Leading international law firm, Clifford Chance opens its office in Casablanca today, giving the firm’s strong Africa practice its first permanent on the ground presence in the continent.
The new office, first announced in July last year, will act as a hub for clients across North and Sub-Saharan Africa, and is led by Moroccan national Mustapha Mourahib, who has relocated to Casablanca. It will build on the firm’s extensive existing business in the Morrocan market and the excellent reputation of its thriving Africa group.
Mustapha Mourahib is also taking the lead on further developing the firm’s business in wider North African and Sub-Saharan Francophone region working in conjunction with other partners from around the Clifford Chance network.
Mustapha Mourahib explains, “Casablanca’s financial centre presents many opportunities for our clients and for Clifford Chance. It has a mature legal and institutional framework and is considered a strategic market and a central hub for doing business in the region. The Moroccan economy continues to be very dynamic and I am very excited to be able to develop the firm’s footprint in the region.”
David Childs, Clifford Chance managing partner, adds, “Many of our clients in Africa are increasingly looking at regional and international expansion, just as those in the rest of the world are looking to opportunities right across the continent in a way that they haven’t been before. This office is just the latest step in Clifford Chance’s investment to support clients in Africa and other key growth markets.”
The Casablanca team already benefits from a strong track-record in mergers and acquisitions, private equity, energy and infrastructure projects, banking and finance work as well as real estate and arbitration.
Recent transactions include assisting CDG Développement and Exprom in the creation of a common joint venture with Vinci Facilities and Cegelec Morrocco in the field of facility management. The team is also currently advising on three major financings in the area of renewable energy.
The opening in Casablanca is just one aspect of Clifford Chance’s broader Africa offering, which is led by Paris partner Anthony Giustini, Casablanca partner Mustapha Mourahib, Frankfurt partner Edmund Boyo, and London partners Jeremy Connick and Kem Ihenacho. The Africa group consists of some 200 lawyers in 16 different countries.
