De Gaulle Fleurance Africa strengthens its footprint on the African continent with a new presence in Senegal

De Gaulle Fleurance EMEA announces a strategic expansion in Africa, with a newly established presence in Dakar (Senegal), to support investors – particularly those from the Middle East – in their projects on the African continent. This is De Gaulle Fleurance Africa’s second establishment, after Abidjan (Ivory Coast).

Africa is now a strategic region for international investors, particularly due to its wealth of natural resources, its growth potential and the scale of its ongoing infrastructure projects. The United Arab Emirates has a privileged relationship with the African continent in this regard, as a major investment partner. With two strategic hubs on the continent, in Abidjan (Ivory Coast) and Dakar (Senegal), De Gaulle Fleurance aims to support the projects and operations of the investors it advises from the Middle East and its subsidiary in Abu Dhabi, providing them with tailored legal expertise rooted in local and regional realities.

In addition, De Gaulle Fleurance Africa also supports European, Canadian and Asian investors with projects on the African continent.

The team mainly works in business law, public law and OHADA law.

This presence is based on the recruitment of experienced lawyers with solid experience in public and private projects on the African continent. With Mounira Coulibaly Akougbé, Certified Legal Advisor and Managing Director of De Gaulle Fleurance Africa in Abidjan, three new partners are strengthening De Gaulle Fleurance's presence on the continent.

Seynabou Kandji, a partner with some fifteen years of experience, worked in Parisian business law firms before moving to Senegal, where she held management positions in international law firms. She assists local and international clients, both public and private, in structuring and carrying out complex transactions, particularly in the areas of private equity and mergers and acquisitions, in the infrastructure, telecommunications, energy, environment, sustainable development and natural resources sectors. David Hountondji, partner, has been practicing public business law, public-private partnerships and corporate law for over ten years. He assists African states and private operators in structuring projects and reforming legal frameworks, particularly in the energy, transport and hydrocarbons sectors. Issakha Ndiaye, partner, specializes in public procurement, public-private partnerships and public project management. He has over fifteen years' experience in advising governments, international institutions and private investors in Africa, particularly in the energy, transport and infrastructure sectors, and is the author of several reference works on public procurement and PPPs in Africa. "This establishment in Dakar is part of our desire to offer integrated legal services between the Middle East and Africa, as close as possible to our clients' needs and local realities," explains Henri-Nicolas Fleurance, partner at De Gaulle Fleurance. "We are delighted to strengthen our position in Africa with the arrival of three new lawyers at our firm. With this presence in Dakar, we aim to refine our services to the Middle Eastern companies and public entities that place their trust in us and provide them with long-term support for their investment projects on the African continent," said Jean-Baptiste Santelli, partner and managing director of De Gaulle Fleurance EMEA Ltd., the group's Abu Dhabi-based subsidiary.