Dr. Firas El Samad is the managing partner of  Zulficar & Partners since 2009. He heads the competition law and telecommunication law practice groups and is a leading member of the M&A team. Dr. El Samad graduated from the Faculty of Law of the Lebanese University of Beirut in 1995 and obtained his degree in political science and public administration from the American University of Beirut in the fall of 1994-1995. He went to pursue his studies in France where he obtained his DEA and his PhD from the University of Montpellier I in 1996 and 2000 respectively. Dr. El Samad is an active member of the civil society and has served as a Board member of the Egyptian Competition Protection Association. Dr. El Samad has a vast experience in his field of expertise. He has advised and is advising his high profile clients on matters of competition law compliance and has helped formulating defence strategies in some of the landmark competition law cases. He also lead the drafting and negotiation of mergers and acquisitions agreements in many high profile and complicated transactions taking place in Egypt over the last twenty years.