Effi & Associés joins Africa Law Practice International, expands into Francophone West Africa
Effi & Associés, a leading business law firm based in Abidjan, has officially joined Africa Law Practice International (ALPi), becoming the tenth member of the fast-growing Pan-African legal and professional services network.
The onboarding ceremony was held at the offices of Effi & Associés in Abidjan and marks a significant milestone in ALPi’s strategic expansion into Francophone West Africa. With this addition, ALPi now has member firms in Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda, South Sudan, Namibia, Mauritius and Côte d’Ivoire, making it one of the most geographically diverse and AfCFTA-focused law networks on the continent.
Welcoming the firm, Mr. Olasupo Shasore (SAN), Senior Partner at ALP Nigeria, described the development as an important step for the network and its clients.
“Getting one of the most highly regarded lawyers in Francophone Africa, Serge Effi, and his firm, Effi & Associés, to join the ALPi Practice Group is fantastic news for us and our clients across the ten African Union member states where we now operate.
“Serge’s cross-border experience and the bilingual strength of Effi & Associés deepen our capacity to serve clients in both civil and common law systems. This step advances our commitment to building a truly Pan-African legal services platform designed for the AfCFTA era and for opening up African business.” – Shasore said.
Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko, Senior Partner at Africa Legal Associates (ALP Ghana), also welcomed the new addition and spoke about the importance of ALPi’s growing footprint across Africa.
“Africa is becoming increasingly a single market, where we see our clients, from multinationals to SMEs, expanding across borders.
“That is why we are deliberate about ensuring that ALPi has a presence across the continent for our clients and potential partners both within Africa and globally. Having Effi & Associés as part of the family perfectly aligns with our vision to build a one-stop, high-quality advisory firm for clients seeking to do or expand their business in Africa.” – Otchere-Darko said.
In his remarks, Dr. Serge Effi, Managing Partner of Effi & Associés, expressed enthusiasm about joining the network.
“We are very happy to be part of this Pan-African-focused law family.
“This partnership is greatly welcomed by our clients and enhances our ability to offer seamless legal services across both civil law and common law jurisdictions. This is exactly where Africa is going, toward deeper integration and cooperation among its professionals and markets. We are excited to represent ALPi in Côte d’Ivoire.” – Dr. Effi said.
Uyi Giwa-Osagie, Partner at ALP Nigeria, also noted that the entry of Effi & Associés would further strengthen business and trade relations between Nigeria and Côte d’Ivoire, two of West Africa’s fastest growing economies.