Shield Advocates - Al Hawy & Hassane

Shield Advocates! Established in 2020 and located in the Greater Cairo Area of Egypt, we are a full-service law firm catering to multinational, regional, and local corporations, as well as investors and business entrepreneurs. Our team of legal experts combines solid legal expertise with profound business understanding to provide advice on high-profile complex transactions, cross-border commercial arrangements, and sophisticated disputes. We represent our clients in courts of law and arbitration panels. At Shield Advocates, we understand the importance of quantifiable reporting methods for our clients. We provide reliable reporting that our clients can rely on for their short, medium, and long-term business activities and planning. With our diverse expertise and reliable qualifications, we help our clients assess, locate, evaluate, and control legal and compliance risks across various commercial and business fields. We are committed to delivering exceptional service and value to our clients, ensuring their success in a dynamic and competitive business environment.

Main Areas of Practice:

Intellectual Property

Corporate & Commercial

Mergers & Acquisitions

Banking & Finance

Employment

Real Estate

Key practice areas:

Copyright, Copyright & related rights, Designs, Intellectual property, Intellectual property (prosecution), IP transactions, Patent, Patent (prosecution), Trade mark, Trade mark (prosecution)

Key Sector Expertise:

Accounting, Advertising, Agriculture, Artificial intelligence, Arts, Banking, Chemical, Computer technology & services, Construction and materials, Consumer goods and services, E-commerce, Electrical, Electronics, Energy, Fashion & luxury goods, Film, Financial services, Food and beverage, Furniture, Gaming, Government and public policy, Healthcare, Hospitality & leisure, ICT & software, Industrials, Insurance, Investment management, Logistics, Manufacturing, Media, Medical device, Oil and gas, Pharmaceutical, Professional services, Real estate, Retail, Shipping, Sports, Technology hardware, Telecommunication, Tourism, Transport

• Meet the team
• Managing partner biography
• LinkedIn

Hassane El Sheref - Intellectual property - h.elsheref@shieldadvocates.com

• (Confidential) Hassane led the enforcement of ImageCorp on behalf of Mo Salah’s publicity rights against Careem, following their unauthorized use of the footballer’s image in a promotional campaign. The matter involved complex legal arguments around image rights and resulted in the cessation of the infringing use.
• (Confidential) Hassane leads the enforcement of Bentley Systems’ intellectual property rights across the Middle East and Africa. His work involves coordinating regional investigations on the unauthorized use of Bentley’s software, drafting and dispatching cease-and-desist letters, and negotiating settlements with infringers. Through strategic enforcement actions and targeted outreach, Hassane assists in securing compliance and favorable resolutions, reinforcing Bentley Systems’ IP position in complex and diverse jurisdictions.
• (Confidential) Hassane represents Tempo in trademark enforcement and dispute resolution matters, including actions against high-profile infringers. He led enforcement efforts against Skechers for unauthorized use of marks similar to Tempo’s, drafting and dispatching formal legal notices and initiating settlement discussions. His strategic handling of the matter resulted in favorable outcomes for the client, reinforcing Tempo’s trademark rights and deterring future infringements.

Omneya Moawad - Intellectual property - o.moawad@shieldadvocates.com

• (Confidential) Omneya played a pivotal role in managing high-stakes negotiations between EFG Holding and Hermès International, resulting in a successfully executed coexistence agreement. She also spearheaded the negotiation, settlement, and drafting of a coexistence agreement between Dar Al-Handasah (PARA) and Parabuild, resolving a potential global trademark conflict.
• Omneya advised Nerhadou Pharmaceuticals on the strategic management and protection of its patent portfolio, covering key innovations in the nutraceutical and pharmaceutical sectors. Her work included coordinating national filings, monitoring competitor activity, and implementing long-term protection strategies tailored to regulatory and commercial needs in the MENA region.
• Omneya provided critical legal support in matters relating to the protection of plant varieties under the UPOV framework. Her role included reviewing technical test reports, advising on compliance with local regulations, and coordinating the registration of new varieties, ensuring legal and procedural alignment with both Egyptian and international requirements.

Rana Magdy - Intellectual property - r.magdy@shieldadvocates.com

• Rana led the intellectual property efforts for EFG Holding, overseeing trademark prosecution, handling software registrations, and managing contentious trademark matters across multiple jurisdictions. Her work included coordinating litigation strategies, advising on enforcement and risk mitigation, and conducting in-depth investigations across several continents to support rights protection. Rana’s comprehensive involvement ensured brand integrity and legal consistency in complex, cross-border matters.
• Rana serves as the lead advisor for all intellectual property matters of Benefit for Healthy Food and Beverage (V7 and V Super Soda), overseeing trademark portfolio management, enforcement strategies, and advisory work across multiple jurisdictions. Her role also includes reviewing contracts involving IP clauses across different legal systems, managing trademark assignments, and providing tailored legal advice on the full spectrum of intellectual property matters.
• Rana advised Beit Belo on the full spectrum of intellectual property matters relating to a large-scale creative and commercial project involving original works by authors, composers, and designers. Her role included drafting IP clauses and reviewing multiple copyright related agreements to ensure the company’s ownership and licensing rights were properly secured and enforceable. She also provided strategic counsel on copyright protection, and prosecution planning, helping structure a cohesive IP framework aligned with the project's commercial goals.

Ibrahem Khalil - Intellectual property - i.khalil@shieldadvocates.com

• Ibrahem represents Fix Price in a broad range of contentious trademark matters. He is currently handling multiple court proceedings involving cancellation actions, trademark infringement, third-party interference, and unfair competition, in addition to managing petitions and oppositions before the Egyptian Trademark Office. His responsibilities include developing litigation strategies, preparing evidentiary submissions, and coordinating with enforcement authorities to protect the client’s rights in a highly competitive retail sector. Ibrahem’s proactive and persistent approach has been instrumental in securing interim relief and advancing Fix Price’s enforcement objectives in several ongoing disputes.
• Ibrahem successfully took over and resolved a long-standing trademark ownership dispute on behalf of Bonyan for Development and Trade involving a UAE-based defendant. The case had been stalled for years due to persistent procedural hurdles in cross-border service. Despite obtaining court authorization for diplomatic service, the executing court repeatedly refused to proceed. Ibrahem escalated the matter by petitioning the Public Prosecutor and filing an injunction to compel enforcement. His efforts resulted in a favorable ruling and formal instructions from the Public Prosecutor’s Office, delivering a long-awaited breakthrough in a case that had remained inactive for years.
• Ibrahem has led high-impact enforcement actions for major clients, including Alibaba Group and Orascom. For Alibaba, he successfully handled a sensitive investigation against a local infringer operating under the name Alibaba Travel, securing a cease-and-desist undertaking and a domain name transfer. In parallel, he oversaw the protection of Orascom’s well-known Gouna trademark, coordinating cross-sector investigations and issuing tailored cease-and-desist notices. His strategic approach resulted in multiple settlements, effectively safeguarding brand rights and preserving market exclusivity.