Sam Habbas
Member

E-mail: shabbas@asarlegal.com

Sam Habbas is a member of Al-Sarraf & Al-Ruwayeh. Sam is primarily responsible for building and managing the Firm's International Department. Under Sam’s leadership, the firm has become the leading law firm in Kuwait. Chambers and Partners Global Guide and The International Financial Law Review ranks Sam as one of the leading lawyers in Kuwait and recommends the firm as a Tier 1 firm in the areas of banking, capital markets, corporate and commercial.

Sam received his education at the University of Santa Clara, California USA (Bachelor of Arts, with honors, 1980) and at Boston College Law School, Massachusetts USA (Juris Doctorate, 1983). His main areas of practice include tax, finance, international commercial transactions, joint ventures, Islamic finance and project work in a variety of sectors including oil and gas. Sam also has significant experience in complex cross border transactions, providing consultancy to foreign firms seeking to conduct business in the Middle East on financing, commercial matters and developing aspects of Kuwaiti law.

Over the years, Sam has also authored many law related articles. Some of his recent articles include:

The Kuwaiti chapter on franchising for ˜Getting the Deal Through” 2008 edition.

An article on recent amendments to Kuwait’s Securities Laws relating to Sukuks in IFLR’s maiden book IFLR Client Guide to the Middle East 2007 edition.

˜The adoption of Basel II capital adequacy requirements in Kuwait” - Global Banking & Financial Policy Review - 2007/8 edition.

˜Recent developments in Kuwaiti tax law” - “The International Financial Law Review (IFLR) 1000 - 2007/8 edition.

“Banking in Kuwait: Growth and Regulation of the Islamic Finance Sector” - The Global Banking & Financial Policy Review 2006/7 edition.

“Challenges to Issuing Debentures in Kuwait” - The International Financial Law Review 2006/7 edition.

“Viewpoint: Kuwait's Income Tax Law” in Oxford Business Guide’s Emerging Kuwait Business Guide 2007 Edition.

Sam was also featured in an interview talking about the various aspects of Kuwait law/legal issues in the Emerging Kuwait 2006 Oxford Business Guide.

Sam is fluent in English and Arabic.