namely corporate law (OHADA), contract law (France and OHADA), M&A and supporting projects (including PPP).

Counsel

Islam Nasr

Islam Nasr has significant experience in corporate and commercial law, working for over a decade for multinational companies and law firms in Egypt, Bahrain and Qatar.

Hugues de La Forge

Co-founder / Focal Point for Projects, Energy & Infrastructure

Hugues de La Forge is a French qualified lawyer admitted at the Paris Bar Association. He has broad expertise in large infrastructure and energy projects, with over 25-year experience as a legal advisor at Bouygues Construction, then as partner in major French and international law firms with a strong focus in Africa. 

Through his professional experience, he has gained a multi-sector expertise in major infrastructure and construction projects in France and abroad as legal counsel in the context of complex concession / PPP / IPP both in energy and infrastructure projects.  As such, he handled projects from their design, development, construction, financing and operation phases up to the pre-litigation/contract management and international arbitration.

He regularly advises State-owned entities, sponsors and contractors in the context of major construction projects in infrastructure, energy, transportation and real estate (hospitality).

Professional Qualifications

Paris Bar Association, 2007

Academics

DEA de Droit Public (Post Master Degree in Public Law) - Université René Descartes Paris V, 1996

Languages

French
English

Dr. Sally El Sawah

Co-founder / Focal Point for Arbitration & Litigation

Dr Sally El Sawah is doctor of laws and a specialist in international litigation and arbitration, admitted to the Paris and Cairo Bars. Sally is the founder of El Sawah law | Paris and Cairo. French and Egyptian qualified and Registered Foreign Lawyer in England & Wales, Sally has been practising arbitration for over fifteen years, both in reputable law firms and as an independent practitioner.  Fluent in Arabic, English and French and working between Egypt, Paris and London, she has deep knowledge of the Civil Law and Common Law systems, as well as the business, social and cultural environments of Francophone, Anglophone and Northern-Africa, the Middle East and Europe.

As Counsel, Sally has advised and represented States, multinationals and high-net-worth individuals in over 70 projects, litigations and arbitrations.  She regularly advises and appears before arbitral tribunals, French and Egyptian Courts, arguing ground-breaking cases which resulted in landmark arbitral and court decisions in the field of arbitration and state immunities, reported in reputable leading journals and bulletins.  As Presiding arbitrator, Co-arbitrator and administrative secretary, Sally has been involved in over 30 arbitral proceedings in Arabic, English and French, both ad hoc and under the auspices of reputable arbitration centres, such as the ICC, ICSID, CRCICA, KIAC, LCIA-DIFC, DIAC, CCJA, etc.

Sally regularly participates as lecturer, trainer, moderator and speaker in Arbitration conferences and workshops. She constantly publishes on arbitration, international law and State immunities in reputable journals and books in Arabic, English and French. 

Sally was the winner of the “Best Young African Arbitration Practitioner Award” for the Year 2020 of the prestigious African Arbitration Association (AfAA). She is recognised by Chambers & Partners Global Guide 2022, 2023 and 2024 for expertise based abroad, by Leaders League-Africa Desk 2022 as Arbitrator with solid reputation and Décideurs as Arbitrator with solid reputation in Africa.

Professional Qualifications

Cairo Bar Association, 2002

Paris Bar Association, 2010

Law Society of England & Wales, 2015

Academics

Ph.D. with honours in International Law, Paris I Sorbonne University, Paris, France, 2009

LL.M. in Private International Law and International Business Law, Paris I Sorbonne University, 2002

Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.), Paris I Sorbonne University, 2001

Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.), Cairo University, Egypt, 2001

QLTS (MCT), England & Wales, 2017

Awards

“Best Young African Arbitration Practitioner Award” for the Year 2020 by the prestigious African Arbitration Association (AfAA)

Languages

English
French
Arabic

Sally El Sawah Portrait

Ghjuvana Luigi

Project and Project Finance Partner

Ghjuvana Luigi has over 14 years of experience in major international law firms in Paris in the field of projects, project finance and arbitration in Africa. She has also worked in the project finance department of a DFI for one year and has a sound knowledge of their expectations to reach financial close. 

She advises African States, international financial institutions, banks and private actors (local or international) mainly in the energy, renewable energy and infrastructure sectors. Her in-depth knowledge of national legislation and regional systems (OHADA, UEMOA, ECOWAS, CEMAC, COMESA) has led her to assist numerous clients in Africa. 

Ghjuvana Luigi also has a sound understanding of the risks and bankability challenges that may arise in the implementation of such projects in Africa. 

Professional Qualifications

Paris Bar Association, 2008

Academics

Masters Degree in Economic and Business Law and Diplôme de Juriste Conseil en Entreprise (DJCE) (in-house legal consultant diploma), 2007

Languages

French & English

Alain Fénéon

Senior Of-Counsel / Focal point for Regulatory

Founder in 1978 and managing partner until 2013 of FDA law firm, Alain Fénéon is specialized in Business Law with a focus on International Commercial Law and Corporate Law. Since 1990, Alain steered the practice specifically towards advice and assistance to businesses and investment funds operating in Africa.

He is the author of the OHADA draft Uniform Act on General Commercial Law and on Arbitration Law and the draft Uniform Act on Insolvency Procedures. He actively participates in the development of the OHADA in West and Central Africa, advising many African countries on the drafting of their regulations and legal frameworks on commercial law, telecommunications, PPP, competition law and commercial mediation. As such, he acts as counsel to global organizations with the purpose of modernizing the legal framework for business activities. He is currently working on the draft of the OHADA private international law.

During a career spanning over fourty years, Alain has developed a strong expertise in legal structuring of projects in Africa, and in disputes resolution before African and international Courts.

He is a Certified Mediator with the CEDR (London) and has intervened in many ad hoc mediation proceedings to resolve disputes between African States and foreign investors.

Alain has over fifteen year experience in arbitration. He regularly advises and represents companies, states, and international entities and sits in numerous arbitration panels under many reputable arbitral institutions such as ICSID, ICC, CCJA, CCIAD and KIAC.

He is Editor in Chief of Éditions JURIS AFRICA: Recueil PENANT, Revue Juridique et Politique des Etats Francophones and director of LEXTENSO’s African Law collection. Alain is the author of numerous publications: OHADA Arbitration Law  (PUA 2001); Company Laws in Africa, (LGDJ 2018), New OHADA Laws on arbitration and mediation, (LGDJ 2019), The OHADA Law after the 2018 reform, (Arbitration Review, 2019).

Professional Qualifications & Accreditations

Certified Mediator – CEDR (London), 2018

Specialization certificate in International Relations Laws from the Paris Bar Association, 2001

Paris Bar Association, 1975

Academics

Post-graduate degree in Business Law (LL.M.), Paris II Pantheon-Assas University, 1974  

Master’s degree in Law, Paris II Pantheon-Assas University, 1973

Fields of focus

African Business Law

International Business Law

Africa’s legal framework

OHADA

Languages

French
English

Souleymane Soumaoro

Special Counsel

Souleymane Soumaoro is a PhD holder in law and practices as Special Counsel within Junction Law network of lawyers with expertise in business law, namely corporate law (OHADA), contract law (France and OHADA), M&A and supporting projects (including PPP). He is a French-Malian national, who had the opportunity to live in Saudi Arabia and Egypt for 19 years. He therefore has a thorough knowledge and understanding of the legal and cultural environment of different countries.

Souleymane has over 15 years of experience as an in-house legal consultant for large European and African multinationals such as E.ON Energy, Sea-Invest, OCP SA and ALLA HOLDING. He has extensive expertise in supporting and contributing to large-scale projects in the energy, oil and gas and agribusiness sectors, such as:
· Negotiation and conclusion of legal agreements relating to the development and operation of a plant for the processing of cereals into infant flour, including the application for authorization - Senegal - 2021
· Negotiation and conclusion of various port concession contracts - Côte d'Ivoire (2014-2016) - Senegal (2021)
· Negotiation and conclusion of EPC contracts for the construction and operation of renewable energy plants (wind, photovoltaic, biomass), including conformity to ESG/CSR - France (2007-2013) - Senegal (2021)

Souleymane has also been Legal Director of the African think-tank "Groupe 2030 Afrique" since 2016.

Professional Qualifications

Paris Bar Association, 2024

Academics

Post Master’s Degree (DEA) International Law and Law of International Organizations

Languages

French, English, Arabic, Bambala

Islam Nasr

Counsel

Mr. Islam Nasr is Counsel in El Sawah Law|Paris and Cairo. He specializes in corporate, arbitration and commercial litigation with a focus on corporate fraud, construction, shareholders disputes, contentious insolvency and bankruptcy matters, employment disputes, maritime and real-estate disputes. Islam has significant experience in corporate and commercial law, working for over a decade for multinational companies and law firms in Egypt, Bahrain and Qatar.

Prior to joining Junction, Islam was Legal director at an Egyptian multinational shipping company for five years and Senior Associate at leading Egyptian law firms for over six years.

Islam’s top arbitration and litigation cases include:

  • Annulment proceedings of a DIFC-LCIA Arbitral Award before the Dubai Court of Appeal in relation to a Joint Venture agreement for a solar project (in Arabic)
  • ICSID Case between two Spanish Companies and the Arab Republic of Egypt in relation to the operation of a cement factory in Egypt (in English)
  • ICC Case between an Egyptian-Emirati company and an Emirati natural gas listed company group in relation to a purchase agreement of shares in two concessions (in English)
  • DIFC-LCIA Case between an Emirati Contractor and an Islamic Fund in relation to the construction and operation of an International school (in English)
  • CRCICA Case between a leading Egyptian Shipping Holding Company against an American multinational company in relation to a charter party, an amicable settlement of debts & bankruptcy composition proceedings (in English)
  • KCCI Case between a Kuwaiti company and a Qatari company in relation to a construction project (in English)
  • Advising an Egyptian-German company in LMAA arbitration proceedings against a German multinational company in relation to demurrage claims governed by English law
  • Representing a leading Egyptian shipping company in various cases against the Egyptian Ministry of Supply & Interior Trade before Egyptian courts in relation to shipments of grains
  • Stay of enforcement and request to set aside an award in favour of a multinational company against an Egyptian company (in relation to breaches of a charter party) before the Cairo Court of appeal

Islam’s representative transactions include, advising:

  • Egyptian investors in the creation and structuring of their companies in Egypt
  • Qatari investors in the creation and structuring of their companies in Qatar

Professional Qualifications

Cairo Bar Association, 2008

Academics

Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.), Cairo University, English section, Egypt, 2007

Languages

English
Arabic

Latest News

Press Releases
Junction rejoint l'index Up40

Nous sommes très heureux de rejoindre l' Index Up40 regroupant les sociétés les plus dynamiques sur l'Afrique au sein du Mouvement des Entreprises de France …

read more
Recognition & Awards
Legal 100 Powerlist - Africa Business +

We are very proud to have our founder  Hugues de La Forge ranked for the fifth consecutive year amongst the 100 most influent lawyers on the Africa continent. …

read more
Conferences & Webinars
Sciences-po executive master students

Our co-founder Hugues de La Forge shared again this week for the 9th consecutive year its experience with Sciences-po executive master students regarding PPP laws and …

read more