Published by Andrew Mizner on ALB on November 21rst 2022
With its first African office, SRDB hopes to build on the groundwork it has laid with a network of alliances across the continent.
French firm SRDB opened a new office in Tunisia in October, its first in Africa and a continuation of the African strategy that has seen it partner or ally with firms in nine countries across the continent.
Tunisian lawyer Yosr Hafhouf, who has been operating her own firm for the past five years, has joined SRDB to head up the new office, which will target the Mediterranean region as well as North Africa, in collaboration with its alliance offices in Morocco and Algeria.
The new site will practice commercial law, litigation, transport and insurance, business crime, intellectual property, compliance and restructuring work, among other areas.
Hafhouf, a commercial lawyer, previously spent four years in an in-house role with French logistics and shipping corporation CMA CGM in Tunisia.
“There are not enough international law firms in Tunisia,” said Hafhouf, in a statement. “The country has privileged relations not only with France, but also with Europe and the whole of Africa, where SRDB has very active offices.”
She added that the French firm’s platform would benefit her clients, and that given the firm’s international alliances, “this network provides an opportunity for us to accompany investors from various countries in their projects in Tunisia”.
The firm has existing alliances or agreements with law firms in Algeria, Angola, Cameroon, Comoros, Gabon, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Morocco and Senegal. Outside Africa, it has similar arrangements in China. Lebanon, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Syria and Ukraine.
SRDB co-founder Georges Sioufi said: “I want to turn SRDB in Tunisia into a leading law firm on the African continent, one which works to international standards. I am convinced that Yosr, with her temperament, know-how and expertise, will contribute to the success of the firm in Africa.”
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