Leading Libyan Law Firm for International Clients

 

Since establishing our office in Libya in 2010, our firm has delivered strategic, reliable, and results-driven legal services to international and domestic clients in Libya. As a leading Libyan law firm, we advise domestic clients on complex legal, regulatory, and commercial matters involving Libyan law.

Our lawyers combine deep knowledge of Libyan law with extensive international experience, allowing us to provide commercially focused legal solutions tailored to multinational corporations, government entities, investors, and international law firms whose clients operate in Libya and the wider MENA region.

Our comprehensive legal services include contract drafting and negotiation, expert legal opinions, arbitration representation, litigation support, regulatory advisory work, representation before government authorities and expert legal witness services before international courts and arbitration tribunals. Our firm is widely recognized for its experience in maritime law, oil & gas law, investments in Libya, and complex commercial disputes involving Libyan law.

 

Core Practice Areas

Oil & Gas Law

Our firm is recognized as a leading advisor on Libyan oil & gas law, representing international energy companies, national oil corporations, investors, and contractors operating throughout Libya and the MENA region. Our Libyan oil & gas lawyers handle EPSA agreements, joint ventures, foreign investments, and company incorporation, regulatory compliance, energy agreements, project structuring, and dispute resolution. We also provide legal services for matters involving renewable energy investments in Libya. For more information, see our Oil & Gas page.

 

Maritime Law

As one of the most experienced Libyan law firms in maritime law, our maritime law practice advises various international and domestic clients in the maritime industry on contentious and non-contentious maritime matters under Libyan and international maritime law.

We provide legal services for non-contentious matters, such as commercial transactions and marine insurance, and contentious matters such as vessel arrests, cargo disputes, charterparty claims shipping litigation, maritime arbitration, and regulatory compliance issues affecting international trade and transport operations. For more information on our services, please visit our Maritime Law page.

 

Human Rights Law

We represent individuals, corporations, NGOs, and international organizations in domestic and international human rights matters, including proceedings before regional tribunals and international forums involving violations of international law, regulatory accountability, and state-related disputes.

For more information on the services we offer, visit our Human Rights Law page.

 

Construction Law

Our construction and infrastructure practice advises developers, EPC contractors, engineering companies, and investors on major projects throughout Libya and the region. Our team advises local and international clients on all aspects of Libyan construction law, regulatory compliance, project development and management, and dispute resolution. See our Construction law practice for more information.

 

Arbitration & Litigation

Our arbitration and litigation team represents clients in high-value domestic and international disputes involving commercial law, oil & gas law, maritime law, construction law, and cross-border transactions. Our lawyers regularly appear before international arbitration centers and courts in matters involving Libyan law. Visit our Arbitration & Litigation page for more information.

 

Expert Legal Opinions and Expert Legal Witness Services

We provide authoritative and independent expert legal opinions on Libyan law and UAE law.  Our opinions address regulatory frameworks, statutory interpretation, and industry practice on commercial law issues, contractual disputes, foreign investment matters, and cross-border transactions involving Libyan and UAE laws.

Our lawyers act as an expert legal witness in international arbitration and litigation proceedings involving Libyan law and the UAE. We prepare detailed expert witness reports and provide oral testimony before courts and international arbitration centers on issues relating to commercial law and cross-border trade, maritime law, oil & gas, regulatory compliance, Libyan administrative law, construction, and legal matters relating to foreign investments in Libya. See our Expert Legal Opinion page for more information.

 

Healthcare Law

Committed to Libya’s development, we assist government agencies and private clients with legal matters relating to the health care law industry of Libya and the Middle East, including regulatory approvals, licensing, establishing business in Libya and investing in the health care industry.

Visit our Health Care Law page for more information.

 

Investments in Libya (Corporate & Commercial)

We advise foreign investors, multinational corporations, and international businesses seeking to establish, expand, or maintain operations in Libya. Our corporate and commercial team assists clients with company formation, regulatory approvals, licensing, joint ventures, foreign investment, regulatory compliance obligations, and ongoing corporate governance matters.

Our firm provides strategic legal guidance to support foreign investments in Libya across the oil & gas, energy, infrastructure, healthcare, logistics, maritime, and industrial sectors.

With extensive regional expertise and international experience, our Libyan law firm is recognized as a trusted advisor on Libyan law. We are regularly instructed by multinational corporations, international law firms, government entities, and investors seeking sophisticated legal representation and authoritative guidance on Libyan legal and regulatory matters.

We provide legal services to a broad range of domestic and international clients operating in Libya and internationally, including:

  • Public companies and multinational corporations operating in the energy and natural resources sectors, including national oil companies (NOCs), oil corporations whose securities are listed on an exchange
  • International and magic circle law firms seeking local counsel and expert advice on Libyan law
  • Multinational pharmaceutical and healthcare companies
  • Government ministries, public authorities, and regulatory agencies
  • Construction, engineering, and infrastructure companies involved in major regional projects
  • Companies in the maritime sector, including port authorities, shipping companies, and maritime logistics operators, shipbuilding companies, marine insurers, and global logistics companies
  • NGOs and international non-profit organizations

Our diverse client portfolio reflects our reputation as a leading Libyan law firm for oil & gas law, maritime law, arbitration, expert legal witness services, and foreign investments in Libya.

 

Our experience includes: 

Maritime Law

  • Successfully represented a client in a case involving Libyan insurance law before the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York. 
  • Represents port authorities on a variety of maritime regulatory and commercial matters 
  • Drafted and amended the “Waterways Management Regulations for the Emirate of Abu Dhabi” to comply with international standards 
  • Provides advice to national oil companies in multiple jurisdictions on shipping matters under Libyan and UAE law 
  • Advised on high-profile arrests of ships in Libyan waters. 
  • Enforced maritime arbitration awards in Dubai, United Arab Emirates  
  • Provides expert legal opinions on Libyan maritime law. 
  • Advised on matters concerning the international transportation of commodities 
  • Represents clients on commercial maritime matters, including the sale and purchase of vessels and other marine assets
  • Represents port authorities with respect to a variety of maritime regulatory and commercial matters
  • Drafted and amended “Waterways Management Regulations for the Emirate of Abu Dhabi” to comply with international standards
  • Provides advice to national oil companies in multiple jurisdictions on shipping matters relating to Libyan and UAE law
  • Advised on high-profile arrests of ships in Libyan waters.
  • Enforcement of maritime arbitration awards in Dubai, United Arab Emirates
  • Provides expert legal opinions on Libyan maritime law.
  • Advised on matters concerning international transportation of commodities
  • Represents clients on commercial maritime matters, including the sale and purchase of vessels and other marine assets

Oil & Gas Law

  • Extensive EPSA experience, including acting as an expert legal witness in disputes between oil companies and the National Oil Corporation regarding EPSA agreements and providing legal opinions on EPSA agreements
  • Offers advice on litigation and arbitration regarding agreements relating to joint ventures for oil refineries
  • Provides legal opinions on contractual law relating to shipbuilding contracts
  • Advising national oil companies and multinationals on Libyan law concerning the related to the oil & gas industry
  • Negotiated and drafted the agreements and commercial documents for the purchase and sale of natural gas and products of oil & gas, including bitumen and gasoline A-80
  • Negotiating the construction of a pipeline across multiple jurisdictions in the Middle East

Human Rights Law

  • Our founding partner, Dr. Mohamed Karbal, served as the expert legal witness on Libyan law on the team of counsel of a rendition case of a Libyan against the British government (Straw & others), which resulted in a settlement in favour of the plaintiff in 2018.
  • Dr. Karbal also served as a Libyan law expert before the High Court of Justice, Queen’s Bench Division, in the case of Habtom Tedros against the British Ministry of Defense, the Home Office, and other government entities.  

 

Arbitration & Litigation

Arbitration Experience

  • Representing an Australian multinational construction company in construction arbitration cases concerning contract claims valued greater than USD 30 million involving (i) delays in performance, (ii) acceleration claims, and (iii) changes to work order.
  • Representing clients before international arbitration panels, including the London Court of International Arbitration (LCIA), Abu Dhabi Commercial Conciliation & Arbitration Centre (ADCCA) and the Dubai International Arbitration Centre (DIAC).

 

Expert Legal Opinion

Our founding partner, Dr. Mohamed Karbal, frequently represents clients and serves as an expert legal witness. Dr. Karbal has represented clients on several high profile cases relating to Libya law before western courts and arbitration centers, including:

  • London Court of International Arbitration  
  • International Chamber of Commerce-Paris
  • Dubai International Arbitration Centre
  • Abu Dhabi Commercial and Conciliation and Arbitration Center
  • Dubai International Financial Centre Courts 

Health Care Law

  • Provides advice on Libyan pharmaceutical regulations to international companies interested in selling its pharmaceutical drugs and over-the-counter products, medicines, and consumer healthcare products
  • Advises on health care laws, insurance laws and administrative and commercial laws for health care providers, biomedical companies, governments
  • Incorporated entities which provide health care services, hospitals
  • Draft and review purchase and sale of hospital equipment
  • Drafted licensing agreements for technology in hospitals
  • Reviewed employment and consultancy agreements for recruitment of hospital staff
  • Represented clients in medical malpractice cases

Construction Law

  • Representing an Australian multinational construction company in multiple construction arbitration cases involving contract claims valued greater than USD 30 million each relating to (i) delays in performance, (ii) acceleration claims, and (iii) changes to work order.
  • Dr. Mohamed Karbal served as a sole arbitrator in construction claim which was held before Abu Dhabi Commercial Conciliation & Arbitration Center (ADCCA).

Investments (Corporate & Commercial)

  • Cross-border transactions, including shipping and transportation
  • Inter-company agreements and structuring
  • Advising on Libyan oil & gas and renewable energy laws and regulations
  • Advising on Libyan commercial law
  • Commercial transactions in the maritime industry

Client Testimonials

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“We engaged Dr. Karbal as an expert witness on Libyan maritime law and practice. He was pleasant to work with, gave prompt and incisive advice, and stood up well to hours of aggressive questioning at deposition. We would not hesitate to engage him again if the need arises.”

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On Managing Partner, Dr. Mohamed Karbal:

“I was fortunate to work with [Dr. Karbal] (using him as an expert witness on matters of Libyan law) in a large maritime case in Federal Court in New York. Dr. Karbal is a pleasure to work with; he is intelligent, diligent and thoughtful. His knowledge and understanding of Libyan law and maritime matters is impressive, and his analysis of the issues we dealt with in that context was thorough and insightful. . . Finally, I have found Dr. Karbal to be of the highest moral character.”

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