About

Based in: Paris

Number of years practice: 19

Principal practice areas: International arbitration, international disputes

Languages spoken: English and French

What is the geographical focus of your practice in Africa?

North and Francophone Africa and West Africa.

Please describe the most important matters you have worked on in the African market in the last two years, including your role and the significance of the matter (if any) to the development of business and law.

My most recent and important cases include the DP World dispute against the Republic of Djibouti (an LCIA arbitration combined with several parallel court litigations in the Djibouti courts) and the Millicom dispute against Wari over the sale of the TIGO telecom assets in Senegal, (an ICC arbitration combined with several parallel court litigations in the Dakar courts), both of which are ongoing.

I have also worked on various disputes in ICC arbitrations for Algerian national companies in the energy sector Sonelgaz or Sonatrach – some are closed, others are ongoing – as well as the dispute between the Republic of Tunisia and ABCI International in an ICSID arbitration.

What differentiates your practice from that of other private practice lawyers?

I am an international arbitration specialist, acting as lead counsel and advocate in a number of high profile arbitrations in Africa. What differentiates my practice from others is that, as a French qualified lawyer and a French speaker (as well as being an English qualified solicitor), I have also rights of audience in the local courts of most of Francophone African countries. That gives me the advantage of being able to assist international clients fully on all aspects of their disputes related to and in Africa.

I can advise and represent clients not only in the international arbitration they are initiating or facing, but also in the parallel court litigations which have been brought locally in the country, often as a tactic tool by the parties. Clients generally appreciate and show satisfaction to receive such comprehensive and across the board strategic assistance by one lead counsel who understands their needs and has the full picture.

Over the last decade or so, I have acquired a huge experience and understanding of the continent’s local and regional business practices, legal systems and have developed an extensive network of great colleagues in private practice, at academic and government levels. I have also had an impressive run of victories in Africa-related cases over the past years including, but not limited to, PwC Morocco, the Republic of Tunisia, Sonelgaz, OHL and Millicom.

Why has Africa been a particularly strong focus for you?

Because of my dual qualification and language skills. Many Francophone countries have a legal system inspired from French law and the French judicial system, so I have naturally dedicated a
large part of my practice to Africa work. Another reason is simply because Africa is a very diverse and interesting continent, and I regularly contribute to leadership and knowledge by sharing my experience at conferences, or writing on disputes in Africa.

I was [also] one of the contributors of the Guide to Dispute Resolution in Africa, while I was at my previous law firm, Herbert Smith Freehills.

What changes have you seen in the appetite for Africa-based ventures and investments over the last five years?

Definitely an increase in foreign investments but also intra-African investments. With that, we have seen an increase in complex dispute resolution, not only in international arbitration and commercial litigation but also in white-collar investigations and compliance.

Are there any aspects of the African legal market that you would like to see change?

More diversity at the decision-makers level in international arbitration, with arbitrators having a better knowledge of what makes the “African” continent so unique and diverse at the same time, with a strong background of civil law and common law, with Anglophone and Francophone skills, as the case may be.

What megatrends do you think will shape the African market over the coming five years? How (if at all) will these trends affect your practice?

Definitely an increase in foreign investments but also intra-African investments, with a corresponding increase in the number and complexity of disputes.