About Us

Navigating the Legal Landscape with Integrity

We are a major and prominent business law firm with a long history in the country. For more than 50 years, we have served multiple national and international clients in different sectors and areas of business law. We are dynamic, innovative, multilingual and have an in-depth understanding of local market, laws and practices. We are acting in upstream and downstream sides (advisory and contentious). We offer a complete spectrum/portfolio of services in business law and focuse on assistance to foreign investment in Morocco and litigation/arbitration with a considerable experience and track record.

TRANSACTIONS

Energy

We have advised a consortium led by ACWA Power International (ACWA Power), the Saudi Water and Power giant, in partnership with Aries Ingeniería y Sistemas, S.A. and TSK Electrónica y Electricidad, who have been selected as preferred bidder to develop the USD 1 Billion 160 MW Ouarzazate CSP Independent Power Project located approximately 200 KM south of Marrakesh. We have also assisted some bidders in other energy projects in Morocco (the Tarfaya project and the extension of Units in Jorf Lasfar). As regards to pipelines, we have been advising Circle Oil for gas in the Sebou area.

Aviation

The firm is advising each year and for several years the Export and Import Bank of America (EXIMBank) in the financing and the delivery of different aircrafts (Iast transaction $ 80,634,290). It has also been advising other foreign companies, such as C.I.T Group in connection with the sublease of aircrafts to Moroccan companies. The firm also advised Natixis and also BNP in the financing and delivery of aircrafts (Iast transaction $ 80, 000,000).

Shipping/Maritime Law

This is also particular of strength and the firm is deeply involved in shipping arrest cases over vessels being in Morocco and related procedures. The firm is also advising regularly ship/marine stakers and is handling maritime liability cases. We are for instance representing Somaport operator and his insurers before Court.

Merger Control/Concentration

The firm has been advising different international firms in relation to merger control issues and notified several economical concentration operations to the relevant competition Authorities. The firm was pioneer in notifying the first economic transactions to the new competition Council. It has acted for instance for Amcor, Diebold, Henkel, Credit Agricole, Chambre Francaise de Commerce et d'Industrie de Paris, Open Gate Funds.

Aquaculture

The firm has advised an Australian company involved in a transaction on aquaculture for USD 110 Million in the South of Morocco.

Corporate & financing

The firm is providing regularly assistance to several foreign investors in corporate transactions in different sectors. Among others, we have notably advised Danone, the European Bank For Reconsctruction and Development (EBRD), Siemens Gamesa, Silk Road Fund in the acquisition/financing of interests in different important local companies. In another deal, the firm intervened on a finance transaction involving a Luxemburg Institution Fund Rural impulse Fund, which included legal support for the financing aspects, security documents and Moroccan currency exchange regulations.

Tobacco Industry

We have been advising Philip Morris and Korean Tobacco (KT&G) in different legal issues related to Tobacco industry.

Contentious- Litigation and Arbitration

We have been advising ISUZU Headquarter in relation to the termination of a local distribution contract and represented them before Courts with an excellent result. The firm has represented PWC International in a litigation procedure/exequatur procedure of international arbitration award against the local PWC after its exclusion from the network. The firm is advising several foreign companies and individuals in relation to litigation matters in real, estate in connection with different touristic projects such as "Four Seasons", "Fadesa",”Addoha”, “Salixus”, “Alliance”(till Euros 2.000.000 a transaction). The firm is representing several foreign companies before Courts in business contentious matters and recovery claims/collection debt amounts. The firm is continuously involved in provisionary procedures before Courts, including seizures over movable and real estate assets.

Legal Opinions- Expert Witness

We have been asked to provide legal opinions as witness experts in relation to certain specific Moroccan laws and regulations for disputes/ contentious relating to international investors pending before London Courts.

FOUNDED BY

ABDELAZIZ BENZAKOUR

Moroccan Ombudsman (Médiateur du Royaume) appointed by the King of Morocco (2011-2018) Member of the National Commission for Protection of Personal Data,
Former Member of the Economical, Social and Environmental National Council,
Former Chief of the Casablanca Bar,
Former Chief of the Moroccan Association Bars,
Former Chief of the African Union Bars

MANAGED BY

RACHID BENZAKOUR

Managing Partner of the Firm,
Arbitrator before the Moroccan of Arbitration,
Ranked first (among 7000 candidates) in the National Bar Exam (2000),
Master's Degree in Business Law- Magistère DESS-DJCE- University of Montpellier,
School of Law, France (1998),
Exchange Program- University of Gainesville, Florida, U.S.A (1999),
Works in collaboration with several foreign law firms and international companies in different projects both on legal assistance to foreign investment in Morocco and contentious/litigation.

Clients

Clients Dealt With

Collaboration with Foreign Law Firms

THE FIRM IS VERY WELL VERSED IN WORKING IN DIFFERENT PROJECTS IN COLLABORATION WITH SEVERAL FOREIGN LAW FIRMS, SUCH AS

Hogan Lovells
Shearman & Sterling
King Bond & Malleson
Herbert Smith
Simmons Associés
Gleiss Lutz
Hill Dickinson
Bonelli Erede

Clyde & Co
Willkie Far & Galligher
Stibbe
Cleary Gottlieb
Ashurst
Reed Smith
Flichy Grange
Depardieu

Holman Fenwick
Latham
SJ Berwin
Paul Hastings
Jones Day
Bredin Prat
BDGS
August Debouzy