Mahmoud Selim
Regional Managing Director, Middle East and Africa
Mahmoud Selim is the Regional Managing Director for the Middle East and Africa (MEA). He is responsible for the firm’s business development and strategy and its product development and operations with the MEA region, in coordination with the firm’s resources around the globe. Based in Dubai, Mr. Selim leads the MEA team in providing high-end legal services for MEA-linked companies and individuals involved in cross-border disputes.
Fluent in English and Arabic and proficient in French, Mr. Selim started practicing law in Cairo more than 23 years ago. He moved his practice to Dubai and the Dubai International Financial Center (DIFC) in 2010 and has been in the UAE ever since, working in a broad range of areas that include commercial dispute resolution, compliance, regulatory enforcement, sanctions and defense against fraud allegations. He is also a frequent commentator on legal developments in the Arab world.
Mr. Selim joined Kobre & Kim from Matouk Bassiouny, where he was a partner and regional head of compliance and investigations and advised ultra-high-net-worth individuals, litigation funders and multinational companies. Prior to that, he practiced at Pinsent Masons and Al Tamimi & Company. He has also worked at the Egyptian Ministry of Justice, where he was a prosecutor and a senior investigations magistrate focusing on financial crime, countering terrorism and international judicial cooperation.
Education
- DIFC Academy of Law, Certificate in DIFC Laws and Regulations
- Queen Mary College, University of London, PhD
- American University in Cairo, LLM
- Cairo University Law School, LLB
Languages
- Arabic
- French
Accolades
- In-House Community Asian-MENA Counsel Firm of The Year 2015 Awards, Most Responsive International Firm of the Year
- In-House Community Asian-MENA Counsel Firm of The Year 2015 Awards, Honorable Mention, Litigation and Dispute Resolution
- Merits Award, The Higher Committee of HRH Sheikh/ Maktoum bin Mohammed Al Maktoum
- Initiatives for Legal Excellence, April 2013
- Merits Award, American Bar Association Rule of Law Initiative and Cairo Regional Centre for International Commercial Arbitration, March 2010
- British Chevening Scholarship (PhD in Law-University of London), Foreign and Common Wealth Office, United Kingdom, 2007-2008
- The late Dr. Ibrahim Shehata (Harvard Scholar and General Counsel to the World Bank) LLM Admissions Scholarship, American University in Cairo, Fall 2004
- Graduate Assistantship Award, American University in Cairo, Spring 2005
- Egyptian Society of Criminal Sciences, Award, 1999, Cairo University
- Chancellor Adel Bourhan Nour, Prize, 1999, Cairo University
- Dr. Zaki Hashim, Award, 1999, 2002, Cairo University
- Sheikh Abd Al-Wahhab Khallaf, Prize, 2002, Cairo University
- Dr. Muhammad Zaki Abd Al-Bar, Prize, 2002, Cairo University
- Dr. Soa'ad Al-Sharkawi, Award, 2002 Cairo University
- Dr. Fo'ad Abd Al-Mune'im Ryyad, Award, 2002
- Chancellor Muhammad Semidah Abd Al-Sammad, Prize, 2000, Cairo University
- Dr. Ezz Edin Abd Allah, Award, 2002, Cairo University
- Sheikh Abd Al-Wahhab Khallaf presented by Dr. Zaki Hashim, Award, 2002, Cairo University
- Dr. Suliman Ettamawi, Award, 2002, Cairo University
- Sheikh Ali Al-Khafif, Award, 2002, Cairo University
- Dr. Muhammad Zaki Al-Bardisi, Prize, 2002, Cairo University
- Dr. Fo'ad Abd El-Mune'im Ryyad presented by Dr. Ihab Ismael, Award, 2002, Cairo University
- Cairo University, Law School, for overall placement, 2000, Cairo University
- Stopping the “Snowball Effect” of a Reputation Under Attack
- Two Ways the Art World Could Get Swept into the Sanctions Orbit
- Bankruptcy is Not the Only Way: Alternative Insolvency Techniques in Delaware
- The Differences Between UK and EU Russian Sanctions
- Enforcement in Dubai Just Got Easier
- Kobre & Kim Enhances Capabilities in Dubai and the Middle East
- MEA Regional Managing Director Mahmoud Selim Discusses Renaissance Dam Sovereign Dispute with Bloomberg Asharq
- Dissolving a Delaware-Registered Joint Venture: A Key Pressure Tactic in Joint Venture Disputes
Professional & Community Involvement
- Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, Member
- Luxembourg Art Law and Art & Finance Association, Associate Member
- Association of Certified Financial Crime Specialists, Certified Specialist
- International Association of Defense Counsel, Member
Publications & Presentations
- Author, "Guide on Qatar Anti-Corruption System" (Lexis Nexis, November 2016)
- Author, "Guide on Qatar Construction Law System" (Lexis Nexis, November 2016)
- Author, "Guide on Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign Court Orders and Foreign Arbitral Awards in the UAE" (Lexis Nexis, September 2016)
- Author, "Letters of Intent" (Lexis Nexis, April 2016)
- Author, "Judicial Review in the UAE" (Thomson Reuters, December 2015)
- Author, "UAE Federal Supreme Court's Original Jurisdiction Over Persons" (Thomson Reuters, November 2015)
- Author, "UAE State Security Court's Original Jurisdiction Over Subject Matter" (Thomson Reuters, November 2015)
- Author, "Economic Costs of Banking Fraud" (Banker Middle East, November 2015)
- Author, "Financial Significance of Rule of Law and Efficient Dispute Resolution" (Financier Worldwide Magazine, October 2015)
- Author, "Qatar Anti-Money Laundering Regime" (Lexis Nexis, March 2015)
- Author, "UAE Anti-Money Laundering Regime" (Lexis Nexis, January 2015)
- Author, "UAE Employers: Visa Cancellations, Waivers and the Ongoing Risks to Employers" (Lexis Nexis, October 2014)
- Author, "Achieving Sustainable Economic Growth" (Lexis Nexis, August 2014)
- Author, "Recovery of Legal Costs Under UAE Laws and Regulations" (Lexis Nexis, September 2014)
- Author, "Efficient Recovery of Debt Under UAE Laws and Regulations" (Lexis Nexis, October 2014)
- Author, "Neo-Paganism: Encountering the Revivalist Islamic Ideology" (American Conference Institute Blog, New York University, July 2013)
- Author, "Corporate Governance and Global Economic Development Trends" (Law Update, Al Tamimi & Co., March 2013)
- Author, "Combating Corruption as a Tool of Economic Development: The Dynamics of an Intriguing Relationship" (4th Annual Global Anti-Corruption Summit, American Conference Institute - New York University, February 2013)
- Author, "Conflict of Laws Concerns with Mixed International Arbitration and the Impact Thereof on the Economic Development of Egypt" (Centre of Commercial Law Studies, School of Law, Queen Mary College, University of London, September 2007)
- Author, "Constitutionalism, Gender Equality and Judicial Reform: A Study of the Status of Women in the Egyptian Judiciary" (Law Department, School of Global Affairs and Public Policy, American University in Cairo, May 2006)
Credentials
Education
- DIFC Academy of Law, Certificate in DIFC Laws and Regulations
- Queen Mary College, University of London, PhD
- American University in Cairo, LLM
- Cairo University Law School, LLB
Languages
- Arabic
- English
- French
Accolades
- In-House Community Asian-MENA Counsel Firm of The Year 2015 Awards, Most Responsive International Firm of the Year
- In-House Community Asian-MENA Counsel Firm of The Year 2015 Awards, Honorable Mention, Litigation and Dispute Resolution
- Merits Award, The Higher Committee of HRH Sheikh/ Maktoum bin Mohammed Al Maktoum
- Initiatives for Legal Excellence, April 2013
- Merits Award, American Bar Association Rule of Law Initiative and Cairo Regional Centre for International Commercial Arbitration, March 2010
- British Chevening Scholarship (PhD in Law-University of London), Foreign and Common Wealth Office, United Kingdom, 2007-2008
- The late Dr. Ibrahim Shehata (Harvard Scholar and General Counsel to the World Bank) LLM Admissions Scholarship, American University in Cairo, Fall 2004
- Graduate Assistantship Award, American University in Cairo, Spring 2005
- Egyptian Society of Criminal Sciences, Award, 1999, Cairo University
- Chancellor Adel Bourhan Nour, Prize, 1999, Cairo University
- Dr. Zaki Hashim, Award, 1999, 2002, Cairo University
- Sheikh Abd Al-Wahhab Khallaf, Prize, 2002, Cairo University
- Dr. Muhammad Zaki Abd Al-Bar, Prize, 2002, Cairo University
- Dr. Soa'ad Al-Sharkawi, Award, 2002 Cairo University
- Dr. Fo'ad Abd Al-Mune'im Ryyad, Award, 2002
- Chancellor Muhammad Semidah Abd Al-Sammad, Prize, 2000, Cairo University
- Dr. Ezz Edin Abd Allah, Award, 2002, Cairo University
- Sheikh Abd Al-Wahhab Khallaf presented by Dr. Zaki Hashim, Award, 2002, Cairo University
- Dr. Suliman Ettamawi, Award, 2002, Cairo University
- Sheikh Ali Al-Khafif, Award, 2002, Cairo University
- Dr. Muhammad Zaki Al-Bardisi, Prize, 2002, Cairo University
- Dr. Fo'ad Abd El-Mune'im Ryyad presented by Dr. Ihab Ismael, Award, 2002, Cairo University
- Cairo University, Law School, for overall placement, 2000, Cairo University
News
- Stopping the “Snowball Effect” of a Reputation Under Attack
- Two Ways the Art World Could Get Swept into the Sanctions Orbit
- Bankruptcy is Not the Only Way: Alternative Insolvency Techniques in Delaware
- The Differences Between UK and EU Russian Sanctions
- Enforcement in Dubai Just Got Easier
- Kobre & Kim Enhances Capabilities in Dubai and the Middle East
- MEA Regional Managing Director Mahmoud Selim Discusses Renaissance Dam Sovereign Dispute with Bloomberg Asharq
- Dissolving a Delaware-Registered Joint Venture: A Key Pressure Tactic in Joint Venture Disputes
Professional & Community Involvement
- Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, Member
- Luxembourg Art Law and Art & Finance Association, Associate Member
- Association of Certified Financial Crime Specialists, Certified Specialist
- International Association of Defense Counsel, Member
Publications & Presentations
- Author, "Guide on Qatar Anti-Corruption System" (Lexis Nexis, November 2016)
- Author, "Guide on Qatar Construction Law System" (Lexis Nexis, November 2016)
- Author, "Guide on Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign Court Orders and Foreign Arbitral Awards in the UAE" (Lexis Nexis, September 2016)
- Author, "Letters of Intent" (Lexis Nexis, April 2016)
- Author, "Judicial Review in the UAE" (Thomson Reuters, December 2015)
- Author, "UAE Federal Supreme Court's Original Jurisdiction Over Persons" (Thomson Reuters, November 2015)
- Author, "UAE State Security Court's Original Jurisdiction Over Subject Matter" (Thomson Reuters, November 2015)
- Author, "Economic Costs of Banking Fraud" (Banker Middle East, November 2015)
- Author, "Financial Significance of Rule of Law and Efficient Dispute Resolution" (Financier Worldwide Magazine, October 2015)
- Author, "Qatar Anti-Money Laundering Regime" (Lexis Nexis, March 2015)
- Author, "UAE Anti-Money Laundering Regime" (Lexis Nexis, January 2015)
- Author, "UAE Employers: Visa Cancellations, Waivers and the Ongoing Risks to Employers" (Lexis Nexis, October 2014)
- Author, "Achieving Sustainable Economic Growth" (Lexis Nexis, August 2014)
- Author, "Recovery of Legal Costs Under UAE Laws and Regulations" (Lexis Nexis, September 2014)
- Author, "Efficient Recovery of Debt Under UAE Laws and Regulations" (Lexis Nexis, October 2014)
- Author, "Neo-Paganism: Encountering the Revivalist Islamic Ideology" (American Conference Institute Blog, New York University, July 2013)
- Author, "Corporate Governance and Global Economic Development Trends" (Law Update, Al Tamimi & Co., March 2013)
- Author, "Combating Corruption as a Tool of Economic Development: The Dynamics of an Intriguing Relationship" (4th Annual Global Anti-Corruption Summit, American Conference Institute - New York University, February 2013)
- Author, "Conflict of Laws Concerns with Mixed International Arbitration and the Impact Thereof on the Economic Development of Egypt" (Centre of Commercial Law Studies, School of Law, Queen Mary College, University of London, September 2007)
- Author, "Constitutionalism, Gender Equality and Judicial Reform: A Study of the Status of Women in the Egyptian Judiciary" (Law Department, School of Global Affairs and Public Policy, American University in Cairo, May 2006)