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 recognised 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.
Leadership Positions And Professional Affiliations
- Member of the French-American Bar Association, 2012 to present
- Member of the Board, ICC Casablanca Arbitration Court, 2008 to present
- Chairman, Legal Commission of the Moroccan Entreprises Business Oganisation (CGEM - equivalent to MEDEF in France), 2006 to present
Recognition
“By far the best lawyer in the country.”
Chambers and Partners Global, Morocco, 2020, Corporate/Commercial
“Hicham Naciri is ""extremely good"" and ""remains the reference"" within the corporate and commercial law market.”
Chambers and Partners Global, Morocco, 2019, Corporate/Commercial
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.