من بيروت إلى Harvard رحلة محامٍ عربي إلى قمة القانون الدولي | The Jurist Podcast

In this episode of The Jurist Podcast, host Ahmed Elnaggar sits down with Najib Hage Chahine (Managing Partner — Hage-Chahine Law Firm), a leading Lebanese lawyer, professor and arbitration expert, for an in-depth conversation about the future of law, legal technology, international arbitration and the changing legal market across the Arab world. From cross-border enforcement and state assets to the Beirut Port explosion case, Prof. Najib shares insights from decades of legal practice across Lebanon, France, the UAE and beyond. He also explains how lawyers are using Artificial Intelligence (AI) in law firms, arbitration and legal research — and why AI should remain a tool guided by human judgment. The conversation also explores what aspiring lawyers can learn from studying at institutions such as Harvard, how legal education differs between the Arab world, France and the United States, and why adaptability, ethics, analytical thinking and curiosity are becoming more important than ever for the next generation of lawyers. We also discuss the future of the Arab legal market, the growth of legal services between Lebanon, Egypt and the GCC, outsourcing legal work, lawyers' fees, digital transformation, judicial independence and what Arab legal systems need to develop to attract international investment. In this episode: * The future of AI in the legal profession * How law firms can use AI safely and effectively * AI, confidentiality and human verification * Cross-border enforcement and state assets * The legal battle surrounding the Beirut Port explosion * International arbitration and the revival of Beirut as an arbitration hub * Building a law firm across Beirut, Dubai and Paris * Harvard, legal education and scholarships * Differences between Arab, French and American legal education * The future of the legal profession in the Arab world * The GCC legal market and exporting legal services * Digital transformation and the judiciary * Advice for young Arab lawyers and law students 00:00 Meet Prof. Najib Hage Chahine 01:01 From Beirut to a Global Legal Career 06:48 Cross-Border Enforcement & State Assets 09:15 Inside the Beirut Port Explosion Case Details 14:43 Reviving Beirut as an Arbitration Hub 19:37 Building a Law Firm Across Beirut, Dubai & Paris 22:14 How Law Firms Are Adopting AI 26:12 AI, Lawyers & the Future of Arab Courts 31:18 Can Lawyers Trust AI-Generated Work? 35:39 Legal Fees, Profitability & Outsourcing 38:32 Did the GCC Hurt or Help Lebanon’s Legal Market? 41:42 How to Study Law at Harvard & Get Financial Aid 46:01 What Harvard, Paris & Lebanon Teach Lawyers 51:06 Legal Education vs. Real-World Practice 53:31 The Future of Law in the Arab World 58:44 Advice for the Next Generation of Lawyers 01:00:40 Final Thoughts Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.