The Legal 500

Gide Loyrette Nouel is ‘responsive, helpful and on point’. Recent work includes advising the IFC on its €90m equity investment in Saham Finances. Julien David has ‘an ability to explain an unfamiliar jurisdiction as well as clear knowledge of the local laws’.

Kettani Law Firm advises on restructuring, M&A and stock exchange listings. It advised a major British company on the €1.3bn acquisition of Régie des Tabacs, a state-owned tobacco company.

Naciri & Associés Allen & Overy, led by Hicham Naciri, recently advised SNI and ONA on their de-listing from the Casablanca Stock Exchange. Other work included advising Zain Group and Al Ajial Fund on the acquisition of a 31% stake in Wana Corporate.

Norton Rose Morocco SARL’s team is praised as being ‘very responsive, technical and goes straight to the point’. It recently advised CDG Développement on setting up a joint venture with Orascom Development Holding.

UGGC & Associés recently advised on the sale of 90% of share capital and voting rights in SACMI. Key contact Patrick Larrivé has experience spanning M&A, corporate restructuring, privatisation, and capital investment structuring.

Bennani & Associés LLP advises on corporate matters including joint ventures, restructuring and M&A. Mehdi Bennani is recommended.

Clifford Chance recently advised investment fund RREEF Moroccan Explorer on its 100% share acquisition of a property investment company.

Cuatrecasas, Gonçalves Pereira’ Miguel Guerrero focuses on M&A and restructuring. The team recently advised Motorola on the sale of its wireless network assets to Nokia Siemens’ Moroccan subsidiary.

Hajji & Associés’ Amin Hajji and Myriam Bennani advise on M&A, joint ventures and asset transactions, as well as franchising and other contractual matters.

CMS recently assisted a leading safety products company on its acquisition of a local company, and acted for a leading Portuguese company in a takeover bid for a Moroccan competitor.

Garrigues Maroc Sarl’s corporate clients include ThyssenKrupp, Globalia Group and ECISA. Expertise includes general corporate advice, M&A and related tax matters. José Ignacio García Muniozguren is the key contact.

CWA Morocco provides ‘very good’ corporate and M&A services. Leonz Meyer is ‘hands on, on target and quick’. The team recently hired senior associate Jawad Fassi Fehri, who is based in Paris but specialises in French and Moroccan corporate law.

Ernst & Young – Associated Advisers’ global reputation ensures its Casablanca office receives a steady flow of instructions relating to corporate transactions, restructuring and tax advice.

JeantetAssociés advises clients on divestitures, acquisitions and joint ventures, particularly in the financial services industry. Laurent Sablé heads the team.

Lefèvre Pelletier & associés is ‘excellent, particularly in terms of response times and business knowledge’. Lina Fassi, who recently joined the firm from the Moroccan Ministère de la Jeunesse et des Sports, heads the Morocco practice with Alain Gauvin.

Mernissi – FIGES recently advised Shell du Maroc on a share acquisition.

Ali Kettani Law Office’s Mehdi Kettani recently advised a major Saudi Arabian environmental group on its participation investment into a Moroccan company.

Ben Abderrahmane & Partners advises domestic and international clients on matters including incorporation, joint ventures, takeovers, and restructuring.

SJA Law Firm provides ‘first-class service’ with a ‘strong customer focus’. Clients recommend the team for being able to ‘combine local expertise with European or US practise standards’.