About

SIFCA, one of Côte d’Ivoire’s first private-sector groups, was founded in 1964 as a merger between Société Financière de la Côte Africaine and Société Immobilière de l’Indénié. It is now among the largest agro-sector companies in the West Africa region, with subsidiaries listed on the Abidjan and Paris Stock Exchanges. Specialising in the production, marketing and distribution of agricultural commodities such as palm oil, natural rubber and sugar cane, SIFCA is a significant employer and contributor to the economy of the region.

The legal affairs of the group – which operates 10 subsidiaries in Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Liberia, Nigeria, Senegal and France – are led by Judith Kouassi, legal and tax director. Kouassi and her team are known for taking a creative and commercial approach to legal problems, something which nominators said was particularly refreshing in a region known for the more formalistic approach of its corporate counsel. SIFCA is known for its commitment to community development projects in the region and its legal team has played a big part in contributing to its wider social mission by helping to develop Ivorian legal talent.