Fast-growing ALPi network expands into Francophone West Africa with addition of Effi & Associés

In its new era under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), Africa is increasingly becoming a single market where clients expand across borders and there is deeper integration and cooperation among its professional markets, say senior lawyers as pan-African legal network Africa Law Practice International (ALPi) welcomed Cote d’Ivoire firm Effi & Associes into the fold as its tenth member firm.

“Getting one of the most highly regarded lawyers in Francophone Africa, Serge Effi, and his firm, Effi & Associès, to join the ALPi Practice Group is fantastic news for us and for our clients, including those across the ten African Union member states where we now operate,” said Olasupo Shasore, SAN, Senior Partner of ALP NG & Co.

“Serge’s cross-border experience and the bilingual strength of Effi & Associés deepen our capacity to serve clients in both civil and common law systems. This step advances our commitment to building a truly Pan-African legal services platform designed for the AfCFTA era, and for truly opening up African business.”

The onboarding ceremony took place at the Effi & Associés offices in Abidjan-Plateau, Côte d’Ivoire., marking a major milestone in ALPi’s strategic expansion, particularly into Francophone West Africa. A top-tier business law firm, Effi & Associés advises local and multinational companies operating across diverse sectors, including energy, banking, construction, telecommunications, and logistics.

“We are very happy to be part of this pan-African-focused law family,” said Dr Serge Effi, the firm’s founder and Managing Partner, on joining ALPi. “This partnership is greatly welcomed by our clients, and it enhances our ability to offer seamless legal services across both civil law and common law jurisdictions. This is exactly where Africa is going, which is toward deeper integration and cooperation among its professionals and markets. We are excited to represent ALPi in Côte d’Ivoire.”

Admitted to both the Paris and Abidjan Bars, Dr Effi worked for Ernst & Young Abidjan and SCP Boineau-Soyer Paris before establishing Effi & Associes, giving him a deep understanding of corporate restructuring, tax advisory, and cross-border transactions within the Francophone and Anglophone business ecosystems.

WIth the addition of Effi & Associes, ALPi now operates in Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda, South Sudan, Namibia, Mauritius and Côte d’Ivoire.

ALPi’s expansion into Ghana (Africa Legal Associates (ALPi Ghana)), Namibia (Shimaneni & Company Incorporated), and now Cote d’Ivoire (Effi & Associes) in the past eighteen months bolsters ALPi’s contention it is one of Africa’s most geographically diverse and AfCFTA-focused law networks, and the fastest-growing.

Africa is increasingly becoming a single market, where we see our clients, from multinationals to SMEs, expanding across borders, said Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko, Senior Partner of Africa Legal Associates (ALPi Ghana). “That’s why we are deliberate about ensuring that ALPi has a presence across the continent for our clients and potential partners, both within Africa and globally. Having Effi & Associés as part of the family perfectly aligns with our vision to build a one-stop, high-quality advisory firm for clients seeking to do or expand their business in Africa.”

Uyi Giwa-Osagie, Partner at ALP NG & Co, also welcomed the new member, noting that Effi & Associés’ entry would further strengthen business and trade relations between Nigeria and Côte d’Ivoire, two of West Africa’s fastest-growing economies