CC looks to pan-African reach in wake of spate of launches in Moroccan legal market

Clifford Chance (CC) is considering opening further offices in Africa after becoming one of three top 10 City law firms to announce plans to open in Morocco within the last month.

The firm, which along with Norton Rose last week confirmed plans to follow Allen & Overy (A&O) into Casablanca later this year, said that the launch of its first African office could be followed by other openings on the continent.

CC's Moroccan arm, which is due to open before the end of 2011, is intended to serve as a hub for Francophone North Africa, but the firm is also thought to be considering its options in other key regional hubs including Egypt, Nigeria and South Africa.

The plans mark the second stage of CC's Africa programme, which started in 2008. While the first stage focused on identifying referral firms across Africa, the second phase is centred on reviewing where else in Africa CC may need offices.

Paris energy partner and Africa group co-head Tony Giustini (pictured) said: "There are a number of markets that are potentially interesting and part of our effort is to make sure we are servicing each market in the right manner. There are 55 countries in Africa and we will not open 55 offices, but we will look at other jurisdictions [beyond Morocco], and that is what we are doing now."

Paris-based partner and Moroccan national Mustapha Mourahib is due to relocate to Morocco to launch the 
firm's office.

News of CC's plans came days before Norton Rose announced its own launch in Morocco, as growing numbers of firms seek to use the region as a hub for clients seeking access to Africa. The firm will relocate two Paris associates to Casablanca to staff the office, while Paris-based Africa group head Alain Malek will formally manage the office and spend a large part of his time in North Africa.

A&O secured a triple hire from French leader Gide Loyrette Nouel's Casablanca office for its September launch. Project finance partner Hicham Naciri will head the office, with corporate partner Yassir Ghorbal working on ground in Morocco and Philippe de Richoufftz joining as counsel in A&O's Paris office.

Announcing the launch, global managing partner Wim Dejonghe commented: "Morocco is rapidly establishing itself as a key hub for international companies and investors looking to build a presence in Africa."

Other firms understood to have considered opening in Morocco include White & Case, while Eversheds announced in March that it had secured a Morocco presence via a co-operation agreement with former Eversheds associate Mohamed Oulkhouir, who has set up his own practice in Casablanca.