Founded in Paris in 1920, Gide is a leading international law firm with 12 offices spread throughout the world.
Gide is physically present in six regions of the world, with 11 offices, enabling it to act on cases globally.
Africa has always been at the heart of our firm's strategy. Gide Africa, our dedicated specialist team of lawyers, assists works alongside its African and international clients in to support the major stages of the continent's economic and social development.
We cover the entire continent, in both French-speaking (hyperlink to the French-speaking Africa tab) and English-speaking African countries (hyperlink to the English-speaking Africa tab). In addition to our 3 offices on the continent (Casablanca, Algiers, Tunis), we also work with our clients out of our offices in Europe (Paris, London, Brussels), China (Beijing, Shanghai) and the United States (New York).
We provide a high quality of legal assistance in both civil and common law and have a thorough understanding of African national and regional legal regimes (OHADA, ECOWAS, CEMAC, UEMOA, SADC). We rely on an extensive network of local partners known for their legal expertise and their relationships with government departments and agencies.
Our Africa taskforce (Gide Africa) stands out and is regularly cited in international legal rankings. Located throughout the world, our Gide Africa teams combine in-depth knowledge of local and international issues to assist their clients with their projects on the continent and with their cross-border operations.
Passionate about the challenges and future of the African continent, we support existing and new players in their operations in Africa in a wide range of areas. We regularly advise governments, international institutions, private operators and foreign investors in key sectors such as natural resources, energy, agriculture, transport, construction, banking and financial services, as well as in innovative sectors such as telecommunications, crypto-currencies, e-health and mobile money.
Our mission is to assist our African and international clients, whether private or public, in all legal aspects of their projects and operations.
Our lawyers are regularly involved in matters of economic, energy and food sovereignty, as close as possible to local and sub-regional contexts. The development, implementation and monitoring of institutional reforms, negotiations of treaties, or the conclusion of agreements on industrial free zones are all operations in which Gide Africa has developed significant expertise throughout the continent.
The digital transition is a priority for the economic and social development of Africa and is at the heart of Gide's activities in Africa today. Our team advises African authorities and international operators on telecommunications, crypto-currencies and mobile money.
Gide Africa is positioned on major urban projects and complex real estate operations, participating in the definition and conduct of urban policies in sub-Saharan Africa. Matters handled include financialisation of the sector, sophistication of the players, and changes to regulations and court decisions.
Gide Africa is involved in mergers, acquisitions and corporate law throughout the continent. Our teams assist our clients, be they strategic or financial players, in their investments, capital partnerships or joint ventures, in a wide variety of sectors throughout Africa.
Gide Africa has leading expertise in advising governments, public companies and international financial organisations on institutional and regulatory reforms. Our lawyers have extensive experience in drafting and amending legislation, including laws relating to PPPs, foreign investment and project-specific approvals, as well as setting up new institutional bodies and sector regulators.
Gide Africa has unique cross-disciplinary experience of the specific issues of projects developed in Africa, particularly in the fields of infrastructure, energy, natural resources, transport, water distribution and telecommunications. This experience is the result of regular assignments in Africa, covering both transactional and financing aspects, in the context of innovative and complex projects with all types of private and public players.
Gide is recognised for its expertise in arbitration in Africa, its specialist lawyers in international dispute resolution representing governments, public entities and private investors in disputes involving many African countries.
A new ROAD: A new Round-Table On African Debts is the first think tank launched by a law firm dedicated to African public debt. Spearheaded by Nicolas Jean, partner and member of Gide's executive committee, this collective brings together a wide range of influential experts in their respective fields, to work on the handling of debts and, more generally, on the financing of African economies. It aims to define innovative solutions, both in terms of debt sustainability and the financing of economic recovery.
Gide Loyrette Nouel is widely respected for its expertise across francophone Africa, with an impressive depth of experience in a variety of jurisdictions. The firm is well regarded for its work across an array of transactional and regulatory matters in the TMT space, including infrastructure construction and development, and M&A. It has an excellent track record of acting for public authorities and government entities, in addition to corporate clients. Additionally, the practice is active on significant mandates involving project finance and data protection.
Chambers Global 2022 - TMT
Gide Loyrette Nouel is a strong French law firm with an enviable presence in francophone Africa. An established name in the representation of state-owned companies, the group is sought after for its representation of international financial institutions, private sponsors and developers in energy projects and infrastructure developments concerning ports and municipal services. It is regularly instructed on high-profile renewable energy projects, including wind and hydroelectric power matters. The Paris-based team is equally highly adept in oil and gas projects and transactions and demonstrates notable ability in advising Asian clients on Africa-bound investments. Its lawyers also adeptly handle instructions from national governments.
Chambers Global 2022 - Projects & Energy
A widely regarded practice group with particular proficiency operating in OHADA law, Gide Loyrette Nouel offers comprehensive services covering francophone and North Africa generally. The team represents a number of African private equity funds, as well as international conglomerates and PE groups in their acquisitions, divestments and joint ventures on the continent. The firm is particularly active in transactions involving energy and oil and gas projects and assets, with additional experience in manufacturing and pharmaceuticals. Gide's expertise is spread across a number of offices globally, with the practice being primarily run from Paris, Algiers, Casablanca and Tunis. Additionally, clients can benefit from the firm's strategic alliance with market-leading South African law firm Bowmans.
Chambers Global 2022 - Corporate / M&A & Private Equity
Well-regarded department with strong domestic and global activity with a particular presence in Africa. Represents states, corporates and lenders. Regularly appointed on projects in a variety of sectors including natural resources, transport infrastructure and renewable energy. Expertise includes BOT projects, PPPs and project financing, with additional experience in contractual and M&A matters.
Chambers Europe & Global 2021
Well-rounded practice which assists sponsors, lenders, international agencies and governmental entities with the development and financing of projects in France and overseas. Domestically, the firm has a well established PPP practice and abroad, the firm is extensively advising on infrastructure and renewable energy projects in francophone Africa as well as key projects in various other parts of the world.
Legal 500 EMEA 2021
