Business, Commercial, and Corporate Law

Hajj Legal Advisors excels in navigating the intricacies of corporate matters, including structuring and restructuring, insolvency and recovery, and all facets of business, commercial, and corporate law.

Our legal professionals oversee mergers and acquisitions, private equity and joint ventures, public takeovers, initial public offerings, public-private partnerships, and family and corporate wealth structuring. With expertise in law, taxation, and accounting, we deliver holistic business solutions across multiple jurisdictions.

Companies & Business Formation in Lebanon

Selecting the ideal corporate structure in Lebanon requires careful consideration of the company’s purpose, partners, capital requirements, tax implications, and revenue goals. Hajj Legal Advisors provides guidance for forming the business entity that best fits each client’s objectives.

Lebanese companies offer full ownership to foreign investors. Common structures include partnerships, limited liability companies (SARL), joint stock companies (SAL), branch and representative offices, commercial representations, holding companies, and offshore companies.

Key considerations

• Partnerships may be general or limited, with partners sharing responsibility according to the structure chosen.
• A SARL can have one to twenty members, with liability limited to each member’s contribution.
• A SAL is managed by a board of directors, with transferable shares and statutory requirements.
• Foreign companies may establish branches or representative offices through an authorized local representative.
• Holding and offshore companies provide specialized structures for ownership, investment, and international operations.

Offshore Companies in Lebanon

A Lebanese offshore company can be an effective structure for entrepreneurs and businesses operating outside Lebanon or within Lebanese free zones. The structure supports a broad range of commercial activities while offering an efficient tax framework and access to Lebanon’s banking and professional services.

Offshore companies may be wholly owned and managed by foreigners. They can manage companies abroad, engage in international trade, acquire shares in foreign companies, establish branches abroad, invest in economic projects, and use offices or real estate connected to their activities.

Offshore companies cannot conduct banking or insurance operations, or generate profits from assets or services located in Lebanon, subject to the applicable legal exceptions.

Real Estate Investments & Business Law

Our dedicated real estate department assists clients in navigating real estate investments in Lebanon. Legislative changes have created incentives for foreign investment in the property sector, including revised ownership limits and reduced registration fees.

Law No. 296 permits foreigners to acquire up to 3% of Lebanon’s total land area, with a specific exception for Beirut, and allows acquisitions exceeding 3,000 square meters subject to a Council of Ministers decree. We help clients understand these requirements and pursue opportunities with appropriate legal guidance.

Capital Freezing Issues Amidst Financial Crises

Hajj Legal Advisors assists individuals and businesses facing capital freezing issues during financial crises. Our team evaluates the legal and financial circumstances, explains the available options, and develops a strategy tailored to each client’s objectives.

We work to protect clients’ financial interests, navigate complex regulations, and pursue effective resolutions for frozen capital and related disputes.

Business Agreements and Contracts

Our lawyers draft and negotiate business agreements and contracts tailored to each client’s needs. We provide legal support for partnerships, acquisitions, commercial arrangements, and other business purposes.

From negotiation and drafting through execution, our team focuses on clear, comprehensive agreements that protect the client’s interests and align with business objectives.

Taxation Lawyers Services & Expert Advice

We advise local and international clients on tax planning, mitigation, and compliance. Our lawyers understand taxation across multiple jurisdictions and help clients use appropriate structures and international conventions to achieve efficient, legally sound outcomes.

Our tax services include nominee shareholders and directors, domiciliation, registered address services, company secretarial support, and connections with Lebanese and international institutions and banks.

Litigation & Dispute Resolution

Hajj Legal Advisors has extensive experience in litigation and alternative dispute resolution in Lebanon and the wider MENA region. We evaluate each case carefully, advise on cost-effective resolution options, and keep clients informed throughout the process.

Our litigators protect clients’ rights and objectives through continual assessment, strong preparation, negotiation, settlement work, and representation when court proceedings are required.

Personal Status Law in Lebanon

Lebanon’s personal status matters are shaped by the applicable religious or civil authority. We advise on marriage, divorce, inheritance, custody, and related family matters, including cases involving mixed marriages, different nationalities, or different religions.

Inheritance advice may include reserved portions, wills, lifetime gifts, and complex situations where heirs have different nationalities or multiple deaths occur in the same event.

Understanding Intellectual Property Rights

We help creators, inventors, and businesses protect and enforce intellectual property rights in Lebanon. Services cover trademarks, patents, copyrights, registration, monitoring, and infringement actions.

Lebanese trademark registrations are initially valid for fifteen years and may be renewed. Patent protection generally lasts twenty years, while copyright law protects literary and artistic works, software, videos, and other creative works.

Labor and Employment Law

Our employment practice addresses the relationship between workers, employers, trade unions, and government bodies. We advise on both collective and individual labor law, including workplace rights, employment contracts, wages, and working conditions.

Our employment services include

• Employment law compliance and regulatory guidance.
• Dispute resolution between employers and employees.
• Wage and hour consultation.
• Employment policies and procedures.
• Protection and representation of workers’ rights.