Speaker details

Biography

Naila joined Matouk Bassiouny & Hennawy as a Partner in the Finance and Projects practice group, in April 2026 she is also the Head of Client Development & Strategy. Prior to that, Naila was a Partner in the Infrastructure and Projects team at Sharkawy & Sarhan for 8 years. Naila has over 2 decades of international experience spanning the UK, Europe, and Egypt. She brings a unique cross-border perspective shaped by senior roles at leading international law firms and major corporations, including Linklaters, Denton Wilde Sapte (now Dentons), Babcock & Brown and Hassan Allam Holdings. Naila has extensive experience advising on complex infrastructure, energy and public-private (PPP) projects across the EMEA region. Having spent significant time between Cairo and London throughout her career, Naila brings deep cultural fluency, an understanding of geopolitical challenges and a strong international network. As an experienced dot connector and negotiator, Naila will play a leading role as Head of Client Development and Strategy. Naila advises multilateral institutions, governmental authorities, sponsors, and lenders on complex infrastructure and energy projects, with a particular focus on PPP structuring, project financing, tendering processes, and large-scale developments. Her experience includes transport, airports, ports, water, renewable energy, desalination, mining and green hydrogen with many projects being considered landmark and first-of-their-kind projects in Egypt.