Norton Rose Fulbright > Casablanca, Morocco > Firm Profile

Norton Rose Fulbright
IMMEUBLE MERBOUHA
10 BIS RUE ALI ABDERRAZAK
CASABLANCA
Morocco

Morocco > Banking, finance and capital markets Tier 1

Norton Rose Fulbright is a market leader in operations, project financing, financial restructuring, and corporate lending transactions. Alain Malek leads the Morocco and North African practice. Malek is a seasoned practitioner with a strong track record handling cross-border transactions across Europe, Africa, and the Middle East, with particular expertise in the insurance, energy, and telecoms sectors. Additionally, Roberto Cristofolini specialises in banking and stock exchange law in Morocco and France and recently advised the Ministry of Economy and Finance of Morocco on the private equity funds adopted by the Council of Government.

Practice head(s):

Alain Malek

Other key lawyers:

Roberto Cristofolini

Key clients

HPS

Moroccan Ministry of Economy and Finance

Banque Marocaine pour le Commerce et l’Industrie

Banque centrale Populaire

Société de Dessalement d’Eau d’Agadir (SEDA)

Work highlights

  • Advising Hightech Payment Systems (HPS) with respect to an increase in capital reserved to managers and employees of the group, via the subscription of stock options.
  • Acted with the World Bank Group (acting under its Joint Capital Markets Program – J-CAP) to advise the Ministry of Economy and Finance of Morocco on bill n°58-22 amending and supplementing law n°41-05 on private equity funds (OPCCs), adopted by the Council of Government on 8 March 2023.
  • Advised Banque Centrale Populaire (BCP) and Banque Marocaine pour le Commerce et l’Industrie (BMCI) on the financing of the acquisition by Helios of a majority stake in the T2S Medtech group.

Morocco > Commercial, corporate and M&A Tier 1

Norton Rose Fulbright‘s Casablanca office has particular strength within the infrastructure, transport, telecoms, and construction sectors. Notably, the firm also has a strong antitrust and compliance practice. Co-leading the team is Alain Malek, based in Casablanca, whose expertise is reflected in his high-profile clients. Malek is currently advising the Ministry of Commerce, Industry, and Digital Economy in an investment agreement with several Chinese construction corporations. Working alongside Malek is practice co-head Roberto Cristofolini, who focuses on corporate law and finance.

Practice head(s):

Alain Malek; Roberto Cristofolini

Testimonials

‘The team has a very pragmatic, business-oriented approach. They have a very good knowledge of local practice and the expectations of the local competition authority. ’

‘The team delivered results on time, and they were very thorough in the details ’

‘Easy to access, very responsive.’

Key clients

Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Digital Economy

Group Cimat

Brookfield Corporation

Wafa Assurance

KPMG France

KPMG International

Stellantis

BNP Paribas (BNPP)

Credit Agricole Consumer Finance (CACF)

Santander

Cameco Corporation

Work highlights

  • Advising Brookfield and Cameco Corporation in the filing of their joint acquisition of Westinghouse Electric Company with the Moroccan competition council; this transaction is international in scope and relates to the nuclear energy sector.  
  • Advised Wafa Assurance in the context of the sale by Crédit Agricole SA of its 10% stake in Crédit du Maroc to Holmarcom.
  • Provided legal assistance in the first cartel investigation launched by the Morocco Competition Council.

Morocco > Tourism and real estate Tier 1

Norton Rose Fulbright Casablanca provides corporate related real estate and construction advice to developers, government-linked businesses, and financial institutions. Alain Malek recently advised on the structuring of real estate development, development of residential complexes, and negotiation of lease agreements to various operators, real estate funds, and property developers. Meanwhile, Mathieu Dahan provides support on the firm’s most significant matters, including advising the real estate branch of a Saudi group concerning issues relating to an office building in Casablanca.

Practice head(s):

Alain Malek; Mathieu Dahan

Key clients

Attijari Wafa Bank

Assoufid Properties SA

Asas Investment Ltd

Mediterannea Capital Partner

AMDIE

Ministry of Investment

Yamed Group

Beyond Technology

SADV (OCP Group)

MEDZ

Work highlights

  • Advised SADV in the structuring of real estate development and compiled a detailed review and analysis of all possible options, with advantages and drawbacks, for the development of the Green City of Benguérir.
  • Advising the developer, Assoufid Properties, in relation to the development of residential complex in Marrakech, the real estate structuring (joint ownership associations, RIPT) and the management of the St Regis (Marriott) hotel.
  • Assisting Canadian group, Beyond Technology, in relation to the implementation of its activity in Casanearshore, including negotiation of the lease agreement for its offices.

Morocco > Projects and public law Tier 2

The firm: Norton Rose Fulbright is a global law firm. We provide the world’s preeminent corporations and financial institutions with a full business law service. We have more than 4,000 lawyers and other legal staff based in more than 50 cities across Europe, the United States, Canada, Latin America, Asia, Australia, the Middle East and Africa.

Areas of practice: Recognized for our industry focus, we are strong across all the key industry sectors: financial institutions; energy; infrastructure, mining and commodities; transport; technology and innovation; and life sciences and healthcare. Through our global risk advisory group, we leverage our industry experience with our knowledge of legal, regulatory, compliance and governance issues to provide our clients with practical solutions to the legal and regulatory risks facing their businesses.

Wherever we are, we operate in accordance with our global business principles of quality, unity and integrity. We aim to provide the highest possible standard of legal service in each of our offices and to maintain that level of quality at every point of contact.

Norton Rose Fulbright Verein, a Swiss verein, helps coordinate the activities of Norton Rose Fulbright members but does not itself provide legal services to clients. Norton Rose Fulbright has offices in more than 50 cities worldwide, including London, Houston, New York, Toronto, Mexico City, Hong Kong, Sydney and Johannesburg. For more information, see nortonrosefulbright.com

Offices: We have offices in the world’s most important business, financial and regulatory centres and are active in strategically important growth markets. Our offices are located in Amsterdam, Athens, Austin, Bahrain, Bangkok, Beijing, Brisbane, Brussels, Calgary, Canberra, Cape Town, Casablanca, Dallas, Denver, Dubai, Durban, Frankfurt, Hamburg, Hong Kong, Houston, Istanbul, Jakarta (in association with Norton Rose Fulbright Australia), Johannesburg, London, Los Angeles, Luxembourg, Melbourne, Mexico City, Milan, Minneapolis, Monaco, Montréal, Moscow, Munich, New York, Ottawa, Paris, Perth, Piraeus, Port Moresby, Québec, Rio de Janeiro, Riyadh (in association with Mohammed Al-Ghamdi Law Firm), San Antonio, San Francisco, São Paulo, Shanghai, Singapore, St Louis, Sydney, Tokyo, Toronto, Vancouver, Warsaw and Washington, DC. In Africa, we have alliances with firms in Kenya, Uganda, Burundi and Zimbabwe

Number of partners (worldwide): 1,000+
Number of other fee-earners (worldwide): 2,000+
Total staff: 7,500+

Global key contacts
Financial institutions: James Bateson
Energy: Anne Lapierre and John Mauel
Infrastructure, mining and commodities: Nick Merritt
Transport: Harry Theochari
Technology: Nick Abrahams
Life sciences and healthcare: Stacey Martinez and Randy Sutton

Department Name Email Telephone
Financial institutions James Bateson
Energy Anne Lapierre and John Mauel
Infrastructure, mining and commodities Nick Merritt
Transport Harry Theochari
Technology Nick Abrahams
Life sciences and healthcare Stacey Martinez and Randy Sutton
Other offices : Amsterdam
Other offices : Athens
Other offices : Austin
Other offices : Bahrain
Other offices : Bangkok
Other offices : Beijing
Other offices : Bogotá
Other offices : Brisbane
Other offices : Brussels
Other offices : Calgary
Other offices : Canberra
Other offices : Cape Town
Other offices : Caracas
Other offices : Dallas
Other offices : Dar es Salaam
Other offices : Denver
Other offices : Dubai
Other offices : Durban
Other offices : Frankfurt
Other offices : Hamburg
Other offices : Hong Kong
Other offices : Houston
Other offices : Istanbul
Other offices : Jakarta (in association with Norton Rose Fulbright Australia)
Other offices : Johannesburg
Other offices : London
Other offices : Los Angeles
Other offices : Luxembourg
Other offices : Melbourne
Other offices : Mexico City
Other offices : Milan
Other offices : Minneapolis
Other offices : Monaco
Other offices : Montréal
Other offices : Moscow
Other offices : Munich
Other offices : New York
Other offices : Ottawa
Other offices : Paris
Other offices : Perth
Other offices : Piraeus
Other offices : Port Moresby
Other offices : Québec
Other offices : Rio de Janeiro
Other offices : Riyadh (in association with Mohammed Al-Ghamdi Law Firm)
Other offices : San Antonio
Other offices : San Francisco
Other offices : São Paulo
Other offices : Shanghai
Other offices : Singapore
Other offices : St Louis
Other offices : Sydney
Other offices : Tokyo
Other offices : Toronto
Other offices : Vancouver
Other offices : Warsaw
Other offices : Washington, DC
Other offices : In Africa, it has alliances with firms in Kenya, Uganda, Burundi and Zimbabwe.