Morocco > Banking, finance and capital markets
Banking, finance and capital markets
Gide Loyrette Nouel – Naciri & Associés’s Hicham Naciri, who has a strong structured financing and project financing practice, is praised for his ‘young, dynamic, commercial perspective’. His team recently advised on the IPO of Compagnie Générale Imobilière (CGI), the largest IPO in Morocco since the listing of Maroc Telecom in 2004. Partner Yassir Ghorbal focuses on capital markets and investment fund-related matters. Newly promoted partner Julien David, who recently worked with Naciri to advise Veolia on a €150m financing by Moroccan banks, also has a strong financing practice.
At Kettani Law Firm, name partner Azzedine Kettani is known for ‘very good quality work’, while his daughter Nadia Kettani is known for her involvement in major financings and is described by one client as ‘definitely the best lawyer I know in Morocco’. The team acted for the arrangers in relation to a €500m sovereign bond issue by the Kingdom of Morocco, and for banks in relation to a €600m refinancing.
UGGC & Associés is increasingly acting for both borrowers and lenders. Patrick Larrivé advised the lenders, a consortium of Moroccan banks led by the European Investment Bank, on a €140m loan relating to the Tanger-Med port project.
August & Debouzy’s clients appreciate its ‘high standard international work’ on banking loans and transactions. Recent work includes advising the Moroccan state on a secondary offering of 4% in Maroc Telecom.
Hajji & Associés is active in project, aviation and acquisition financing. Former banker and name partner Amin Hajji’s predominantly international client base includes Barclays and Deutsche Bank, and his recent work includes advising international pension funds on opportunities in the Moroccan market.
SFM’s Joseph Barzilaï is a ‘very, very good lawyer’ who is known for his work for Moroccan clients, and whose firm, traditionally strong in insurance, is increasingly developing a presence in the banking sector.
Mernissi – FIGES, best known as a projects and public law niche firm, has recently been winning new clients in the area of banking, including the Casablanca office of Citigroup and the London office of Deutsche Bank. Lamya Mernissi has been advising on the potential launch of new derivatives and securities products on the Moroccan market.