ASAFO & CO. RCI's workload spans capital markets, infrastructure, energy, and banking and finance. The firm has a diverse client base, handling mandates for state entities, commercial lenders and development finance institutions and includes individuals qualified in Ivory Coast, France, China and New York. Karamoko Fadiga has expertise in securitisation; Yacouba Coulibaly is a notable name in banking and finance; and Didier Boua Doux is experienced in energy and infrastructure mandates.
Leading firms in Ivory Coast
ASAFO & CO. RCI
Practice head(s):
Yacouba Coulibaly; Karamoko Fadiga; Didier Boua Doux
Testimonials
‘ASAFO & CO has a good knowledge of the legal environment, good skill to handle a legal project or legal case; good collaboration mindset and is always available for their clients.’
Key clients
Association Professionnelle des Sociétés de Gestion et d’Intermédiation (APSGI)
Africa Link Capital Structuration
Work highlights
- Advised Africa Link Capital Structuration in connection with a securitisation transaction on rental assets of Teyliom Group (FCTC Teyliom).
C.L.K.A.
C.L.K.A. advises on M&A, restructuring, private equity, securities, corporate finance, project development and competition matters, among other areas. The team is closely involved in local legislation and regulatory matters and was instructed by the UEMOA Commission to revise the directives on public procurement. Lassiney Kathann Camara has experience of West African commercial matters and works alongside Eloi k. Yao who handles public economic law and white-collar crime cases.
Practice head(s):
Lassiney Kathann Camara; Kouakou Eloi Yao; Isabelle Niamkey
Testimonials
‘The firm has the linguistic capabilities as well as the ‘on the ground’ capacity to advise international companies on transactional matters in all areas of corporate advisory.‘
‘Lassiney Camara is extremely capable (and charismatic). He is a vastly experienced lawyer who is active on both disputes and transactional matters. I believe that he is well esteemed amongst his peers in the market and certainly amongst clients.‘
Key clients
Children Investment Fund Foundation (CIFF)
The World Wide Fund
Moly Cop Spain Holdings SLU
Scanning Systems SA
Argus
Uber International
Scannia Credit
Das Labor GmbH
Tridem Pharma
Work highlights
- Assisted an international company in a structured financing project.
- Assisted an international company with its joint venture and supply arrangement with an Ivorian company, with regards to its activities expenditure in Côte d’Ivoire.
- Assisted an Islamic fund with regard to a Murabaha project.
Bennani & Associes
Bennani & Associés is a reputable firm which serves local business and international companies in North Africa and francophone regions. The firm is involved in a number of high-calibre mandates, especially within the banking and finance spectrum, advising Salama on the sale of its Senegalese subsidiary. Assemian Faustin Kouakou heads the Abidjan office with expertise in insurance.
Practice head(s):
Assemian Faustin Kouakou
Testimonials
‘The team is well equipped to handle cross-border M&A transactions from Abidjan. They work with international law firms on Ivorian and Ohada aspects of the transactions. The team is smart and responsive.‘
‘Medhi Bennani and Faustin Assemian Kouakou are leading professionals with strong expertise in business law.‘
‘Assemian Faustin Kouakou is quite responsive and willing to have his views pressure-tested. He endeavours to provide relevant solutions to his clients.‘
‘Assemian Faustin Kouakou has consistently provided swift, accurate and practical advice.‘
‘The team at Bennani and Associés is very responsive and provide accurate responses to clients requests.‘
‘Excellent service delivery.‘
‘Assemian always provided us with an excellent level of assistance, being not only a highly skilled lawyer but also one able to quickly find solutions. Indeed, he has a problem solving approach that is not so common in the market.‘
‘Assemian Faustin Kouakou is worth to be mentioned as a stand-out partner.‘
Key clients
China Gezhouba Group International Engineering Co, Ltd
Vivo Energy plc
JUMIA Group
Bridgestone Middle East and Africa FZE
United Bank For Africa Plc (Nigeria)
ARGUS France
Salama – Islamic Arab Insurance Company PSC
PAYSTACK
Rainforest Alliance (USA-New York)
Work highlights
- Advised Salama – Islamic Arab Insurance Company PSC on the sale of its Senegalese subsidiary, Salama Senegal, to Groupe Duval.
- Advised PAYSTACK Nigeria as local counsel on regulatory authorisation for the company’s activities in the Ivory Coast and other matters.
- Assisted Bridgestone Middle East & Africa FZE as part of its expansion in French-speaking West Africa, including set-up and operations.
GENI & KEBE IN AFFILIATION WITH BBA
GENI & KEBE IN AFFILIATION WITH BBA is a full-service firm with international credibility as a result of being part of the DLA Piper Africa network. The firm has a growing arbitration practice in addition to its existing service offering in banking and finance, projects and mining. Mouhamoud Sangare specialises in corporate transactions. Senegal-based Mouhamed Kebe provides additional support.
Practice head(s):
Mouhamed Kebe
Other key lawyers:
Mouhamoud Sangar
Work highlights
- Assisted Uber in the process of online registry of financial statements.
- Advised Sanofi Pharmaceuticals on legal regulations relating to supply chain systems in Côte d’Ivoire, Senegal and Cameroon.
- Advised Oracle on its EMEA Grievance Policy.