The Legal 500

Naciri & Associés Allen & Overy

TWIN CENTER - TOUR A, 7TH FLOOR, CORNERS OF BOULEVARDS ZERKTOUNI AND MASSIRA AL KHADRA, CASABLANCA, MOROCCO

What we say about the firm's legal practice in Morocco

Banking, finance and capital markets

Within Banking, finance and capital markets, Allen & Overy LLP is a first tier firm,

Naciri & Associés Allen & Overy is a mix of new and old names. Group head Hicham Naciri, Yassir Ghorbal and counsel Philippe de Richoufftz are key figures retained following the firm’s split from what is now Gide Loyrette Nouel Maroc, and banking and finance specialist François Duquette is a new arrival, having relocated from Allen & Overy LLP’s Abu Dhabi office. The firm advised TAQA and Jorf Lasfar Energy Company on the development financing of the Jorf Lasfar power project expansion.

Corporate and M&A

Within Corporate and M&A, Allen & Overy LLP is a first tier firm,

Naciri & Associés Allen & Overy combines a history of doing deals in the region with the local expertise of Hicham Naciri’s team, which ended its association with Gide Loyrette Nouel Maroc. Recent highlights include advising Shell on the $1bn divestment of a majority stake in its downstream businesses in 14 African countries to Vitol Group and Helios Investment Partners.

Dispute resolution

Within Dispute resolution,

Gide Loyrette Nouel Maroc lost former office head and leading litigator Hicham Naciri to Naciri & Associés Allen & Overy in 2011. However, the firm has a deep litigation team and longstanding expertise, particularly in administrative law and disputes involving the state.

Legal market overview

Within Legal market overview,

Casablanca welcomed numerous arrivals in 2011 as international law firms chose the city as their African hub. The top headline was Naciri & Associés’ decision to break off relations with French heavyweight Gide Loyrette Nouel Maroc – a union that had dominated Morocco rankings for some years – to form an association with an incoming UK ‘Magic Circle’ firm. The resulting Naciri & Associés Allen & Overy is expected to be a leading player going forward. In another high-profile union, CWA in Cooperation with Eversheds opened its doors in early 2011, with offices in Casablanca and Tangier. Norton Rose LLP and Clifford Chance launched in late 2011.

Projects and public law

Within Projects and public law, Allen & Overy LLP is a first tier firm,

Naciri & Associés Allen & Overy has a top-end projects practice, which has been involved in headline deals across the infrastructure, power, oil and gas sectors. On the public law side, it recently advised the Office National d’Electricité on the regulatory and contractual framework for electricity distribution in Morocco.


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