“Investing and Doing Business in Africa: Is Arbitration contributing to the Revolution?”
The Conference programme under the theme “Investing and Doing Business in Africa: Is Arbitration contributing to the Revolution?” will explore topical issues such as investment protection mechanisms in Africa, the importance of regional economic communities, considerations relating to Chinese investment on the continent, the pros and cons of the proliferation of arbitration institutions and an update on Moroccan arbitration law, with some of the world’s leading arbitration experts to provide pertinent insight into Africa’s changing and challenging investment landscape.
For its international roster of attendees, Casablanca Arbitration Days 2019 will offer a kaleidoscope of networking opportunities, including presentations and side-events from an esteemed international cohort of speakers.
Thursday 5 December
10:00-10:30: Keynote speech (Minister Delegate to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccan Expatriates.)
10:30-11:00: coffee break
11:00-12:30: Panel 1: The economic perspective: who is investing in Africa, how and why?
– moderator: Jalal El Ahdab
– speaker 1: Pascal Agboyibor
– speaker 2: David Marty
– speaker 3: Khaled Aguemon
12:30-14:00: Lunch
14:00-15:30: Panel 2: Mechanisms for protecting investments in Africa
– moderator: Mohamed Abdel Wahab
– speaker 1: Denis Mouralis
– speaker 2: Benjamin Garel
– speaker 3: Eric Teynier
15:30-16:00: tea / coffee break
16:00-17:30: Panel 3: Regional economic communities
– moderator: Nikolaus Pitkowitz
– speaker 1: Mohamed Oulkhouir
– speaker 2: Mamadou Konate
– speaker 3: David Ofosu-Dorte
17:30-19:00: Panel 4: Chinese investments
– moderator: Nicolas Bourdon
– speaker 1: Michael Sun
– speaker 2: Jingzhou Tao
– speaker 3: Mingchao Fan
Friday 6 December
10:00-11:30: Panel 5: Update on Moroccan arbitration law: what improvements have there been and what improvements are still needed?
– moderator: Hassan Arab
– speaker 1: Azzedine Kettani
– speaker 2: Mohamed El Mernissi
– speaker 3: Tarik Mossadek
11:30-12:00: Closing remarks by Laurent Levy
PAST EDITIONS
THEY ARE TALKING ABOUT US
SPEAKERS
Hicham Zegrary
Former Microsoft North Africa Legal counsel, M. Hicham Zegrary is the chairman of the organizing committee of the Casablanca Arbitration Days, an annual CIMAC’s flagship event. He is member of the ENA Alumni Association, member of ICCA and member of Association Droit et Commerce.
Laurent Lévy
He is a Council member of the ICC Institute of World Business Law, a member of the Association Suisse de l’Arbitrage and of the Milan Club of Arbitrators. He is also a former Vice-President of the ICC Court of International Arbitration and a former member and Vice-President of the London Court of International Arbitration.
Since 2007 he has been a visiting professor at the School of Law, Queen Mary, University of London.
He has handled more than 250 arbitration proceedings, mostly as an arbitrator, under various rules such as the ICC, ICSID and LCIA Rules, in numerous jurisdictions worldwide.
He is currently the President of the Casablanca International Mediation and Arbitration Centre’s Court of Arbitration. Laurent Levy speaks French, English and German.
Jalal El Ahdab
Jalal (Jil) is a partner in our Dispute Resolution practice, based in Paris and is the head of our arbitration department in France.
Jil’s practice covers international business law, notably related to the Arab world and Europe, and more specifically in the field of international disputes and foreign investments. Having acted as a counsel, arbitrator and expert in about 100 cases, Jil has strong experience in managing international disputes and particularly disputes regarding shareholders and securities suits, class actions, breach of negotiations, bank guarantees. The type of business his practice includes relates to the trade of commodities, telecom markets, port concessions, construction industry and sport; etc. With a solid academic background (degrees in law, finance and political science), he is well regarded from a scientific standpoint. He is Lebanon’s UNCITRAL Representative and a member of the ICC Court. Also, he chairs the European Branch of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators and is the vice-chair of the IBA Arab Regional Forum.
A regular speaker at numerous international arbitration conferences, Jalal is the author of various articles and the co-author of Arbitration with the Arab Countries (Kluwer, 2011). He is also managing editor of the International Journal of Arab Arbitration, available on www.kluwerarbitration.com and www.intljaa.com. In 2019, he will publish a book on Arbitration Law in France, with Professor Daniel Mainguy (LexisNexis). Jalal is also a lecturer in arbitration law at the Versailles University and SciencesPo Paris (IEP).
Jil holds a doctorate in law from Paris I – Sorbonne (2003) and also graduated in Political Sciences & International Finance from Sciences Po Paris (1998), in Business & Management from the Institut Supérieur de Gestion (1995) and obtained his LLM from Columbia Law School (2002).
He is admitted to practice in Paris (France), Beirut (Lebanon) and New York (USA) and is fluent in French, English and Arabic.
Nikolaus Pitkowitz
Hassan Arab
As an arbitrator, he has extensive experience and arbitrated several claims under leading international arbitration institutions. Chambers Global has commented Hassan Arab as a “real winner who gives excellent advice and solutions”. Hassan Arab is also listed in the prestigious category of Arbitration Future Leaders 2017 by Who’s Who Legal. Hassan Arab plays a leadership role in several international organizations. He is the author and co-author of a number of publications on arbitration and dispute resolution.
In addition, he has authored several books including Legal Studies and Articles, Civil Procedures Law in the UAE Vol 1 & Vol 2, Criminal Procedures Law in the UAE, Summaries of UAE Courts’ Decisions on Arbitration (First & Second Editions, co-edited, ICC Publication).
Azzedine Kettani
Respected Moroccan scholar, Professor Kettani has been teaching arbitration and supervising academic studies in the same matter the University Hassan II School of law. He has been appointed by the Moroccan Government as a member of the special committee for the reform of arbitration rules under the Moroccan Code on Civil Proceedings.
For his rich experience, Azzedine Kettani received recently a more than 750 pages Liber Amicorum from University Paris II School of law.
Mohamed El Mernissi
Tarik Mossadek
Jacob Grierson
Jacob has extensive experience in arbitrations under the rules of the Hong Kong International Arbitration Center (HKIAC), the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) and the London Court of International Arbitration (LCIA), as well as in investment arbitrations, including those under the rules of the International Center for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID), and in ad hoc arbitrations. Additionally, Jacob is a Center for Effective Dispute Resolution (CEDR)-qualified mediator, with a focus on helping clients achieve amicable settlements of disputes either before or during arbitrations. He has also acted as sole arbitrator, president and co-arbitrator in a number of ICC arbitrations in London and in Paris, including a treaty-based arbitration. Jacob is Vice-President of the Casablanca International Mediation and Arbitration Center (CIMAC).
Prior to joining Asaf & Co, Jacob practiced at McDermott Will & Emery, a leading US firm and before that at the prestigious One Essex Court Chambers of Lord Grabiner QC in London from 1994 to 2001. He is the Treasurer of the Arbitration Academy. He has co-authored articles and handbooks on arbitration, including Arbitrating under the 2012 ICC Rules: An Introductory User’s Guide, published by Kluwer Law International, and is a visiting professor (chargé de cours) at the College of Europe in Bruges, the University of Versailles, the University of Paris-Assas and the University of Paris Est-Créteil.
Mamadou Konaté
Former minister of Justice of the Republic of Mali, Mamadou Konate is Member of the CIMAC Arbitration Court.
Mohamed Abdel Wahab
Prof. Dr. Mohamed S. Abdel Wahab served as ‘Sole Arbitrator’, ‘Presiding Arbitrator’, ‘Party Appointed Arbitrator’, or ‘Counsel’ in more than 172 cases involving parties from the Middle East, Europe, Asia, Canada, and the United States. He appeared in cases under the auspices of the AAA, AAA-BCDR, CRCICA, DIAC, DIFC-LCIA, ICC, ICSID, LCIA, LMAA, SCC,SIAC, as well as ad hoc UNCITRAL proceedings.
Prof. Dr. Abdel Wahab is recognized as a world leading expert on international arbitration, Arab Laws, and Islamic Shari’a. His expertise spans construction, oil & gas, telecommunications, finance and hospitality disputes involving cross border multi- jurisdictional and highly complex contracts and transactions.
Prof. Dr. Abdel Wahab featured in proceedings governed by Bahraini, Egyptian, English, French, Jordanian, Kuwaiti, Libyan, New York, Omani, Pakistani, Qatari, Saudi, Spanish, Swiss, Syrian, Italian and United Arab Emirates law(s), as well as the general principles of law.
Prof. Dr. Abdel Wahab features in Who’s Who Legal: Arbitration as a star arbitration practitioner and was selected to feature in the GAR Global Guide for Future Leaders in International Arbitration (2017) and the GAR Guide on Thought Leaders in International Arbitration (2017).
Prof. Dr. Abdel Wahab is regularly recognized and ranked as a world leading dispute resolution practitioner in all leading legal directories.
Pascal Agboyibor
Amne combines a strong experience in finance and corporate law, having worked in asset and fund management as well as private equity funds for a total of five years as a legal adviser for Capital Dynamics and subsequently Pictet & Cie in Switzerland. She advised on offshore investments, optimal company structures in accordance to the objectives of the company, wealth and estate management, fund formation and structured products, fiscal law, financial and securities regulations of major financial markets and general legal considerations with regards to financing and financial products and cross-border company law matters.
She has acted as adviser to the East African Community (“EAC”) and the World Trade Organization (“WTO”) and possesses a strong understanding of regional integration matters, particularly the economic law of regional integration, international trade as well as bilateral and multilateral negotiations.
Amne is experienced in conducting high-level mediation with ministries and government agencies on behalf of her clients. Amne read her Bachelor degree and Master degree in Law at the University of Geneva, where she graduated with honours. She read her L.L.M. in International Trade and Financial law at University College London. She speaks English, French, Kiswahili and Spanish.
Mingchao Fan
Additionally, he is on the steering committee of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators East Asia Branch and serves as Chairman of its PRC Sub-Committee. Before joining ICC, Dr. Fan served as Deputy Director, which he still is in addition to his current role with ICC, at the PRC & 39’s Supreme People’s Court Judicial Research Institute (SHUPL), a think tank which has seen him focusing on dispute resolution research on the ‘One Belt, One Road’ initiative. Dr. Fan holds a PhD from the East China University of Politics and Law. He was also a Fulbright Visiting Scholar at Duke University.
Jingzhou Tao
The Legal 500 Asia Pacific 2018 has recognized Mr. Tao as a leading dispute resolution lawyer in China for a third consecutive year. He has been consistently ranked in Chambers Global and Chambers Asia-Pacific for his dispute resolution practice in China and him one of the “Most In Demand Arbitrators” in the Asia-Pacific region. Peers note that “he is held in high regard” in the market. Chambers has also previously recognized Mr. Tao as “someone you’d have in your top ten for China work” who “really bridges the divide between Western and Eastern views,” “a respected name on the arbitration scene” and “very well regarded for his activity in the international arbitration arena especially in relation to disputes involving PRC entities.”
In 2018, Mr. Tao was appointed by the Chinese Supreme Court as a member of International Commercial Expert Committee. Mr. Tao is a frequent speaker among the legal world and has also published many articles in Chinese and international legal and business publications. His writings primarily address Chinese law related matters. Mr. Tao has also been a columnist for Century Weekly since 2011.
Nicolas Bourdon
Nicolas is specialized in transaction advisory services, litigation support (quantification of damages) and has extensive experience with supporting clients in the construction contract businesses (Infrastructure and engineering). Nicolas advises corporations, PE funds and public institutions. Nicolas speaks French and English.
Amne Suedi Kagasheki
He has extensive experience in advising on major Africa projects and is trusted by clientele for his “terrifically focused, hands-on approach and brilliant business sense” (Chambers Global, UK 2012), regarded as “a top project lawyer” (IFLR1000, 2013) and …. “recognized for his role in pioneering the development of PPPs in Ghana” (Chambers Global, UK 2014).
He founded AB & David, originally known as General Law Consult, in 1998 and has grown it to become one of the largest law firms in West Africa, with three offices in Ghana, a London representative office and a network in 23 African countries. The firm recently earned the distinction of becoming the First African law firm to earn the UK Law Society Lexcel accreditation – which is a mark of the highest practice standard in law.
Mohamed Oulkhouir
He has also led several major operations in North Africa, in close collaboration with Moroccan and Tunisian counsel.
Mohamed also has significant experience in corporate and commercial operations. His experience includes due diligence work and contract negotiation, acquisitions and restructurings, commercial contracts and contractual schemes, notably in the areas of agriculture, energy, transportation and telecommunications in Maghreb.
Mohamed Oulkhouir is also in charge of the Chassany Watrelot & Associés firm’s business in Maghreb (Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia).
Eric Teynier
Eric Teynier has also regularly been appointed as arbitrator before these same institutions or in the context of ad hoc arbitration procedures. Eric Teynier is a member of the editorial committee of Cahiers de l’arbitrage / The Paris Journal of International Arbitration and is co-director of its regular investment and arbitration feature “Investissements internationaux et arbitrage”.
He takes part in numerous studies and think tanks in the field of arbitration, such as the ICC studies of the “cost of arbitration”, and the working group of the CFA on “transparency in arbitration relating to investment”. He previously worked at Bredin Prat, Sherman & Sterling and EY Law, where he was responsible for the Litigation & Arbitration department.
Denis Mouralis
Additionally, he is experienced in the assessment of research and higher education. Denis regularly takes part in domestic and international arbitrations, as president of arbitral tribunals, arbitrator or counsel. He is enlisted as an arbitrator by several arbitration centers.
He also serves as a consultant, for French and foreign law firms, and for in house counsels. In particular, he helps negotiating, designing and drafting complex business contracts. He also acts as an expert of French and EU law, before foreign courts. Denis is a member of several French and foreign research centers and professional organizations. He is fluent in French and English.
Benjamin Garel
Mr Garel holds degrees from Columbia University Law School (LL.M.) and University of Paris II Panthéon-Assas (Maîtrise, D.E.A. and D.E.S.S.). He is admitted to the Paris Bar (currently omitted) and to practice law in the State of New York. He speaks English and French
Domitille Baizeau
Her areas of specialization include joint venture, M&A, shareholders, sales, distribution and investment disputes in the energy (oil & gas, solar, mining), telecommunications, commodity trading, infrastructure projects and pharmaceutical sectors.
Domitille Baizeau is a member of the International Court of Arbitration of the ICC and of the Arbitration Court of SCAI which administers arbitrations subject to the Swiss Rules of International Arbitration (and immediate past Vice-President of the Court). She is also a member of the Board of ASA, the Swiss Arbitration Association, an immediate past officer of the European Users’ Council of the LCIA and a member of the Board of Directors and Executive Committee of Terralex, one of the world’s largest networks of independent law firms. She is in addition a member of the IBA (Arbitration Committee) and an Associate Member of the ICC Institute of World Business Law. She is listed on the panel of arbitrators of the ICC New Zealand Arbitration Committee, the ICC French National Committee and the ICDR. She regularly speaks at conferences and publishes in international arbitration and is a past member of the Editorial Boards of the ASA Bulletin and the ICC Bulletin.
Domitille Baizeau has been ranked for several years by Chambers (Global-wide, Europe-wide and Switzerland) for International Arbitration, as counsel and arbitrator (including Most in Demand Arbitrators, Europe, Band 2), and by The International Who’s Who of Commercial Arbitration. In 2018, she received the GAR ART award of the Best Prepared and Most Responsive Arbitrator and in 2011, she was selected as one of 45 “leading figures” in international arbitration below the age of 45, both accolades following a peer-review process conducted by Global Arbitration Law Review.
Before joining LALIVE, Domitille Baizeau practiced in litigation and arbitration in New Zealand with a leading business law firm and in France with Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer in Paris. She graduated from the University of Canterbury in New Zealand in 1995 (LL.B. First Class Honours) and also holds a Diploma in French law from the Université Paris II Assas-Panthéon.
Khaled Aguemon
Michael Sunyu
David Marty
corporate legal issues arising from the interpretation and application of various Bank instruments. He was the president of the NGO Au Secours Haïti.
ORGANIZING COMMITTEE
Hicham Zegrary
Jalal El Ahdab
Jacob Grierson
Mireya Berteau
ORGANIZATION
Venue & Accommodation
Presentation of Kenzi Tower Hotel
The KENZI TOWER HOTEL is a true emblem of Morocco that asserts its stunning position in the 28 storey B tower of the Twin Center of Casablanca. Since 2009, our Casablanca center hotel impresses with its size, the magic of its sight and the quality of its services. Its luxurious comfort and the elegance of its decoration make it Casablanca’s address of customized service and the hotel to be when in search of excellence.
KENZI TOWER HOTEL is located in the trendiest and most vibrant downtown setting of Casablanca, Morocco’s economic capital. Ideal for browsing in the shops and only just half an hour away from the Mohamed V International airport, the hotel is the perfect place to stay whether for business or pleasure.
Designed by internationally renowned architect Ricardo Bofill, the KENZI TOWER HOTEL is a 5-star hotel that was created to fascinate. Its impressive views of the Atlantic and the city, dazzle different visitors of the white City. Since its opening, it continues to host the largest Moroccan and international events.
The hotel is a successful amalgam of 237 rooms and suites all with views overlooking the city, equipped with cutting-edge technology and free WIFI. It proposes 3 high class restaurants and 2 bars, a SPA with an indoor pool and a fitness center and one of the biggest conferences centers in the region. Each service is orchestrated by a professional and caring team that offers a personalized service that will allow you to enjoy your stay from the first moments. 📍 Kenzi Tower Hotel
Accommodation
Participants to Casablanca Arbitration Days are responsible for their accommodation. For booking, please directly Kenzi Tower Hotel at:
- T: +212 (0)522 97 80 00
- F: +212 (0)522 97 80 90
- E: kenzitower@kenzi-hotels.com
Visa
For countries which do not have Moroccan diplomatic missions, please send, to this email address : arnaud.oulepo@cimac.ma under the subject line “CAD 2019 Visa Application” a hotel reservation and a copy of the passport indicating the following information :
- Full name
- Date of birth
- Passport number and passport expiry date.
For visa application, please contact the Moroccan diplomatic missions abroad
Countries whose citizens are exempt from Moroccan visa requirements
Countries signing agreements with Morocco on the elimination of entry visa for official passports (diplomatic, service and special passports)
Languages
The official languages of Casablanca Arbitration Days are French, English and Arabic. Simultaneous translation will be provided for each of this language.
Cultural Visits in Casablanca
Hassan II Mosque
Cultural visits to Casablanca will begin with the Hassan II mosque, the tallest mosque in Morocco, with a minaret that reaches 200m.
The Hassan II mosque was built in 1989 by the French architect Pinseau. It offered the largest field of creation ever given to the talent of thousands of Moroccan artisans.
The Habous neighborhood
The Habous district offers one of the most picturesque faces of Casablanca. It is located in the southern part of the city, just behind the Royal Palace. This district is part of the new medina, born of the urbanism plan initiated by General Lyautey in the 1920s.
Beneath its large shopping arcades, the district has many bazaars offering customers a wide choice of flea markets and handicrafts from all over the Kingdom: pottery, leather goods, wooden furniture, carpets, ironwork, slippers and clothes traditional.
Morocco Mall
The Morocco Mall is a true destination for nationals as well as for tourists or visitors of passage, this mall shelters a complete range of services: fashion, beauty, luxury, culture, technology, health, decoration, food, equipment, crafts, services, leisure, relaxation, restoration …
Spread over 10 hectares with 70,000 m2 of retail space on 3 levels and 350 sales areas, the Morocco Mall brings together more than 600 brands from various universes. So many reasons for visiting that make it a true place of life and a stopover impossible to circumvent.
SIDE EVENTS
Accuracy is present in 13 countries in Europe, North America, Asia, Middle East and Africa and leads engagements all over the world.
Accuracy’s experts combine technical skills in corporate finance, accounting, financial modelling, economics and market analysis with many years of forensic and transaction experience. We participate in different forms of dispute resolution, including arbitration, litigation and mediation. We also frequently assist in cases of actual or suspected fraud. Our expert teams operate on the following basis:
• An in-depth assessment of the situation;
• An approach which values a transparent, detailed and well-argued presentation of the economic, financial or accounting issues at the heart of the case;
• The work is carried out objectively with the intention to make it easier for the arbitrators to reach a decision;
• Clear, robust written expert reports, including concise summaries and detailed backup;
• A proven ability to present and defend our conclusions orally.
Our approach provides for a more comprehensive and richer response to the numerous challenges of a dispute.