Youssef + Partners is proud to announce that Dr. Karim A. Youssef, Executive Chairman and Head of International Arbitration, has been recognized as a Global Elite Thought Leader in Arbitration 2025 by Lexology. This prestigious ranking places him among only 116 top arbitration practitioners worldwide.
In addition to this recognition, Dr. Youssef has also been honored with the Client Choice Award for Arbitration, a distinction reserved exclusively for lawyers nominated by corporate counsel in recognition of exceptional client care and outstanding legal service.
Global Elite Thought Leader: A Distinction of Excellence
Lexology’s Global Elite Thought Leader ranking is one of the most exclusive distinctions in arbitration. Lexology Index considered 5,734 practitioners for inclusion in our main Arbitration and Arbitration Expert Witnesses listings (not including Future Leaders). Of these, 2,044 practitioners were listed as recommended practitioners, while only 172 (2.99 per cent) were accorded our highest ranking of Global Elite Thought Leader. The 116 lawyers and 56 expert witnesses selected were regarded as the very best by peers and clients, achieving the highest number of recommendations in the research.
This ranking is a testament to his ability to handle complex, high-stakes disputes across the MENA region and globally, shaping arbitration strategy and legal thought leadership at the highest level. This recognition underscores Karim’s and the firm’s global standing.
Recognized Across Multiple Arbitration Categories
Dr. Youssef’s influence in international arbitration is further reflected in his recognition across multiple Lexology Arbitration 2025 categories:
- Thought Leaders – Africa (Arbitration)
- Thought Leaders – Global Elite (Arbitration)
- Client Choice – Arbitration (Global Elite Thought Leader)
- Arbitration (Thought Leader)
- Thought Leaders – Arbitration (Arbitration)
What Clients and Peers Say About Karim A. Youssef
Dr. Youssef’s strategic mindset, deep arbitration expertise, and client-focused approach are consistently praised by clients and peers:
- “Karim is very creative in his thinking, intelligent and smart”
- “He provides consistently useful strategic advice on the full range of legal issues and forensic challenges”
- “He displays a deep knowledge of the law and arbitration procedure”
- “He was pivotal to the success of our client’s claim”
- “He provided consistently useful strategic advice to our arbitration team on the full range of legal issues and forensic challenges”
- “Mr. Youseff displays a deep knowledge of the law and arbitration procedure”
This level of recognition from corporate clients and industry leaders reflects his standing as one of the most sought-after arbitration counsel in the world.
Explore his profile at Lexology: here.
