Obeid & Partners

Obeid & Partners

Lebanon’s Central Bank Adopts General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR)

09-20-2018

On 12 September 2018, the Lebanese Central Bank issued a decision to adopt the General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR). This decision, which was published in the Official Gazette on 20 September 2018, calls for Lebanese Banks, monetary institutions and other institutions associated with the Central Bank to take all necessary measures to comply with the GDPR. Such measures include appointing a data protection officer and a representative to the European Union, and amending compliance programs to conform to the new regulations.

The GDPR was first enacted in 2016 by the European Union and it came into effect across the EU’s 28 Member States on 25 May 2018. It is one of the strongest and most comprehensive attempts globally to regulate the collection and use of personal data by both governments and the private sector. The GDPR aims to protect consumers by giving them greater control over their personal data. It also compels businesses to be more accountable and transparent in their use of customers’ personal data.

Recent Work Highlights

Our lawyers at Obeid & Partners have extensive experience in complex cross-border matters. Since the establishment of the firm in 1987, we have represented various clients ranging from government and government entities to nationally and internationally renowned investors, corporations and individuals. Our clients are distinguished in their respective fields of expertise.

Our team holds a track record in handling complex local and international cases, of which relevant work highlights include:

Hospitality

Successfully representing multiple owners of shares in an unprecedented class action before the Lebanese courts, involving a landmark resort in Beirut. The matter involved complex proceedings in addition to requiring significant logistical and coordination skills for the various plaintiffs in the context of the class action. This prompted the firm to develop an in-house protocol […]

Educational Services

Successfully representing a dually licensed private university in relation to a criminal lawsuit as well as an administrative claim.

Aviation

Successfully representing a world leading provider of solutions for the travel industry, in relation to a series of complex disputes pending before the Lebanese courts, involving seizure matters, URL geo-blocking, payment claims, action on the merits, and other proceedings. 

States

Successfully representing foreign states before the Lebanese courts in a series of complex court actions involving both private and public international law issues, relating to advance payment claims, real estate and lease agreements. 

Banking and Finance

Successfully representing a major oil trader, in what is still known as the largest litigation in Lebanon involving a claim in excess of one billion dollars against one of the largest local banks.  This was a first-of-kind matter in the banking sector which challenged the amnesty in the current financial crisis in Lebanon and the […]

Oil and Gas

Successfully representing  a group in relation to a complex cross-border action involving worldwide freezing injunctions and document preservation orders with claim amounts exceeding USD 300 million. Our firm secured a first-of-a-kind decision from the Lebanese courts and advised on complex cross-border matters involving mareva injunctions.