Our clients range from individual investors and start-up companies to some of the world's largest multinational companies. With our offices and long established relationships with local counsels throughout the world, we are well positioned to serve our client's domestic and international needs.

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:: REPRESENTATIVE OFFICE

Representative offices may be registered under either The Company Law No.159/1981 or Commercial Agency Law No.120/1982. Foreign companies may establish a representative office to engage in business development. Activities of the office may include preparation of market surveys and preparation of Project feasibility studies.

The office should be registered in the Companies' Department. The registration of the office must be renewed every five years. To register, the company must submit an application detailing the name, nationality, company objectives, capital, head office abroad, and nature of office to be established in Egypt , its activities and addresses in Egypt and certain information relating to the manager. The application must include the company's constitutive documents and a resolution of the board of directors of the company, which must be certified at an Egyptian Embassy abroad. A certified Arabic translation of these documents is also required.

Representative offices must submit annually to the Companies' Department employees' names, positions, nationalities, salaries, total payroll earned by Egyptian employees and details of the office's activities during the year

It is not permitted to carry out trading activities, or collect revenue, or act as a distributor / commercial agent (even in relation to servicing of its goods sold in Egypt ). A representative office does not pay tax in respect of its own activities. However, all staff (including expatriates) is required to pay income tax.

A foreign company may appoint a commercial agent from the private or public sector to represent its interest in Egypt . The appointments of a commercial agent is obligatory for making tenders or for purchase offers to committees of public sector organizations and government agencies in Egypt. Commercial agents are, as a matter of policy, not permitted with respect to offers made to the Ministry of Defense.

Although an agent is not required when dealing with the private sector, most foreign companies have nevertheless found it advantageous to appoint a local agent who can deal with problems related to communications, bureaucratic procedures, local business practices and marketing.

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