Hashem ElHawari is a seasoned legal advisor with over 10 years of post-qualification experience advising on corporate and commercial law matters across the GCC and broader MENA region. His practice focuses on M&A, private equity, joint ventures, cross-border structuring, and regulatory compliance under Saudi Arabian law. He regularly advises both domestic and international clients—ranging from leading investment groups and industrial conglomerates to multinational corporations and private equity firms—on complex transactions and regulatory matters across a wide array of sectors including healthcare, automotive, manufacturing, manpower solutions, media, energy, and pharmaceuticals.

Hashem serves as lead counsel on high-stakes transactions in Saudi Arabia, including strategic share sales, asset sale deals exceeding SAR 400 million, and joint ventures between Saudi and foreign investors. He also advises on economic concentration filings before the General Authority for Competition (GAC) and provides legal guidance on compliance with MISA, SAMA, and other local regulatory frameworks. He has been seconded as in-house legal counsel to one of the region’s largest automotive companies and frequently collaborates with Magic Circle and other international law firms, supporting their clients with Saudi law matters, including transactional execution, structuring, and local regulatory compliance.

Hashem holds an LL.M. in International Business Law from Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne and is admitted to the Egyptian Bar Association since 2010. He is fluent in Arabic, English, and French.

  • LL.M. in International Business Law – Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne.
  • Dual LL.B. in Egyptian Law (Cairo University) and French Civil Law (Sorbonne).

  • Over 10 years of post-qualification legal experience across the GCC and MENA region, with a focus on Saudi Arabian law.
  • Specializes in M&A, private equity, joint ventures, cross-border structuring, and regulatory compliance.
  • Serves as counsel on high-value transactions in KSA, including:
    • Strategic share sales (e.g., SAR 600M transaction for a major investment group)
    • Asset sale and development deals exceeding SAR 400 million
    • Joint ventures between Saudi and foreign investors in sectors such as steel, pharma, media, energy, and healthcare
  • Advises major Saudi clients, including investment groups, manpower providers, and automotive companies, on transactional and day-to-day legal matters.
  • Seconded as in-house counsel to one of the largest automotive companies in Saudi Arabia and the region.
  • Experienced in preparing and submitting economic concentration filings before the General Authority for Competition (GAC).
  • Provides ongoing legal support for market entry, foreign investment approvals (MISA), corporate compliance, drafting and negotiating a full range of commercial contracts under Saudi law, including agency, distribution, franchise, and technology agreements in the Kingdom.
  • Frequently works with Magic Circle and international law firms to assist their clients on Saudi law matters.
  • Advised private equity funds and corporate clients on regional investments, including healthcare consolidation strategies and education sector transactions.
  • Legal foundation includes prior roles with the Egyptian Competition Authority and the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) in Washington, D.C.
  • Multilingual: Fluent in Arabic, English, and French.
  • Admitted to practice before the Egyptian Bar Association since 2010.

Hashem Elhawari

Managing Associate

CONTACT

Hashem.elhawari@hmco.com.sa
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