Global firm DLA Piper has followed the lead of several others and established itself in Casablanca. The firm has shown a consistent commitment to the continent in recent years, establishing several relationships with local outfits across sub-Saharan Africa as part of the DLA Piper Africa Group, and has now opened its first autonomous office in the region.
The announcement follows the news that the firm is to sever ties with longstanding South African ally, Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr, and open its own office in Johannesburg.
Morocco is quickly establishing itself as a business hub for northern and western Africa, other recent entrants to the market include Dentons and Eversheds, and Clifford Chance and Allen & Overy are already established names despite their relative youth. The jurisdiction is suitably positioned to act as an access point for the numerous emerging markets that lie in the surrounding areas; be it Algeria or Tunisia in the north, or Cote d’Ivoire or Ghana in the west.
The firm has hired Christophe Bachelet from Clifford Chance to operate as managing partner, Bachelet has accumulated nearly fifteen years of experience in the Moroccan and French markets. Other hires include Mehdi Kettani, a partner taken from local outfit Kettani Law Firm, and Mohamed Mahjoubi, who will take up the role of counsel after spells at Freshfields and Fidal in Paris.
Having entered the market with a strong team and with the backing of its extensive African network, DLA has reasons to be optimistic, however, there are question marks over exactly how much room remains for new firms, with so many major players entering the market in a reletively short time.