Eltumi & Co is a leading Libyan law firm. We provide expert commercial legal advice with the same level of service as an international law firm.
Our aim is to make doing business in Libya as smooth and straightforward as possible for you. We add value through clear, expert and trusted legal advice for realistic solutions and commercial success. We understand the market nuances in applying legal and business principles to a Libyan setting and are highly acclaimed in each of our key practice areas: Arbitration & Litigation, Corporate, Energy & Infrastructure, and Finance & Investment. We are a fully-fledged practice offering clients with an interest in Libya the ideal combination: breadth of industry knowledge and depth of commercial legal skills.
About us
We make doing business in Libya smooth and straightforward through clear and expert legal advice for realistic solutions and commercial success. We work with companies all over the world in sectors including oil & gas, infrastructure, transport, construction, telecommunications, power generation and renewable energy.
Our team
We are a fully-fledged practice offering clients with an interest in Libya the ideal combination: breadth of industry knowledge and depth of commercial legal skills.
Practice areas
We understand the market nuances in applying legal and business principles to a Libyan setting and are highly acclaimed in each of our key practice areas: Arbitration & Litigation, Corporate, Energy & Infrastructure, and Finance & Investment.
Our success speaks for itself, as many of our private international clients, domestic and government-run enterprises have discovered.
We advise companies in the UK, Europe, US, the Middle East and Asia, and understand the market nuances in applying legal and business principles to a Libyan setting. A full range of legal services is available: legal advice, document drafting, negotiations and formal representation. We regularly advise on establishing and structuring market entry vehicles, such as joint venture companies or branch offices, and on market exit options.
We advise on Libyan law aspects of shareholder agreements, joint venture agreements, mergers and acquisitions. We also act on establishing and licensing corporate vehicles according to local laws, as well as on winding them up. It’s not just the big picture that’s important; the day-to-day issues of running a Libyan business matter too. We also help with employment law, customs, and local banking and foreign exchange control regulations.
Our worldwide reputation is based on having exceptional experience and expertise in:
Oil and gas, Infrastructure, Transport, Power and renewable energy, Construction, Engineering, Tourism
Every single issue and angle is considered for an informed decision and positive outcome.
We take pride in winning, whatever our role. We can act as Libyan counsel as part of your dispute management team, provide discreet advice on standalone issues of Libyan law or act as expert witness on complex questions of Libyan law. We represent clients before all types of trial, appellate, regulatory and alternative dispute resolution tribunals in Libya, Europe, the Gulf and sub-Saharan Africa. We also regularly act for clients in arbitration matters brought before the International Chamber of Commerce.
We are particularly strong advising on the growing regulatory requirements for business with, or done by, Libyan state-owned entities. We understand the current international Libya sanctions regime and the risk mitigation measures required to avoid exposure to litigation from the very start.
Partner
Tarek established Eltumi & Co as an opportunity to provide commercial legal advice with a Libyan context, yet with the service levels expected of an international law firm.
He is a dual Libyan/New York qualified lawyer, and fluent in English and Arabic. Tarek advises on general corporate and commercial matters (foreign direct investment, joint ventures, restructurings), project development, finance and dispute resolution.
Before setting up the firm, Tarek was a Partner at international law firm Hogan Lovells where he led the Libya practice and was also a member of the Infrastructure, Energy, Resources and Projects practice and Africa practice.
Prior to this, Tarek practised for many years in Tripoli, Libya. He was General Counsel for AECOM Libya Housing and Infrastructure Inc., where he directed all legal issues arising from the US$55bn Libyan Housing and Infrastructure Programme – one of the world’s largest ever infrastructure programmes. While working at two well established Libyan law firms, he advised on a range of innovative international finance deals and major infrastructure, oil and gas and tourism projects.
MEMBERSHIPS
The Libyan Bar Association (2004).
The New York State Bar Association (2017).
Solicitor of the Senior Courts of England and Wales (2021).
EDUCATION
LLB, University of Essex.
LLM, University of London (SOAS).
RECOGNITION
Expert Based Abroad, Libya; Chambers & Partners, 2012 – 2020.
Listed as Up and Coming Lawyer in the Legal 500, 2007 – 2009. Notable mentions in Chambers and Partners Global 2007 – 2009.
DIRECTORSHIPS
Libyan British Business Council, a non-profit trade promotion organisation.
The American Chamber of Commerce in Libya.
Counsel
Yousef is a Libyan qualified lawyer with rights of audience before the Supreme Court of Libya and all lower courts.
With over twenty years of experience, Yousef specialises in civil, commercial and labour laws. He regularly advises local and international companies on commercial contracts, lease agreements, labour contracts and regulations. A highly regarded advocate who regularly appears before the senior courts of Libya litigating on such matters, Yousef is also experienced in the incorporation and dissolution of branch offices of foreign companies, joint venture companies and representative office.
In particular, Yousef has acted on several landmark and high stakes disputes in Libya. For example, he has acted on raising a judicial complaint in relation to overturning the judgements of the Court of First Instance and Court of Appeal on the basis of egregious error, as well as appearing before the Supreme Court of Libya in relation to whether the events of February 2011 constituted an event of force majeure in Libyan law.
Prior to joining Eltumi & Co., Yousef gained significant experience and honed his skills at a well-established Libyan law firm in the capital, Tripoli.
MEMBERSHIPS
The Libyan Bar Association.
EDUCATION
LLB, Nasr University.
Legal Assistant
Nusaiba graduated from Tripoli University with a First Class LLB degree in Law. Nusaiba achieved amongst the top 10 highest grades for all law graduates in Libya in her graduation year.
Before joining Eltumi & Co., Nusaiba was an intern at the legal department of the National Oil Corporation, where she gained experience on various upstream and downstream and operational legal issues. Prior to that, Nusaiba trained at an established Tripoli law firm.
Since joining Eltumi & Co., Nusaiba has assisted on a major international commercial arbitration brought before the ICC in Paris, as well as advising a major oil services company on the termination of its local employees and investigation into employee misconduct. In addition to conducting several due diligence exercises in relation to Libyan oil and gas, telecommunications and commercial laws, Nusaiba was the firm’s co-lead on preparing a new draft regulation and implementing decree in relation to the securitisation of receivables.
Nusaiba is fluent in English and Arabic.
MEMBERSHIPS
The Libyan Bar Association (Pending).
EDUCATION
LLM, University of Essex (Pending).
LLB, Tripoli University.
Legal Assistant
Adam graduated from Tripoli university with an LLB degree in Law.
Before joining Eltumi & Co., Adam worked in the legal department of the Tripoli Commercial Registry where he reviewed and advised on various corporate applications, including the incorporation of companies, branch offices and ancillary applications relating to removal and appointment of directors. Adam also gained experience at a prominent Tripoli law firm where he gained experience and exposure to labour law matters, and in particular litigation before the labour courts.
Since joining Eltumi & Co., Adam has assisted on a major compliance review for an upstream oil and gas company which required analysis of key Libyan precedents in relation to abuse of power, bribery, corruption and money laundering cases. In addition, Adam has acted on a significant analysis of Libyan laws and regulations relating to all legal processes and procedures and corporate governance relating to joint stock companies.
Adam is fluent in English and Arabic.
MEMBERSHIPS
The Libyan Bar Association (Pending)
EDUCATION
LLB, Tripoli University
