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Anissa M. Aziz is a Partner at Levant Law Practice since 2020.

Anissa holds an LL.M. in International Legal Studies from Georgetown University in Washington, DC, U.S.A and an LL.B. from Saint Joseph University, in Beirut, Lebanon.

She is a member of the New York Bar Association since 2004 and a member of the Beirut Bar Association since 1998.

She had started her legal career with a reputable Lebanese law firm focusing her practice on banking and finance law. She had later moved to hold a senior lawyer position at the legal department of the Central Bank of Lebanon where she had spent four years advising on a variety of legal issues related to financial products, electronic banking, banking secrecy, money laundering, securitization, collective investment schemes and brokerage activities. During her tenure at the Central Bank, Anissa participated in drafting and updating a number of Lebanese banking regulations.

Anissa had also previously worked as an in-house legal counsel for a number of banks and companies in Lebanon, France and Dubai.

Anissa’s areas of expertise span across banking, corporate and commercial law.

While working in the private sector, Anissa gained an extensive experience in relation to financial transactions and structures. She advised banks on the legal aspects of their day-to-day operations in relation to the processing of checks, deposits, opening and closing of all types of accounts, credit cards, retail banking products, letters of credit, documentary credit, factoring, internet banking, bank guaranties, various sureties, assignment of debts, overdrafts and drafted all documentation in relation thereto. Anissa also drafted loan contracts and negotiated financing agreements with the World Bank, IMF and IFC.

Anissa’s extensive experience includes (i) advising on acquisition of shares in local companies and local banks; (ii) advising on internal restructuring of various companies; (iii) participating in the drafting and negotiations for the termination of a telecom BOT agreement; (iv) advising on the enforcement of foreign judgments and the incorporation of foreign companies’ branches and representative offices; (v) acting as co-legal counsel in relation to the negotiations for the acquisition of a local university and drafting of related documents; (vi) advising a foreign oil company in relation to its supply agreements of fuel oil and gasoil products to the Lebanese Ministry of Energy & Water and drafting documents in relation thereto; (vii) providing legal advice to a foreign oil company in relation to an operational services agreement for the development, operation, maintenance and commercial exploitation of a tank farm facility.

Professional Memberships

  • Member of the New York Bar Association since 2004.
  • Member of the Beirut Bar Association since 1998.

Education

  • Islamic Finance Qualification, 2007, ESA (École Supérieure des Affaires), Lebanon and Securities and Investment Institute, UK.
  • LL.M. in International Legal Studies, 2003, Georgetown University, Washington, DC, U.S.A.
  • LL.B. with distinction, 1997, Saint Joseph University, Lebanon.

Languages

Arabic, English, French.