Eldib & Co

Eldib & Co was first established in 1875 in the Port of Alexandria, making it one of the oldest law firms in Africa​. Over 147 years, it has built a formidable legacy in maritime and commercial law. Today, Eldib & Co operates from offices in Cairo and Alexandria, and even has a presence in Tripoli, Libya​, reflecting its regional influence. The firm’s maritime practice is comprehensive. On the finance and transactional front, Eldib & Co assists with ship finance deals (securing loans and mortgages on vessels), ship sale and purchase transactions, and registration of ships under Egyptian flag or offshore registries​.

Practice head Amr Eldib brings nearly forty years of shipping law experience and is highly regarded for maritime financing and regulatory compliance expertise​. The firm also has deep experience in “wet” shipping work – its attorneys regularly advise on maritime casualties (collisions, groundings, salvage operations), oil spills and environmental claims, and limitation of liability proceedings. Eldib & Co is often the first port of call for international shipping lines and P&I Clubs entering Egypt; it advises several global Protection & Indemnity insurers and shipping companies on local law and handles their litigation in Egyptian courts​. In contentious matters, the firm’s litigators are skilled in arresting ships and obtaining urgent relief – a critical service given Egypt’s strategic location on the Suez Canal. They have successfully arrested vessels transiting the Canal or calling Egyptian ports to secure maritime claims, and conversely have obtained releases and defended shipowners in wrongful arrest cases. Eldib’s maritime litigation prowess extends to cargo claims, charterparty disputes, marine insurance claims, and crew claims, often navigating complex jurisdictional issues. Clients and peers praise the Eldib team’s deep knowledge of both maritime law and local legal nuances: “well-positioned to deal with maritime issues…they know the local players and can assist any client promptly”​.

Beyond pure shipping work, Eldib & Co’s historical strength in intellectual property (it registered Egypt’s first trademark in 1940)​ and its full-service capabilities (corporate, construction, oil & gas, etc.)​ enable it to offer one-stop legal support to maritime industry clients (for example, handling a shipyard construction dispute that involves both contract and IP issues for vessel design). Maintaining a blend of tradition and modernity, Eldib & Co continues to influence maritime law in Egypt – partners in the firm have served in drafting maritime legislation and frequently contribute to international maritime law publications​. With its unmatched longevity and specialized expertise, Eldib & Co remains at the forefront of admiralty and maritime practice in the Suez Canal region.