Shaping Global Arbitration: An interview with Karim A. Youssef

Karim A. Youssef is a world-renowned arbitration practitioner. He read law in Cairo, Paris 1 (Sorbonne), and Yale universities. He is the CEO of YOUSSEF+PARTNERS, Arbitration Leaders, one of the world’s top boutique law firms based in the MENA region. He has garnered coveted global rankings and distinctions, including being ranked as a “Star Individual” in Chambers and Partners and a “Global Elite Thought Leader” in Arbitration Who’s Who Legal, an exclusive list of the top 95 arbitration practitioners worldwide. Legal 500 described him in 2018 as “a leading light of international arbitration.” Karim joined the Harvard Law School Center on the Legal Profession board in 2023. He is the first Middle Eastern and international arbitration specialist to do so.

In this exclusive interview, Karim reveals insights about his career journey, including details he is sharing for the first time and a glimpse of the world of international arbitration. He also discusses being a global citizen amid the major disruption of the legal profession and the importance of staying laid-back and not taking oneself too seriously.

Center on the Legal Profession (CLP): To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about your journey? What sparked your interest in law, and how has that initial spark influenced your career and where you are now?

Karim A. Youssef: I was born in Egypt in the late 1970s and grew up in Cairo. I have one brother, who is the family genius. He is a theoretical physicist and mathematician.

Since childhood, science has fascinated me —I had a particular interest in physics, mathematics, and biology — and initially, and somehow reflexively, I wanted to pursue a career as a medical doctor. I went to high school at the French Lycee of Kuwait. By age 14, I was passionate about literature, particularly classic French works (thanks to my mom, a French literature professor), and I effortlessly thrived in anything that involved writing formulating arguments, and conceptualizing ideas.

I come from a distinguished lineage of judges. My father had a long judicial career and was vice president of the Egyptian Council of State. My maternal grandfather was one of Egypt’s most revered judges. He presided over the Supreme Constitutional Court of Egypt and was the country’s longest-serving minister of justice (1987-2004). This heritage was inspiring and a great source of pride. But, I sought to chart a different course.

By the summer holiday before university, my plans to study medicine in Strasbourg, France, were set. The Robert Schuman University was quite well known at the time. One day, I came across a book in my grandfather’s library — “The Foundations of Law” by Al-Sanhuri, a key figure in law and the founding father, so to speak, of the Egyptian and Arab civil codes. His words at the book’s opening struck me: “Robinson Crusoe does not need law.” Wow. In any society, the law is everywhere; the law is necessary. Imagine a 16-year-old who has made his first contact with law. (Civic education aside, you don’t really meet “law” until you go to law school, which is a bit of a quandary). And I landed on those deep reflections on the nature of law. They fused with my own reflections: Law is a social construct, a creature of society. I am, too. We all are. I believe I’ll enjoy studying law. It’s interesting; it’s fascinating, just like the essence of human interaction. “Why isn’t everyone studying it?”

It was a euphoric and exhilarating first contact. I remember paging through the book late into the night and continuing until the morning. To my family’s surprise, I declared my interest in law school. They knew my rebellious nature, but they didn’t see it coming.

The week after, I met with the late Professor Ahmed El-Kosheri, a very famous figure in international arbitration and international law from Egypt. When I asked him about arbitration, his hour-long explanation painted a mystical, cosmopolitan field full of opportunities beyond local law. His portrayal of arbitration as the “business of gentlemen [and gentlewomen]” and his depiction of its social dimensions and the global community of lawyers transcending national boundaries that underpins it piqued my interest and fueled the instant spark of chemistry I felt when I first read Sanhuri’s book. After this meeting, I was certain about my future in this field. I knew who I wanted to be and what I wanted to do. So, long story short, but for my grandfather’s law book and this fateful meeting with Kosheri, I might have become a surgeon.

This initial spark has never faded.

CLP: You have a fascinating and distinguished professional journey, having pursued education across three continents (Egypt, France, and the US) and obtaining your LLM and JSD from Yale Law School. Currently, as the CEO of one of the world’s top boutique law firms and a board member of the Harvard Law Center on the Legal Profession, how did your diverse academic experiences and key milestones in your professional life contribute to preparing you for your current role and influence your approach today?

Youssef: Every successful career involves a lot of hard work but also has a touch of destiny. It’s shaped by the people you meet and associate yourself with and circumstances aligning in a particular manner to create something remarkable. I will highlight the people and events that influenced my journey, as I am deeply grateful and inspired by those who guided me and provided light and friendship along the way.

My wife, a renowned political scientist who graduated from Georgetown University and without whom this journey would have been very different, often jokes that I’ve earned too many law degrees. Remember, in civil law countries, law is an undergraduate school. Because this initial spark was about becoming a cosmopolitan legal being and embodying a melting pot of legal cultures, I simultaneously studied law at two law schools, the Sorbonne Paris 1 University, and Cairo University. At the time, Cairo University Law School had a newly established common law department focused on civil law and common law fundamentals. This program was conceived by another famous arbitration lawyer and academic, Professor Samir El Sharkawy, the law school’s dean at the time and one of my career influences.

Pursuing this double degree was intense and truncated my summer holidays. While my friends enjoyed their summer breaks, I took the Sorbonne exams in September each year. Managing this double track was difficult, especially while dealing with numerous personal issues at the time. Looking back, I think this “trial by fire or intense initiation” equipped me well. I also gained a deeper and more holistic understanding of those legal systems at a younger age. When I graduated, my dean mentioned that the only other individual to attend two law schools was Mostafa Kamel, a historic Egyptian nationalist, lawyer, and political leader who played a key role in resisting British rule in Egypt.

The highlight of my time at Yale was my JSD, supervised by Professor Michael Reisman, one of the most influential figures in international law in the US and globally, and then-Dean Harold Koh, subsequently the legal adviser to the Department of State in the Obama administration. While I confess book writing can be a bit solitary for someone as social as me, I thoroughly enjoyed the experience. However, I think SJD programs could adapt to suit our times. While working as an associate at Cleary Gottlieb’s international arbitration group, I turned my JSD into a book titled Consent in Context: Fulfilling the Promise of International Arbitration; Multiparty, Multi-Contract, and Non-Contract Arbitration. The book was prefaced by Jan Paulsson, one of the most universal figures in the world of arbitration.

For a while, I was the only Arab to have done an LLM or a JSD at Yale Law School, and I might still be the only Egyptian. Still, one of the most valued gifts of this around-the-world journey of legal studies was that it gave me lifelong friendships with some of the world’s top lawyers, many now well-known in international law and arbitration.

The name of the game here was Cosmopolitan Law. My education across three continents exposed me to diverse legal cultures that shaped my legal persona and career and gave me a strategic advantage in practicing arbitration and law in a region of the world that is increasingly a hub for international business and arbitration. Arbitration is a melting pot of legal traditions, like united nations of cultures, backgrounds, and ways of practicing law. International tribunals often handle cross-border disputes involving various legal backgrounds, making understanding each jurisdiction’s legal and cultural nuances crucial. This can be pivotal in determining the outcome of arbitration proceedings: winning or losing.

Youssef + Partners was the product of this international journey. We’re a cosmopolitan, global boutique firm that focuses on some of the most significant and complex disputes, whether multi-billion-dollar cases involving foreign investors and government entities, the largest commercial enterprises, family businesses, WEF business leaders, or UHNWIs. The firm comprises lawyers who are educated and admitted to practice in Egypt, UAE, France, and different states in the US.

The firm’s practice reflects its global perspective. Our work spans the globe everyday. For instance, one day, we might be representing a UK-listed company in arbitration based in the UAE; another day, defending against claims made by a global conglomerate against an Egyptian supplier. At other times, we’re achieving victories for a joint venture of some of the largest global shipping and seaport operators in a dispute with a Middle Eastern state entity over constructing a seaport container terminal. Yet another day, we might act on behalf of foreign investors against an Arab State to safeguard their investments from expropriation or inequitable treatment or represent a global construction company in an infrastructure dispute related to a national mega project in an Arab metropole. Finally, I could be testifying as a legal expert in a major international arbitration in Switzerland or before UK, UAE, or other courts.

The firm’s overall feel and DNA are indistinguishable from those of a disputes boutique law firm operating in London, Miami, or Singapore.

CLP: You graduated from Yale Law School with your JSD in 2007. What happened then and in the few years that followed?

Youssef: Initially, I returned to Egypt for a year and explored its legal market, then joined Cleary Gottlieb in Paris, where I was exposed to some of the most complex, high-stakes international arbitration cases of the time. Another destiny moment: A few months before the Arab Spring in January 2011, I decided to return to Egypt. I had met my wife at the time. In hindsight, it was a pivotal moment for the region and my career. This period accelerated changes in the Egyptian legal market, with significant disputes, law firm shifts, and practices rising and falling. I joined a regional firm operating in the Middle East and developed their arbitration practice until 2016.

CLP: And then what happened in 2016? And since then?

Youssef: In April 2016, I founded Youssef + Partners to create a law firm that matches the standards of big law or international boutique firms in excellence, innovation, and world-class client service while possessing deep local and regional knowledge and experience. We are a regional law firm with a global outlook, focusing on international arbitration. As a result, our team, culture, work approach, and caseload all reflect our cosmopolitan essence. Within two years, Global Arbitration Review ranked us among the world’s top arbitration firms (GAR100). Given that most ranked firms are significant global players in metropoles, such as New York, DC, London, and Paris, I take pride in our boutique being among the top 10 or 15 disputes boutiques.

From there, things were like a snowball. The Arab Spring led to a surge in investor claims and commercial disputes in Egypt and MENA. Foreign companies and investors turned to us due to our reputation, proven track record, and the successful outcomes we deliver.

The regional market is interesting and is going through interesting times. I view it more as a network of friends and colleagues than a pool of competitors. Arbitration is such a high-end business that success doesn’t come from imitation but from originality. You have to do your own thing. There is always a seat at the table for those who have what it takes and do what it takes, and it is the ethical duty of those sitting at the helm of the business to make for a bigger table and allow people in.

CLP: Why has international arbitration grown so rapidly and become such an exploding field in the last decade? It’s also attracting more interest from HLS students and those at other law schools. What does the future of international arbitration look like for the next ten years?

Youssef: Arbitration has existed for thousands of years (dating back to King Solomon ordering the splitting of the baby). It has survived and, in fact, thrived in some very uncertain times. Arbitration is integral to international business; nine out of ten international contracts contain an arbitration clause. This was true 10-15 years ago and remains essential today. Today, arbitration is embedded in the fabric of our global world. It is crucial both in times of prosperity and times of crisis. The more international business there is, the more arbitration plays a vital role. In times of uncertainty, arbitration is the go-to way to resolve disputes efficiently and with high-quality outcomes. Think of the peso crisis in Argentina in 2002. It led to a surge in investment treaty cases. I worked on some of these cases while at Cleary. Similarly, the Arab Spring since 2011 significantly boosted arbitration, with the Middle East experiencing substantial disputes growth. Domestic arbitration is going on steroids in many jurisdictions, too. Arbitration has become similar to complex US court litigation, especially as it has become the default means for settling international disputes. Whether in times of prosperity or times of uncertainty and challenges, arbitration, in its essence, contributes to settling conflicts and advancing the cause of peace in a complex and divided world. That’s how I see this beautiful system called arbitration.

This is a time of great disruption for the legal profession and international arbitration. One of the key aspects of arbitration is its agility and adaptability, which is why it has survived and thrived for centuries. So, for law school students considering practicing law, I say that the next ten years will be very interesting, and the future of arbitration is bright. The legal field is about to enter the “big disruption.”

AI is changing how international arbitration is practiced. Besides efficiency improvements, there’s great satisfaction in using these incredible assists. It’s easy to forget that not long ago, all the major work and heavy lifting in significant cases had to be done entirely manually. But like all evolutions, complex disruptions trigger complex challenges, including behavioral and regulatory challenges. Earlier this year, I participated in the Guidelines Review Committee for the Silicon Valley Arbitration and Mediation Center (SVAMC), where we created the first principle-based framework for integrating AI tools into arbitration. I also anticipate that novel and intriguing dispute types will soon become prevalent, including cryptocurrency conflicts, AI-related intellectual property matters, and data privacy issues.

CLP: Given all the shifts in the legal landscape, what should students interested in arbitration focus on? What advice do you have for up-and-coming practitioners who want to make their mark in this field?

Youssef: Well, for young practitioners making their first steps now, I say: welcome to the field! You’ve made a great choice. You’re stepping into international arbitration during a transformative period in its history amidst the “big disruption of law.”

As AI becomes prevalent in arbitration, the human and psychological elements of the business become even more essential. For students eyeing a legal career in arbitration, AI won’t replace you anytime soon or in the foreseeable future. AI will enhance your capability to provide the level of sophisticated reasoning often necessary in arbitration cases and allow you to focus on what is humane and essential about the field.

The change I am happiest about, also because we are a significant part of championing it in our part of the world, is the demographic transformation. It is dramatic. A generational shift is happening: The global field of arbitration is becoming more inclusive of women and young practitioners. While historically, lawyers typically entered global arbitration rankings in their late 40s and 50s, you do not and should not expect to wait that long anymore. The MENA region has achieved a level of progress. Still, much remains to be done concerning the role of young practitioners and women if the region is to aspire to compete globally in this very competitive business.

For us, diversity is non-negotiable. The latest numbers: our arbitration team comprises 57.14 percent women and 78.57 percent people under 40. We also make it a point not to engage professionally with practitioners or law firms that do not meet diversity indices.

Arbitration, practiced at the highest level, gives you unparalleled exposure in the legal world. It allows you to engage with the top global practitioners and work on the most complex cases. This field provides opportunities to operate at the peak of international business and law, offering a global view beyond domestic disputes – the bigger picture.

But then, there is more to arbitration than just being a profession, and there is more to international arbitration practitioners than being technicians of law. This is what I tell my team members at Y+P, many of whom are friends and mentees, that they should aspire to a bigger purpose or role in their daily practice of arbitration or their daily management of the law firm.

A lot of personality goes into being an arbitration practitioner or part of an arbitration powerhouse. The daily practice of arbitration brings together diverse skills, including great analytical skills, powerful oral advocacy, a cosmopolitan legal perspective to understand and integrate diverse legal systems, and exceptional communication abilities to articulate and advocate positions clearly. Moreover, it requires strategic thinking to navigate intricate cases and present and argue them effectively. These different attributes work together in complex ways, making arbitration a uniquely enriching field.

The pinnacle of the world of arbitration involves handling high-value, complex cases where so much is at stake, so much to learn, and so much to impact. As lead counsel on those cases, you and your team’s expertise can shift hundreds of millions of dollars for or against your client. The critical point is that this exclusive club is no longer limited to Big Law. Among the top 10 arbitration practices globally, there are well-known boutiques focused exclusively on international arbitration that manage cases of equal size and quantity as major international firms. Some specialized regional boutiques from the MENA region are achieving similar success.

Lastly, choose who you work with carefully— work with people who empower and uplift you. Life is too short to be limited from within. Be selective. As a future partner or leader, apply the same principle: Surround yourself with individuals who excel, are autonomous and self-governing, and align with your values and institutional DNA. Seek out who could excel beyond your abilities or young individuals who could surpass you one day and support their growth. This is my approach; if your boss is good, they will do the same. So, find a firm that reflects your aspirations and who you want to be, belong to it, and build your reputation there. Above all, enjoy the journey, and don’t take yourself too seriously while achieving all those goals.

CLP: What makes you excited about joining the Center’s Advisory Board?

I am very honored to join the advisory board of the Harvard Law School Center on the Legal Profession. The Center leads the global discourse on the future of law and how practitioners should handle industry changes and navigate the transformative currents sweeping the law business. Representing and being the voice of the MENA region and international arbitration on the board enables me to influence this dialogue and create pioneering approaches and solutions. This esteemed institution is known for shaping legal practice and education and influencing thought leadership globally.

I look forward to contributing to its invaluable role and engaging with all my colleagues on the Advisory Board. Cheers.

Karim’s contact information:

[email protected]

Karim A. Youssef, J.S.D. | Youssef + Partners

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Interested in international arbitration?

Karim is available to answer specific questions from Harvard Law students, including LLM and SJD candidates, in a virtual Q&A session. Send your questions to [email protected] using your Harvard Law School email.