D&C Legal Services is among the longest-established law firms in the Middle East, covering the region’s growing legal, economic, and commercial market. Started as a Beirut-based legal practice in 1965, D&C has expanded over sixty years into a multi-jurisdictional, full-service law firm across the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), North Africa, and the wider Middle East.
D&C was founded by Lawyer Marie Youssef Deeb (Dib), who was a member of the Lebanon Bar Association. From its early years, the firm focused on domestic legal matters within Lebanon, operating from its headquarters in Beirut. During this period, Lebanon was the regional hub for commerce, banking, and legal services, and the firm developed strong grounds in corporate law, banking, and litigation. Prior to 2010, the firm’s work remained primarily Lebanon-focused. However, as activity in the Middle East increasingly shifted toward the Gulf and as cross-border transactions became more complex, the firm adapted its strategy.
D&C expanded its offices and associations across the GCC and the broader region, including the United Arab Emirates (Dubai and Abu Dhabi), Qatar (Doha), Saudi Arabia, Egypt (Cairo), Algeria, Morocco, and additional offices in Lebanon.
One of the most defining characteristics of D&C Legal Services is its structural model. The firm consists of lawyers and legal experts qualified within their respective local jurisdictions, supported by multilingual attorneys and associated law firms.
This model allows the firm to connect local legal systems with international commercial bodies, which is a necessity in cross-border matters involving banking, real estate, intellectual property, international trade, arbitration, and maritime law. The firm ranked up as a legal intermediary between national legal frameworks and international business practices by combining local qualifications with regional coordination.
In 2021, the firm underwent was rebranded from Deeb & Co Legal Services to ‘D&C Legal Services,’ and it was converted from a law office into a partnership. That same year, it became the first law firm registered as a civil partnership in the North Law Bar of Lebanon, under registration number 001.
Over its 60-year history, D&C Legal Services has had the opportunity to onboard high-profile matters. One of the cases was about the former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafic Hariri. The case drew national and international attention and was covered by Lebanese media outlets, including As-Safir.
The firm operates across corporate and commercial law, franchise and licensing, insurance and reinsurance, tax and labor law, maritime law, and arbitration. It expands with regulatory complexity across multiple Middle Eastern jurisdictions.
D&C Legal Services has also contributed to legal discourse through sustained publication and analysis. Its articles and legal studies, published on law portals and its official website, address developments in intellectual property, financial regulation, technology, fintech, and data protection.
The topics range from trademark protection procedures in Qatar and electronic IP titles in Morocco to the legal implications of Bitcoin regulations, NFTs, fintech laws, and the metaverse. The firm is currently managed by Richard Deeb (Managing Partner) and Aurore Deeb (Senior Associate), who oversee its regional operations and practice development.
Internationally, the firm is affiliated with several professional organizations, including the International Bar Association, the European Lawyers Organization, the Marine Law Organization, and the International Union of Lawyers.
As a long-standing member of the Lebanon Bar Association, the firm’s founder (Marie Youssef Deeb) contributed to its institutional life through participation in committees like the Legislation Committee and the Insurance Committee.
He also represented Lebanon within the Arab Law Bar Association and was a candidate in the 2000 presidential election of the Lebanon Bar Association. His contributions have been documented by Lebanese media and the official bar association.
