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Clifford Chance opens its office in Casablanca

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7 February 2012

Clifford Chance opens its office in Casablanca

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.

Clifford Chance ouvre son bureau à Casablanca

Comme annoncé en juillet 2011, le cabinet d'avocats international Clifford Chance a ouvert son bureau au Maroc. Il est dirigé par Mustapha Mourahib, associé basé à Casablanca et en charge de toutes les activités du cabinet en Afrique du Nord et en Afrique sub-saharienne.

Ce bureau est la première implantation directe de Clifford Chance sur le continent africain et a vocation à devenir la plateforme du cabinet pour accompagner ses clients en Afrique.

Mustapha Mourahib précise " la place financière de Casablanca bénéficie de nombreux atouts et notamment d'un cadre juridique et institutionnel sophistiqué, ce qui lui confère une position stratégique sur le continent africain. Je suis confiant dans le dynamisme de l'économie marocaine et très heureux de développer l'activité de Clifford Chance sur ce marché porteur".

L'équipe de Clifford Chance Casablanca est active en matière de fusions acquisitions, private equity, grands projets d'énergie et d'infrastructures, droit bancaire et financier, ainsi qu'en immobilier et en arbitrage.

Elle s'est déjà illustrée en 2011 en conseillant CDG Développement et Exprom dans la création d'un partenariat stratégique avec Vinci Facilities et Cegelec Maroc. Elle travaille actuellement sur trois projets de financements majeurs dans le secteur des énergies renouvelables.

Le bureau de Casablanca collaborera étroitement avec les autres bureaux de Clifford Chance, notamment au sein du groupe Afrique qui comprend plus de 200 avocats dans 16 bureaux.