Ashurst, the international law firm, has officially launched its first office on the African continent, opening a new branch in Casablanca. This strategic move marks a significant step in the firm’s broader expansion plans across the region.
Leading the Casablanca office is Ouns Lemseffer, a seasoned lawyer with a focus on banking and finance law. A graduate of Paris II University and ESCP, Lemseffer joined Ashurst in September and now serves as the partner in charge of operations in Morocco. Her leadership underscores Ashurst’s intention to anchor itself more firmly in the North African market.
The Casablanca team will operate as part of Ashurst’s broader Africa group, which already includes offices in London, Paris, Madrid, and the Middle East. The new location brings together a multilingual team, including senior associates Meriem Komiha and Youssef Tork, along with associate Yasmine Hitane. Additional hires are expected in the coming weeks to bolster the firm’s local capabilities.
“Ashurst offers the ideal platform, with a fully integrated global Africa group and a long-standing reputation in the region, especially in sectors like energy and infrastructure,” Lemseffer said. “I’m excited to work closely with our teams in Paris, London, and the Middle East to establish a strong presence in Morocco and expand our services across Francophone Africa. Our goal is to support complex and innovative projects that meet the highest international standards while remaining deeply informed by local legal expertise and market practices.”
Ashurst’s relationship with Africa spans over a century, with the firm providing legal counsel on the continent through a network of more than 150 partners and associates across its global offices. The firm advises both domestic and international clients on mergers and acquisitions, project finance and development, dispute resolution, and regulatory compliance.
