Firms To Watch: Commercial, corporate and M&A

Aslan Berjeb, Mohamed Aymen Chbak and Mohamed Etteib Ben Chaabane head up the practice at Berjeblawyers. The team is equipped to assist with the local law aspects of major transactions.  

Commercial, corporate and M&A in Tunisia

Bennani & Associés

Independent law firm Bennani & Associés is regularly sought out by global corporations and foreign law firms for assistance with a range of corporate and financial activities.  M&A, joint ventures and foreign direct investment all stand out as areas of activity for a team praised for its ability to handle ‘complex, time-sensitive transactions’. ‘Standout lawyer’ Lamia Harguem oversees matters and frequently wins plaudits for her ability to handle work connected to Tunisian subsidiaries such as due diligence and restructurings. Emna Msaad and Sarra Ben Salem are further names to note.

Praxisleiter:

Lamia Harguem


Weitere Kernanwälte:

Emna Msaad; Sarra Ben Salem


Referenzen

‘Team has shown great responsiveness and engagement.’

‘Standout lawyer Lamia Harguem shows lots of commitment.’

‘Very reliable team, with a business minded approach – they are our go-to firm for international clients ’

Kernmandanten

Abu Dhabi Developmental Holding Company (ADQ)


ADQ


Amphenol Corporation


Aptean


Ardian


Bolt


Development Partner International (DPI)


Essity


Five Arrows Principal Investments


Gruppo Florence


Japan Tobacco International


JUMIA


Maîf Avenir


Meta


Pfizer


Qatar Electricity & Water Company (QEWC)


Solix Group AB


Sopra Banking Software


STMicroelectronics


Umicore


Volkswagen


Highlight-Mandate


  • Advised Development Partners International (DPI) on merger control clearance of its $165m acquisition of a controlling minority stake in Kazyon.
  • Advised NYSE-listed Amphenol on its January 2023 acquisition of the CMR group from LBO France.
  • Advised Aptean on its acquisition of NORRIQ Group’s Drink-IT business.

Eversheds El Heni (a member of Eversheds Sutherland)

Eversheds El Heni (a member of Eversheds Sutherland) is praised for an M&A practice that combines international standards’ with a good understanding of ‘local specifics’.  The team assists a predominantly overseas client base with issues such as the establishment of joint ventures, acquisitions and the disposal of regulated assets. The ‘outstanding’ Fares El Heni oversees matters alongside Raouf El Heni. Both partners handle an array of advisory and contentious work in the M&A space.

Praxisleiter:

Fares El Heni; Raouf El Heni


Referenzen

‘Eversheds is a true partner, they follow every single phase of the contract. This helps a lot because it allows to be focussed on the other important things. They assisted us during the negotiation, closing and post and were extremely proactive.’

‘Fares El Heni is a business partner on top of a legal advisor. He is always open to explore possibilities to solve a challenge. I like his ability to see things out of the box.’

‘When it comes to M&A legal support, it seems this practice is the only law firm in Tunisia that is comparable with international / European standards – very professional, hands-on people.’

Kernmandanten

Swarco holding


Maridive


Wunderman Thompson


Bulgin


Rina


Credit Agricole


Microsoft


PPG


Kone


FOSIT


Turkish Airlines


Infor


GE Healthcare


Der Touristic


Bourns


BNP Paribas


Highlight-Mandate


  • Advised Swarco Holding on structuring and setting up a joint venture in Tunisia.
  • Advised Maridive on structuring and setting up an acquisition between an Egypt-based investor and a Tunisia-based seller.

Ferchiou & associés

Multinational corporations from sectors such as pharma, automotive and energy seek out Ferchiou & associés for assistance with corporate and M&A work including local aspects of joint ventures, mergers and private equity investments. Commercial mandates ranging from the negotiation of commercial leases to the drafting of distribution agreements are further areas of strength. Omar Ferchiou, praised for his ‘solid international background’ heads up the team alongside Noureddine Ferchiou  and Rym Ferchiou, who is well versed in local regulatory constraints surrounding cross-border acquisitions.

Praxisleiter:

Noureddine Ferchiou; Omar Ferchiou; Rym Ferchiou


Referenzen

‘The team is able to assist international clients in English and French meeting the standards that are generally required by the best practices.’

‘Omar Ferchiou has a solid international background, a primary experience in Tunisian law matters and the ability to represent clients before local authorities.’

 

Kernmandanten

BioNTech SE


Eni Group


Ford Motor Company


CMA CGM S.A.


Emirates Cable TC and Multimedia LLC


Transmec Group


Highlight-Mandate


  • Advised BioNTech SE with local matters in regard to its acquisition of instadeep.
  • Advised Eni Group with local matters in regard to its partnership with Snam for gas pipelines between Algeria and Italy.
  • Advised Transmec Group with local matters in regard to its acquisition of TNA Cargo.

Meziou Knani & Khlif

Core pillars of the practice at Meziou Knani & Khlif include handling legal due diligence of target entities,  drafting transaction agreements and advising on the restructuring of corporate activities and assets. Practice co-head Ghazi Meziou excels in investment law mandates and is praised for his ‘exceptional interpersonal and professional skills’. Fellow co-head Ayoub Knani is a key contact for complex privatisation matters, while Omar Ben Slimane completes the leadership team and frequently guides investment funds and strategic investors through M&A transactions.

Praxisleiter:

Ghazi Meziou; Ayoub Knani; Omar Ben Slimane


Referenzen

‘The practice is in line with international standards.’

‘Ghazi Meziou has exceptional interpersonal and professional skills.’

Kernmandanten

Admaius Capital Partners


Mediterrania Capital Partners


Ekuity Capital


Baobab


Groupe El Hadayek


AfricInvest


Inma Holding


Société Nouvelle des Boissons Gazeuses (SNBG)


Honoris Holding Limited (Actis)


216 Capital Ventures


Consolis International


Flat6Labs Egypt


Adly Bellagha & Associates

Adly Bellagha & Associates is geared to handle the lease of aircraft and acquisitions and disposals of assets ranging from hotels to satellite network systems. Privtisations are also a core aspect of the firm’s offering and practice head Adly Bellagha frequently employs his extensive expertise in this area to handle matters ranging from the privatisation of publicly owned factories to the privatisation of highly regulated financial institutions. Hend Ben Ashur is well positioned to assist with the incorporation of offshore companies.

Praxisleiter:

Adly Bellagha


Weitere Kernanwälte:

Hend Ben Ashur


Kernmandanten

Celestial Aviation Trading 34 Limited


Inishdawson Leasing Limited


Tunis Air


Zitouna Bank


Société Chimique Al Kimia


Serinus BV


Mazarine Energy


Shandong Haiwang Chemical Co Tunisia Sarl


Société Saida SA


Linde Gas


Sesam International Free Market


Highlight-Mandate


  • Advised Shandong Haiwang Chemical Co Tunisie, and negotiated on its behalf, for the award of a mining permit from the Ministry of Energy.
  • Advised Celestial Aviation Trading 34 limited on the lease of 4 aircrafts to Tunis Air.

Cabinet Donia Hedda Ellouze

Cabinet Donia Hedda Ellouze regularly assists overseas clients with direct investment mandates in Tunisia and the acquisition of local companies. Transactional work involving the issuance of participating shares is a further strong suit for the outfit. Key contact Donia Hedda Ellouze‘s practice ranges from privatisation mandates to the drafting of contractual documents.

Praxisleiter:

Donia Hedda Ellouze


Weitere Kernanwälte:

Meriem Belajouza Felli; Molka Ellouze; Jamila Toubal


Gallala Law Firm

The corporate and commercial law practice at Gallala Law Firm is an important destination for  international clients from sectors such as telecoms and IT seeking to carry out transactions in Tunisia. The firm is also advising on a growing number of restructurings and regulatory work. The ‘exceptionally skilled’  Zied Gallala heads up the team. His varied practice incorporates experience in strategic transformations and corporate reorganisations.

Praxisleiter:

Zied Gallala


Referenzen

‘Zied Gallala is a great professional, with great knowledge and response capacity in any situation.’

‘Professional advice and ability to adapt to client needs.

‘Zied Gallala was always very responsive and provided very good advise during the process of our firm’s M&A activity in Tunisia. He also made sure that any documentation was well drafted and delivered on time.’

Kernmandanten

Air Liquide


AbbVie


Allianz


Apem


Applied Materials


Apple


Atos


Baker McKenzie


Borges Agricultural & Industrial Oils S.A.U


Dyson


Ebcon Group


Forvia


Grant Thornton Société d’Avocats


Koinos Capital


Marinedi Group


Mersen


Ravago Chemicals


Ooredoo


Spotify


Tencent


Puig


Global Lawyers North Africa in partnership with Gide Loyrette Nouel

Advising international clients on their investments in Tunisia is at the heart of the corporate offering at Global Lawyers North Africa in partnership with Gide Loyrette Nouel. Recent work in this area includes advising on the establishment of joint ventures and on the disposition and acquisition of Tunisian companies and subsidiaries. Practice head Anis Jabnoun‘s transactional competence is particularly valued by clients from the financial services and industrial sectors.

Praxisleiter:

Anis Jabnoun


Kernmandanten

Bulgin group


Servier Group


Lear Group


Fresenius Medical Care


Telecoming


Daimler


Orange


Valpaint


Gervé Danone


Sisal


Highlight-Mandate


  • Advising a Servier Group entity holding 50% of Servier Tunisia to acquire the remaining 50% from the local Tunisian partner.
  • Advising the BULGIN group in the sale of EQUISTONE involving its Tunisian subsidiary BULGIN TUNISIE S.A R.L.
  • Advising Danone on its equity stakes in several Tunisian company of the Délice Group.

Boussayene Knani Law Firm

Boussayene Knani Law Firm leverages its expertise in corporate and commercial law to assist international clients with acquisitions, sales and the establishment of business operations in Tunisia. Youssef Knani, who is fluent in French, Arabic and English and is praised for his ‘unrivalled skills and experience’, heads up the practice. Former magistrate Mehrez Boussayene is a further key contact.

Praxisleiter:

Youssef Knani


Weitere Kernanwälte:

Mehrez Boussayene; Ines Youssef


Referenzen

‘The team is led by Youssef Knani, an eminent business lawyer with unrivalled skills and experience.’ 

‘Homogeneous multidisciplinary team and always responsive.’

Kernmandanten

Total Energies


Monoprix Géant


Laboratoires SVR


Condor – Thomas Cook


“ETAP” Tunisian National Oil Company


Banque de Tunisie


BERD – European Bank for Reconstruction and Development


Banque Fédérative du Crédit Mutuel (BFCM)


Tunisie Télécom


Ooredoo


“Bsic” Sahelo-Saharan Bank for Investment and Trade


Maersk


Presidency of the republic of Togo


Aurubis AG


Highlight-Mandate


  • Advice and due diligence on a wind farm project for Total Eren in the context of a Tunisian government call for tender (Concession regime).
  • Advising Millet Mountain Group on the sale of its Tunisian subsidiary to Lafuma SAS.
  • Advising SOCIETE DES CIMENTS D’ENFIDHA on the acquisition of Select Beton.

Cabinet Mrabet Avocats

Helmed by Mohamed Jed Mrabet, Cabinet Mrabet Avocats‘ recent focus on legal compliance for clients connected to blockchain technology and cryptocurrencies complements the established corporate practice whose areas of activity include conducting due diligence on target companies, assisting with the opening of retail branches overseas and with the exit of a joint venture from a corporate group. Yesmine Ben Mabrouk is another name to note.

Praxisleiter:

Mohamed Jed Mrabet


Weitere Kernanwälte:

Yesmine Ben Mabrouk; Iyadh Abid


Kernmandanten

TBE ENTERTAINEMENT DMCC


NIMR


COMET


Appetito Technologies BV


Fierce Sportswear


Attesia TV


Equity Capital


California Gym


Villa Paradiso


Tunisair


Résidence Amila


Highlight-Mandate


  • Advised on the exit of EKuity Capital from the medical group Les Oliviers for $20m.
  • Assisted Tunisian brand FIERCE with the process of opening retail branches in Dubai and Egypt.
  • Participated in the drafting of the new Foreign Exchange Act 2023 under the aegis of the Tunisian-British Chamber of Commerce for the Tunisian government.