Elie Badawi

I work as a lawyer in the firm's Aviation, Space & Defence team and the Space & Satellites group. I am a PhD candidate at Université Paris-Saclay and I am writing my thesis on comparative Space Law with a focus on the Gulf region.

Before joining Bird & Bird, I worked in the legal and contracts department of a French major aerospace firm. My experience includes advising different teams on a variety of commercial matters, drafting agreements, and providing advice in several fields of expertise (including export control operations). I have also had different long and short-term contracts and internships in top-tier international law firms where I gained various legal and business skills.

I have knowledge in aerospace projects, export control regulations, cyber-security, IP/IT, telecommunications, European and international law, in addition to a background in economics which enables me to have a better understanding of the financial issues related to a case.

My ongoing PhD thesis subject, under the supervision of Prof. Philippe Achilleas, is: 'The legal framework for space activities in the Gulf States: a comparative analysis of the current situation and future prospects'. I am member of the Institute of Space and Telecommunications Law of Université Paris-Saclay.

I have written a first Master thesis entitled "The use of outer space by private actors" and co-authored a second one with subject "The use of suborbital transport vehicles for military purposes".

I hold a double Bachelor in Law and Economics from Université Paris Nanterre, followed by a Master 1 in International and European Litigation from the same university. I graduated from the Advanced Master in Space and Telecommunications Law of Université Paris-Saclay which is in partnership with ISAE-SUPAERO engineering school.

I am fluent in French, English, Arabic and have advanced knowledge in Spanish.