Elsie Habib

About the Lawyer

Senior Legal Advisor and International Qualified Mediator

Elsie Habib is the Founder and Managing Director of Ambition Legal Consultancy FZE, established in 2013. She holds a law degree (LLB) from the Lebanese University – Faculty of Law & Political Sciences in Lebanon and a Master of Laws (LLM) from Florida Coastal School of Law in the USA. With over 20 years of experience, Elsie brings a mixed background of common law and civil law, having worked across private practice, in-house counselling, and multinational corporations. She is certified as an “IMI Qualified Mediator” by the International Mediation Institute in The Hague and has actively administered and mediated numerous commercial and corporate conflicts, including franchising and M&A disputes on both international and local levels.

Experience

Elsie Habib has demonstrated expertise in transactional legal work, business acumen, and negotiation and mediation skills focused on resolving complex international disputes through creative solutions. She has advised corporate boards on a variety of sensitive legal and strategic matters, including risk assessment and long-term transactional impacts. Her advisory roles extend to major international and multinational companies across the UAE, GCC, Europe, and the United States. Her mediation experience encompasses cross-border corporate, M&A and commercial conflicts where she has successfully served as a negotiator and mediator.

Specialty

Elsie specializes in international mediation involving commercial and corporate disputes. Her practice canters on:

• Cross-border negotiation and mediation, particularly related to franchising and mergers & acquisitions (M&A) conflicts
• Facilitating alternative dispute resolution with an emphasis on cultural sensitivities and jurisdictional legal frameworks
• Advising on negotiations with confidential, voluntary mediation processes that empowers constructive client participation

Education

• Law Degree (LLB), Lebanese University – Faculty of Law & Political Sciences, Lebanon
• Master of Laws (LLM), Florida Coastal School of Law, USA
• Certified “IMI Qualified Mediator,” International Mediation Institute, The Hague
• Certified in The Law of Economics and Mergers & Acquisitions, London School of Economics, UK
• Certified in International Commercial Mediation, International Mediation Campus, Germany

Awards and recognitions

• Founder and Managing Director of Ambition Legal Consultancy FZE since 2013, demonstrating leadership in international legal consultancy and mediation.

• IMI Qualified Mediator, certified and registered with the International Mediation Institute in The Hague, with extensive experience mediating commercial and corporate conflicts including franchising and M&A disputes at international and local levels.

• Advised major international and multinational corporations across the UAE, GCC, Europe, and the United States on complex commercial agreements and cross-border M&A transactions, reflecting significant contributions to high-profile legal projects.

• Member of the International Bar Association, indicating recognized professional standing and leadership within the legal community.

• Member of Non-Executive Directors’ Association
• Member of The Chartered Institute of Arbitrators

• Contributor to legal publications and media, including articles on international mediation, UAE capital markets, shareholders’ disputes, shareholders’ rights and activism, corporate governance and corporate law topics published in newsletters and online platforms, The Brief, The National newspaper, Lexis Nexis – Gulf Legal Advisor, Mondaq, Legal 500 and Chambers and Partners, showcasing thought leadership and influence in her practice area.