The Legal 500

Ghellal & Mekerba is a ‘very fine law firm’ with an excellent reputation in the market. Amine Ghellal is praised for his ‘good commercial and practical approach’, and is ‘reliable’ and ‘well known’. The firm has been very active in assisting a major multinational tobacco corporation and a European sugar production corporation to set up joint ventures in the country. It also acts for a prominent telecoms company.

At Gide Loyrette Nouel, recent work for Samy Laghouati includes advising both sides on MTN’s proposed buyout of Orascom Telecom Algeria, Djezzy; VimpelCom on its acquisition of Orascom Telecom Holding; Sanofi-Aventis on a €80m investment to set up a manufacturing company; and AXA on the establishment of two joint ventures in Algeria.

Hamza Law Office’s Mustapha Hamza is a ‘very good lawyer’ and is praised for the international perspective he brings to his work. The ‘young’ firm increasingly represents local corporations in their efforts to grow and develop in the new climate. It is also active in project finance, currently working on several multimillion-dollar projects involving the construction of new ships and ports.

Law Office Yamina Kebir’s name partner is a ‘very good’, ‘competent’ lawyer with ‘good knowledge of Algerian law’. Kebir continues to work on international infrastructure projects in the services and transportation sectors.

Aidoud Law Firm is a general practice law firm and has worked on various real estate, rail, and oil and gas projects. Mamoun Aidoud is ‘very active’, ‘extremely reliable’ and has ‘very good knowledge of the Algerian authorities’. Aidoud is also a banking law expert.

Law Office of Dr Ben Abderrahmane & Partners is a ‘very good law firm’ and remains the only Algerian law firm to have an office in Paris. The firm’s experience includes advising international clients on the Algerian due diligence aspects of mergers and corporate restructurings. Clients include companies in the oil and gas, telecoms and food processing sectors.

CMS Bureau Francis Lefebvre Algérie’s Samir Sayah, an Algerian-qualified lawyer, leads a team advising on foreign investments, infrastructure projects and oil and gas matters. With a growing presence in the country, the firm is a strong player in the food and drink sector, and advised Nestlé on the establishment of Algerian entities in accordance with the new foreign investment requirements. Other notable clients are Danone and Repsol.

Chemloul & Associés is a general practice law firm and has experience in project finance, regulatory and general corporate matters. Mohammed Chemloul, a former Secretary General of Sonatrach, is ‘reactive’ and a ‘natural choice’ for legal assistance.

Guerrouche Mouloud MG Avocats is a three-lawyer firm that has remained active despite the reduction in foreign investment activity. It has been acting for clients on the construction of ports in Algeria and on a joint venture with General Maritime Portugal.

Hadj-Hamou/Djouadi has a formal relationship with SNR Denton. Ahmed Djouadi has an ‘active’ commercial and corporate practice, and Sid Ali Hadj-Hamou is an oil and gas specialist. The firm also has a maritime practice.

Haroun & Associés is an ‘extremely well-connected’ and ‘responsive’ general practice firm, and one of the oldest in Algeria. Ali Haroun heads the firm and has a high profile in the community. The firm’s experience includes international business law and foreign investment matters.

Lefèvre Pelletier & associés’ partnership with Alliance Algérie allows it to provide both legal advice and representation in the Algerian courts. Vincent Lunel and Fatima-Zohra Bouchemla head the growing team, which advised the financial markets authority COSOB on its modernisation in Algeria, and has also been involved in the organisation of Algeria’s first private equity fund.

Badri Cabinet for Intellectual Property Algeria has a broad IP and commercial practice, and advises on patent and trade mark matters together with software and website protection.

Ferchiou & associés’ Ahmed Kallel and Maya Boureghda have been assisting on a large multi-modal platform that incorporates various modes of transport for the movement of goods. The Tunisia-based firm also has a developing banking law practice.

Cabinet Mustapha Hamdane’s Mustapha Hamdane has a business law practice.

Cabinet Nouara Issad’s Nouara Issad is regarded as a ‘very good, solid lawyer’, and has a general business law practice. The team provides specialist advice in areas including privatisations, joint ventures and commercial contracts.

Saba & Co has an IP team operating across the Middle East and North Africa. The Algerian team works on trade mark, patent and copyright prosecution.

Cabinet d’Avocats Samir Hamouda’s name partner is ‘hardworking’ and a ‘good lawyer’, and is the local correspondent for PwC in Algeria.

Diane Abu Aladel leads Talal Abu-Ghazeleh Legal’s Algeria team, which spends 90% of its time on IP matters.