He advises international and domestic clients on a wide range of transactions, including mergers & acquisitions, capital markets, private equity, joint ventures, dispute resolution, litigation, project finance and, more generally, in foreign investments. He has a deep understanding of the legal, regulatory and business environment in Morocco and across the continent and has been instrumental in shaping some of the most large-scale, high profile transactions undertaken in Morocco over the last 25 years.
Hicham's clients include multinational corporations, financial institutions, sovereign wealth funds, private equity firms, development banks and public entities. He acts for them on their strategic investments, financings, restructurings and disputes in various sectors, such as banking, energy, infrastructure, telecoms, mining, consumer goods, healthcare and hospitality.
He is recognized as a market leader by leading legal directories, such as Chambers Global, IFLR1000 and Legal 500 EMEA.
Hicham is Managing Partner of Morocco.
Expertise
Experience
Representative matters
A pool of Moroccan institutional investors on their acquisition from the Wilmar group (Wilmar) of its entire stake in Cosumar S.A., a company listed in the Casablanca Stock Exchange, representing 30.05% of the share capital, in consideration of a price of circa. USD 600 million.
Sanlam Group on the joint-venture with a global financial services provider, combining their insurance assets in Africa (including Morocco and excluding South Africa) for USD2bn.
Holmarcom on its acquisition of the entire 78.7% stake held by French bank Crédit Agricole SA in Crédit du Maroc for over EUR350m.
Al Mada on its Joint Venture in Morocco with Chinese listed company, CNGR, to develop of a gigafactory for the production of EV batteries materials for USD2bn.
Fonds Mohammed VI Pour l'Investissement in relation with its incorporation (fully owned by the Moroccan State), a key player in strategic investments in Morocco in the industry, infrastructure, PPP, agriculture and tourism sectors.
Leadership Positions And Professional Affiliations
Recognition
“If you are doing a huge deal, he is a great person to go to because he has the experience.”
Chambers and Partners Global, Morocco, 2024
“He's very high-profile and is a rainmaker in Morocco.”
Chambers and Partners Global, Africa wide, 2023
Qualifications
Admissions
Casablanca, 2000
Academic
Magistère in business law, DJCE, University of Montpellier I, 1995
Postgraduate, (Diplôme d’Etudes Approfondies – DEA), University of Montpellier I, 1995
Disclaimer
A&O Shearman was formed on May 1, 2024 by the combination of Shearman & Sterling LLP and Allen & Overy LLP and their respective affiliates (the legacy firms). Any matters referred to above may include matters undertaken by one or more of the legacy firms rather than A&O Shearman.